When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: If He Agrees, I’ll Divorce

### Chapter 39: If He Agrees, I’ll Get a Divorce ƒгeewebnovёl.com

Raina Lowell’s arrival meant Hazel Hawthorne ended up not answering Aiden’s call. After being notified by a maid, she tidied herself up a bit before going downstairs. There, she saw Raina Lowell, dressed in an elegant white dress, sitting demurely on the living room sofa.

Raina had clearly taken great care in her appearance, with delicate makeup and slightly curled hair cascading casually over her shoulders. When she saw Hazel arrive, she made no move to stand, acting as if she were the mistress of the house and Hazel the uninvited guest.

Hazel never bothered to dress up at home, always opting for casual clothes. She gave Raina a cool glance. ’Why does it feel like the empress is here to pick a fight, and I’m the other woman?’

"Ms. Hawthorne, I hope you don’t mind me showing up unannounced."

Hazel smiled and casually sat on the sofa next to Raina, her hair still damp and hanging down her back. "What a thing to say. How could I possibly mind? You’re already sitting right in front of me. Are you telling me you’d leave if I said I did?"

Raina’s expression soured, but she couldn’t be bothered to waste time on pleasantries with Hazel. "Can we find somewhere quiet to talk?"

Hazel glanced at the maids working in the living room. "Of course."

’She really didn’t want to watch Raina put on an act here.’

Besides, Raina knew that her marriage to Aiden was by contract, and Hazel didn’t want her to let it slip here. After all, Fiona Forrest had hired all the maids. She was also well aware that Raina could only be here to talk about one thing: Aiden.

Hazel led Raina to the study.

The study was decorated to Aiden’s tastes. As soon as Raina stepped inside, she felt as if she were in the house Aiden had bought for her. She glanced around. Seeing that the books on the shelves were almost all of Aiden’s favorites, her expression shifted slightly.

’This must mean Aiden comes back here often,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many of his things around.’

Hazel, sitting in her chair, watched Raina’s eyes darting about. She decided to get straight to the point. "What did you want to talk about? Aiden? If so, just spit it out. Aiden isn’t here."

Raina sneered. Her gaze suddenly landed on a photograph placed next to the computer on the desk. She walked right over and picked it up. It was a wedding photo of Hazel and Aiden. The picture was like a thorn piercing deep into her heart.

Raina threw the photo to the ground.

Seeing this, Hazel didn’t get angry. Instead, she grinned. "Go ahead and smash it. There are plenty more wedding photos of us in the house. I can bring out as many as you want to break. But I’m guessing you didn’t come all this way just to throw our wedding photos on the floor, did you?"

The wedding photo had already stung Raina, so she dropped all pretense of being polite to Hazel. Just as Hazel had said, Aiden wasn’t here, so there was no need to keep up the act.

"Well, go on. Why did you come looking for me?"

Raina stared straight at Hazel. "When are you finally going to divorce Aiden?"

’Oh,’ Hazel thought, ’so Raina can’t wait any longer. She wants me and Aiden to hurry up and get a divorce.’

Hazel leaned back slightly, looking at Raina with amusement. "Didn’t your dear Aiden tell you that a divorce is between two people?"

"Hah. As long as you stop clinging to Aiden, why wouldn’t he divorce you?" Raina said, full of confidence. "Aiden only married you as a matter of convenience. I thought you would’ve understood that." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"Whether I understand is not important. What’s important is that if you want Aiden to get a divorce, you shouldn’t be talking to me—you should be talking to Aiden. As long as he agrees to divorce me, I promise I won’t cling to him," Hazel said with the utmost sincerity.

Raina frowned, not quite understanding what Hazel was getting at. "Are you saying Aiden doesn’t want to divorce you?"

"I never said that. But if that’s how you want to interpret it, I fully support you." Hazel leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms, and took on an air of relaxed confidence. "If you don’t believe me, you can go ask Aiden."

Raina snorted. "Hazel Hawthorne, you expect me to believe you’d be this agreeable?"

"The fact is, I really am this agreeable. After all, plenty of women have come to make trouble for me over Aiden. I’m used to it." Hazel spread her hands in a helpless gesture, showing just how accustomed to it she was.

"I am not one of those women! Aiden was just playing games with them! I’m different!"

"Mm, I believe you. That’s why I’m telling you to go talk to Aiden."

Raina’s expression suddenly changed. A cold smirk played on her lips, as if she had seen through Hazel’s true intentions. "You’re a vicious woman," she said confidently. "You’re trying to trick me into confronting Aiden and forcing him to divorce you."

"Wrong, wrong, wrong, you silly girl. You’re just pursuing your own happiness. How could you call that ’forcing’ him?" Hazel beamed at Raina. ’My patience really is saintly!’ she thought again.

"So you’re saying I’m wrong?" Raina’s face screamed, ’I don’t believe a word you say.’ "Hazel Hawthorne, we’re both women. A man as outstanding as Aiden... are you telling me you haven’t fallen for him?"

"Aiden is indeed an outstanding man."

At this, Raina’s voice turned sharp. "I’m warning you, don’t get any ideas!" She paused. "Aiden won’t leave me for you. Instead of clinging to something that isn’t yours, you should let go and find something that is."

Hazel had never once considered a real future with Aiden. She was simply amused by Raina’s naive gullibility and wanted to mess with her a little.

So, she nodded in agreement. "I think you’re absolutely right. Tell you what, I’ll call Aiden and have him come home tonight to discuss the divorce. As long as he agrees, I’ll go down to the courthouse with him tomorrow and file the papers."

Hearing this, Raina’s face immediately lit up. "Are you serious?"

Hazel replied in the most earnest tone imaginable, "Completely. It’s noble to help others fulfill their wishes, and I would hate to stand in the way of true love. Besides, Aiden likes you, not me."

"As long as you divorce Aiden, I promise I’ll make it worth your while."

Seeing Raina’s expression, Hazel could barely contain her laughter. ’She’s so easy to fool.’ It suddenly hit her just how gullible Raina really was. Hazel had brought up divorce with Aiden no fewer than ten times, and he hadn’t agreed to it once.

Hazel suppressed her laughter, put on a somber expression, and nodded. "Don’t you worry. Go on home and wait for the good news."

After seeing Raina out, Hazel laughed so hard she could barely breathe. Just thinking about how gullible Raina was made her want to laugh all over again.

She thought she finally understood why Raina was so devoted to Aiden—it was because she was just that gullible.

Her laughter died down after a few moments. Hazel had no intention of calling Aiden home, nor did she plan on bringing up divorce. They had already discussed the matter, and for the time being, a divorce was simply not possible.

Hazel answered Aiden’s call, her voice listless. "What is it?"

"What are you doing? Why didn’t you pick up earlier?"

Hazel pulled the phone away from her ear to check the caller ID again. It really was Aiden. "I was in the shower."

’He never calls unless he wants something,’ she thought. And sure enough...

"Okay. Rest up at home this afternoon. I’ll pick you up for dinner tonight."

*****