When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

Chapter 63: Who Exactly is Hazel Hawthorne?

"Cousin, what did I do to make you so angry?" Chloe Lee mustered the courage to speak to Julian Sterling. Though she usually threw her weight around the office, she wouldn’t dare squeak in front of him.

Julian Sterling’s face was expressionless, his gaze fixed on Chloe Lee like the god of death himself. If it weren’t for his mother’s request, he would never have allowed a cousin like her in his company.

"Don’t think I don’t know what you’re usually up to. You run wild just because you’re my cousin. Chloe Lee, if you don’t want to be here, then get the hell out. I have no room for a ’great Buddha’ like you."

Julian Sterling’s words were harsh and blunt. Chloe Lee had been spoiled rotten at home. No matter how out of line she had been in the past, Julian had always turned a blind eye. He had never scolded her like this before.

Chloe Lee’s lip trembled, tears welling in her eyes. She put on a pitiful, wronged expression. "Cousin, how can you say that? I haven’t done anything out of line. I just think that for a new intern, Hazel Hawthorne takes too many days off. It shows a lack of dedication to her work."

Julian Sterling cut her off. "Stay out of Hazel Hawthorne’s business. Just manage your own affairs. If you want to keep working here, stop causing trouble for me. Otherwise, not even I will be able to protect you."

Chloe Lee was stunned by his words. ’Just what is Hazel’s background?’ she wondered. She had made things difficult for plenty of interns before, but she had never seen Julian Sterling stick up for any of them. Yet here he was, speaking up for Hazel, even seeming to want to protect her.

Chloe Lee was bewildered. ’Could it be? Has Julian actually taken a liking to Hazel?’

"Cousin, tell me the truth. Does Hazel Hawthorne have some kind of powerful background? From what I can see, she’s just some poor girl. You..."

Before Chloe Lee could finish, Julian Sterling cut her off again. He gave his cousin a cold stare and issued another warning, "Chloe Lee, you’d best learn to behave yourself. Otherwise, you’ll be the only one who suffers."

Chloe Lee pouted but didn’t dare say another word in the face of Julian’s demeanor. She could only retreat from the office resentfully, wondering all the way back just who Hazel Hawthorne was. Why would her cousin step in personally for her?

had even specifically warned her not to

her desk. ’She’s gorgeous, and she has a great figure, but what makes her so different from everyone

staring at her intently. To be precise, he was watching

on. She quickly lowered her head and focused on her

did Hazel have no choice but to

free tonight? I’d like

free tonight," Hazel

who was nearby, immediately threw an arm around Hazel’s shoulder and grinned at the male colleague who had come over to chat. "Nathan, don’t

moment, seemingly in disbelief. His questioning gaze fell on

Chloe Lee, who had witnessed the entire exchange, rushed out as if she were some kind of crusader for justice and sneered at Hazel, "Do you really think you’re that beautiful?

anyone as narcissistic as you. Hazel, in your eyes, is every man who wants to treat

Nathan Miller’s obvious embarrassment, Hazel Hawthorne frowned, truly at

pride. That’s why she had refused him earlier. She never expected Sharon Winters to blurt out that she had a

waved her hands helplessly, explaining in a panic, "Nathan, don’t get the wrong idea! Don’t listen to Chloe Lee’s nonsense. It was just a slip of the tongue. I never

She looked helplessly from the mortified Nathan Miller to Hazel, and then to Chloe Lee, who was deliberately stirring up trouble on the side. She was as frantic as an ant on

a moment of silence,

pursue you. But since Sharon said you have a boyfriend, let’s just be friends. I hope you and

touched by Nathan’s grace and understanding. Before she could say anything, Nathan smiled, then turned to Chloe Lee. "Secretary Lee, I should actually thank you. If it weren’t for you, I might not have

and before turning to leave, he extended the dinner invitation to Hazel again. "Think of it as an invitation from

good impression of him. Even if they couldn’t be lovers, she thought it would

gain any advantage, Chloe Lee stalked off with a dark look on her