The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 113

She remained seated, treating Chloe as if she were a complete stranger.

Chloe stopped in front of Suzie, her eyes sweeping dismissively over Mia before her red lips parted. “Ms. Sterling, long time no see. Could you ask your little friend to step away for a moment? I have something to say.”

Chloe’s voice was even, betraying no emotion, but as her eyes scanned Suzie’s disheveled appearance up close, a smug smile crept across her face.

“If you have something to say, just say it,” Suzie replied coolly, making it clear she had no intention of sending Mia away.

Mia, sensing Chloe’s hostility and fearing for Suzie, stood her ground, unflinching.

Chloe scoffed. “Fine… have it your way! Suzie, I was going to spare you the embarrassment, but since you don’t want it, I’ll be direct.”

She pulled a small recording pen from her purse and, with a sinister smile, pressed the play button.

“—the one they called Josie told that Suzie girl, ‘Thanks for getting me into Lumina Studio.’ Then, Josie bought the most expensive silk pajamas in our store for Suzie as a thank you.”

“—working in high-end retail, we’re used to seeing this kind of business bribery. After that, they said they were going to the rooftop café to talk details…”

“And on top of that, you deliberately damaged the Baylor Group’s most expensive photography equipment today. It looks like you’ll be taking a trip down to the station.”

After her monologue, Chloe turned to the two men. “Officers,” she said respectfully, “this is the woman. Perhaps you can explain the charges. I’ve detailed everything in my formal complaint, and I trust you’ll conduct a thorough investigation.”

Mia was stunned, and Suzie was too shocked to speak. Crime? Deliberately damaging equipment? The difference between ‘deliberate’ and ‘accidental’ was enormous!

She suddenly recalled scenes from TV dramas where a villain could pin any crime on you, regardless of the truth, manufacturing evidence to fit the charge. She never thought something this absurd would happen to her in real life.