I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 266

Gwen let out a long sigh. "Honestly, if he was still his old, messy self, I'd totally get why Bea wouldn't want him. But he's practically a domestic god now. He's tried so hard, and to still be tossed aside... of course he's crushed."

"Does Bea not have a mind of her own? She just blindly listens to her son?"

"She doesn't have any say. She's from a rural background and only has the one son. Her pension is basically non-existent, and my dad really doesn't have any savings to speak of. If he goes before she does, he won't be able to leave her much. Her son hit her right where it hurts. Let's be real—if Bea had her own money, she wouldn't be held hostage by her son. She'd be the one dictating who gets her inheritance and who gets to take care of her."

"So it all boils down to busting our asses and making money while we're young, otherwise we won't even have a voice when we're old."

Gwen offered a dry, cynical smile. "You and Gavin don't have to stress about that, but Jason and I really need to hustle. I was just telling him the other day that thank god we met early. If we had met in our twilight years and Mia threw a fit, we'd probably be stuck in some platonic, long-distance senior romance."

The nanny had the day off, so Sophie stayed with Gwen until Jason got back.

"Did Mia not come up with you?" Gwen asked.

"I ran into Ethan downstairs. She said she wanted to play for a bit before coming up."

Hearing this, Gwen turned to Sophie. "Gavin has been waiting downstairs for you this whole time, hasn't he? You'd better go. You're heavily pregnant, and he's probably worried sick. If I don't let you leave soon, he might just come knocking."

Sophie made her way downstairs and, sure enough, Gavin was standing off to the side, watching Mia and Ethan play hide-and-seek.

After waving goodbye to Mia, Gavin took Ethan's hand with one arm and wrapped the other around Sophie's waist as they slowly walked back.

As they passed the park, they spotted George. He was sitting on the railing of a gazebo, staring at the ground, holding a box of mooncakes. He was clearly waiting for someone.

"George," Sophie and Gavin called out as they approached.

"Harold and your mom went ahead. I'm just getting some fresh air," George said, looking visibly awkward.

Gavin turned to look at her. "Where did that come from?"

"It was you. You taught me how to let go of my anger, how to make peace with myself, how to forgive, and how to embrace being happy."

Gavin had taught her how to love, and having children had softened her heart.

It was only after truly experiencing happiness that Sophie understood what Gavin had always said: people find it easier to forgive when they are doing well. Only when your life is full do you have the emotional bandwidth to show grace, and only when you're happy do you stop clinging to the bitterness of the past.

Now, she genuinely held no resentment.

She no longer resented her mother for being harsh when she was a little girl, and she no longer resented Harold for his absence during her childhood. She was entirely focused on soaking up the joy and happiness of the present.