When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

Chapter 56: At Whose Bidding?

Hazel Hawthorne returned home with a heavy heart, clutching the item Fiona Forrest had given her. She debated whether to tell Aiden Xavier. If she did, however, she worried he might suspect she was the one who had orchestrated things, leading him to believe she was deliberately trying to frame Raina Lowell.

Given how frail and delicate Raina Lowell always acted around Aiden Xavier, Hazel couldn’t believe she was actually so calculating.

After much deliberation, Hazel Hawthorne decided to wait for a more suitable opportunity to tell Aiden Xavier. It wouldn’t be too late. Besides, she was confident that Aiden would find out who had pulled the strings to expose his relationship with Raina Lowell.

Hazel Hawthorne was vexed. Knowing too many secrets wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

That evening, she called Sharon Winters, planning to go for a few drinks to lift her spirits.

"I know a lounge with a great atmosphere. Why don’t we meet there? I’ll send you the address in a minute. I’m just going to change and then I’ll head out."

Hazel Hawthorne drove to the address Sharon Winters had sent. She found herself in front of a chic, tastefully decorated lounge.

The lounge wasn’t as wild and decadent as a typical nightclub. Walking in, she spotted Sharon Winters at a window seat. Hazel unwound the silk scarf from her neck and immediately drank a glass of cold water.

Sharon Winters had been staring out the window in a daze and only snapped out of it when Hazel arrived. "You’re here faster than I expected." After a pause, she added, "I wasn’t sure what you’d want, so I just ordered a few things. Do you want to take a look at the menu?"

"No need. Anything alcoholic is fine." Hazel Hawthorne set down her water glass. The spot Sharon Winters had chosen was indeed a perfect place for enjoying the view.

However, she was in no mood to enjoy the scenery.

"Did you ask me out for drinks all of a sudden because you’re in a bad mood? Isn’t Aiden home with you?" When Sharon Winters saw Hazel pick up a drink and down it in one go, she was taken aback by her intensity and quickly stopped her. "Is the rumor about Aiden and Raina Lowell true?"

she looked at Sharon Winters. "Sharon, from an outsider’s perspective, who do

seconds. "Well, from a woman’s point of view, it could be either you or

"How so?"

your relationship with Aiden. She wants you two to divorce so

who had their relationship exposed, then Raina would be branded the

people knew about Aiden and Raina, so it should be easy to narrow down the list of suspects."

Hawthorne shook her head. They hadn’t been in contact since Aiden had left

out that Aiden was surely by Raina Lowell’s side. Hazel didn’t

case, why bring all

had shown her. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke slowly. "If

Raina. Besides, I can’t stand her. The ones who look all soft and weak are always the most vicious. They’re full of nasty tricks," Sharon said fiercely. "And on top

married,

a small smile. Sharon leaned in closer, glanced around, and then asked in a hushed voice, "So Raina really did leak this herself? Is she trying to make everyone think it was you? Is she trying

sure yet," Hazel

that was the case, Hazel Hawthorne wasn’t

that Raina Lowell dares to frame you, I’ll be the first to stand up for you." Sharon declared with a wave of her hand, "Hazel,

smiled once since the news about Aiden and Raina broke, especially not

fun," Sharon said, getting up to pay the bill. Hazel followed

out of the corner of her eye, Hazel caught sight of a very familiar figure in the distance. She froze for only a few seconds

It was

barely keep