The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 380

"What? Did that hurt your feelings?"

Still reeling from the shock, Suzie steadied her emotions and replied softly, "No... Alice, I'll leave as soon as possible."

Alice walked over and stopped right in front of her. "Good. And if Hayden asks..."

Suzie met her gaze, her eyes swirling with complex emotions. Alice still wore that polite, faint smile, but she was speaking to Suzie as if she were a total stranger, a potential threat.

Suzie let out a quiet sigh in her heart before softening her expression. "Alice, I'll handle things with Hayden. I won't mention you at all."

Alice nodded in satisfaction, the smile on her face deepening just a fraction. "You're a smart woman. We're done here, then. I have other errands to run, so I'll be taking my leave."

With that, Alice walked to the coat rack in the corner, grabbed her designer bag, and headed for the door.

"Alice, the perfume I brought..."

Before Suzie could finish the sentence, Alice stopped in her tracks and looked back over her shoulder. "Suzie, I'm giving you three days. If you're not gone by then, you know exactly how I handle things..."

The door clicked open and then shut with a sharp finality.

Suzie sank slowly back into her chair, staring at the luxurious perfume box on the table. Her eyes grew heavy with sadness.

She wasn't upset about leaving Timefly Studio. She had already planned on resigning anyway. What hurt was the sudden, brutal shift in Alice's attitude. Even though Alice hadn't screamed or used vicious insults, the implication was clear: she was terrified Suzie and Hayden were going to cross a line.

Alice's behavior today was a clear mandate: Suzie was to cut all ties with Hayden forever.

To Suzie, it felt as devastating as losing two family members in a single day. In her heart, she had truly considered Alice and Hayden her family.

...

Suzie sat alone in the booth at the Bruce Café for the entire lunch hour before finally returning to Timefly Studio.

Burying her heartbreak, she threw herself entirely into her work. Once she had wrapped up every pending task, she called Mia into her office and spoke in a gentle, steady tone.