Better Late, But Never His Again novel Chapter 180

Nellie scoffed loudly from the sidelines. "Wow, playing the victim when you're the one who started it."

Chloe glared fiercely back at her. "Shut up. This has nothing to do with you."

Hazel took a half-step forward, shielding Nellie behind her. She looked squarely at Julian, her voice perfectly calm. "I did hit her."

Julian hadn't fully believed that Hazel was the one responsible for the mark on Chloe's face, but hearing her admit it outright made his expression darken. The line of his jaw tightened visibly.

"Hazel, how could you resort to physical violence? Chloe just got back to the country. No matter what happened, you shouldn't have hit her. Apologize to Chloe immediately."

Nellie let out a sharp laugh that echoed abrasively in the quiet corridor. She stepped forward, angling her shoulder to block Hazel.

"Mr. Hayes, maybe you should get your facts straight. Your sister is the one who started spewing insults. She called Hazel a barren hen. Plus, Hazel is spending her own money to shop here. Why is that any of your sister's business?"

Julian's face turned completely frigid. He looked at Nellie, his voice dropping to absolute zero. "Ms. York, this is family business. It is not an outsider's place to interfere."

Hazel reached out, gently pushing Nellie back behind her, and lifted her eyes to meet Julian's.

Her gaze was unnervingly calm, causing an inexplicable tension to pull tight in Julian's chest.

"Then is it my place to interfere?"

Julian's expression grew incredibly rigid. Hazel had never openly defied him and embarrassed him in front of outsiders like this before.

He took a step forward, reaching out to grab her wrist, but Hazel shifted back a half-step. His hand grasped at empty air.

His hand hovered awkwardly for a second before he slowly pulled it back. His tone softened marginally.

"Honey, we're in a public mall, and Chloe just returned home. You're the older one; you should be more accommodating. Why be so petty and make a scene that embarrasses everyone?"

He lowered his voice slightly. "If you're upset, let's just go home and talk about it. Grandma is waiting for us."

Hazel didn't move an inch. She stated calmly,

"Let's settle the score right here first. Your sister and your old flame—one calls me a barren hen, and the other stands by and watches the show. And the very first words out of your mouth when you get here are to interrogate me about why I hit someone."

She let out a soft, humorless laugh. It carried no warmth, only a deep sense of exhausted resignation, as if this was exactly what she had expected all along.

"Julian, you never fail to disappoint me."

That smile felt like a physical blow to Julian. A suffocating pressure settled heavily in his chest, making it hard to breathe.

He spun around to face Chloe, his expression even colder than when he had confronted Hazel.

"Did you really say those things?"

"Apologize to your sister-in-law."

Chloe's eyes went wide. Her lips parted, then pressed tightly together. Tears pooled in her eyes. She completely refused to apologize to Hazel!

Evelyn's fingers tightened on Julian's arm for a fleeting second before she let go. She took a step back to stand beside Chloe and stayed quiet.

The apologetic smile remained plastered on her face, but the look in her eyes had grown several degrees colder.

Chloe bit her lip, her chin jutting out in sheer defiance.

She looked over at Hazel. Hazel was just standing there, watching the spectacle with a completely deadpan expression, as if she were watching a play that had absolutely nothing to do with her. She always acted so high and mighty, completely detached from everything.

"I'm sorry," Chloe forced the words through gritted teeth, her eyes practically shooting daggers.

Hazel looked at the girl who used to rely on her so much. Seeing her forced to spit out an apology while radiating nothing but pure resentment and hostility made Hazel feel a rare wave of pity.

She had no idea what Chloe had gone through abroad. In just a few short years, a sweet, understanding girl had morphed into someone this incredibly vicious.

She glanced over at Evelyn, who was still silently watching the drama unfold, and suddenly realized Evelyn likely had a lot to do with it. But honestly, Hazel didn't care anymore.

At that moment, Julian turned back to Hazel, his tone still rigid, the veins bulging slightly at his temple. "Is that enough? She's apologized."