Chapter 22
Gavin was holding a large white plush dog, and inside the dog’s pocket was some chocolate she used to love. “Cecilia, this doll was made to resemble Joy. I know you’ve always missed Joy, and now it can be with you again.”
Cecilia froze. Joy was a Samoyed her family had when she was a child. It was cute. Later, when the dog passed away, she cried for a long time and swore never to have another dog again.
“Cecilia, Joy is Gavin’s special gift to you. You should accept it,” Luke said. Wearing his school uniform and sitting in a wheelchair, he still had that innocent, youthful smile.
It seemed like everyone was touched by the surprise, except Cecilia, whose face held no trace of a smile.
“Luke, are you alright? Why did you leave school early?” Cecilia asked, ignoring Gavin as she turned to her brother.
“I’m fine. Since Gavin said he was preparing a surprise for you, I left school early to help out,” Luke replied with a naive grin.
“Cecilia, do you like the surprise I prepared for you today?” Gavin asked, visibly pleased with his arrangement. In fact, it had been a long time since he’d tried to win her over.
Ever since the Jordan family’s fall from grace, Gavin hadn’t broken up with Cecilia, people around him praised his devotion. Over time, he had come to take her emotional support for granted.
During the three years he took control of the Foster family, Cecilia had been by his side as his secretary. He didn’t have the time or the desire to make her feel special anymore–he even forgot birthdays and anniversaries.
To him, Cecilia was easy to please. All he needed to do was spend some time with her and buy her a designer gift.
Gavin slowly walked up to Cecilia, a confident smile on his face. “Cecilia, I admit I neglected your feelings during that time. The hydrangeas and the custom–made doll of Joy are both things you love. I haven’t forgotten.”
This was the first time Gavin had apologized to her.
Luke didn’t know what had really happened between them. He thought they had just argued and that was why Luke was trying to help them make up. “Cecilia, just forgive Gavin.”
At this moment, the people around them were encouraging Cecilia to forgive Gavin.
Cecilia sneered. She steadied her breath, which had been rushed from running, and her eyes became cold.
“Cecilia, accept my gift and come back to me,” Gavin said, convinced he was being romantic and heartfelt. He felt moved by himself. He instinctively opened his arms to embrace her.
Suddenly, Cecilia’s eyes turned cold, and she forcefully pushed Gavin’s arms away. “Are you out of your mind?”
Gavin was caught off guard, being pushed back by Cecilia. The stuffed dog fell to the floor, and the atmosphere in the room. instantly became silent.
Cecilia’s gaze was cold as she looked at Gavin, whose expression shifted from shock to growing anger. “I thought you had thought things through and wouldn’t do such things that only you find moving anymore.
“This isn’t a surprise to me, it feels more like harassment.”
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Chapter 22
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“What do you mean?” Gavin clearly hadn’t expected Cecilia to reject him on the spot. He felt humiliated.
The restaurant staff, who had been looking on with admiration and envy, were now silent after hearing Cecilia’s words. The piano music stopped. What was meant to be a romantic, surprising moment had turned awkward.
Luke was equally shocked by Cecilia’s reaction. He didn’t dare to speak.
The surrounding silence only fueled Gavin’s growing anger. “Cecilia, I came all the way from Kingsford for you, spent the whole afternoon preparing for this.
“Isn’t this enough sincerity? What more do you want from me? This is all stuff you like, why have you suddenly changed?” “I’ve told you I don’t need it,” Cecilia maintained her distance from Gavin. “Having you follow me here only makes me feel scared. Gavin, stop doing things just to make yourself feel good. We’ve already broken up.”
Hearing “break up” from Cecilia again instantly triggered Gavin’s unstable emotions.
“Cecilia, stop pretending.” Gavin unmasked her, clearly displeased.
“You sent me the booking information on purpose, wanting me to come after you. I know you’re angry, but it’s because you don’t trust me. I came to appease you, so stop bringing up the breakup,” Gavin added.
Gavin’s apology came with a sense of questioning, as though he was doing her a favor.
To him, compared to the past, he had already done a lot. She used to calm down with just a few kind words, but now she had become difficult to handle.
However, Cecilia didn’t even want to give him an answer.
If the distance between them was 100 steps, over the past seven years, she had already taken 99 steps. The last step, she had waited for too long. She had waited until she gave up everything she once had.
But now, Gavin had only taken one step, and he stopped, still accustomed to taking from her.
“Cecilia, what else do you want? Just tell me, I’ll give it to you. I dropped everything at the company to come here. Don’t test my patience anymore,” Gavin reached out to her, “Come back to me, let’s go back to Kingsford together.”
“No one asked you to do any of this. Whatever you do, it has nothing to do with me,” Cecilia said, her gaze never lingering on him.
She walked over to Luke, her voice tightening slightly. “Luke, I didn’t find you at school. When you didn’t answer your phone, I was really worried.”
“Sorry, Cecilia, I won’t do it again,” Luke realized his mistake.
As Cecilia pushed Luke’s wheelchair past Gavin, she glanced down at the white dog doll lying on the floor. “You might not remember, but I already have one, But none of this matters anymore.”
Precious things had their expiration date. At the wrong time, they lost their meaning.
Her words were calm, but they struck a painful chord in Gavin’s heart. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had used this gift to appease her.
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Chapter 22
After Cecilia and Luke left, the restaurant manager cautiously asked, “Mr. Foster, what about the things here…
The white dog doll that had fallen on the floor was dirty, and the hydrangeas that had been cut and arranged earlier had started to wilt.
“Didn’t I pay for this? Is something she doesn’t want just trash to you?” Gavin, struggling to breathe, lashed out at everyone around him.
His heart sank further. “Cecilia always uses the breakup to threaten me. Looks like I haven’t won her heart yet. But she keeps bringing it up, spoiled by my indulgence.
“So what if she says we’ve broken up. She’s just playing hard to get. Even if we break up, we’ll get back together. She can’t
leave me.”
For a brief moment, Gavin was unsure whether Cecilia still loved him, but he quickly steadied himself. Their years of growing up together were his confidence. He believed in exposing her facade. He was certain she loved him.
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