When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

Chapter 72: Answering a Call for You

From the looks of it, Aiden Xavier was still treating Hazel Hawthorne like his personal driver. But before he could even say a word, Hazel ruthlessly shook him off. Drive him to Raina Lowell? What about her pride as his actual wife?

Even though she and Aiden Xavier were just a couple in name, she refused to let Raina Lowell get too smug. It was her own repeated compromises that had allowed Raina to become so audacious.

When Raina Lowell first came back, she was just playing innocent, but now she’d escalated to being an outright manipulator. And Hazel was no pushover.

Did they really think she was a harmless kitten just because she hadn’t shown her claws?

Hazel Hawthorne’s expression darkened as she looked at Aiden Xavier, who had grabbed her again and refused to let go. This was a public place, and she didn’t want to get into a struggle with him here. With so many diners around, regardless of whether paparazzi were present, all it would take was a couple of photos posted online to cause a massive uproar.

They had been trending online far too often lately, and Hazel Hawthorne wasn’t used to it. Paparazzi followed her everywhere she went, which had severely impacted her personal life. As far as she was concerned, she had no privacy left to speak of.

Aiden Xavier’s stubborn gaze made Hazel even more desperate to break free. "There are a lot of people here," she said. "You don’t want to cause a scene and end up trending online again tomorrow, or for Raina Lowell to find out, do you?"

Aiden Xavier remained silent, and Hazel couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.

"You’re drunk and can’t drive. I can call a designated driver for you," Hazel said, trying to speak to Aiden Xavier in a calm, gentle tone.

After three years with Aiden Xavier, she knew he was the type who responded to persuasion, not pressure. If she insisted on confronting him head-on while he was drunk, the situation would only grow more tense.

As it turned out, she was right.

As Hazel’s voice softened, Aiden silently released her hand. "I don’t trust anyone else," he said in a low voice. "I’m not going to Raina Lowell’s place tonight."

Hearing this, Hazel couldn’t help but laugh. "Aiden Xavier, do you really think you’re some ancient emperor? Three wives and four concubines, visiting whichever consort you feel like gracing with your presence tonight?"

until after she’d said them. She just saw Aiden staring at her with an unreadable half-smile. Thinking

you

I don’t live at Raina Lowell’s place. I just go over to see

care less if you live at Raina Lowell’s house or not. I’m just telling you, we aren’t heading the same way. Stop blocking me

Hazel’s hand. His message was clear:

with me, then who are you going

"When did I ever say I was

a while, and someone had come out to look for him. Seeing Aiden tangled up with a woman, the man assumed he’d taken a

this

glanced over his shoulder, then turned back to Hazel. "Hazel, come inside and sit with me for

her leave, but he now wanted her to go inside, sit

leaned close to Aiden’s ear and whispered, "What

wrong with me wanting you by

enough for the man behind them to hear. The man instantly understood—Aiden had run into

nodded and, ignoring whether Hazel was willing or not,

was filled with a table of people. Not wanting to embarrass Aiden, Hazel had no

spoke to her, she would

made no effort

of being in complete control. This wasn’t the first time Hazel had attended a dinner with him, and

thing; the business world was rife with intrigue, and a

could say Hazel was just

ended up being the

alcohol. While driving, Hazel