The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 99

“Aaron,” Suzie finished, her voice laced with accusation, “you call all of that a misunderstanding?” Her gaze grew colder with each word she spoke.

“Mrs. Baylor, it's misunderstandings that create distance and lead to harsh words between two people. Think about when you first got married. From the outside, the two of you looked solid. When did that start to change? Have you thought about that?” Aaron explained patiently, hoping she would consider his words calmly.

His question did give Suzie pause, but a moment later, she let out a cold laugh. Had he ever shown her any real affection? She had once assumed he was just a cold man, brilliant in the world of business but clueless about how to cherish a woman. But the tenderness he showed Chloe was something she had never once experienced. If it never existed, how could it have changed?

Sensing an opening, Aaron pressed on. “Mrs. Baylor, I’m older than both of you, and from where I stand, some things are easier to see. For him to be in such a rush to find Martha, you must have said something to him. And you… the way you ran toward him just now, crying with your hand over your mouth… I saw the whole thing. You have him in your heart, too. Don't say it was just a momentary lapse of control. A person's first reaction in an emergency reveals their truest feelings.”

Aaron’s words were sincere and seemed to make sense. But as he spoke, Suzie’s thoughts drifted from the scene she’d just witnessed back to the horrifying memory of Jamie threatening to kill her children.

No matter what anyone said, that one fact was enough. He had already torn her heart to shreds.

Suzie met Aaron’s gaze again, her expression once more serene and composed. “Aaron, I appreciate your kindness. You're a good man, but there's nothing left between him and me. You should go.”

Her voice was soft, devoid of any emotion. Seeing her like this, Aaron could only guess how deeply Jamie had hurt her. He lowered his head, trying to think of something else to say. But before he could, a sharp, anxious voice called out from a distance.

Suzie… Chloe…

Which of these two women did Jamie actually love? He seemed to care deeply for Suzie, but he also seemed to care for Chloe. What a mess.

As an assistant, he had done everything he possibly could.