When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

Chapter 47: Sleepless Aiden Xavier

"What do you think you’re doing?" Aiden’s cool voice rang in Hazel’s ear. Drawn in by the gentle look on his sleeping face, she’d been compelled to do something completely out of character. Now that he was questioning her, Hazel’s mind went blank.

She struggled to pull her hand back, but Aiden wouldn’t let go.

They were so close Hazel could feel his breath on her skin. She averted her gaze and stopped struggling, letting him keep his grip on her hand. "I didn’t do anything. You’re the one holding my hand—what do *you* want?"

"Playing the victim? The pot calling the kettle black?"

"That’s ridiculous. I just woke up, and when I realized someone was beside me, I instinctively glanced over." Hazel felt a pang of guilt. She would never admit she’d wanted to touch his face; she rarely got a chance to observe him this closely, after all.

"It looks to me like you were up to no good. Now that I’ve caught you in the act, you’re trying to talk your way out of it."

"What am I making excuses for? I’m telling the truth. Aiden, can you stop with the delusions? Even if a man like you stripped naked and stood in front of me, I wouldn’t feel the slightest bit of sexual interest."

Hazel put heavy emphasis on the last two words, simply throwing Aiden’s own line back at him.

The phrase sounded instantly familiar to Aiden. It took him a few seconds to realize he was the one who had said it to Hazel earlier that night. He let out a soft chuckle. "You really hold a grudge, don’t you?"

"I can’t help it. I’m petty, and I hold grudges."

Hazel was completely oblivious to how close she and Aiden were in that moment. Nor did she realize that the expression on her face was more playfully petulant than genuinely annoyed, less like a complaint and more like she was being coy with him.

There was a hint of a playful pout in her voice. She struggled again, trying to pull free, but Aiden’s grip remained firm. She gave up. "Fine. If you don’t want to let go, then just keep holding on."

who says one thing and means another. If I let go, how would I know you wouldn’t try something on me?" Aiden’s voice was low and tinged with amusement. He himself didn’t notice the fond look in his

was completely unaware. Her eyes went wide as she

to the hospital, stayed there until evening, and had then been called back by

but to no avail.

She was tired, too.

that even opening her eyes felt like an immense effort. Her lips twitched,

Aiden. Just as she had warned, she was not a still sleeper. In her sleep, she had

light

and looked down to see Hazel’s leg draped over his stomach.

barely slept a

staring intently at her. Having forgotten she was

Aiden sleeping next to me? I pinched

not a dream." The hoarse voice chased away the last vestiges of

Aiden in shock, then reached out

wasn’t a

Hazel, who was now fully awake with a start. She shoved him away, scrambled into a sitting position, and demanded viciously, "Why were you

his aching temples. Every time he’d been about to drift off, Hazel had either kicked the blankets or

him up all

to sleep on the sofa, but you’re the one who refused! You make it sound like I’m abusing you." Hazel shot back, completely oblivious that she was the true culprit behind his sleepless

her. He knew that without concrete evidence, Hazel would never admit she

Aiden pulled out his phone to show Hazel the photos and videos he had secretly taken during the night. "This," he said, "is why I couldn’t get

In the video, Hazel was indeed grinding her teeth, occasionally muttering a few curses. If one listened closely, it was clear

Hazel lunged for Aiden’s phone. "How could you be so awful?