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?"

her brow deeply furrowed as she looked at Sharon Winters. "Sharon, from an outsider’s perspective, who do you

tilted her head, thinking hard for a few seconds. "Well, from a woman’s point of view, it could be

"How so?"

wants you two to divorce so she can

exposed, then Raina would be branded the homewrecker. And everyone despises the ’other woman,’ so from that angle, it’s

so it should be easy to narrow down the list of suspects." Sharon added suddenly while nibbling on some fruit, "Don’t tell me

head. They hadn’t been in contact since Aiden had left the house

to figure out that Aiden was surely by Raina Lowell’s side. Hazel didn’t expect him to

the case, why bring all this up for

thought about what Fiona Forrest had shown her. After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke slowly. "If I told you Raina orchestrated this whole thing herself, would you believe

are always the most vicious. They’re full of nasty tricks," Sharon said fiercely. "And on top of that,

is one who stays gone for good. Raina knew Aiden was married, but

glanced around, and then asked in a hushed voice, "So Raina really

be sure yet," Hazel

was the case, Hazel Hawthorne wasn’t

the first to stand up for you." Sharon declared with a wave of her hand, "Hazel,

once since the news about Aiden and

let’s get out of here. I’ll take you someplace fun," Sharon said, getting up to pay the bill. Hazel

Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Hazel

not understanding what was happening, chased after Hazel, shouting her name repeatedly. It

barely