I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 189

That evening, Gavin masterfully recreated Sophie's signature Stuffed Savory Melon. He glazed them perfectly in a light sauce, placing a single bright goji berry on top of each piece for presentation.

He placed a piece directly into his grandmother's bowl, looking at her with boyish anticipation. "How is it?"

"Oh, this is absolutely delicious."

Rosemary nodded approvingly, offering the highest praise. "Light and refreshing, perfectly balanced between the slight bitterness and the savory filling. The colors are beautiful, and the plating is exquisite."

She immediately urged Graham and Gillian to try it. "You two absolutely must taste this."

Gavin watched his parents take a bite and shot his grandmother a triumphant, conspiratorial wink.

"When your father was young, he barely knew how to boil water. He only picked up a few dishes in recent years, and your mother's cooking has always been notoriously mediocre. But look at our Gavin—it's only been a short while, and he's already cooking like a professional."

Hearing her own mother relentlessly praise him, Gillian's competitive streak flared up. "'A real man stays out of the kitchen.' Isn't that what you preached to us years ago?"

"Mom, you really do hold onto things, don't you? Back then, I was young and arrogant, and I didn't see the joy in cooking. Now, I'm slowly learning to appreciate the profound romance of preparing a home-cooked meal."

Gavin's smile never wavered.

"Sophie is the kind of woman who puts incredible thought into the tiny details of life. Being with her anchors me. She helps me slow down and appreciate the beautiful, mundane moments."

Gillian shot him a withering glance. Seeing his lovesick expression and hearing him name-drop Sophie in every other sentence, she realized that absolutely nothing she said was going to change his mind.

After dinner, Gavin accompanied his parents and grandmother for an evening walk.

Autumn had officially arrived, bringing a crisp, cool breeze that finally broke the oppressive summer heat.

Gavin walked arm-in-arm with his grandmother, slowing his long strides to perfectly match her gentle pace. Glancing back at the affectionate bond between the two, Gillian felt her foul mood begin to lift.

"Take me shopping tomorrow. My company is hosting a gala next month, and I need your opinion on an evening gown."

Aside from his recent rebellion regarding Sophie, Gavin had always been his mother's ultimate source of pride. His eye for fashion and styling was leaps and bounds ahead of her husband's.

"I have to head back tomorrow. My lab data is due on Monday, so I need to go back early to organize everything. Mom, I promise I'll make it up to you properly next time."

A sharp pang of disappointment struck her. He really had just rushed back solely to negotiate about Sophie.

Later that night, she finished her shower and began her elaborate skincare routine.

Graham sat in the armchair with a book, watching his wife slap layer after layer of expensive creams onto her face and neck. He couldn't stop a low chuckle from escaping. "You're jealous, aren't you?"

"Bullshit! My son does not need to live off another woman's money!"

In her blind fury, she completely abandoned her usual polished vocabulary.

"Gavin holds shares in my company too. It's not like she's the only one with assets."

Watching his fiercely protective wife instantly transform into a snarling mother bear, Graham had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing out loud.

He stood up, walked up behind her, and gently rested his hands on her bare shoulders. "Exactly. We are our son's ultimate safety net. I handle the emotional support, and you are his financial fortress."

It finally dawned on her that she had walked straight into another one of his traps. She stood up, swatting his hands away, and scolded him playfully. "You sly old fox. You're always setting traps for me!"

"If I recall correctly, you were the one who trapped me first. You successfully schemed your way into my heart, and now you have the nerve to call me a sly old fox?"

He gently took her hand, spinning her around so they stood side-by-side in front of the vanity mirror. Staring at their reflection, his eyes softened with profound affection. "In less than two months, we'll be celebrating our thirtieth wedding anniversary."

Thirty years. She looked at the man in the mirror. The fine lines around his eyes crinkled with a warm, familiar love. Time had etched marks into his skin, but his face remained as classically handsome as the day they met. A flood of memories from their wedding day rushed over her.

Every scene played out as vividly as if it were yesterday. The icy tension in her chest melted entirely as she leaned her head softly against his shoulder.