I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 51

"Sit down and eat. I'll go with you to the hospital to see Gwen Grayson in a bit," Luke Lawrence said, pointing to the dining chair across from him.

"We only get an hour and a half for our lunch break, so I won't have time. I shouldn't interrupt your meal, Mr. Lawrence."

Sophie Sullivan maintained her respectful, professional facade, taking a step back as she spoke.

"Sophie."

Luke called out to stop her. He stared at her without blinking, a storm of unreadable emotions swirling in his dark gaze. His tone, however, was firm and left no room for argument.

"Eat first. I'll accompany you to see Gwen this afternoon."

Sophie gripped her purse strap tightly, steadying her emotions, and took the seat across from him.

The meal passed in suffocating silence. Luke didn't say a word, and Sophie certainly wasn't going to be the one to break the ice.

After they finished their quiet lunch, Luke called over the driver that Mr. Baxter had assigned to him, and they headed to the hospital.

"I thought of a great plan..." As soon as Gwen saw Sophie, she immediately wanted to show off the strategy she had spent all night brainstorming.

But the moment she spotted Luke walking in behind Sophie, she swallowed the rest of her words.

"Mr. Lawrence, what brings you here? I feel terrible; I should have been the one accompanying you," Gwen said, forcing a bright smile to express her gratitude.

"I came with her," Luke replied coldly. He stood by the window, making no effort to offer Gwen any standard get-well wishes.

Gwen's father had rushed over in the morning, and her surgery had gone smoothly.

Sophie stayed and chatted with Gwen for a while before they finally left.

On the ride back, Sophie remained in the passenger seat while Luke sat alone in the back. They didn't exchange a single word the entire trip.

Gwen sent a text: "I have that jerk's fiancée's number. If I invite her over, he wouldn't dare bother you anymore."

Sophie replied with a thumbs-up emoji.

That would be for the best. All she had to do was act like the perfect, submissive vendor, wait for the details to be finalized, and get the contract signed. After that, she would never have to deal with him again.

Sure enough, a moment later, Luke's phone rang.

"It's freezing here, and the air is terrible. Don't come. I'll be back in a few days," he said into the receiver.

Sophie should have felt a wave of secret relief, but hearing those words somehow made a lump form in her throat. This terrifying, suffocating jealousy—how was she still capable of feeling jealous?

She didn't hear whatever Luke said next. She put in her earbuds and let the loud music flood her senses.

The remainder of the work progressed exceptionally smoothly.

Negotiations, discussions, and finally, the signatures.

Sophie's deferential performance finally won Mr. Baxter's roaring approval.

Luke's jaw twitched. The smiles they forced onto their faces were agonizingly strained.

Gavin Gilmore took the earliest train possible, arriving in Seattle at 10 AM. Sophie picked him up at the station and confessed the awkward reality of her new role as a tour guide.

"I never thought it would turn into this."

Sophie felt incredibly guilty. Their highly anticipated date had been completely hijacked.

"It's a good thing I came, otherwise I really wouldn't want you facing this all by yourself."

Gavin gently pinched her cheek, using his thumb to lift the corner of her mouth into a smile.

The two of them headed to the hotel where Luke and his fiancée were staying to meet up in the lobby.

"Sorry, I just got off the train. Hope we didn't keep you waiting."

Gavin walked right up and shook Luke's hand.

The four of them grabbed lunch and drove to The Royal Pavilion.

Along the way, Eileen enthusiastically recited famous lines from The Eternal Vow. "...On parting, he left a heartfelt vow, a secret known only to their two hearts. On the seventh of July in the Eternal Hall, when none were near at midnight, they whispered: In the heavens, we shall be birds flying wing to wing; on earth, we shall be branches twined as one. Heaven and earth will one day end, but this regret will last forever."

She turned around to look at Sophie in the backseat. "I also want to go to the ancient royal tombs and see the tragic queen's resting place. After she died, the king must have suffered from endless nightmares every single night."