When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

### Chapter 55: More Cunning Than You

’This is the perfect opportunity. Aiden should divorce Hazel right away. Even if I can’t marry him immediately, I’d still be thrilled just to finally stop seeing Hazel show up around him and me every day.’

Raina Lowell eagerly awaited Aiden’s reply, already fantasizing that he would agree to divorce Hazel immediately. But instead, Aiden just pulled her into his arms and said in a low voice, "If I could, I wish it had been you I married."

Though he hadn’t directly answered her question, his response was enough to make Raina ecstatic. She forgot all about pressing him for a real answer. Nestling against him, she started to playfully toy with his long, slender fingers.

The chaos of the outside world seemed to have nothing to do with them.

"Aiden, did your mother give you a hard time? I know she must not like me, and after what’s happened, I’m sure she hates me even more. She’ll definitely think that my showing up is what caused the rift in your relationship with Ms. Hawthorne."

"I’ll work on my mother and try to get her to accept you as soon as possible. Once she does, I’ll divorce Hazel and marry you immediately. As for the rumors outside, just pretend you haven’t heard them, okay?"

Gazing at the incredibly gentle Aiden, Raina was utterly captivated. In her eyes, there was no one else but him. She wanted him all to herself, and she wanted Hazel to disappear from their lives as quickly as possible.

"Raina, I’m going to be very busy for a while, so I won’t have much time to come see you. Just be good and wait for me at home, okay? I’ll come find you the second I’m free."

No one could resist the handsome and devoted Aiden.

His tender words and gaze had Raina wrapped around his finger. She nodded obediently. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she said, "Aiden, if you find out who’s plotting against us, you have to tell me. I have a feeling it’s someone we know."

Raina’s words were pointed; she hoped Aiden would start suspecting Hazel. Only by making Aiden despise Hazel could she speed up their divorce.

She knew Aiden too well; he was the kind of person who couldn’t stand living with someone he despised.

Aiden stayed with Raina at Evercrest Estates, his phone turned off, making him unreachable.

Unable to reach Aiden, Fiona Forrest had no choice but to call Hazel.

As soon as Hazel received Fiona Forrest’s call, she immediately asked Sharon Winters to request time off for her and left the office.

"Hazel, where are you going, taking off all of a sudden?" Sharon Winters quickly grabbed a rushing Hazel. "I messaged you last night, but you never replied. Did you get into a fight with Aiden at home?"

"No, we don’t fight."

Sharon sighed. "Wow, you’re being incredibly gracious about it. If it were me, I could never accept my husband still being in contact with an old flame. That’s a ticking time bomb."

Hazel just smiled without a word. Her relationship with Aiden wasn’t one where they would argue over such matters.

"I have something urgent to attend to. Could you sort out the time off for me?"

"Fine, I know you must be swamped lately. But honestly, that Aiden... He knows perfectly well that an ex is always a sore spot for the person they’re with now, yet he insists on getting tangled up with her. To be honest, I’m liking him less and less."

As Sharon muttered, Hazel gave a faint smile, grabbed her phone, and left her desk.

Luckily, Chloe Lee was out on an errand with Holly Shaw. If she had run into Chloe, she would have definitely snitched on her to Holly.

Since she wasn’t at home, Hazel arranged to meet Fiona Forrest at a quiet nearby coffee shop instead.

Fiona Forrest was already there. The moment Hazel walked in, she saw her mother-in-law sitting elegantly, holding a coffee cup. Hazel hurried over to her.

"Hazel, what in the world is going on with you and Aiden?"

Hazel sounded exasperated. "Mom, Aiden and Raina’s relationship isn’t what the paparazzi are making it out to be. The day we went to the hospital to visit her, Aiden specifically asked me to come along to avoid any suspicion. I never thought the paparazzi would still get a photo."

Fiona Forrest’s brow furrowed when she heard Hazel had been there too. "Are you out of your mind? You actually went with Aiden to visit Raina? Don’t you know what her intentions are toward Aiden? That woman would die to marry him."

"I know, but I just think Raina is quite pitiful, in a way." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"This is not the time for you to be soft-hearted. Raina isn’t as simple as she appears on the surface. You’d better believe that as long as I’m around, she can forget about marrying Aiden." Fiona grew more agitated as she spoke.

Hazel meekly took a sip of water to soothe her throat. She was still sweating from her hurried walk over. "Mom, can I ask why you hate Raina so much?"

Fiona froze for a moment. "Because she is completely unworthy of marrying into our Xavier Family."

’Back before the Hawthorne Family fell from grace, before Hazel’s own mother passed away, the Hawthornes had been one of Kenport’s great families. She knew back then that the Xavier and Lowell families were old family friends and had always been on good terms. But later, for some unknown reason, the two families became enemies.’

’Then, Aiden’s father died suddenly. The Lowell family lost a son, then promptly went bankrupt, and Raina was sent abroad.’

’The wars between powerful families are bloodless.’

’Hazel had been well-protected by her mother back then, and since she disliked all the scheming and plotting, she had even less interest in understanding the details.’

Now, seeing Fiona Forrest’s attitude toward Raina, she couldn’t help but recall a rumor that circulated after Aiden’s father passed away.

’The rumor was that someone from the Lowell Family had killed Aiden’s father. In retaliation, the Xavier Family had done everything in its power to crush the Lowells, causing their bankruptcy and the death of their son as revenge. As for Raina, it was said she was only sent abroad because Aiden had a moment of weakness and took pity on her.’

Of course, these were all just rumors that came out later. Hazel didn’t know the full story; she had only heard bits and pieces and had never tried to verify if they were true.

"Raina, pitiful?" Fiona Forrest said through clenched teeth. "That woman’s greatest skill is deception. You think she’s pitiful only because you’ve been fooled by her act. When it comes to cunning, you’re no match for her."

Hazel wasn’t the least bit bothered by Fiona calling her naive.

"Raina came back to the country so suddenly and went straight for Aiden. How long has she even been back, and she’s already stirred up this much trouble? As long as she remains in Kenport, our Xavier Family will never have a day of peace."

"Mother, what are you planning to do?" Hazel watched Fiona nervously. She didn’t even know where Aiden was hiding Raina now. ’Is she planning to send Raina out of the country again?’ she wondered.

"Raina absolutely cannot be allowed to remain by Aiden’s side."

Hazel understood now that Fiona was planning to take action against Raina. Frowning, Hazel said, "Mother, if you move against Raina now, it will only drive her and Aiden closer together."

Fiona heaved a deep sigh, probably thinking Hazel was truly foolish. Then, she pulled a file from her purse and handed it to her. "Take a look at this first."

*****