Gavin didn''t try to hide it. He nodded. "Yeah, it was an important call."


    Levi nced at him. "Who was it?"


    As soon as Levi asked, everyone turned to look at Gavin, curiosity written all over their faces.


    Gavin slowly put down his fork and said, "It was from my future daughter-inw."


    Levi was confused.


    Jacqueline looked at Gavin in surprise. "You found a girlfriend that fast?"


    Before Gavin could respond, Lance raised an eyebrow and said, "Gavin, you didn''t just pick up some random woman to keep Mom and Dad off your back, did you?"


    Gavin shot Lance a look, then let his gaze linger on Amelia sitting beside him. Amelia instantly had a bad feeling and tightened her grip on her


    fork.


    Sure enough, the next second, Gavin spoke up, "Lance, you and Amelia have been married for months now. Why isn''t she showing any signs of pregnancy? What''s the matter? Are you not man enough?"


    Amelia was stunned for a moment. Her face flushed with embarrassment.


    Lance stayed cool, slipping his arm around Amelia''s shoulders as he said lightly, "Gavin, I''m just saving your pride here. If I went ahead and had a kid while you''re still single, how would you save dignity?"


    "Are you really just saving my pride, or is it that you just can''t do it?" Gavin stared him down.


    Lance said, "Come on, Gavin. I''m still young. Do I look like I can''t do it?"


    Gavin said, "Then prove it. Why not have a kid?”


    Lance said, "I''m just worried others willugh at you."


    Their banter was heating up.


    Bradley adjusted his gold-rimmed sses and said, “Lance, maybe Gavin will have a kid before you do."


    Lance said, "I don''t care."


    Lance shot a meaningful look at Amelia, who was sitting right next to him. They were still enjoying their time alone together. There was no


    rush to have a kid.


    Thest thing Lance wanted was a little third wheel tagging along.


    Jacqueline asked curiously, "Gavin, did you really find a girlfriend?"


    Gavin replied, "Mom, I''m still waiting for her answer."


    Jacqueline wanted to ask more, but seeing how reserved Gavin was with his answers, she decided not to press further. The others didn''t ask


    either.


    After dinner, Gavin went straight back to his room. He waited for Britney''s call all


    the way until 11:30 PM, but there was still no sign of his


    08:54 Fri, 8 Aug


    phone ringing.


    "Did she forget?" Gavin muttered to himself.


    Of course, Britney hadn''t forgotten. She''d been wrestling with her thoughts all night.


    It wasn''t until almost midnight that she finally gathered the courage to call Gavin back.


    Gavin picked up after three rings.


    "Yeah?" His tone was icy.


    Britney took a deep breath. "Hi, Gavin." After calling his name, Britney fell silent, clearly at a loss for words.


    Gavin listened to the nervousness in her breathing and got straight to the point. "Ms. Watson, what''s your answer?"


    Her breathing grew heavier, and after a long, awkward pause, Britney finally said with guilt in her voice, "I''m sorry, Gavin. I can''t say yes."


    Even though he''d seen iting, Gavin couldn''t help but frown at her answer. He pressed, "Why?"


    Britney said, "Gavin, we''ve only met twice. We barely know each other. Getting married out of the blue like this. It''s just way too crazy."


    "Okay," Gavin said tly.


    Britney was totally stunned.


    Gavin said, "It''ste. You should get some rest." And with that, he ended the call.


    Britney stood there holding her phone, a little dazed. She couldn''t even tell what she was feeling right now.


    ''Is it disappointment?'' she wondered. She really didn''t know.


    The next day, Britney headed to work as usual. Her workday started at 9, but she usually showed up around 8:30.


    She''d just wrapped up the morning meeting when the receptionist told her someone was looking for her.


    Britney put on her professional smile and walked into the lobby, only to spot Gavin the moment she stepped in, standing there with a bouquet of roses in his arms.


    The roses were breathtakingly beautiful, each petal lush and dewy with the freshness of morning, their sweet scent drifting through the air.


    "Gavin?" Britney paused, surprised.


    Gavin stood up and offered the bouquet of roses to Britney.


    Britney''s smile stayed in ce, but she was clearly at a loss. For a moment, she


    was caught in an awkward spot, not sure if she