Better Late, But Never His Again novel Chapter 22

Lying on the cold floor, Hazel watched the scene unfold, deafened by the sound of her own breaking heart.

Several colleagues had already rushed forward, wrestling the deranged man to the ground. He thrashed against them, spitting vile curses.

But Hazel couldn't hear any of it.

All she could see was her husband fussing over another woman. He cradled her in his arms, holding her as delicately as if she were a fragile, priceless treasure.

Meanwhile, Hazel lay just a few feet away, her face bruised and throbbing from a brutal hit orchestrated by the very woman he cherished.

Julian meticulously checked Evelyn for injuries, and only after confirming she was unharmed did he finally stand up.

He shot a lethal glare at the man pinned to the floor, his voice vibrating with suppressed fury. "I am going to make you pay for this."

Then, he bent down and scooped Evelyn up into his arms. She leaned against his chest, her face pale and her eyes red, looking utterly pitiful and delicate.

Julian held her tight and strode out the door.

From start to finish, he never once looked back at Hazel.

The office fell into a stunned silence. Hazel's blood ran cold. Just then, Julian unexpectedly turned back around, muttering a quick, low instruction for Hazel to remember to put some ointment on her bruise, before rushing out again.

A few naive gasps broke the silence. "Wow! That was so romantic!"

"Mr. Hayes is so handsome!"

"Team Leader Vance is so lucky. He really treats her like a queen!"

Lying on the floor, listening to their swooning whispers, a self-deprecating smirk twisted Hazel's lips.

To outsiders, it was a sweeping, romantic tale of a hero saving a damsel in distress.

But only Hazel knew she was the pathetic, discarded extra in their little love story.

"Hazel!" Queenie rushed over, dropping to her knees and scrambling to help her up. "Are you okay? Does it hurt? Let's get you to the hospital!"

Hazel pushed herself off the ground and shook her head, her voice incredibly weak. "I'm fine, Queenie. I don't need a hospital. I just need to rest a bit. You can help me with some ointment."

The corner of her mouth was split, oozing a trickle of blood. Seeing this, Queenie’s eyes instantly filled with tears.

She and Julian had been married for five years, and he had never once looked at her with that kind of frantic devotion.

The difference between being loved and being tolerated was glaringly, agonizingly obvious.

She let out a shaky breath and spoke softly. "It's fine, Queenie. We're getting a divorce anyway."

Queenie fell silent for a few seconds before firmly grasping her hand. "Then you're moving in with me for now. I refuse to let you stay out there all alone."

Hazel thought about it for a moment and nodded. "Okay. I was planning on doing that anyway. Julian will be busy nursing Evelyn for the foreseeable future, and I have no energy left to deal with him."

Queenie's heart ached for her. The girl had suffered such a humiliating injustice, yet she was still so sensible—too sensible for her own good.

...

Meanwhile, at the hospital.

Julian got Evelyn checked in and settled into a private ward before taking a seat by her bedside.

Evelyn leaned against the pillows, her face still pale and her eyes wide with lingering terror.