The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 233

Jamie didn't reply. He walked over to the entryway, opened a cabinet, and pulled out a card from his briefcase. He returned to Suzie’s side.

“Take this. Buy whatever you want.”

Suzie slowly rose from the sofa and stared at the card, feigning hesitation. “I still owe you money. This isn’t appropriate.”

Jamie pressed the card into her hand. “Just take it.”

This time, Suzie didn’t refuse. She did have a few things she needed to buy tomorrow. She even found herself regretting not taking the large settlement during the divorce. She had been entitled to a perfectly legal and fair payment, but her stubborn pride had made her refuse it. If she hadn't, she wouldn't be in this position now.

“Thank you!” she said, her voice loud and overwhelmingly sincere.

Jamie’s brow furrowed slightly. Without another word, he turned and left the main hall.

Outside, the sky had turned completely dark.

Chester, still drinking at the long table, had been like a man possessed ever since he saw Suzie’s face clearly. He was a completely different person from before, drinking his wine in sullen silence, completely indifferent to the games Bowen, Yancy, and Ruby were playing.

Jamie observed this and couldn't help but connect it to Suzie. How could a man who was having a great time suddenly turn so morose after a brief trip inside? He was clearly troubled by something.

Jamie pulled out a cigarette and offered it to him, deliberately probing, “What’s wrong? Just got back and you’re already weighed down by something?”

Chester gave a bitter laugh and shoved Jamie playfully. “You son of a bitch, always twisting things. Man… I guess I just don't have what it takes to keep a woman around.”

“That’s because you never really tried,” Jamie said coolly. “Besides, relationships are about fate. If it’s meant to be, you’ll see her again.”

He raised his glass and clinked it against Chester’s. “Come on, drink up. Don’t be so dramatic.”

Chester lifted his glass, meeting Jamie’s with a sharp clink, and sighed. “Jamie, you tell me. Are the four of us destined to die alone? I finally find someone I like, and she runs off! Bowen is constantly fighting with his girlfriend, and Yancy just got cheated on. And you… you don’t seem interested in women at all. Be honest with me, are you into men? If you have a thing for guys, you’d better not be eyeing me.”

Jamie glared at him. Chester's words had struck a nerve, flooding his mind with images of Suzie, the woman who had broken his heart. With no outlet for his misery, he downed his drink and poured another.