I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 187

Gillian woke up bright and early, pacing relentlessly around the bedroom. Graham stepped out of the bathroom, amused by her nervous energy. "Gavin hasn't even brought it up yet, and you're already a nervous wreck."

She shot her husband a withering glare, acting as if the situation rested entirely on her shoulders.

"He's traveled to New York City for work countless times and never bothered to run home for the weekend. I figured giving him the silent treatment for a while would force him to cool his heels. But look at him, still as stubborn as ever."

"He's never been an impulsive kid. The fact that he's willing to come back and communicate is a good thing."

Remaining as deeply unflappable as ever, Graham patted his wife's shoulder, gesturing for her to follow him out.

As she passed Gavin's bedroom, Gillian knocked softly twice. When no one answered, she pushed the door open. He was already gone, his bed immaculately made.

"Looks like he's started his campaign with his grandmother," she said, looking back at Graham.

"The hardest challenges are solved through the easiest steps; the biggest problems are solved through the smallest details. It's fantastic that he knows how to strategize."

Gillian scowled at her husband. Was this man intentionally trying to sabotage her position?

"Why are you glaring at me? His willingness to actively communicate and tackle the problem is a positive trait. What if he just threw caution to the wind and dragged her to the courthouse with his ID in hand? What could you possibly do then?"

"He wouldn't dare!"

Even though it was just a hypothetical scenario, it was enough to make her blood boil.

Graham rested his hands on her shoulders, gently massaging the tight muscles that had bunched up from anger.

"Alright, let's hear the boy out first. I am absolutely on your side. But you have to commend his proactive attitude. You can't just shut him down entirely."

She shot him another glare. She used to admire how profound and principled he was, but when it came to their son, he was proving to be a master at playing the peacekeeper.

It was obvious Gavin had already gotten into his father's head.

She marched downstairs, finding the living room totally empty. Her mother wasn't in her bedroom either.

Spinning on her heel, she immediately marched toward the rooftop terrace.

"Where are you going? Help me make breakfast first," Graham tried to stop her.

"Make it yourself! Just because the housekeeper is off today doesn't mean you can treat me like one."

Huffing with indignation, she brushed past him and stormed up the stairs to find her mother and son.

Sure enough, Gavin was up on the roof garden helping Rosemary water the plants. They were chatting and laughing together, painting a picture-perfect morning scene.

Suddenly, she couldn't bring herself to shatter such a beautiful moment between a grandmother and her grandson. Clearing her throat, she waited until they turned to look at her before asking, "What does everyone want for breakfast?"

"I haven't had Savory Heritage Porridge in ages. Mom, are you cooking yourself today?"

Smiling, Gavin gestured to the teacups. "Try this. Have my brewing skills improved?"

She was annoyed by his attempt to dodge the question, but she still picked up the cup and took a delicate sip.

"You once told me that men are like tea leaves and women are like water. Different types of water extract completely different profiles from the leaves. And depending on the quality of the tea, the water takes on a unique flavor. Every tea requires a specific water temperature to truly shine. For my specific type of tea, Sophie's water is the absolute perfect match."

"You've had exactly a handful of relationships, and you dare claim she's your perfect match?" She openly scoffed at his analogy.

"You only ever dated Dad. How did you know for absolute certain he was the perfect match for you?"

Seeing him skillfully turn the conversation back on her, she flushed with defensive pride. "Nonsense! I had plenty of suitors in college."

"I know. Dad mentioned that a lot of them were incredibly impressive guys, including the son of a high-ranking official. Back then, a teacher's salary was miserable and the benefits were awful. He was objectively not the best choice on paper. Grandma even opposed the marriage because he was seven years older than you. So why were you so completely certain he was the one?"

She glared at Graham, who simply offered a helpless shrug. "It's the truth. We were chatting one day, he asked, so I told him."

Rosemary quickly chimed in. "I did object at first. But when I saw how deeply you loved each other, and how steady and reliable Graham was, I gave my blessing."

Gillian looked at her husband, then at her mother. The two people who had sworn to form a united front with her were now flagrantly switching sides.

Seeing that his mother, though clearly exasperated, hadn't completely lost her temper, Gavin smoothly pressed his advantage to lay out his arguments.