Chapter 2 Could He Be Gay

Sophie drew a deep breath before opening the door.

"Welcome back," she greeted, mustering a faint smile as she gracefully fetched slippers for Gavin.

Leaning slightly to hand them over, her slender waist subtly caught Gavin's attention.

Standing beside her, Gavin observed keenly, his eyes narrowing with a hint of intrigue.

Before Sophie could straighten up, a pair of large hands grasped her waist, startling her.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" she questioned, her voice uneasy.

Raising an eyebrow, Gavin countered, "Aren't we a married couple?"

His intense gaze bore into Sophie's, his eyes sharp and unyielding. Sophie's eyes widened with a mix of confusion and apprehension as she sensed a dangerous edge to Gavin's demeanor.

"I... I..." Sophie stammered, unable to find her voice.

They were technically a couple, but they were also still strangers to each other! How could he just touch her waist like that?

"We're moving too fast. I'm not ready yet," Sophie murmured softly, her cheeks flushing. She nervously twirled her fingers, avoiding eye contact.

There was genuine hesitation in her demeanor; she didn't appear to be pretending.

If she had truly schemed to marry him, wouldn't she have reciprocated his initiative?

Was this all just a coincidence?

Gavin nodded understandingly and proceeded to change his shoes without pressing her further.

Feeling embarrassed, Sophie felt the urge to retreat to the kitchen, needing a moment to collect her thoughts.

"Well, please have a seat. I'll start cooking," Sophie said, not waiting for Gavin's response as she headed straight for the kitchen.

Just as she turned around, her phone rang, displaying Leyla's name.

"Sorry, I need to take this," Sophie said to Gavin before answering the call. Leyla's voice came through the phone with urgency.

"Sophie, where the hell are you? Kenneth has been waiting for you at Moon Cafe all afternoon!"

After a brief pause, Sophie replied, "I've met him and we're already married."

Leyla's voice grew even louder in disbelief. "You've met Kenneth and married him? Is this a sick joke? Then, explain to me why the man you've married is sitting in my living room right now!"

What?

Sophie froze, her mind racing in confusion. If Kenneth was with Leyla, then who had she just married?

Feeling a surge of panic, she hastily ended the call with Leyla.

Turning wide-eyed to Gavin, she stuttered, "You... You're not the person Leyla had arranged for me to meet, are you?"

A frown crept into Gavin's face.

Leyla's voice had been loud enough over the phone for him to hear their conversation clearly.

If Sophie's reaction was genuine, he could piece together what had likely happened.

"No, I'm not," he replied firmly, shaking his head slightly. "My name's actually Gavin Hewitt."

He had initially suspected Sophie of having ulterior motives, but now it appeared to be a genuine coincidence.

Furthermore, the idea that she might have been coerced into marriage by her family made sense to him.

"Oh my God!"

Tiny beads of sweat broke out on Sophie's forehead.

She never imagined she could make such a monumental mistake.

"So, what do we do now? I'm not the person you intended to marry. Should we go ahead with a divorce tomorrow morning?" Sophie asked nervously, her nose glistening with sweat.

Gavin found the situation amusing, observing the clear expression of regret and anxiety on her face. It had been a while since he had seen someone who wrote everything on their face like this.

"If you're not seeing anyone, we don't necessarily need to rush into a divorce," Gavin replied calmly.

"But..." Sophie began, wanting to explain.

"I've been swamped lately, working late every night. Make yourself at home here," Gavin interjected, hinting at his frequent absence.

Did that mean that he wouldn't be around much?

Sophie nodded, considering his words carefully. Tentatively, she asked, "Is there a mortgage on this house? If so, I can contribute to repay it with you."

Looking at the cautious expression on her face, Gavin responded unexpectedly, "Yes, it's eight thousand a month."

Sophie was taken aback. The house was indeed expensive.

"My salary is only about three thousand a month. I can contribute two thousand towards the loan with you."

She promptly transferred the amount to Gavin after checking her phone.

Gavin was surprised that she took his words seriously, and he smiled slightly.

"What about your personal expenses?" Gavin inquired.

Sophie felt considerably more at ease settling into the house after transferring the money.

She shrugged confidently and replied, "A thousand should be enough."

She used to give Leyla two thousand a month as living expenses when she was still living with them, and fortunately, this month's transfer hadn't gone through yet.

Gavin raised an eyebrow in puzzlement. A thousand for a month? That wouldn't even cover a designer bag and some clothes!

He eyed Sophie's faded jeans and old-fashioned white T-shirt with a slight frown.

"Take the ten thousand and buy yourself things you need. I'll also cover the daily expenses," Gavin offered.

"No, thanks. I'm happy just to live in such a nice house."

Then she added, "If I can close the deal on this project I'm working on, I'll earn a decent commission. There might even be a bonus this month as well."

"Where are you currently working?" Gavin asked casually.

"In a small company called Galaxy Advertising," she said with a timid grin. "You haven't had dinner yet, right? Let me whip something up."

Gavin, wary of growing too close without understanding more about Sophie, rose quickly. "I need to take care of a few more things. You can have dinner by yourself," he declared, his tone resolute.

His towering figure loomed over Sophie, casting a shadow that felt as substantial as a physical barrier.

Nervously swallowing, she couldn't deny that Gavin's allure was striking, with his broad shoulders and an authoritative air that could rival any television heartthrob.

"Ring me when you're coming back then," she called out as he moved toward the door.

"Sure," Gavin responded, hesitating as he opened the door.

"My grandfather's been ill in another city but he's coming back soon. You'll join me to visit him then."

"Absolutely," Sophie responded with a renewed sparkle in her eye, pleased by the news of his imminent departure.

Gavin's brow creased in a frown, puzzled by her sudden buoyancy. Why did her mood lift so quickly?

These thoughts raced through his mind as he left without a backward glance.

Sophie watched him step into the elevator, a sigh of relief escaping her as the doors closed. She shut her own door, her mind swirling with confusion. Was marriage taken so lightly these days?

Gavin's handsome features made it hard for her to believe he couldn't find a girlfriend. Why would he agree to marry someone he had only met once?

Was he really marrying just for the sake of marriage?

A daring thought suddenly sprang up in her heart. Could he be gay?

Given Gavin's apparent disinterest in marriage, her speculation seemed plausible.

"But he touched my waist," Sophie muttered to herself, puzzled.

If Gavin was gay, was that touch a test? Was he trying to see if she would be committed to this marriage more than he expected?

It dawned on Sophie that after she declined his advances, Gavin showed no signs of displeasure. On the contrary, he seemed more approving of her stance, cheerfully changing his shoes and settling onto the sofa.

Reflecting on these observations, Sophie felt increasingly certain that there was more to this marriage.