When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

Chapter 78: Do You Really Have to Go?

When Finn Quinn arrived at the apartment to pick up Aiden Xavier, he saw Raina Lowell standing before him, sobbing. He was too far away to hear what she was saying to Aiden. Believing a subordinate shouldn’t meddle in his boss’s affairs, he simply stood under a tree and waited quietly.

With Raina Lowell showing up at a time like this, he wondered if they would still be able to go to Freyburg.

Raina Lowell held an extraordinary place in Aiden Xavier’s heart. Seeing her sobbing like that, Finn figured she was probably trying to keep Aiden in Kenport.

Finn Quinn thought he was pretty clever for figuring it out.

He thought Aiden hadn’t seen him, but in fact, Aiden had spotted him long ago. Even from a great distance, Finn could feel Aiden’s cold, terrifying gaze. He shivered and glanced timidly in Aiden’s direction.

Aiden stared at Raina Lowell, his face impassive. Each word he spoke cut deeper than the last. "I have to go to Freyburg. If you can’t sleep tonight, binge-watch a show."

"Binge-watch a show? You’re telling me to pull an all-nighter watching a show instead of sleeping? You’d rather I lose sleep than stay here with me?" Raina’s heart ached. She knew better than anyone why Aiden was so desperate to get to Freyburg.

She had thought it all through on her way over. If Aiden stayed in Kenport for her, then Hazel Hawthorne would be unharmed. But if she couldn’t make him stay... it would prove that Hazel’s place in his heart had already surpassed her own.

’How could she allow such a threat to persist?’

"Aiden, how could you say such hurtful things? What’s so important in Freyburg that you have to rush over in the middle of the night?" Raina gripped Aiden’s hand tightly.

"What are you trying to say?" Aiden keenly sensed the implication behind her words. He shot back with a chilling tone that left Raina momentarily stunned.

After a moment, Raina said slowly, "I know Hazel Hawthorne is in Freyburg on business. You’re in such a rush to get there... you’re going to see her." She paused, then added, "Don’t lie and say it’s about work. You already took care of all that."

excuse. She was forcing him to admit that he was rushing to Freyburg in the middle of the night

assumed Aiden would spare her feelings—that even if he wouldn’t stay, he wouldn’t admit the truth so blatantly. But when she heard his answer, her mind went blank, her heart feeling as if it had been torn

you’re abandoning me... just to go find

to one of

is just a trick to lure you over there. She just wants me to know that she has a place in your heart too,

deep eyes holding a look Raina couldn’t decipher. His voice was

has never liked me. She says she wishes us well, but deep down, she can’t wait

Aiden stated with certainty. "She wouldn’t

sure?" Raina stared at the man before her, who suddenly felt like a stranger. It wasn’t the first time he’d put his faith in Hazel. "Aiden, if you go and discover this is all just a trick, will you still trust

his hand from Raina’s grasp. Seeing this from afar, Finn immediately pulled the car

rooted to the spot, her figure forlorn as

really

Hazel really that important

’Hazel Hawthorne!’

ground out Hazel’s name between clenched teeth. ’Her

***

jet was parked on the rooftop of The Creston Hotel. Holly Shaw emerged from a nearby stairwell, her

to believe she could simply vanish in the city,

making it impossible to recall what

Her limbs were free. ’What could be the motive of the person who brought me here?’ she wondered. She didn’t have

this person meant her harm, yet so far, nothing had been done

alone. Rubbing her aching head, she walked to the door and tried the