When the Contract Marriage Ended, He Stayed

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: The Handsome Husky

### Chapter 40: The Handsome Husky

That evening, Aiden Xavier drove from his company to pick her up. The moment Hazel Hawthorne got into the car, she shot a vicious glare at his profile and snapped, "You knew I wasn’t feeling well, yet you’re still dragging me out to dinner."

"I’m taking you to meet a friend."

Hazel Hawthorne was furious. She had assumed the dinner Aiden mentioned was some unavoidable business function, but it turned out to be just meeting a friend. That made her even more irritated. There were many ways to make Hazel Hawthorne angry, but Aiden always managed to do things that perfectly stepped on all her triggers.

"Aiden Xavier, if you’re going to meet a friend, shouldn’t you be taking Raina Lowell?"

’Raina isn’t just your one true love, she’s also your mistress. Don’t men look good taking their mistresses out? It shows how much of a big shot you are—one at home and another on the side.’

At her words, Aiden simply shot Hazel a cool glance. His eyes were filled with disdain, as if he found her endless questions tiresome.

When Aiden didn’t answer, Hazel couldn’t be bothered to court a snub.

They hadn’t held a wedding banquet when they got married. Aside from not wanting the hassle, she also had no desire to get involved in Aiden’s life. Meeting his friends felt like a declaration that their marriage was more than just a simple contract on paper.

She was at least self-aware enough to know that.

When Hazel suddenly fell silent, Aiden found it strange and couldn’t help but glance at her a few more times. Seeing her shut her eyes, he snorted. "Why’d you stop talking? Aren’t you supposed to be so glib?"

"What is there to say to you? There’s nothing to talk about." Hazel kept her eyes closed, her voice soft and laced with a mix of resignation and amusement. "You won’t answer even if I ask, so why should I bother? Since you’re taking me to meet your friend, you must have your reasons."

Aiden looked away. ’My reasons?’

He hadn’t really thought about why he was taking Hazel to see Julian Sterling. Since they got married, he’d never intended to let her into his life, much less meet his friends. He knew exactly what taking her to meet them would imply.

It meant he was bringing Hazel into his social circle. It was a way of telling his friends that Hazel was his wife.

An act like this would only bring their lives closer together.

After a long stretch of silence from Aiden, Hazel lazily cracked open an eye. She caught a glimpse of him from the corner of her vision, also resting with his eyes closed, and said no more.

The atmosphere in the car instantly chilled, the silence so complete it made the secretary shift uncomfortably. He glanced in the rearview mirror, first at Aiden, then at Hazel. Their postures were surprisingly identical. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com

The secretary thought to himself, ’They’re so in sync.’

When they arrived at the restaurant, Hazel and Aiden got out of the car. They walked one after the other, following a server into a private room.

Julian Sterling hadn’t arrived yet, and Hazel had no idea which of Aiden’s friends she was there to meet. She sipped her tea, feeling bored. Noticing Aiden was on his phone, her curiosity got the better of her, and she remarked, "If I weren’t sitting here right now, I’d find it hard to believe a person like you even has friends."

Aiden looked up and calmly retorted, "And what kind of person is that? Do you think I’m like you, with not a single friend to your name?"

Hazel had to keep telling herself, ’Don’t get angry with Aiden!’

But the way he spoke was just so infuriating. She was completely oblivious to the fact that her own words had gotten under his skin as well. "You’re sly and treacherous. It’s a miracle you have any friends at all. I, on the other hand, simply prefer not to make them."

"Hah. Then I’d love to see what kind of friends a caustic person like you could possibly make."

Hazel was tempted to just get up and walk out, not giving Aiden the satisfaction. ’Me, caustic?’

’She was only that glib when she was around him!’

Hazel turned away from him, no longer wanting to speak. She just hoped this dinner would end quickly; she couldn’t stand to look at him for another second.

’What a waste of that handsome face. Too bad it comes with such a vicious mouth.’

’When it came to being caustic, she couldn’t hold a candle to him.’

Nearly half an hour passed, but the friend Aiden had mentioned was still a no-show. Hazel impatiently told him to call and see what was up.

Aiden hadn’t expected Julian Sterling to be so late either. Before he could make the call, his phone rang—it was Julian.

It wasn’t until Aiden hung up, his expression blank, that Hazel realized his friend wasn’t coming today.

"Looks like this friend of yours isn’t very reliable, bailing on a dinner date at the last minute. And here I thought you were such a big shot. Turns out you’re just like me, getting stood up." Hazel would never miss an opportunity to humiliate Aiden.

She was just mad that he was always attacking her, always speaking so insolently, and it always rubbed her the wrong way.

Aiden ignored her and simply told the server to bring out the food.

Hazel quickly interjected, "Then let’s not eat. Since he’s not coming, there’s no point in the two of us eating alone. We might as well just go home. I can tell you don’t really want to eat with me, and as it happens, the feeling is mutual."

"We’ll eat first," Aiden said, dismissing the server.

Hazel watched the server walk away, then looked back at Aiden and pouted. Eating with someone like him, who never spoke during meals, made the atmosphere tense and dreary. It was enough to kill anyone’s appetite.

At least, that’s what Hazel thought. She rarely ate out alone with Aiden, and frankly, she had no desire to start now.

Aiden began to eat as if nothing were amiss, clearly savoring his food and completely ignoring her. Hazel, on the other hand, felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, unable to taste a thing.

Even if they served her an imperial banquet, she’d feel completely on edge as long as Aiden was the only one sitting beside her.

Aiden’s movements were elegant, his refined air always setting him apart.

Hazel kept sneaking glances at Aiden. She had to admit, when he wasn’t talking, his every move was breathtakingly handsome.

’Hazel couldn’t help but think that if they weren’t in a contract marriage, then on account of that jaw-droppingly handsome face of his, she might have been a bit more forgiving whenever they argued.’

Aiden was halfway through his meal when he noticed Hazel had barely touched her food and was staring at him in a daze. He spoke, his voice chilly but undeniably pleasant. "What are you trying to say, staring at me with such a look of infatuation?"

’His voice was nice, sure, but the words that came out of his mouth were anything but human.’

Hazel pouted and nonchalantly looked away. "People can’t help but stare when they see something pretty. It doesn’t have to mean anything. It’s like if I saw a handsome husky on the street, I’d probably stare at it for a bit, too. I might even go up and pet it."

"Is that right?" Aiden said, his voice cold. ’Comparing me to a dog?’

Hazel just smiled, saying nothing. Her eyes landed on Aiden’s phone, which was sitting on the table. Raina Lowell’s name was glaringly obvious on the screen. She couldn’t help but look back at Aiden with a smirk.

Aiden acted nonchalant, answering Raina’s call right in front of Hazel.

The private room was already quiet, so Raina’s voice carried clearly to Hazel’s ears. She listened as she ate, slowly and deliberately.

"Aiden, I miss you so much."

*****