The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 428

They reached her car, and Chester quietly loaded the bags into the trunk, arranging them neatly.

Closing the trunk, he turned to Suzie, who was standing by the driver's side. "I had an emergency last night and had to leave the gala without saying goodbye. I apologize for that."

Suzie's embarrassment still hadn't faded. She pretended to scroll through her phone to look busy, muttering, "It's... it's fine. By the way, why did you call this morning?"

Chester fell silent. He pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, but the moment he noticed Suzie frown, he immediately stubbed it out. Looking slightly restless without a crutch for his nerves, he began scuffing the heel of his shoe against the concrete.

Though they hadn't spent much time together, Suzie had never seen him like this. Usually, he was exuding endless, playful energy.

"Mr. Lambert," she prompted gently. "If you have something to say, just say it."

Chester slowly looked up, his eyes locking onto hers. "Are you... are you still involved with Jamie?"

Suzie analyzed his words. He knew she and Jamie had been married, but the way he asked made it sound like he was hoping for a loophole.

After a brief pause, she shook her head.

"But he clearly still has feelings for you," Chester pressed. "He was all over you last night. Is it... because you work for him? Did he force you into something? Is it that kind of... arrangement?"

Suzie stared at him, bewildered.

After the spectacle at the gala last night, Chester hadn't just asked Jamie directly? And Jamie hadn't brought it up with Chester when he saw them together? Weren't they supposed to be friends? What kind of friendship was this where they communicated absolutely nothing?

"Miss Sterling," Chester said, his voice deadly serious. "I don't care what kind of history you have with him. As long as you two aren't together now, I'm not giving up."

Suzie paused, her expression unreadable, before smoothly changing the subject. "Why didn't you just expose Suzanne back in the mall?"

Chester looked confused. "Do you mean upstairs with the crowd, or just now?"

Suzie frowned. Obviously, she meant just now. His train of thought was exhausting.

Leaning down slightly, Chester spoke quickly. "I have a reason for both. From what I can tell, you prefer a quiet, low-profile life. If I had exposed her upstairs in front of all those phones, you'd be dealing with a whole new PR nightmare. Unless you plan on wearing hats and sunglasses everywhere you go, that wouldn't end well for you."

He paused to catch his breath before continuing. "And just now in the garage? I didn't expose her because I figured you'd eventually want to take down Chaim Cosmetic Clinic. If I blew her cover now, it would alert them and ruin whatever plan you're working on."