The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 1

At the hospital entrance, Suzie Sterling glanced at the dried blood on her fingertip and let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh.

After more than a year of marriage, she had given him all her tenderness, yet his heart remained untouched. She had collapsed and been taken to the hospital, but he never showed up. Not even a single phone call. What stung most was that he had sent his assistant to the hospital with the divorce agreement.

At the thought, a sharp pain seized Suzie’s heart. She took a heavy step and weakly opened the door to a taxi.

Twenty minutes later, the car pulled up to a stately manor.

Suzie stared out the window with desolate eyes before slowly getting out and walking inside. “Mrs. Baylor, how did your checkup go today? Is your stomach acting up again?”

Martha, the housekeeper, hurried over to greet her, her voice full of concern.

Suzie’s expression darkened. She instinctively touched her lower abdomen before moving her hand up to her stomach. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she replied softly, “Yes, it’s just a stomach problem.”

Martha eyed her gesture with suspicion, then glanced at the small bag in Suzie’s hand. “Then why didn’t you get any medicine?”

“A change in diet should be enough,” Suzie said, heading upstairs. “Martha, I’m just going to my room.”

Martha stood at the bottom of the staircase, watching until Suzie disappeared down the upstairs hall.

A nearby maid looked up as well, then leaned in to whisper, “Martha, Mrs. Baylor looks terribly pale. She was so cheerful when she left this morning. What happened?”

Martha frowned. “I agree, something’s not right. Maybe her stomach is really bothering her?”

Suzie clutched the strap of her bag, forcing a gentle look into her eyes. “Martha, I’m leaving. Thank you for taking care of me this past year.”

“What?! Mrs. Baylor, what do you mean?” Martha’s eyes widened in shock and sadness. While Suzie and Jamie had been distant since their marriage, she’d never heard of them fighting. Was she leaving because they had a fight? Was this just a temporary thing?

Martha rushed forward to block her path. “Mrs. Baylor, it’s late. Where could a young woman like you go alone?”

Martha knew a bit about Suzie’s family, and none of them were easy to deal with. It seemed the Sterlings didn’t truly care for Suzie, except for how her connection to the Baylor family could benefit them.

“Mrs. Baylor, did Mr. Baylor upset you? It’s normal for young couples to bicker. Listen to me, don’t run off just because you’re having a little spat…”

“Martha, thank you, but I really have to go.”