The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 643

Seeing the shift in her expression, Oliver pressed his advantage. "I know you don't look at me that way, Suzie. Let's put us aside. I'm suggesting this for the kids. I've watched them grow up. I can't stand the thought of them crying over this. Right now, this is the only bulletproof way out. You know it is."

Suzie looked at him quietly. She knew exactly what he was doing. Claiming it was just for the kids was a massive stretch. If it were anyone else, she might have considered accepting the favor. But this was Oliver. If she agreed to let him play the role of their father in front of the whole world, she would be implicitly agreeing to cross a line they could never uncross.

After a long pause, she shook her head. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, Oliver. I really do. But I can't say yes. This is my mess, and I need to clean it up myself. Stella, Hayden... everyone is helping me find a real solution. I know you're hurt that I lied to you about my brother being my boyfriend before, and I've already—"

"Suzie..." he tried to interrupt.

She cut him off firmly. "My answer is no, Oliver. I can't let you do this. We'll figure another way out."

Oliver stared at her, the edges of his eyes turning a raw, painful red. He slowly stood up, his voice dropping to a hollow whisper. "You're not rejecting me because you're afraid of owing me. You're rejecting me because... because you're still in love with him, aren't you?"

Suzie shook her head. "You're reading too much into this."

"I'm not," he said bitterly. "You might be blind to it, but I see it perfectly."

With that, he turned and walked off the balcony. Suzie watched his retreating back as he muttered a quick goodbye to her parents and Stella, then disappeared out the front door.

...

Two days passed.

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