The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 9

An unknown amount of time later, Suzie slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze focused on a room decorated in shades of black and gray. The bedsheets were gray, too. The bedding carried a scent she knew well—his scent.

After looking around for a moment, she started to sit up just as the door was pushed open from the outside. Jamie’s tall frame paused in the doorway for a few seconds before he strode over to the bed.

“I’m sorry for messing up your bed,” Suzie said, her tone exceptionally distant as she hurried to get up and leave.

But in the next second, Jamie bent down, scooped her up in his arms, and placed her back on the bed.

“This is my private lounge. Just lie down for a bit. The doctor will be here soon.” As he spoke, he tossed a chocolate bar from the nightstand onto the bed in front of her. “Eat this.”

His words were brief, but his voice had lost its earlier chill, replaced by a hint of warmth.

Suzie glanced at the chocolate, but her nerves tensed at the mention of a doctor.

“How long was I out?” she asked quickly.

“Half an hour,” Jamie replied flatly.

“Look, I’m fine now. I have to go.” Suzie said, trying to get out of bed again.

Her fainting spell was likely due to an empty stomach combined with the blood tests she’d had that morning. Jamie had called a doctor. She didn’t know what kind of doctor he’d called. If they ran labs, her pregnancy could be flagged immediately.

The coldness in his voice pierced Suzie’s heart. Mocha was his adorable pet dog, who loved to trail behind him, nip at his pant legs, and lick his hands. It seemed she ranked lower than his pet.

Suzie reined in her emotions and changed the subject, speaking calmly. “Believe it or not, I signed the papers. The actions of others have nothing to do with me.”

By the time she finished, she had her shoes on. As she walked past Jamie, his hand shot out and grabbed her arm. “Did I say you could leave? Who taught you to be so cruel to Chloe?”

Suzie bit her lip, fighting back the pain in her heart. Even after she had fainted, he hadn't forgotten that she'd insulted Chloe.

She wrenched her arm free, lifted her head to glare at him, and raised her voice. “Jamie! Do you want me to get on my knees and bow to Chloe?!”