The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 326

He was actually leaving. Suzie shot Stella a look of pure disbelief.

Stella's wide eyes darted toward the retreating figure in the distance, then back to Suzie, repeating the motion several times.

"Suzie... it looks like you're finally free. He really just came to pay his respects."

A heavy weight lifted from Stella's chest. She never wanted to see her best friend tormented and heartbroken by Jamie ever again.

This was good. This was perfectly fine.

Suzie let out a long, shuddering breath, feeling as though a mountain had been moved off her shoulders. She rose slowly and turned to Oliver. "We should head back now."

Oliver kept his gaze fixed on the horizon, giving a stiff nod.

Seeing the staff gently guiding Arthur away from the gravesite, Suzie added in a hushed, raspy voice, "Please don't be too hard on yourself, Oliver. Just focus on comforting... our dad."

"And who is going to comfort me?" Oliver's eyes swam with grief. His lips trembled as he slowly reached out, his hands gripping both of her shoulders. "Did you really have to do this, Suzie?" he choked out. "Did you acknowledge my dad just for my mom's sake? Wearing these black mourning clothes for her funeral... or did you do it to completely sever any chance between us?"

"Oliver, I..." A lump formed in Suzie's throat, rendering her speechless.

He abruptly dropped his hands from her shoulders. Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode down the stone path toward the parking lot.

Stella stood up and stepped to Suzie's side. "Don't let it get to you. Healing takes time."

Suzie furrowed her brow, her gaze dropping to the grass in sorrow.

***

The cemetery service came to an end.

Suzie and Stella followed the motorcade back to the Cross family estate to check on Arthur before finally taking their leave.

Oliver had locked himself in his bedroom the entire time. Even as they departed, he never made an appearance.

Just as she walked out the door, her phone buzzed with a text from Chester.

She had only taken a few steps along the walkway when a massive hand suddenly clamped around her arm. The grip was terrifyingly strong, yanking her violently into the shadows between parked cars. Before a scream could even tear from her throat, she was shoved hard into the backseat of an SUV.

Jamie.

He followed right in after her, his long legs crowding into the confined space, his eyes blazing with a dangerous, dark intensity.

The car door slammed shut behind him with a deafening thud. His broad, muscular frame immediately leaned over her, pinning her in place.

His heavy, ragged breaths echoed through the silent interior as he fought to suppress the raging inferno in his chest.

"You are so incredibly cruel."

Jamie snarled through gritted teeth, his piercing gaze locking onto hers.

Paralyzed by the sudden ambush, Suzie could do nothing but shrink back as his overwhelming, suffocating presence crashed down over her.