When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

###Chapter 9: The Hawthorne Family is a Festering Sore

"Aiden Xavier, are you crazy? Let go of me!"

At the entrance of the Hawthorne villa, Hazel Hawthorne struggled as Aiden Xavier dragged her toward a car parked at the curb.

He shoved her into the car. She violently shook off his hand and tried to slip out through the open door, but Aiden Xavier slid in right after her. He sat down beside her, blocking her way and trapping her in the small space.

"So, Mrs. Xavier, do you want to see your mother’s belongings—even her most private items—put up for auction?"

Aiden Xavier naturally possessed a kingly aura of authority.

Even when he spoke in a slow, languid manner, his words carried an authority that defied doubt.

They were so close that Hazel could smell his crisp, overpowering scent.

"I can offer another two hundred million to buy your mother’s belongings, provided you agree to my terms."

Hazel Hawthorne frowned.

’So this was their plan.’ Harrison Hawthorne and Jessica Clarke had made her come back, had made her see the belongings in the villa’s yard, for this very reason.

They wanted to force her to get money from Aiden Xavier, or else she would have to stand by and watch helplessly as her mother’s things were put up for auction.

’But what could she do now?’

Ever since marrying Aiden Xavier, she had given up working just to hold on to her so-called position as Mrs. Xavier. She had no job, and certainly no savings. She appeared glamorous on the surface, but in reality, she couldn’t even come up with a hundred-some thousand. How could she possibly afford to buy her mother’s things?

’If she refused Aiden, would she really have to watch as her mother’s most private possessions were put on the auction block?’

After a moment of thought, Hazel spoke up. "I can agree to your terms, but you have to agree to mine as well."

"First."

Her delivery was sharp and direct. "I will not allow my mother’s belongings, especially her private items, to be auctioned. After you buy those things from Harrison Hawthorne, you can keep the antiques and paintings for yourself, but her personal effects must be given to me."

Aiden Xavier replied coolly, "Agreed."

"Second."

Hazel said, "I want to amend our marriage agreement. Starting today, I’m getting a job."

’If she had a job, she wouldn’t have been forced into this corner.’ 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

’Aiden Xavier could provide her with a glamorous life as Mrs. Xavier, moving through the circles of high society, but in the end, you had to rely on yourself.’

Aiden Xavier said nonchalantly, "Fine."

"Third."

Hazel hesitated, then took a breath. "I want you to help me destroy the Hawthorne Group."

Aiden Xavier raised an eyebrow at this condition.

He knew Hazel didn’t get along with her family, but... he hadn’t thought it was bad enough that she’d want to destroy them.

He asked, his tone skeptical, "Are you sure?"

Hazel gave a bleak smile. "Mr. Xavier, if you had a festering sore on your body, what would you do?"

To her, the Hawthorne Family was exactly that—a festering sore.

’She had always tried to keep the peace, to live and let live, but now she saw that her passivity had only emboldened them.’

’As long as the Hawthorne Family was around, she would never be free. Better to just lance the boil now and be done with it for good.’

Aiden Xavier’s expression remained unchanged. "If you’re sure about this, it’s not impossible."

"However, I can’t be directly involved in this matter. After all..."

He stated with his thin lips, "Going after my own father-in-law would be bad for my public image."

Hazel raised an eyebrow, scoffing internally. ’What reputation does this bastard have to worry about?’

"Don’t you worry."

Hazel leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. "I’ll do it myself."