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?"

with an unreadable half-smile. Thinking she had

are you smiling

at Raina Lowell’s place. I just go over

Aiden’s smile and didn’t stop to consider the meaning behind his words. "I couldn’t care less if you

message was clear: she was going home

coming with me, then who are you going with? Who are you

bizarre. "When did I ever say I was going with someone else? I’ve been saying this whole time that I’m going

away from the private room for 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 liking to her and was refusing to

so this is

Hazel. "Hazel, come inside and sit with me

is wrong with him?’ Not only was he refusing to let her leave, but he now wanted her to go inside, sit

else was watching, Hazel leaned close to Aiden’s ear and whispered, "What exactly are

nothing wrong with me wanting you by

wasn’t loud, but it was just loud enough for the man behind them to hear. The man instantly understood—Aiden had run into his wife. He decided to head back

Hazel was willing or

embarrass Aiden, Hazel had no choice but

Hazel. Since she didn’t have to entertain anyone, she acted quite naturally. If someone spoke to her, she would smile and exchange a few pleasantries. When no one was talking

made no

He maintained his usual air of being in complete control. This wasn’t the first time Hazel

want to say the wrong thing; the business world was rife with intrigue,

Hazel was

she ended up being the one to drive

car, the cabin filled with the reek of alcohol. While driving, Hazel kept subconsciously glancing at him. His eyes were closed, and she couldn’t tell