When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

Chapter 31: I’m Drunk, Come Pick Me Up

Julian Sterling found himself swamped by women who had worked up the courage to approach them. It was all because Aiden was putting on his usual "stay away" act. Any woman who tried to hit on him was so intimidated by his cold demeanor that she would immediately pivot to Julian.

Aiden usually came to the bar to unwind when he had free time. Julian Sterling, on the other hand, was here to actually pick up women.

To Julian, these women were just a bit of fun; he never took any of them seriously. He and Aiden did have one thing in common, though: they were both incredibly generous with the women they spent time with.

The air was thick with the perfume of too many women, instantly enveloping them. Aiden wrinkled his nose. He suddenly recalled the simple, floral scent of Hazel’s body wash and felt a wave of relief.

He ruthlessly shooed away the women around him, then slumped back in his seat and started fiddling with his phone. He would occasionally open his messaging app or his contacts, tap on Hazel’s name, then decide it was pointless, put the phone down, and go back to his drink.

After he repeated the same sequence of actions several times, he caught Julian Sterling’s attention.

Possessing the admirable virtue of always helping out a bro, Julian Sterling assumed Aiden had gotten into a fight with Raina Lowell. So, he took the liberty of making a decision for him.

Perhaps it was the alcohol getting to his head, but Aiden finally made up his mind. He left Julian Sterling at the bar, found a quiet spot, and after a moment’s hesitation, dialed Hazel’s number.

He knew Hazel wouldn’t be asleep yet.

So when Hazel saw Aiden calling her this late, her first instinct was to hang up immediately. She then sent him a message: "I’m about to go to sleep. If you have something to say, text me. If not, don’t call and disturb me."

’Heartless!’

Aiden scoffed and texted back, "It’s important. Answer the phone."

Hazel thought about it for a long moment. She didn’t reply to his message, but his calls kept coming, one after another, to the point where it was interfering with her scrolling on her phone.

’Aiden calling this late could only mean trouble.’

Hazel really didn’t want to answer, but she knew Aiden wasn’t the type to give up easily. She was certain that if she didn’t pick up, he would either keep calling indefinitely or just show up at her door.

her night, she finally decided to answer and see what kind

voice was hoarse and

frowned slightly. ’Is he

In the

’Strange. And very weird.’

"Are you drunk?"

voice low. "I’m sending you my location. Come

secretary?" Hazel asked, her immediate instinct to

to come get him would be next to impossible, but he enjoyed a challenge. "What’s the problem? Isn’t it perfectly normal for a wife to come

’Husband?’

"Aiden, have you forgotten? Raina Lowell is back. If you’re drunk, you should call her. I’m sure she’d drop everything and rush over to get you. Besides, you’re Mr. Popular. There’s no shortage of

you’ll be the one dealing with the fallout. So, what will it be? Do you want to clean up my mess later, or just come get

sent Hazel the pin for the

of the bar but had never

was a frequent hotspot for celebrities. Any paparazzo camped out there

times, so everyone knew he was a

to confront her all said the same things; she knew their speeches by heart. The smart ones would take her money and disappear. The clueless ones, usually some minor

the bar, she still couldn’t fathom why Aiden had asked her to pick

to the bar, Hazel started to have second

in her

door glanced at Hazel several times, assuming she was there to

a date, so she hadn’t bothered to get dolled up. Even so, her

a few men were already casting

I’ve come this far,’ she thought. ’No point

"Miss, are you here for a good time, or are

I

’I’m perfectly friendly!’