Better Late, But Never His Again novel Chapter 34

Hazel pretended not to see Marcus, since she wasn't ready at all. She turned back toward the break room, changed into a modest dress, and quickly touched up her makeup so she wouldn't look like a total mess.

She stood in front of the mirror, examining her reflection. It was a simple black dress, her hair pinned up to expose her slender neck.

She had bought this dress a few years ago and worn it a couple of times before burying it at the bottom of her closet. Julian had always hated it when she wore anything remotely revealing. He claimed he couldn't stand the thought of other men staring at her, insisting it was just the normal possessiveness a man should have over his wife.

Hazel had blushed and believed him back then, rarely wearing it again. Looking back now, it was utterly laughable.

She checked the time. Twenty minutes early, that should be fine.

She opened the door and walked toward the entrance of the Institute. The moment she stepped outside, her footsteps halted.

A short distance away, the black Rolls-Royce sat idling. A man stood beside the car in a sharply tailored black suit that perfectly accentuated his imposing stature.

The golden hues of the setting sun cast a faint halo over him, yet it did nothing to soften his intensely intimidating aura.

Marcus was actually still waiting out there. She had half-expected him to impatiently call her by now. Perhaps this was just the effortless grace of the ultra-wealthy.

Even from this distance, Hazel could feel the invisible pressure radiating from him.

She had no idea what this man was scheming tonight, but since he had demanded her presence, she had no choice but to bite the bullet. Taking a deep breath to suppress her lingering anxiety, she walked over.

Stopping in front of him, she maintained her polite, distant demeanor.

"Mr. Thornton."

Marcus's gaze slid slowly down her face, swept over her outfit, and then returned to her eyes.

Those slightly upturned, striking eyes still carried that unfathomable, mocking amusement.

"Dr. Garrison," he drawled slowly. "You're planning to attend tonight's banquet with me dressed like that?"

Hazel froze, looking down at herself.

It was a black dress with a clean cut. While it certainly wasn't a designer gown, it was the absolute best dress she owned.

The pale purple gown she wore last time was rented and had long since been returned.

She looked up, about to explain herself, but Marcus had already turned and gotten into the car, his cold voice drifting from the backseat.

"Get in."

Hazel pressed her lips together, opened the rear door, and slid inside.

The interior was spacious, permeated by the faint, masculine scent of cedarwood. Marcus sat beside her, his posture lazy, his gaze fixed out the window, completely ignoring her.

He turned back to Hazel.

"Go pick something. Whatever you like, just take it."

Hazel followed his gaze, and her heart sank.

Every single dress in that row was priced at tens of thousands of dollars. She absolutely could not afford them.

Though Julian was never stingy about transferring money to her, it all went to a card he controlled. Every single transaction was tracked on his end.

She didn't want him to see it. If he called to interrogate her, how was she supposed to explain this?

"Mr. Thornton," she began carefully, "these are far too expensive. I..."

"I'm paying," Marcus cut her off, his tone entirely indifferent. "Your only job today is to show up."

Hazel still hesitated.

A gown worth tens of thousands of dollars? Just pick it and wear it, just like that?

A chilling voice sounded from behind her. "Does Dr. Garrison think I can't afford it?"