The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 288

The smoldering ash from his cigarette dropped onto his expensive shirt, instantly burning a small hole in the fabric.

He shot up, patting at the spot before quickly dabbing it with a tissue.

Aaron watched, a mix of complicated emotions churning inside him.

“Mr. Baylor, I know a clothing restoration specialist. His work is excellent; he can make it look like new.”

Aaron remembered that shirt. Suzie had bought it for him before the divorce. It had been pouring rain that day, and he had gone to the mall to pick her up.

The underground garage was full, so he had to wait by the building’s entrance. The spare umbrella in his car had gone missing during a recent servicing, and he hadn’t replaced it yet.

Amidst the crowds of people running for cover, most were holding their shopping bags over their heads. Suzie, however, clutched hers tightly to her chest as she sprinted toward the car.

Aaron had even asked her at the time why she didn’t use the bag to shield herself from the rain.

He remembered her answer clearly. The store’s shopping bags were made of thick paper, and the rain was heavy and dirty. If it got wet, the texture of the shirt inside would be ruined.

The memory still moved Aaron.

A woman who knew how particular her man was about his clothes, who would rather get soaked herself than risk damaging the gift she bought him...

“See to it. I want it restored to its original condition,” Jamie’s voice cut through the silence.

He rose slowly and started toward the adjoining lounge. Just as he opened the door, he paused.

Every lead went cold.

It was as if Suzie had evaporated from the face of the earth, vanished without a trace.

And now, for some reason, Jamie had started ordering him to search again. After all these years, where could he even begin? For all he knew, her body had been swept away by the current and trapped somewhere beneath the waves. It happened all the time in the news…

The thought sent a chill down Aaron’s spine, a deep sense of loss and regret.

Just then, a sharp knock sounded on the glass office door.

He walked over and opened it to find the manager of the business department.