The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 3

Aaron nodded, his already clenched fists tightening. It wasn’t just Suzie; even he felt a chill hearing that. Jamie’s postponement wasn’t to delay the divorce, but to make it clear to anyone watching that his world revolved around Chloe Lockwood.

For Chloe, he hadn't even bothered to ask why Suzie had collapsed or where she had gone with her small bag. Even the trip to City Hall had to be scheduled around Chloe's arrival.-

The more Aaron thought about it, the more he felt it was a terrible injustice to Suzie. Though he hadn't interacted with her much, and he was just an assistant, Suzie had always been kind to him. She never acted superior or ordered any of the household staff around. She was kind, quiet, and easy to be around. But for some reason, Jamie just wasn’t interested.

Aaron couldn’t help but speak up again. “Mr. Baylor, perhaps you should call Miss Sterling? She looked very pale today, and she…”

“Are you telling me what to do?” Jamie’s sharp voice cut him off before he could finish.

Aaron immediately hung his head and sealed his lips.

***

After leaving the Baylor manor, Suzie wandered the streets with her small travel bag for a long time before deciding to go to her best friend Stella Vance’s place.

The moment Stella opened the door and their eyes met, the tears Suzie had been holding back finally streamed down her face.

Seeing her friend in tears, Stella’s heart ached. “What’s wrong? What happened?! Did Jamie ignore you again? Or did he say something cruel?” she asked anxiously, pulling Suzie inside.

Soon, Stella placed a steaming bowl of pasta in front of her. “Eat here at the table. Go on, eat.”

Suzie slowly took the fork Stella handed her. Whether she was truly hungry or not, she had to eat. What was more important now than the baby in her belly?

Stella sat quietly beside her, her heart twisting as she watched Suzie devour the food. She had seen Suzie cry before, but never like this. Her tear-filled eyes held a look of utter devastation. Yet, in the short time it took to make the pasta, Suzie’s expression had become completely blank. Something terrible must have happened.

A few minutes later, Suzie finished the last of the soup, wiped her mouth, and said in a surprisingly steady, flat voice, “Stella, I’m divorced. I left with nothing. I don’t have to walk on eggshells around him like a maid anymore, and I don’t have to let the Sterling family use my marriage to get favors from him. I’m free, Stella. Congratulate me.”