I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 194

Why was he in such a rush? Sophie was just starting to feel a flash of indignant embarrassment when Gavin suddenly dropped to one knee in front of her.

"You..." Sophie's heart hammered wildly against her ribs.

Gavin reached into the nightstand, pulled out a blue velvet box, and popped it open right in front of her. A breathtakingly brilliant diamond ring instantly seized her gaze.

She clamped a hand over her mouth, staring at him. It was all happening so fast.

Their current appearance was far from glamorous.

Her hair was damp with sweat, her lipstick had long since been kissed away by Gavin, and her makeup was definitely ruined. Gavin was only wearing a pair of slacks, his bare chest shimmering with a fine layer of sweat.

Here in the bedroom, in the most casual setting imaginable, he was bringing up the most serious commitment of their lives.

"I originally wanted to find a better time, a better place, with flowers and music. But maybe, right now is the perfect moment."

Gavin held her hand with one of his, pinching the delicate ring with the other. His eyes, brimming with affection, gazed up at her. The brilliant sparkle of the diamond reflected in his irises, making them shimmer like a sunlit sea.

"Will you marry me?" he asked, his voice thick with absolute sincerity.

Sophie was so shocked she couldn't speak for a long moment. The tender warmth in Gavin's eyes sent a tidal wave of emotion crashing through her heart.

Her mind went completely blank. When she finally opened her mouth, she managed to ask the most mood-killing question possible: "When did you buy the ring?"

"A lot earlier than you'd think. Right after you agreed to date me, I asked a college friend in South Africa to track down this Flawless-grade loose diamond. The custom setting took two months. I got it back in May and have just been waiting for the right opportunity."

Gavin tilted the ring slightly, revealing their intertwined initials engraved on the inner band.

"The diamond isn't massive—it's the best I can afford right now. Don't hold it against me. I'll upgrade it to a bigger one later."

Gavin reached up and gently wiped a tear from Sophie's cheek.

As Gavin expertly washed her hair, Sophie lay back in the warm water, keeping her ring-bearing hand held high in the air. To protect the diamond, she was more than willing to act like a helpless toddler.

Her own decoy ring, a 0.6-carat VS-grade, had cost a few thousand dollars. This one-carat Flawless diamond had to be worth tens of thousands. For Gavin, who had just finished his PhD last year, it was an astronomical expense.

Before Sophie could even ask, Gavin chuckled. "My mom didn't sponsor this. If she had, I would've gotten you a two-carat. This is my own hard-earned money. I saved up a bit from the projects I did with my advisor during my PhD, cashed out of the stock market at its peak last year, and, of course, maxed out my credit cards."

"How much did you overdraw? Do you even have money left for food?" A look of genuine worry crossed Sophie's face.

Ever since they started dating, Gavin had always paid for everything. Gwen knew his mother owned a company and frequently jokingly rinsed him for expensive dinners. To think he was carrying credit card debt and had never mentioned a word of it.

"Are you offering to sugar-mama me?" A teasing glint flashed in his eyes.

"Yep. I'll provide for you. I'm a rich heiress now, after all," Sophie declared, tapping the tip of his nose with peak queen energy.