The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 168

Suzie bolted upstairs as fast as she could. She couldn't let Richard find out about the baby yet. She hadn't even figured out how to deal with Jamie; adding Richard to the mix would only make him more insistent on keeping her here. And with the children… her situation would become impossible.

But Jamie's look had also urged her to hide, and that puzzled her. What was he thinking?

Just as Suzie slipped into the bedroom, she heard Richard Baylor's booming voice from downstairs. “You brat! Where’s our Suzie?!”

His tone was thick with anxiety and displeasure.

Suzie held her breath, listening intently as Jamie’s obedient voice followed. “Grandpa, what are you doing here? Suzie is still studying abroad… Grandpa? Grandpa?”

She only caught half the exchange before all she could hear was Jamie calling Richard's name, the sound growing closer and closer.

Suzie’s heart hammered in her chest. Was Richard coming upstairs? With Jamie chasing after him?!

Her eyes darted around the room, desperately searching for a hiding place. After a moment’s hesitation, she ran towards the wardrobe.

She had barely pulled the doors shut when she heard the bedroom door swing open.

“Suzie? Suzie?” Richard called out, poking his head into the room. His voice sounded unnervingly clear in the silence.

Suzie’s pulse raced, certain she was about to be discovered.

Just as she braced herself for discovery, Richard started walking towards her hiding spot. Through the narrow gap, she could see Jamie following close behind him.

Jamie glanced at the wardrobe, then quickly took Richard’s arm. “Grandpa, why don’t you believe me? You know whenever you used to visit the manor, Suzie would run out to the courtyard to wait for you. Why would she hide from you now?”

Before he could finish, Richard swatted him on the head. “You brat! How many things have you two conspired to hide from me? You… you just wait until I find Suzie.”

Richard’s voice was a mixture of anger and accusation. He forcefully pulled his arm away, shoving Jamie aside with his elbow.

Then, he shouted.