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.

read:

set of design sketches. They were on a completely different level from the ones she had been organizing before. This was the first time she had ever seen Holly

to drink some water, noticed she was staring into space again. She 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 sketches in her hand—Holly Shaw’s

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

seen them

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 lucky, getting to see Director Shaw’s

that Director Shaw must have intentionally given her these designs to look at. Otherwise, how could she have gotten them when Sharon Winters, who previously

that Director Shaw intends to mentor

the bud. She was just a designer

chance to show her abilities. ’Could it be Aiden

and without connections

Hawthorne put Holly Shaw’s manuscript away safely, took out her phone, and walked to the second-floor balcony. She

answered. The other end was unusually quiet. Hazel Hawthorne assumed

immediately signaled for the person giving a report to leave temporarily. Once he was alone in the office, he slowly stood up and

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

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 you on the day you were ill, I haven’t meddled in anything else.

also took away my opportunity to go

Xavier said in a low voice. "I

power to interfere with my work. And given your track record, who else could it be? Name

hundred mouths. He didn’t even know what had happened, yet here was Hazel Hawthorne interrogating him. "Hazel Hawthorne, a brain is a good thing. I hope you remember

"You..."