When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

###Chapter 71: A Chance Encounter at the Hot Pot Restaurant

To celebrate Hazel Hawthorne going on a business trip with Holly Shaw, Sharon Winters invited her out for hot pot. She also invited Nathan Miller and Aaron Shaw to come along.

Hazel didn’t realize until she got to the restaurant that Nathan was coming. He had already cleared the air about his feelings in front of everyone so as not to embarrass her, but now that he was face-to-face with Hazel, things felt a bit awkward. Even Sharon could tell.

Hazel pulled Sharon into the restroom and glanced back toward their private room. "So, are you treating or is Nathan treating?"

Fearing a misunderstanding, Sharon quickly explained, "Me! I was craving hot pot, and you know my boyfriend hates it. He always complains the smell is too strong. I just happened to run into Nathan, so I asked him on a whim."

"And you didn’t expect him to actually say yes," Hazel said, exasperated.

"I was just asking to be polite! Who knew he’d agree right away? If I’d known, I definitely wouldn’t have invited him. Besides, I know how he feels about you. I wouldn’t dare try to set you two up... unless you divorced Aiden Xavier, that is."

Sharon wore a sincere expression. "Even though I don’t like Aiden Xavier and can’t stand the way he treats you, I would never try to break up a marriage."

Hazel believed that Sharon had no intention of playing matchmaker. "I’m just worried it’ll be awkward for Nathan. Ugh, I’m terrible at handling emotional stuff like this. It gives me a headache."

"Don’t worry about it. Since Nathan chose to come, he’s definitely accepted the fact that you’re married. At most, he just wants to be friends. Don’t overthink it. If you feel awkward, it’ll only make him feel even more awkward."

Sharon comforted Hazel. They stayed in the restroom for a while. Hazel could only console herself with the thought that since she was already here, she might as well make the best of it. She couldn’t just leave, nor could she kick Nathan out. That would be in really poor taste.

When Hazel and Sharon returned to the private room, the atmosphere had become much more relaxed. Nathan and Aaron Shaw were taking the initiative to chat, mostly about work, to ease the tension.

BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ... A strange sound suddenly rang out.

Hazel was happily chatting with Nathan and didn’t hear the strange noise at all.

Sharon, however, glanced around. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Hazel’s phone vibrating nonstop on the stool next to her. She peeked at the caller ID, and as if realizing who it was, she quickly tapped Hazel’s shoulder.

"Your phone’s ringing."

Hazel snapped back to reality and picked up her phone from the stool. It was a call from that persistent ghost, Aiden Xavier.

She got up and walked to the restroom to answer. It was noisy on Aiden’s end, and Hazel could barely hear what he was saying, forcing her to ask him to repeat himself a few times.

"Where are you?"

Hazel looked around the restroom. "Why are you asking?"

"Eating hot pot?"

Hazel glanced around again, wondering if Aiden had installed a surveillance camera in here. "How do you know? Did you see me? Are you here eating hot pot too?"

A cold laugh came from Aiden over the phone. "I’m in the private room next to yours."

’A man like Aiden Xavier eats hot pot?’

’I must be seeing things.’

Hazel rolled her eyes. "So what?" ’What does that have to do with me? It’s not like eating hot pot is some rare event he needs to announce.’

"Who are you eating with?"

"Aiden Xavier, why do you need to know so much?" Hazel’s voice rose. "If you need something, just say it. Don’t beat around the bush; it doesn’t fit your persona."

"Is that guy... what’s-his-name... Nathan there?"

For a moment, Hazel couldn’t figure out how Aiden knew about Nathan. Then she remembered: after her last meal with Nathan, Aiden had seen her texting with him when he asked if she’d gotten home. Aiden had even snatched her phone away.

"Nathan is my colleague and my friend. Is there a problem with me having a meal with him?"

’Aiden’s questions were completely absurd. He’s interrogating me... Does he think he’s catching me in the act or something?’

"Why are you eating with him? Did the maids at home not make you dinner? Is that why you had to come out to eat?" Aiden said coldly.

Now, Hazel was even more baffled. ’I haven’t done anything to provoke him, have I?’

With that thought, she hung up on Aiden. He was ruining her mood. She shouldn’t have answered in the first place.

After composing herself, Hazel nonchalantly walked back out and resumed her cheerful conversation with Nathan. The four of them were having a happy and enjoyable meal.

But of course, someone just had to be a killjoy and ruin Hazel’s mood.

The door creaked open, and Aiden Xavier’s imposing figure suddenly appeared. His presence instantly plunged the room’s harmonious atmosphere into a strange silence.

Aiden’s face was often plastered across the internet and television due to tabloid news, making him unforgettable. Nathan and Aaron Shaw exchanged a look, while a bewildered Sharon stared at Hazel.

Hazel remained seated, pretending not to see Aiden, and urged everyone to keep chatting.

Being ignored didn’t seem to bother him.

Aiden walked gracefully to Hazel’s side, pulled out an empty stool, and sat down. He stared intently at her. "Hazel, why didn’t you tell me you were eating here with your colleagues?"

Hazel’s expression was flat. "Tell you? Would you have paid for us? You don’t even eat hot pot, so why would I tell you?"

Aiden wasn’t angry. Instead, his voice was laced with affection. "Don’t be mad at me. We can talk about our issues at home. I just came over to tell you to wait for me, and we’ll go home together later." He paused, then addressed the others. "I won’t disturb your meal."

Aiden came and went like the wind, his only purpose seemingly to get under Hazel’s skin.

After Aiden left, the atmosphere in the room remained just as strange. Finally, Nathan broke the silence. "Was Mr. Xavier just here to stake his claim?"

Hazel’s eyes filled with confusion.

Nathan smiled. "I think Mr. Xavier was worried about you eating with us, so he came over to check." He added this when he saw Hazel look unconvinced, on the verge of laughing. "He doesn’t seem as cold as the rumors say."

Hazel rolled her eyes. "Which one of your eyes saw him being friendly? He didn’t crack a single smile the entire time he was in here. How is that not cold?"

Nathan just smiled without saying anything. Aiden’s visit brought the dinner to an unpleasant end. Just as Hazel stepped out of the private room, she ran right into him.

Sharon, Nathan, and Aaron found an excuse to leave first, abandoning Hazel there by herself.

Hazel turned to leave but Aiden grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. "Wait for me."

"Let go! What do you think you’re doing, grabbing me like this in public?" Hazel said angrily.

"I’ll be done soon. I’ll take you home later."

"How could I dare trouble you to take me home? You should go find Raina Lowell. She needs you by her side more than I do. If you don’t go take care of her, what if she tries to kill herself in the hospital again?" Hazel said with a mocking smile.

"I’ve been drinking, so I can’t drive. You have to drive for me."

"..." A giant question mark seemed to appear on Hazel’s beautiful face. "What nonsense are you talking about? Me? Drive you? Drive you to go find Raina Lowell? Are you drunk, or did I hear you wrong?"

*****