The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 85

“Who did this?!” Jamie demanded, his voice turning sharp and cold as his thumb traced the scarred skin.

Suzie flinched, startled by his sudden shout and unnerved by the warmth of his touch. She instinctively tried to pull away, her mind racing back to the day she’d pressed the scalpel to her own neck. It had been a while ago; she’d assumed the scar had faded enough to be unnoticeable and had stopped wearing scarves to cover it. Of all the rotten luck, to run into him on the street and have him see it.

Not wanting to create more drama, she answered nonchalantly, “I was peeling fruit and went to wipe some sweat off my face. I just slipped.”

It seemed like a plausible enough excuse. He hadn't sought her out since that day at the hospital, which meant he couldn't know what had happened in the operating room. If he knew, with his personality, he would have already dragged her back for another attempt.

Besides, why did he suddenly care? Even if she dropped dead, what did it have to do with him?

As she spoke, she watched his expression. He seemed to believe her explanation. But in the next second, his attention shifted. He grabbed her bag, his eyes zeroing in on the crest.

Jamie’s gaze turned icy. It was… identical to the crest on the necklace. So, after losing the necklace, she’d embroidered it on her bag? Was this some kind of love token with that man, Oliver?

Why had she married him in the first place? If she was already involved with someone else, why agree to the marriage? She had saved Richard, charmed him completely—was it all just a coincidence? Or was this all part of some sordid plan she and Oliver had cooked up? A scheme against the Baylor family? Or against him personally?

And what goal had they achieved that made her so desperate for a divorce afterward?

The more Jamie thought about it, the deeper his anger burned.

From Suzie’s perspective, this was just another one of his neurotic episodes. Annoyed, she yanked her bag back.

Suzie grabbed the portfolio back and quickly stuffed it into her bag. Her heart pounded as she frantically tried to figure out how to answer him. On any other topic, she could lash out at him without a second thought. But this was about work. Mirage Studio had a contract with Baylor Group, and switching photographers mid-project was a breach of that contract.

If she didn’t explain it perfectly, knowing his petty and vindictive nature, he would undoubtedly make trouble for Mirage Studio.

Suzie hesitated, silently praying he would just leave or change the subject. But a sideways glance confirmed he was still standing there, waiting for an answer, his expression unreadable and complex.

This man was truly not himself today. One minute he was staring at her stomach, the next he was grabbing her jaw like he was about to hurt her, and then he was demanding to know about a scar. Now he was forcefully inspecting her work files.

What was wrong with him?