### Chapter 103: Not Interested

But there were always annoying pests buzzing around Hazel Hawthorne that she couldn’t swat away. Yvette Hawthorne, who had been all smiles just a moment ago, now shot Hazel a look filled with disgust and contempt. Hazel gave her a passing glance and then ignored her completely.

Yvette was furious and wanted to cause trouble for Hazel, but Jessica Clarke had warned her before they left. Today was Harrison Hawthorne’s birthday, and they were absolutely forbidden from making a scene at such an event. So, for the time being, she had no choice but to suppress her resentment toward Hazel.

"Hazel, who are you scowling for?" Although Yvette couldn’t physically do anything to Hazel, she still wanted to win their verbal spat. Little did she know, she was no match for Hazel.

"I’m putting it on for the dogs. They love this sort of thing," Hazel said with a sweet smile, leisurely picking up a glass of juice and taking a sip to wet her throat.

It took Yvette a moment to realize Hazel was calling her a dog. She was incandescent with rage. The ladylike demeanor she was trying so hard to maintain was about to crumble before Hazel. She glared at Hazel again, gritting her teeth, looking as if she wanted to tear her limb from limb.

Hazel remained unfazed. Even if Yvette had ten times the nerve, she wouldn’t dare throw a tantrum on an occasion like this. Yvette knew full well that if she pushed Hazel too far, Hazel would say all sorts of nasty things and wouldn’t hold back out of respect for Harrison Hawthorne.

In the end, she and Jessica Clarke would be the only ones left embarrassed.

Having failed to get a rise out of Hazel, Yvette scurried away with her tail between her legs.

Before leaving, she didn’t forget to throw a vicious glare at Hazel, which only made Hazel laugh. She took another sip of juice. Watching everyone chat and laugh, she suddenly found it all incredibly dull. She decided to find a quiet spot to be alone, preferably where no one would bother her.

Just as she stood up, her eyes met Aiden Xavier’s. He had already shaken off the people trying to chat him up and was walking straight toward her. Hazel averted her gaze, pretending not to see him, and made a move to walk in the other direction. Her intention to avoid Aiden was plain to see.

But Aiden was one step ahead and grabbed her hand. His voice was low as he said, "Why are you running off the moment you see me? Do you really not want to see me that much?"

"Young Master Xavier, what are you talking about? When have I ever not wanted to see you?"

"Heh." Aiden scoffed. "Do you enjoy speaking to me in this tone?"

Hazel spread her hands in exasperation, her eyes feigning innocence. "Is this not how I normally talk?"

"You’re coming with me." Without waiting for her consent, Aiden wrapped an arm around her shoulders and discreetly pulled her to a deserted spot. He cornered her, trapping her with his arm, and lowered his head to look at her with intense seriousness.

It felt as if time had stopped. Hazel looked into Aiden’s eyes and saw her own reflection: cold, detached, her expression completely flat. Even now, when she was effectively trapped by him, she remained unchanged.

She had long since sealed away her feelings for Aiden. The man she faced now was merely her legal husband; she wouldn’t be so foolish as to let any so-called emotions get involved again.

"What did you bring me here for? Just say it. Don’t beat around the bush." Hazel averted her gaze, her tone exceedingly detached. "If you’re going to talk about you and Raina Lowell, then don’t bother. I’m really not interested in hearing it."

"Why didn’t you call me this week?"

His question left Hazel stunned. "Is there a problem? It’s only been a week. For a couple like us, not being in contact is the most normal thing in the world. Are you on something, asking me this now?"

After speaking, she even made a show of reaching out to touch Aiden’s forehead, as if to check if he had a fever that had fried his brain.

"Doesn’t seem to be a problem," Hazel muttered to herself.

Aiden caught her retreating hand, his gaze still fixed on her. "Can we talk like normal people? That night... I did leave the house to see Raina Lowell..."

Before he could finish, Hazel shoved him away with all her might. "Didn’t I already tell you? I’m really not interested in your business with Raina Lowell. You don’t need to tell me. And don’t worry, I definitely won’t tell Mother."

"Can’t you just let me finish?" Aiden grabbed Hazel firmly. "If I hadn’t gone, Raina would have killed herself."

’The suicide trick again.’ Hazel looked up at Aiden, wondering if the man before her was genuinely stupid or just playing dumb. "If Raina Lowell really wanted to die, she wouldn’t have told you. She told you because she wanted you to go to her. Even if you hadn’t gone, she wouldn’t have actually died."

’At most, she’d end up in the hospital for a few days, just like last time.’

"I know."

Hazel’s eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, I get it now. It doesn’t matter if Raina uses suicide to threaten you or not. As long as she calls, you’ll go. She only resorted to such a drastic measure because she thought you might choose to stay with me."

Hazel understood what Aiden meant.

He was willingly letting himself be threatened and deceived by Raina. No matter what she said or did, he would go to her.

"Aiden Xavier, why are you telling me this? Didn’t I say I’m not interested in you and Raina? Are you telling me all this because you want me to analyze your relationship problems for you? If so, that’s a shame, because I can’t."

Aiden grabbed her again. "Hazel, do you trust me?"

Hazel asked blankly, "Trust?"

Aiden nodded, seeming to desperately hope he would hear her say that one word.

But who would have known? One moment Hazel was serious, and the next, she started to laugh. It was unclear if she was laughing at herself or at Aiden. She spoke slowly, "Do you think our relationship is one that requires trust?"

"Alright, we’ve been out here too long. Harrison Hawthorne will be looking for us. After all, you’re his prize exhibit, and he really needs you right now." Hazel patted Aiden’s collar, then turned and walked back to the party.

It was as if nothing had just happened. Hazel maintained her cold expression, her indifferent attitude repelling anyone who tried to approach her. As for Aiden, he couldn’t stay by Hazel’s side for more than a few minutes before being called away by Harrison.

The excuse was to introduce Aiden to some of the elders, but the real reason was to show everyone that no matter how impressive Aiden Xavier was, he still had to call Harrison "Dad" and show him respect.

Hazel knew better than anyone how much Harrison cared about his image.

The banquet was extremely boring for Hazel. Fortunately, no one else came to bother her. Even Yvette, who had been looking for trouble, was nowhere to be seen. With no one to disturb her peace, Hazel simply laid her head on the table and started to doze off.

This continued until a slender figure appeared slowly at the entrance to the hall. As the doors were pushed open, sunlight streamed in, seeming to completely envelop the newcomer. Her long, lustrous black hair cascaded like a waterfall. The diamonds on her silver dress sparkled under the light, shining as dazzlingly as the stars.

*****