Better Late, But Never His Again novel Chapter 153

Julian didn't come home that night.

When Hazel walked out of her room the next morning, Beatrice was already seated at the dining table.

A bowl of oatmeal and a plate of fruit were set perfectly in front of her, but they remained largely untouched.

Hearing footsteps on the stairs, the older woman looked up. Her expression softened slightly when she saw Hazel.

"Hazel, did Julian come back last night? Did he sleep in your room?"

Hazel hesitated for a second. To avoid unnecessary drama, she walked over to the table and served her some fruit, her voice calm.

"Yes, he stayed in my room."

Beatrice's face relaxed, and she picked up her silverware again. "Good. Go on to work, then."

Hazel put down the serving spoon. "Alright, Grandma Hayes. I'll head to the office now."

...

Upon arriving at the company lobby, she ran right into Marcus Thornton. He was wearing a dark gray dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, holding a file and speaking quietly to his assistant.

Hazel stopped, preparing to say good morning.

However, Marcus walked right past her without so much as a glance. As he brushed by, his crisp cedar cologne drifted past her before fading away.

Hazel pursed her lips and headed to her desk.

She had barely sat down and opened her laptop, not even loading her test data yet, when the sharp click of heels approached and stopped right beside her.

Evelyn stood in front of her desk, wearing that same arrogant smirk. Sometimes Hazel honestly wondered what the woman had to be so smug about.

But recalling Marcus's icy demeanor that morning, she wondered if he would still take her.

She hesitated, debating whether she should go upstairs and apologize.

On second thought, whatever. She was resigning soon anyway. If she couldn't go, she couldn't go. There would be other opportunities.

Just as she was thinking this, a hand tapped her desk twice. The knuckles were pronounced, and the metallic cufflink caught the harsh glare of the overhead lights.

She looked up to find Marcus standing next to her cubicle, his gaze cold.

"Don't forget tonight's banquet. Go get changed."

With that, he turned and walked away. Hazel stood up, her mouth half-open, the apology stuck in her throat as his figure disappeared around the corner.