I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 159

"I am going to take the paternity test with Harold."

Sophie locked eyes with Victoria, her voice devoid of any emotion, projecting the terrifying calm of someone who had made an absolute decision.

Victoria swayed violently on her feet but desperately forced herself to maintain composure. "What insane nonsense are you spouting? Your mother wasn't even pregnant when she left Harold. We will never consent to a paternity test with you. Keep dreaming."

"You do not speak for him. Blood, fingernails, hair—I am more than willing to provide any biological sample required. If you don't trust one clinic, we can test at ten different ones. If you don't trust the labs in Seattle, we can do it in New York City, San Francisco, and Boston, all over again."

"No... I absolutely refuse to allow this." Victoria shook her head frantically.

"I refuse too!" Eileen finally grasped the horrific reality. There was zero chance she was ever going to accept Sophie as her sister.

"Harold is currently in Germany. There are no direct flights from Frankfurt to Seattle, so the absolute earliest he can touch down is tomorrow afternoon."

Luke checked his watch. "I just sent him a text. It's 5 AM over there, so the second he reads it, he'll be on the first flight back."

"You..." Victoria pointed a trembling finger at Luke, hyperventilating with rage.

"Victoria, this is the only logical solution. You won't have to live in paranoia over Harold anymore, and it completely clears Sophie's name."

Victoria shot Luke a look of pure venom and aggressively dragged Eileen out the door.

"Mom... what are we going to do? I do not want another sister!" Eileen wailed hysterically.

Sophie had already stolen Luke's heart, and now she was coming for her inheritance—and even her father's affection. It was entirely unacceptable.

Dead silence fell over the room. Luke stood up and looked at Sophie. "I'll stay behind and wait for Harold. I'll let you know the second he lands."

With that, Luke gave a respectful nod to Sarah and quietly exited the room.

Gillian stood up immediately after, turning to Gavin. "We are going upstairs to check on Rosemary."

"Mom, I need to drive Sarah and Sophie home first."

Gillian shot Gavin an icy glare but said nothing. Completely ignoring Sophie, she spoke directly to Sarah. "The elderly lady isn't feeling well, so I'll be heading up. Goodbye."

"Mrs. Gilmore, I am so sorry. Please pass on my deepest apologies to Rosemary." Sophie stood up to see her off, offering Gillian a deep, respectful bow.

Gillian paused in the doorway and dropped a single, clipped word. "Fine." She threw one last look at Gavin before marching out of the room.

The second Sarah clicked the door shut, Sophie broke the silence. "I am so incredibly sorry. I never meant to hide this from you. I... I honestly thought I could go my whole life without ever acknowledging him. Back in March, he cornered me and demanded the paternity test, but I refused. Later, when my company suddenly mandated blood tests, I knew he was behind it, so I secretly swapped my blood sample with Gwen Grayson's."

Sophie aggressively wiped away a tear, her voice breaking. "I truly thought that once he saw negative results, he would finally give up. I thought he would stop harassing my mom and me, and that we could completely erase him from our lives. I never in a million years thought it would implode like this..."

"This is not your fault. No one could have predicted this nightmare. I will handle my parents and explain everything. Please, stop overthinking this."

Gavin pulled Sophie across the console, wrapping his arms around her and tucking her head safely against his shoulder.

Sophie suddenly pulled back and sat up straight. "I'm fine. You need to hurry back to the hotel and check on Rosemary."

Gavin pulled her right back into his chest, holding her in a fierce, tight embrace.

He knew Sophie desperately needed comfort right now, but he was equally terrified for his grandmother's health. Not to mention, his parents were undoubtedly waiting to put him on trial.

"Go on, please."

Sophie gently pushed herself out of his arms, stepped out of the car, and stood on the curb watching his taillights disappear down the street.

Gavin knocked tentatively on his grandmother's door. Gillian yanked it open.