The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 449

Hearing that Margaret was hospitalized with a heart condition didn't evoke a single drop of sympathy from Suzie.

Margaret had been relentlessly critical and abusive toward her since childhood. After she got married, the woman morphed into a full-blown bloodsucker, constantly shaking her down for cash.

Suzie could theoretically overlook the financial extortion and the verbal abuse.

But the fact that Margaret had deliberately swapped her at birth, completely altering the trajectory of her entire life? That was unforgivable.

That wasn't just resentment; it was a bone-deep, marrow-searing hatred. It was the kind of rage that made her wish the woman would just drop dead.

Pulling her thoughts back to the present, she looked at Stewart. He clearly had absolutely no idea about the baby swap.

It made sense. Given Stewart's simple-minded nature, he couldn't keep a secret to save his life. Margaret would never risk telling him.

As Suzie tried to figure out what to say, Stewart spoke up again.

"I saw the news trending online about you and Jamie. You guys got back together, right? But for some reason, Mom absolutely freaked out and strictly forbade me from looking for you. What's going on?"

Suzie seized the opportunity. "Did she tell you why she didn't want you finding me?"

Stewart nodded vigorously. "Yeah, I asked, but she just screamed that I better not go looking for you! I know she never really liked you, but it feels like she hates you now. Is that why you aren't coming home?"

Suzie smoothly leaned into the lie. "Yes, exactly. Stewart, when you go back, do not mention that you saw me. Unless you want to give her another heart attack."

Stewart's shoulders slumped. "Fine, I won't say anything. But Mom can't afford her medical bills. What are we supposed to do? Are you really just going to abandon her?"

Suzie leaned in and whispered a set of instructions into his ear. Seeing his enthusiastic agreement, she opened her purse and pulled out a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills.

"I don't have much cash on me today, but take this for now. Come find me in a few days. If you do this right, I'll give you ten thousand bucks."

"Seriously?!" Stewart's eyes lit up like Christmas lights as he snatched the money.

Suzie gave him a tight, polite smile. "Of course. But if you mess this up, I won't be able to come home, and you won't get a dime. I don't exactly print money, you know."

"Deal!" Stewart chirped. "I don't have my phone on me. How do I contact you once it's done?"

Suzie paused, pulled a pen and a slip of paper from her bag, jotted down her burner phone number, and handed it to him.