The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 513

Every eye in the room immediately turned toward Suzie.

Alice was the one holding the door. Her face lit up with a bright, welcoming smile as she grabbed Suzie's arm and pulled her inside. "Well look at that! I was just about to go check on where you were. Perfect timing."

Before Suzie could protest, Alice guided her straight to the empty chair right next to Jamie, gently pressing down on her shoulders to make her sit. "Take a seat. The food will be out any minute. Everyone is here to celebrate you tonight. It's rare to get a group like this together—just look at how happy everyone is."

Suzie: "..."

Right. Everyone was here to celebrate her studio's opening. The massive round table, meant to seat fifteen, was nearly full. How could she possibly ruin the mood now?

"Please, sit down, Alice," Suzie said politely, forcing a smile as she half-rose from her seat. She then waved toward the door. "Mia, you've been running around all day. Come sit."

Once everyone was settled, a steady stream of appetizers and drinks began arriving at the table.

Suzie stood up, lifting a glass of wine, her clear voice carrying over the chatter. "I truly want to thank all of my friends for taking the time to be here tonight. I won't bore you with a long speech—everything I want to say is in this glass."

As she had stood, the rest of the table had risen with her out of respect.

She brought the wine to her lips, but suddenly, a large hand smoothly intercepted the glass, slipping it out of her fingers. A second later, a glass of fresh juice was pressed into her palm.

"Don't drink alcohol. Have this."

It was Jamie. Since sitting down, Suzie had made a point to greet every single person at the table—except him.

Suzie couldn't help but curse him in her head. Since when did this man become so shameless?

Didn't he feel the slightest bit awkward crashing her dinner? How was he sitting there looking so utterly relaxed and at home?

More confusingly, Suzie noticed a strange dynamic among her close friends. Ignoring the plus-ones across the table, her inner circle seemed to have formed an unspoken pact.

No one actively tried to loop her and Jamie into the same conversation. Aside from Chester and Alice, Hayden and Oliver completely ignored Jamie's existence.

As for Stella, now technically an employee of Baylor Group, she only offered Jamie a single, obligatory professional toast.