When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

Chapter 22: Is He Worried About Me?

"Weren’t you the one who started flirting with me? What, are you scared now?" Aiden Xavier’s teasing, sexy voice was like an aphrodisiac in Hazel Hawthorne’s ear. A faint smile played on his lips. Seeing her look so scared and timid, he couldn’t help but smile more broadly.

"You’re the one who wanted to play, and now you’re the one who’s afraid to. You love the game, but you’re just no good at it."

With that, Aiden Xavier flung Hazel Hawthorne’s hand away. Hazel stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. She instinctively grabbed Aiden Xavier’s arm to steady herself.

"Heh, you think I was really worried you’d do something to me?" Putting on a brave face was Hazel Hawthorne’s specialty. "I was just playing along, giving you an out so you wouldn’t have trouble explaining yourself to Raina Lowell when you got back."

"Is that so?" Aiden Xavier couldn’t be bothered to call her bluff. He dusted off the spot she had touched, a look of disgust on his face.

Hazel Hawthorne was furious. She averted her gaze. If she looked at Aiden Xavier for another second, she was afraid her blood pressure would shoot through the roof.

’From now on, if anyone tells me Aiden Xavier is handsome, I’ll think they’re blind.’

’Aiden Xavier is all looks and no substance.’

"Why are you even here? If there’s nothing important, please leave immediately. I need to rest."

"This is my house too. I can come back whenever I want. Why should I listen to you and leave?" Aiden Xavier stared at her coldly. "Ever since Raina Lowell came back, you seem to have a problem with me."

Hearing this, Hazel Hawthorne burst out laughing. "How have I changed? You’re the one who’s changed. Raina Lowell is back. You should be focusing on her. Or what, do you want me to show up in front of her all the time?"

’I was being perfectly considerate, thoughtfully looking out for Aiden Xavier’s interests by trying to stay out of his and Raina Lowell’s way. It’s the best option for all three of us.’

’Seeing each other would just be grating. No one would be happy.’

"Raina Lowell doesn’t have any friends. I was hoping you might have some time to keep her company, chat with her."

"Chat? You want me to keep Raina Lowell company?" Hazel Hawthorne pointed at herself in disbelief. "Are you sure Raina Lowell even wants to see me, let alone chat with me?"

Raina Lowell looks at me, you’d think

have much time to spend with her. You have the most free time, so you’re the most suitable person to keep her company." Aiden Xavier said

company?’ She really couldn’t figure out what on earth Aiden Xavier was thinking. "Let me spell it out for you. Raina Lowell will not enjoy my company. She was supposed to be the one to marry you, but now you and

I’m the wife. In what universe do you think Raina Lowell could possibly like me? Aren’t you just deliberately trying to make

the dynamics, so despite her fatigue and headache, she tried to

at

So what?

serious expression told Hazel Hawthorne that he just didn’t

would you ask me to keep her company? As long as I’m around, she’ll never

but Aiden Xavier’s expression told her that her words were

you

the line *I* should be using on Aiden Xavier. *Because* I’m his wife, why is he asking me to take care of Raina

angle at all. She couldn’t help but wonder, ’Could this

she just ends up furious with me. Why would she want me to be

Hawthorne’s mind was reeling with questions, but Aiden Xavier clearly had no intention of explaining further. He raised his wrist, glanced at his watch, and said flatly, "I’m not

"Huh?"

to keep the window closed when you sleep. If you catch

left, his words still echoed in the room. Hazel Hawthorne sat on the edge of the

to the hospital to take care

Xavier wants me to see Raina Lowell more

even closed the

actually worried

take medicine

back of her hand, hard. The pain brought tears to her eyes. This wasn’t a dream. Everything that just happened was real. Which meant

what exactly is Aiden

he

long time, Hazel Hawthorne couldn’t get over what had just happened. As she lay in bed, her mind was filled with her conversation with Aiden Xavier, their close proximity, and the faint scent of tobacco on him that had swept over her like a chill