The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 325

Arthur placed a heavy, trembling hand on Oliver's arm and said wearily, "The police already cleared up the truth about the attack on your mother and me... She wouldn't want you causing a scene today."

Oliver's voice dropped into a rough, furious growl. "Dad, look at him. Does he look like he's here to mourn? Where was he before this? Who shows up to pay respects only after the casket is in the ground?"

Turning his hostile glare back to Jamie, Oliver sneered, "Don't think I don't know exactly why you're really here. It's been over four years, and you're still pulling this? Bringing an army of bodyguards to a funeral—what, are you planning to snatch her away by force?!"

Oliver glared at him with undisguised hatred. He should have known this would happen. He never should have let Suzie attend.

But Jamie acted as though Oliver hadn't spoken a single word. He stood rigidly straight, his lowered gaze locked entirely on the back of the woman kneeling by the grave.

Seeing the escalating tension, Aaron quickly stepped toward Arthur and bowed respectfully.

"Mr. Cross, please forgive the intrusion. Mr. Baylor was away on an overseas business trip. We drove straight here from the airport the moment we landed. The security detail is simply standard protocol for his travel."

At this, Jamie gave a polite, measured nod to Oliver's father. But when his eyes flicked back to Oliver, they were razor-sharp.

Withdrawing his gaze, Jamie reached out and took a single white memorial rose from Aaron.

He stood before the headstone and bowed deeply, honoring the deceased.

When he straightened, Aaron immediately extended both hands, expecting Jamie to pass the rose so the assistant could place it on the grave.

Jamie didn't hand it over. He simply shot Aaron a fleeting look and took a few slow steps forward.

Right beside Suzie, Jamie slowly sank to one knee. His movements as he laid the white rose down were agonizingly deliberate.

Every ounce of his attention was fixated on the woman beside him.

In her eyes, he was capable of anything.

While Suzie's mind raced with worst-case scenarios, the dark shadow his broad frame cast over her suddenly lifted.

He was standing up?

Suzie didn't move her body, but she cut her eyes toward the space behind her. Her gaze landed on a pair of polished black dress shoes, now dotted with tiny droplets of rain.

A second later, the shoes pivoted. Jamie's cold, composed voice drifted into her ears.

"My condolences, Oliver."

Then came the rhythmic sound of heavy footsteps against the wet stone path, slowly fading away into the rain.