The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 215

Ruby nodded in understanding. Suzie pressed her advantage. “You can ask Jamie for anything you want. Don’t treat him like a stranger.”

Ruby, busy turning on her phone, nodded along. “Okay, I won’t be shy. He’s so rich, he can’t be that stingy, right?”

Suzie glanced at her, thinking how much Ruby sounded exactly like Margaret. But it suited her purposes perfectly. Keeping Ruby here had been the right move. It was far better to have Ruby pester Jamie about shopping than for her to ask herself.

After adding a few more words of encouragement, Suzie excused herself, claiming she felt unwell and needed to rest. She would wait for Jamie to return, wait for Ruby to propose a shopping trip.

Still, a knot of anxiety remained in her stomach. She had no idea what kind of plan Stella and Oliver could come up with for the equipment. If it came down to simply paying for it…

Knowing them, they would do everything in their power to help her. But a sum that large… even if they pooled all their resources, it would likely leave them destitute.

The thought of that made her feel like a pariah. She couldn't ruin her own life and then drag her friends down with her.

Suzie sat on the balcony, a wave of guilt and frustration washing over her. All her life, Stella had been the one looking out for her, defending her, and she had brought nothing but trouble in return.

…

The next day, the moment Jamie walked in the door, Ruby ran up to him and asked without hesitation, “Jamie! I want to go shopping with Suzie. Can we?”

Jamie’s brow twitched. His gaze slowly moved to Suzie, and he asked in a cool, neutral tone, “Do you want to go?”

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