The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 163

He shot Lucy a look, and the maid nodded before quickly excusing herself from the living room.

Suzie glanced at him impassively, her lips parting and closing without a word.

It was Jamie who broke the silence, his voice gentle. “Come, let’s eat.”

Suzie paused, then walked straight past him toward the dining room. As she reached for a chair, Jamie stepped in, pulling it out for her.

“Sit.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she slowly sat down. Her eyes dropped to the table, which was covered with an elaborate breakfast.

“It’s all your favorites,” Jamie’s soft voice murmured beside her.

Suzie suddenly felt a wave of unease. He had been this gentle last night, too, but wasn't that all an act for Chloe? Who was he performing for now, with just the two of them in the dining room?

As she pondered this, her stomach let out another loud rumble.

But Suzie hesitated. Last night, she had been too exhausted to argue. If she sat here and ate breakfast naturally, he might think she was content to stay.

Just then, she saw Jamie take the seat next to her out of the corner of her eye.

“Eat first. I’m taking you somewhere afterward.”

As he spoke, he held out a small bowl of steamed egg custard.

Suzie didn't take it. She met his gaze coolly and said, “Where? And how long are you planning to keep me locked up here?”

Her gaze lingered on his arm for a few seconds longer than intended. The gauze looked fresh, as if it had been changed again.

What kind of injury was it? Why did it need daily re-bandaging?

Just then, a maid approached the table with a box of medicine. “Mr. Baylor,” she said respectfully, “the doctor said to take these thirty minutes after your meal.”

Jamie gave a terse nod.

As Suzie’s eyes shifted, they met Jamie’s sudden gaze. The warmth from before breakfast was gone, replaced by his usual frostiness.

“Suzie,” he said, his voice as cold as ice, “your memory seems to be failing you. Or perhaps you’d prefer a stay in a jail cell.”