The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 37

The next morning, Suzie freshened up, ate a nutritious meal, and headed out. To save money, she took the bus part of the way, then booked a rideshare to the Baylor Manor.

William, the gatekeeper, was as polite as ever, opening the gate and still addressing her as “Mrs. Baylor.”

Suzie paused for a moment but decided against correcting him and walked toward the house.

When Martha saw Suzie, she came running towards her, moving with the speed of a much younger woman. “Mrs. Baylor! Mrs. Baylor, you’re finally back!”

“Martha…” Suzie’s voice cracked. Seeing Martha’s red-rimmed eyes, her own began to sting. In the year she had spent here, Martha was the one who had cared for her the most.

“It’s good that you’re back, it’s good,” Martha lamented. “Since you left, Mr. Baylor hasn’t been coming home either. This big house has been so cold and empty. Oh, dear!”

Suzie patted Martha’s shoulder gently. “Actually… Martha, I just came back to get something.”

The joy on Martha’s face instantly turned to sorrow. Although Mr. Baylor hadn't said anything, Suzie’s tone and her long absence made it clear that they had truly separated.

What a shame for such a lovely couple. What could have happened?

“Martha, have the things in the bedroom been cleared out?”

Wiping away a tear, Martha quickly replied, “No, nothing. Mr. Baylor said not to touch anything. We just do the daily cleaning.”

Suzie gave her another reassuring pat before heading upstairs.

In the bedroom, she went straight to the nightstand to look for the velvet box, but after searching all the drawers, she couldn't find it. She checked every corner of the room, but it was nowhere.

Last night while packing, she realized she had forgotten the box. On the day Jamie had asked for a divorce, she had been so angry and confused that she’d left it behind.

She had sold a few of her bags in the past, but it had been an emergency to help someone. They were her bags, and she wasn't using them. Didn’t she have the right to do as she pleased? Why did everything sound so ugly coming from his mouth? Did he think that even as his wife, she had no right to touch anything in the house?

Suzie slowly lifted her head, meeting his frigid gaze. “Jamie, why do you always find ways to humiliate me? You did it then, and you’re still doing it now.”

Jamie stared down at her, his expression unreadable.

Seeing his complete disregard for her feelings, a wave of anger surged through her. “If you couldn’t stand the sight of me, why did you agree to this marriage in the first place? Even if your grandfather ordered it, even if he pressured you, you could have found a way to convince him, couldn't you?”

As the words left her mouth, Jamie suddenly moved closer. He braced a muscular arm against the door behind her, his hot breath fanning across her cheek and neck.

“And you?” he countered. “Why did you agree to this marriage?”