The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 473

Stella refused to back down, her voice a sharp, hushed hiss. "You're just scared! You think that if I'm not around to run interference, you can easily manipulate her again, don't you? You underestimate our friendship. Her business is my business, and I am absolutely making this my problem. Unless the day comes when Suzie looks me in the eye and tells me she wants to be with you, I will respect her choice. But until then, I am never taking your side!"

Just as she finished, her phone screen lit up once more, flashing frantically. Left with no other choice, she finally answered the call.

A few seconds later, Stella shot up from her chair, panic washing over her face. "What? How could there be such a massive gap in the data?"

Her voice cracked, thick with unshed tears. Clutching her phone, she paced nervously around the hospital room, her distressed gaze repeatedly darting back to Suzie in the bed.

When she finally hung up, she stood rooted at the foot of the bed, her eyes swimming with anxiety and despair.

Jamie had heard enough of the conversation to put the pieces together. Without looking up from the cold compress he was changing on Suzie's forehead, he said evenly, "Go. Suzie won't blame you. I'll have Mia head over to Marquis Residences tonight to stay with the kids."

Stella hesitated for a long, painful moment before murmuring, "I can hire a private nurse for her."

"Stella!" Jamie snapped, his voice a low, lethal reprimand. "I have tolerated you all day. Were you anyone else, do you honestly think you'd still be standing in this room?"

Stella went completely silent.

Startled by the raw dominance in his tone, she took a second to recover before aggressively snatching up her purse and storming toward the door. If it weren't for the disaster at the agency, she would have glued herself to this chair just to spite him!

Stepping out into the hallway, she shot a look at Aaron. "Let me know the second she wakes up," she ordered flatly.

Aaron smiled slightly. "You're very generous, Mr. Baylor. Judging by her reaction, it's a messy situation. Should we just step in and fix it directly, or...?"

Jamie turned his gaze to Aaron, a calculated, strategic gleam in his deep eyes.

Aaron immediately caught the unspoken directive and nodded briskly. "Understood. Is there anything else you need, sir? Ms. Sterling will likely sleep straight through until tonight. Shall I arrange for a night nurse?"

Jamie waved him off. "Have someone bring over some nutritional supplements and fresh clothes for her. And bring a change of clothes for me, too."

Aaron frowned in surprise. "Mr. Baylor? Are you planning to stay the night here? This VIP suite is nice, but I'm afraid you won't be able to sleep comfortably..."