I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 262

But after the incident in April, where Mia felt that Jason was spending less time with her and no longer acting as affectionate, Gwen decided it would be better to recover at home.

She was an adult with strong emotional regulation. Mia, however, was still a child. If Jason spent the entire month at the postpartum retreat with her and the new baby, Mia would undoubtedly feel neglected again, convinced that her love was being stolen away.

After weighing the pros and cons, Gwen and Jason decided it was best for her to recover at home.

Ultimately, Gwen took it upon herself to negotiate with George, asking him to move to the living room couch during her recovery so the maternity nurse could take the guest room.

She even resorted to financial bribery. "A postpartum retreat costs at least three grand a month, and a maternity nurse costs over a thousand. If you can take on the duties of a live-in helper, I'll pay you five hundred bucks a month."

George immediately started haggling with his daughter. "The nanny up on the third floor makes at least eight hundred a month. I'm not asking for much, just give me six hundred and we're good."

"When Ethan was born, Harold gave a massive cash gift. I'm not asking for much, just give us a two thousand dollar bonus."

George watched as Gwen instantly clamped her hands over her pockets. Her own flesh and blood, extorting him without a shred of guilt.

"You know I don't have that kind of money."

"And you need to accept that you're not as competent as a professional nanny either."

After a vigorous round of bargaining, the father and daughter settled on a monthly salary of five hundred and a cash gift of one hundred and fifty, high-fiving to seal the deal.

Gwen had been completely set on having a blue chip, but to her surprise, she ended up delivering the heavy lifter.

George was the most ecstatic. Back in the day, he had desperately wanted a son but never got one; having a grandson was more than enough to satisfy him.

"I was really banking on having a girl so we could betroth her to Ethan early on and I could just coast through life. Now I have to rally and start saving up for his future marriage."

Gwen complained miserably to Jason.

"Leave it to your husband. Right now, your only job is to rest and recover."

Gwen shot Jason a look. It was true—resting was all she could do right now. The anesthesia had worn off, and waves of sharp pain were radiating from her incision.

"Does it hurt a lot?" Jason asked hurriedly, seeing Gwen's brow furrow.

Seeing Gwen nod, Jason quickly pressed the call button.

The day Gwen was discharged fell on a Saturday, so Jason brought Mia to the hospital to pick her up.

Mia looked down at her baby brother lying in the bassinet, reaching out to compare her hand size to his. "He's so cute."

The night before, Jason had specifically dug up the old home videos from when Mia was born, watching them with her from her birth all the way up to age five.

On the drive back from the airport, Gavin steered the car while enthusiastically recounting all the new tricks and funny moments Ethan had learned over the past two months.

Harold listened intently, his eyes crinkling with a warm smile.

He knew Gavin was sharing these stories simply to bring him joy. Gavin truly was an incredibly thoughtful man.

"Sophie is deeply blessed to have found you."

Even though he had watched Luke grow up, Harold had to admit that as a husband, Gavin was a far better match than Luke ever could have been.

"Meeting Sophie was my greatest blessing, too." The mere mention of Sophie made the corners of Gavin's lips curve upward unconsciously.

"Thank you for staying by her side during her hardest moments," Harold said with profound sincerity.

"I love Sophie, and I'm more than willing to give everything I have to make her happy. The things and people you love are always worth fighting for."

Harold nodded in deep satisfaction; Sophie had certainly chosen the right man.

He turned his gaze out the window, and as thoughts of Sarah surfaced in his mind, an inevitable wave of bittersweet ache washed over him once more.