Chapter 7

"Shut up!" Amelia wasn't about to indulge Mandy. After shooting her a glare, she turned to me, her expression tense. "Gracie, what did you just say about a scandal?" Before I could respond, Gavin spoke up in a calm tone. "Mom, it's just the paparazzi making things up. I've already arranged for it to be dealt with." Hearing this, Amelia immediately understood the situation. She glared at Gavin before pulling out her phone. Sure enough, every major news outlet's front page was plastered with headlines about Mandy Green's divorce announcement and accompanying scandal. The featured photo? Gavin holding Mandy protectively in his arms. Although the paparazzi had thoughtfully pixelated Gavin's face, Caleb's face was fully visible in the background. Anyone familiar with Gavin would immediately recognize his assistant. Amelia slammed her mug onto the table, clearly furious. Her sharp gaze landed on Mandy. "Gavin might not understand the ins and outs of the entertainment world, but you certainly do. Mandy Green, I'm warning you—Gavin and Grace are about to have their wedding. Don't even think about playing any tricks!" "Mrs. Gould…" "Stop! Our family isn't big enough to accommodate a superstar like you!" "Dear, what are you doing?" Victor frowned, clearly uncomfortable with Amelia's outburst and attempting to smooth things over. Amelia, still fuming, shot him a glare. "Be quiet!" Victor's face darkened, but he said nothing more. Mandy suddenly stood, her expression a mix of indignation and hurt. "Mrs. Gould, yes, Gavin and I grew up together, and we did have a past. But now, I only see him as a friend! I didn't want to be photographed either. It's not something I can control. "It seems I came at the wrong time today, so I'll take my leave," her voice paused momentarily before she continued, her tone righteous. "But that doesn't mean I've done anything wrong. Gavin and I are completely innocent." With that, she grabbed her bag and turned to leave, her head held high. "Wait, Mandy…" Victor hurried after her. "Let me walk you out." Without waiting for Amelia's response, he rushed out of the room, leaving her seething. The living room fell into an awkward silence, the atmosphere oddly still. "Are you having a wedding soon?" Tom's casual voice broke the tension. Now that Mandy was gone, Amelia's face softened, and she managed a smile. "Yes. We postponed it because of the old man's illness and only registered their marriage. Now that his health has improved, it's time to make it official." "I see," Tom's earlier smile faded slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Looks like my timing was just right." Gavin chuckled. "Speaking of timing, why did you enlist so suddenly last time? At least now we can make up for it and celebrate together." Tom lowered his gaze, saying nothing, his expression unreadable. … Soon, the meal was ready, with an array of sumptuous dishes covering the entire table. Gavin and Tom continued their animated conversation, catching up on business topics after so long apart. Perhaps because of the pregnancy, I felt unusually tired. After finishing my meal, I quietly excused myself and went upstairs. I had planned to wait in the room for Gavin to have an open and honest conversation, but at some point, I dozed off. In the haze of sleep, I felt someone approach. Strong arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a warm embrace, and I could feel the heat of his body against my back. Startled, I woke up and immediately grabbed the person's wrist. "Did I wake you?" Gavin's voice murmured near my ear, his chin resting lightly in the crook of my neck. His warm breath sent shivers down my skin. I instinctively turned my face away. Gavin leaned closer, planting soft kisses along my cheek as he moved toward my lips. The faint scent of alcohol in his breath hit me, and my stomach churned uncomfortably. Pushing against his chest, I stopped him. "I need to ask you something." Gavin frowned slightly, clearly displeased by my rejection. Propping himself up, he looked down at me with a sharp gaze. "Still jealous of Mandy?" The intensity of his stare carried an overwhelming pressure. I sat up, meeting his eyes without flinching. "My mom saw the news about you and Mandy today. She was so angry that she passed out and had to be rushed to the emergency room." Gavin froze for a moment. "Is she okay?" "She's stable for now, out of immediate danger." Gavin exhaled a sigh of relief before standing up and grabbing his car keys from the table. "Let's go to the hospital." I blinked in confusion. "What for?" "To explain everything to Elizabeth in person." "Explain what?" The thought of Mandy's claim of being a close friend reignited my frustration. In this day and age, any man's relationship with a woman could turn into something unspeakable, let alone with someone like Mandy—the so-called first love disguised as a childhood friend. Gavin pursed his lips and said nothing. Instead, he pulled out his phone, scrolled through it briefly, and handed it to me. I hesitated but took it, glancing at the screen. It was a screenshot of a news article showing a harrowing car accident. The accompanying photo depicted a bloodied man lying on a stretcher. I looked up at Gavin, confused. "What is this?" Gavin's voice broke the silence. "That's Mandy's husband, Andrew Coleman. Years ago, he saved my life in that crash. His legs were shattered beyond repair, leaving him permanently disabled." I stared at him in shock, barely managing to find my voice. "But Mandy is divorced now, isn't she?" He nodded. "Yes. If it hadn't been for me. They would still be a picture-perfect couple. It's my fault." I hadn't expected Gavin's special treatment of Many to stem from guilt over this. Still, guilt could easily rekindle old feelings. "And you… How do you feel about her?" I started to ask but trailed off when Gavin ruffled my hair with a faint smile. "Still jealous, aren't you?" he teased. I glared at him, swatting his hand away to fix my now-messy hair. "Who wouldn't be, when you get so worked up over her breaking a glass?" It was one thing to worry about her after hearing about her accident, especially given Andrew's past. But getting overly concerned about a broken glass. That seemed excessive. "She attempted suicide after Andrew was diagnosed with his disability," Gavin explained, his tone heavy. "Using a glass." My eyes widened in disbelief. "She might seem cheerful and carefree, but it's all an act. She's been battling severe depression for years and can't handle even the slightest stress." For a moment, I was stunned into silence. If that were true, it would explain Gavin's unusual behavior around her. Even so. "Guilt is one thing, but there are other ways to repay her. Considering the sensitive nature of your relationship, it's better to limit your interactions with her going forward," I said, unable to hide my concern. Gavin nodded. "Don't worry. I know where the boundaries are." His firm response eased my tension slightly, and I let out a small sigh of relief. Still, a trace of worry lingered in my heart. I could only hope that Gavin would truly follow through on his promise.