When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

###Chapter 68: The Purpose of the Breakfast

"Young Madam." A familiar voice cut through the tense atmosphere. The title left everyone at a loss, and they all turned to look at the person who had suddenly appeared and spoken.

"Secretary Quinn," Hazel Hawthorne said, walking over to him. She noticed he was carrying something and asked casually, "What’s that you have?"

Secretary Quinn respectfully handed the items to Hazel. "Young Madam, this is the breakfast Mr. Xavier specially had me deliver. He knew you left in a hurry this morning."

Hazel was a little surprised. Thankfully, she had her back to everyone, so only Secretary Quinn could see her expression. The meaningful smile on his face was impossible for Hazel to decipher, and once again, she found herself unable to understand what Aiden Xavier was thinking.

’Going out of his way to have his personal assistant deliver breakfast... Is he trying to help me?’

Hazel quickly dismissed the idea. Aiden Xavier wasn’t that kind-hearted. But what was his purpose in doing this? She hadn’t figured it out yet.

Everyone stared at the breakfast Aiden Xavier had specifically sent over. The logo on the packaging alone was enough to make them green with envy. That restaurant wasn’t a place ordinary people could afford; it was said that even with money, you weren’t guaranteed a meal.

They didn’t offer delivery and only served six tables a day. Even if you tried to book a week in advance, the waitlist was so long you’d be lucky to get in by next month.

And yet, Aiden Xavier could have it delivered to Hazel Hawthorne with ease. Others might not have grasped the significance, but Chloe Lee did. She had been dying to eat at that restaurant and had made a reservation two weeks ago, but her turn still hadn’t come.

The envious and jealous glare in Chloe Lee’s eyes looked like she wanted to tear Hazel Hawthorne to shreds.

Hazel set the breakfast down at her desk, then pulled Secretary Quinn out onto the balcony.

"It’s just the two of us out here. Tell me the truth—did Aiden Xavier really send you?" Hazel didn’t believe it. Aiden had spent all of last night at the hospital with Raina Lowell. And when that picture of her was leaked online, he hadn’t even called to check on her.

So why would he go out of his way to have Secretary Quinn bring her breakfast? 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Young Madam, it was truly Mr. Xavier’s order. Without his instructions, how could I dare to make such a decision on my own?" Secretary Quinn replied earnestly. "Young Madam, if you don’t believe me, why not just ask him yourself for confirmation?"

Knowing full well that Aiden was with Raina Lowell, Hazel was particularly reluctant to call him. She knew how to handle her own problems; she didn’t need him at all.

"Forget it. I’ll just assume he was bored." It wasn’t like she could ever guess what Aiden was thinking anyway. "Go back and tell him not to send me breakfast at the office again. I don’t want to cause a scene."

"Ah? Young Madam, you might have to tell Mr. Xavier that yourself." Secretary Quinn looked troubled. After a moment, he added kindly, "Young Madam, the truth is, Mr. Xavier has always been very concerned about you. He’s just not good at expressing it, and some matters..."

Hazel held up a hand, cutting him off. ’Aiden cares about me?’

"You say Aiden cares about me? I’d sooner believe the sun will rise in the west tomorrow." Hazel gave a small smile. Not wanting to make things difficult for Secretary Quinn, she said lightly, "I’ll speak to Aiden about it myself."

Secretary Quinn breathed a sigh of relief.

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Aiden Xavier had stayed with Raina Lowell at the hospital all night. Early the next morning, he drove straight to the office to change and freshen up, then rested for a bit in the adjacent lounge.

When Secretary Quinn came in to report on what had happened, Aiden was sitting expressionlessly in his chair, listening with a relaxed air. Upon hearing that Hazel was very happy, the corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily, but his voice was sharp and cold when he spoke.

"Hazel was happy? Are you sure she didn’t have a message for me?"

Secretary Quinn felt immense pressure under Aiden’s gaze. He hesitated, not daring to lie but unsure if he should tell the truth. Just then, Aiden’s phone suddenly rang, breaking his train of thought. He immediately let out a huge sigh of relief.

’Talk about perfect timing.’

Aiden waved a dismissive hand, and Secretary Quinn tactfully exited the office.

Hazel preferred being direct with Aiden and had no patience for beating around the bush. The moment he answered, she cut right to the chase. "What was the meaning of all that this morning? Having Secretary Quinn deliver breakfast and say those things... What’s your game?"

"You can take it as me being concerned about you."

"Your ’concern’ is the death of me," Hazel scoffed. "But if you feel like you owe me and this is your way of making it up to me, I suppose I can accept that."

"Why would I owe you?" Aiden asked, confused.

"Can you name one thing happening to me right now that doesn’t have something to do with Raina Lowell? Aiden, I know you want to protect her, and I’m not saying you can’t. But you don’t get to order me around or control me, right?"

"Have you eaten breakfast?" Aiden changed the subject. He couldn’t bear to burst her bubble as he listened to her triumphant tone.

While Hazel genuinely scorned anything from Aiden, she knew she couldn’t punish her own body. So, scorning it all the while, she had polished off the entire breakfast. She had to admit, it was perfectly to her taste.

"I haven’t eaten," Hazel said coldly. "I threw it out."

Aiden didn’t call her out on the lie. Hazel seemed to sense something. "What are you smiling about? Aiden, you’d better not be playing games with me. You know I’m no fool."

"Yes, I know."

"Aiden, I have nothing more to say to you. With everything that’s been going on lately, you’d better back off a little." It was rare for Hazel to use such a commanding tone with him. "Oh, and Harrison Hawthorne wants us to come over for dinner tonight."

Harrison Hawthorne had invited them, and since Hazel was curious to see what he was planning this time, she hadn’t refused.

If Harrison hadn’t insisted that Aiden come too, she certainly wouldn’t have bothered telling him.

Aiden clearly wasn’t surprised, which made Hazel sneer. "I knew it. Harrison must have already told you."

Aiden remained silent. Hazel didn’t want him getting too involved in the Hawthorne family’s business. In truth, the only reason Aiden had agreed was because Harrison said Hazel would be there; otherwise, he couldn’t be bothered to get involved in the mess. He’d recently heard that Harrison had lost money on another investment.

"I’ll see you at your office after work."

Aiden sat in stunned silence. An image of Hazel fending off her colleagues at the office that morning flashed through his mind, and he couldn’t help but sigh.

Secretary Quinn entered and saw the flicker of melancholy on Aiden’s face. He said cautiously, "Mr. Xavier, you clearly care a great deal for the Young Madam. Why don’t you show it? She always assumes you have ulterior motives."

"If you hadn’t given her that video of Raina Lowell and Shawn Bennett, the Young Madam never would have been able to bring him to justice. And all those times you secretly funded Harrison Hawthorne—that was so he wouldn’t harass her..."

Aiden lifted his gaze, his tone cool and unreadable. "You’ve said quite enough today."

Secretary Quinn immediately clammed up. He placed the file on the desk, slipped toward the door, and then said quickly, "Mr. Xavier, I can tell you have feelings for the Young Madam."

*****