When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

###Chapter 1: I’m Pregnant With Mr. Xavier’s Child

Marlisle. Inside a lavish banquet hall.

Hazel Hawthorne sat in her seat, swirling the red wine in her glass as she listened to the wealthy wives gossip about her.

"She looks like a total vixen. I heard Mr. Xavier never even touches her. So what if she married into the family? Isn’t she just living like a widow?"

"Mr. Xavier is always out painting the town red, with one scandal after another. It’s obvious he really can’t stand her."

Hazel Hawthorne took an unconcerned sip of her wine. It seemed everyone in Marlisle knew Aiden Xavier didn’t love her.

"Ms. Hawthorne..."

A woman with delicate features emerged from the crowd. She was showing, and she walked with a hand carefully placed on her lower back.

"I’m pregnant with Mr. Xavier’s child. I hope you know what’s good for you and divorce him soon. Set him free."

At this sudden turn of events, everyone’s eyes turned toward them, hungry for gossip.

This woman was the award-winning actress Dylan Miller. As a top celebrity, making such a statement was practically career suicide, but...

...if she could successfully force Hazel out and marry the business emperor, Aiden Xavier, any sacrifice would be worth it.

Hazel Hawthorne, however, merely glanced at the woman’s belly and offered a faint smile. Her voice was cool yet gentle. "How many months?"

Dylan Miller froze, seemingly not expecting such a calm reaction. "Three months," she answered.

Three months ago, Dylan Miller had indeed been photographed drinking with Aiden Xavier and his group at a bar. So the baby was naturally...

The crowd held its breath, waiting for Hazel Hawthorne’s response.

But to their surprise, Hazel Hawthorne picked up her purse from the table, pulled out a bank card, and handed it to Dylan Miller with a sincere smile. "Go get it taken care of yourself." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Dylan Miller was hardly going to accept that. She slapped the card out of Hazel’s hand and lunged forward, roaring, "Ms. Hawthorne, do you not understand what I’m saying? I’m pregnant with Mr. Xavier’s child! When this baby is born, it will be the Xavier Family’s eldest grandchild! You’ve been married to Mr. Xavier for so long and he’s never even touched you. Isn’t it a bit shameless of you to keep clinging to the title of Mrs. Xavier?"

Tsk. ’Why does everyone think I’m the one clinging to this position?’ Hazel Hawthorne thought.

Unmoved by the provocation, Hazel Hawthorne simply narrowed her eyes and smiled, maintaining her cool, gentle demeanor. "You’re the eighteenth person to say that to me."

Dylan Miller froze, her expression twisting.

Hazel Hawthorne good-naturedly bent down, picked up the card, tucked it into Dylan Miller’s purse, and let out a lazy yawn.

"Ms. Miller, take the money before I change my mind. Find a good hospital and get the baby taken care of. You’re still young. If Aiden Xavier finds out about this, you might not even get the money. What do you think?"

Though Hazel Hawthorne’s words were nonchalant, they struck a nerve with Dylan Miller, making her feel a little insecure. She knew, of course, that Aiden Xavier would never want this child, which was why she had come to force Hazel’s hand.

But she never imagined that her all-or-nothing gamble would end like this!

She clenched her fists, glaring at Hazel Hawthorne as she threatened, "I’m not like those other women! Hazel Hawthorne, don’t wait for Mr. Xavier to come talk to you about a divorce himself."

Hazel Hawthorne swirled the wine in her glass, her smile leisurely. "Then we’ll see if you have what it takes to make him come."

With that, Hazel Hawthorne turned, picked up her purse, and strode elegantly out of the banquet hall.

But then she received a call from the family housekeeper. "Young Madam, Sir... he brought a woman home."

The faint smile that had been playing on Hazel Hawthorne’s lips suddenly stiffened.

No matter how much Aiden Xavier partied and fooled around outside, he never brought women home.

’Could it be... that woman is back?’

At that thought, she switched to her lawyer’s number and dialed. "The documents I had you prepare—you can give them to me now."