The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 425

425 /520

They shared a light laugh before Hayden's gaze landed on the thick stack of files Suzie had placed on the coffee table. He looked confused. "Suzie, what are all these for?"

Suzie fell silent for a moment. Then, she spoke softly.

"Hayden."

Her tone was slightly more serious now. She shifted her gaze to Alice, addressing her with the same warm familiarity. "Alice."

Taking a breath, Suzie offered a gentle smile. "There's something I need to tell both of you. I... I'm planning to leave Timefly. I'm going to start my own studio."

Without waiting to see Hayden's shocked expression, she quickly continued, "I've already wrapped up the handovers for all these projects. I know my reasons for leaving might seem a bit selfish, but I hope you won't hold it against me..."

She spun a flawless narrative about wanting to push her boundaries and build something of her own. She sounded earnest, grounded, and utterly resolute. She framed it entirely as a final decision, leaving absolutely no room for negotiation.

Hayden stared at her, stunned into silence. A visible shadow fell over his face.

Alice immediately reached out, grabbing Suzie's hand in a panic. "Suzie, what is this? Did Hayden do something wrong while I was away? If he hasn't been treating you right, just tell me! Why on earth would you want to leave?"

Suzie's mind spun for a second. Alice's acting was genuinely flawless. For a brief, dizzying moment, she almost wondered if that vicious confrontation in the coffee shop had just been a fever dream. When it came to playing the game, Suzie had to admit she was outmatched.

Forcing a bittersweet smile, she kept her voice soft. "No, Alice, I promise. I genuinely see you both as family. It's just... maybe I'm being overly ambitious. I want to see how far I can go on my own. I've already made my decision. I really hope I have your blessing."

"But..."

Alice looked deeply distressed. She turned to Hayden, her voice laced with gentle urgency. "Hayden, don't just sit there! Help me talk her out of this!"