When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

### Chapter 101: I Don’t Care What He Likes

What no one knew was that Hazel Hawthorne was also one of Aiden Xavier’s many admirers. She had simply buried her feelings deep inside. She understood very well what it took to stay by Aiden’s side longer, and she knew that voicing certain feelings would only lead to greater regret.

Was there any feeling more perfect than a secret crush? You could savor a one-sided love where all the pain and joy were yours alone. No one could give you false hope, and you would never have to feel utter despair.

Hazel Hawthorne sat in the office as if she were a different person. She remained quietly at her desk all morning, not saying a word even after finishing the design drafts Holly Shaw needed. Sharon Winters called out to her several times but got no response.

So, Sharon Winters went back to her own work and didn’t try talking to Hazel again.

A sudden message popped into Hazel’s view. She tapped on it and saw it was a text from Raina Lowell. Acting on a strange impulse, she opened it, only to find a photo of Aiden Xavier walking out of a bathroom, wrapped in a towel.

Hazel’s heart had already grown cold the night before, but seeing Raina’s provocative message now, she still felt a tremor inside. She quickly closed the message, not knowing how to respond to Raina.

’Last night, Aiden left our home to go find Raina. A man and a woman, alone in a room together...’ Hazel’s mind was already painting a vivid picture of what could have happened.

Agitated, she left the office and went to the outer balcony for some fresh air. Thankfully, few people ever came here. It was her go-to spot whenever she was upset.

Hazel stood at the edge of the balcony, her hands resting on the railing. ’The truth is, I really want to divorce Aiden right now. I don’t want to keep being provoked by Raina like this, especially when I have no way to even fight back.’

"Hazel?" A familiar, low voice suddenly sounded from behind, making Hazel jump. She whipped around to see Julian Sterling standing not far away with his hands behind his back, looking at her quizzically. "I thought my eyes were deceiving me."

"Mr. Sterling."

Julian Sterling scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed as he walked over to Hazel’s side. "We don’t have to be so formal. You’re Aiden’s wife, after all. You can just call me Julian."

"This is the office," Hazel replied stiffly.

But Julian waved her objection away. "It’s just the two of us here, and we’re friends. It’s fine to use my name. No one else will know."

Hazel was noncommittal. She had no desire to stand here debating with Julian about what to call him. Since he had arrived, she decided to leave, but he stopped her.

"You’re so strange. Do you hate me or something? Why do you always try to leave the second you see me? Did I interrupt you?" Julian looked at Hazel, puzzled. "You look like you have something on your mind. Did Aiden do something to upset you?"

Hazel didn’t answer, but Julian was sharp enough to read between the lines. He stated proudly, "It must be Aiden. He’s the one who upset you. Sigh, Aiden’s great at everything, except when it comes to matters of the heart. He’s so indecisive."

"Mr. Sterling," Hazel said, giving him a weary look.

But Julian continued on, speaking his mind. "Normally, I wouldn’t meddle in your and Aiden’s affairs, but I really think that if you’re unhappy with him about something, you have to tell him. His emotional intelligence is so low, how else is he supposed to know what you’re thinking?"

"There’s nothing wrong between Aiden and me."

Julian gave her a look that said, *’I know everything, so don’t even try to hide it from me.’* He chuckled. "That look on your face tells me that’s not true." After a pause, he lowered his voice and asked, "Why don’t you tell me about it? I might even be able to give you some advice."

Faced with Julian’s gossip-hungry eyes, Hazel finally couldn’t help but retort, "You should take a look in the mirror. Your entire face is screaming ’I’m so nosy.’"

Julian subconsciously touched his face and muttered to himself, "Is it that obvious? But gossip about Aiden is always top-tier. Of course I’m curious."

Hazel couldn’t believe she was actually standing here, patiently entertaining such a pointless conversation with Julian. Deciding she’d had enough, she ignored the fact that he was her boss and turned to leave the balcony.

Even so, Julian still followed her, persistently pestering her with questions and trying to convince her that he could help.

"Hazel, seriously, your personality is so difficult. You clam up after just a few words. Aiden would never like someone like you. Look at how Raina acts around him..."

Before he could finish, Hazel stopped so abruptly that Julian nearly crashed into her back. She spun around, stared straight at him, and said, enunciating every word, "Raina is Raina. I am me. I will never treat Aiden the way Raina treats him."

Taken aback and sensing her anger, Julian said apologetically, "Sorry, I didn’t mean to compare you to Raina. I was just trying to tell you that Aiden likes gentle women."

Hazel replied coolly, "What does that have to do with me? I don’t even like him, so I don’t care what he likes. I wouldn’t care if he liked men."

"..."

Hazel walked away, leaving Julian standing there, utterly flabbergasted. The corner of his mouth twitched, and he immediately called Aiden to rant about Hazel.

"Your wife’s tongue is lethal! Don’t you always say you’re more charming than me? Then why does Hazel despise you so much?"

"Did you call me just to talk about something so pointless?"

"Of course not!" Julian said, walking back to his office while on the phone. "Did you and Hazel have a fight? She seemed really down when I saw her."

"Down?" Aiden dismissed Finn Quinn from the room and shifted his grip on the phone. "Tell me, why would she be down?"

Julian rolled his eyes. "It’s obviously because of you and Raina." He tutted. "Anyone would be upset about that situation. Honestly, I don’t even know what you’re thinking. Don’t tell me you’re actually trying to have them both?"

"Are you trying to get more gossip?" Aiden scoffed, refusing to give Julian the chance.

’Hazel is down?’

Aiden couldn’t help but wonder if it was because he’d left so abruptly last night. At the door, in the instant their eyes met, he’d sensed that Hazel had something to say. But he had waited for a long time, and she never spoke.

’If she had just said what was on her mind last night,’ he thought, ’I might not have left.’

When he’d rushed to Raina’s place last night, she had been about to take sleeping pills. If he had arrived any later, she would probably be in the hospital getting her stomach pumped again.

The thought of Raina made Aiden’s expression turn grim. Raina held something he desperately wanted, and he absolutely could not afford to push her away right now.

After much hesitation, Aiden called Hazel anyway. Unsurprisingly, she didn’t answer.

Aiden thought of his late father, and then of Vincent Lowell, who had died saving his life. Once again, he pushed down the words he wanted to say to Hazel. *****