When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

Chapter 28: A Baseless Accusation

Hazel Hawthorne returned to her desk, completely baffled by Holly Shaw’s earlier behavior.

"What did the director want with you? How come you look so troubled now that you’re back? Don’t tell me she gave you a hard time?" Sharon Winters glanced around, saw that everyone was busy, and leaned in close, lowering her voice. "Director Shaw is really strict, but she’s a good person."

"If Director Shaw said something to you, don’t take it to heart. After a while, you’ll see that she’s someone who really values talent."

"How do you know?" Hazel Hawthorne asked, puzzled. Sharon Winters seemed to idolize Holly Shaw; Hazel had noticed it since her first day sitting next to her.

"Because Director Shaw is the reason I interviewed at Sterling Group." Sharon Winters’s eyes lit up when she mentioned Holly Shaw, looking even happier than when she saw her own boyfriend. "If I could be personally mentored by Director Shaw, I’d be so happy I’d wake up laughing in my sleep."

’Is it really that amazing?’

Hazel Hawthorne didn’t really know Holly Shaw, so after Sharon Winters’s little primer, she looked up information on her online.

Holly Shaw was an internationally renowned jewelry designer. She had won first place in a global jewelry design competition for three consecutive years and was now a top talent that major companies were vying for. But no one knew why Holly Shaw had come to work for the Sterling Group.

At any other company, she would undoubtedly be the chief designer, yet she had come to the Sterling Group to be a mere design director.

Hazel Hawthorne realized she couldn’t see through Holly Shaw, couldn’t figure her out at all. But Holly Shaw’s résumé truly left her in awe.

"Don’t overthink it. Director Shaw is just a bit strict. It’s a blessing to be taught by her," Sharon Winters said, still assuming Hazel Hawthorne had been scolded by the director and that was why she was so troubled. She patted Hazel’s shoulder comfortingly. "It’s okay. Don’t take it to heart."

Hazel Hawthorne nodded and went back to looking at the design sketches Holly Shaw had given her. When she saw the signature at the bottom, she froze.

signature read:

lit up the moment she first saw this set of design sketches. They were on a completely different level from

waved a hand in front of Hazel’s eyes a few times. When Hazel still didn’t react, Sharon leaned in closer and caught a glimpse of the design

at the sketches in Hazel’s hand. "You... you... how do you

never seen

the competition. After that, Director Shaw’s designs were put into a collection, and no one could see them." Sharon Winters desperately wanted to take the sketches and look, but she felt too embarrassed. She could only stare at Hazel Hawthorne with envy. "You’re so

Shaw must have intentionally given her these designs to look at. Otherwise, how could she have gotten them when

be that Director Shaw intends

mind for a moment, but she quickly nipped it in the bud. She was just a designer who had only ever won

had a chance to show her abilities. ’Could it be Aiden

and without

out her phone, and walked to the

it was answered. The other end was unusually quiet. Hazel Hawthorne assumed he was with Raina Lowell, so she cut to

was alone in the office, he slowly

you didn’t use your power to interfere with my job, then why are they paying attention to me?" Hazel Hawthorne was slightly annoyed. "Was I not clear enough last night? I told you that not interfering with each other is the best way for

in Hazel Hawthorne’s voice, he couldn’t help but rub the bridge of his nose. "I haven’t interfered with your work. Besides calling in sick for

took away my opportunity to go on

are the only two things I’ve done," Aiden Xavier said in

of anyone else with enough power to interfere with my work.

yet here

"You..."