The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 21

Hiding her nervousness, Suzie forced a calm expression and began edging along the wall. She had only taken a few steps before Jamie blocked her path with a single stride.

“Are you in such a hurry to divorce me?” Jamie’s voice came from above her, smooth and cool.

The question struck Suzie as utterly absurd. Who had been the one to propose the divorce? Who had been so desperate that he’d sent Aaron to the hospital with the papers?

But Suzie was done arguing with him. She answered calmly, “Yes, I am. Now, if the honorable Mr. Baylor would be so kind as to step aside?”

Jamie’s brow furrowed, and his large hand suddenly clamped down on her arm. “So this is the real you—sharp-tongued and aggressive. You were just pretending to be gentle and sweet for my grandfather and me all this time, weren't you?”

Suzie struggled, but his grip was perfectly calibrated—not too tight, not too loose—and she couldn't break free. She was almost speechless. Did he ever stop to consider his own faults?

Then again, ever since she had married him, Margaret had constantly found ways to exploit her status, wheedling favors from Jamie. From an outsider’s perspective, it would have been impossible to believe she wasn't involved in the scheming.

Still, his words made her skin crawl. She slowly tilted her face up, a mocking smile playing on her lips. “That’s right. Now you see the real me. So let’s get the paperwork done quickly. It’ll be better for everyone.”

As soon as she finished, Jamie’s hand tightened on her arm. “Better for ‘everyone’, huh?” he scoffed.

Suzie frowned. His tone and expression had suddenly turned strange, his words laced with an unspoken meaning. But she didn't want to get dragged into another one of his games. Deceiving Richard together was one thing, but the divorce needed to happen. She refused to live a life of submission and manipulation any longer.

“You’re hurting me,” she said involuntarily as his grip became painful.

“Let go of me!” Suzie shouted, but he acted as if he hadn’t heard, his grip tightening as he quickened his pace.

He didn’t release her until they were inside the grand hall of the manor. Several servants saw them enter and bowed respectfully.

Suzie’s eyes fell upon a long table nearby, exquisitely set with candelabras and fresh flowers.

A candlelight dinner? Was he flaunting this in her face? Showing off the surprise he had prepared for that woman?

Something heavy slammed into Suzie’s chest, and she hated herself for her weakness.