Better Late, But Never His Again novel Chapter 55

Hazel stepped out of the office building, pulling her coat tightly around herself as she headed toward the downtown shopping district.

Professor Finch's birthday was coming up, and she wanted to find the perfect gift for her mentor.

The mall was still bustling with evening shoppers. She stopped at a high-end jewelry boutique and settled on a stunning pair of earrings. Just as she was handing her card to the cashier, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in her peripheral vision. Her hand froze, and her immediate instinct was to turn around and walk the other way.

"Hazel!" The cheerful voice boomed as if he had just struck gold. "You're actually here! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Hazel let out a tired sigh and turned around.

Gideon Garrison stood before her, sporting an obnoxiously flashy suit and slicked-back hair. He shot her a bright, unapologetic grin. She just glared at him. "What do you want?"

"Can't a guy just want to see his sister? Do I really need a reason to track you down?" Gideon chuckled, leaning in playfully. "Come on, don't I look sharp tonight?"

Hazel took a firm step back, maintaining her boundaries. "If you don't have a legitimate reason to be here, leave me alone. I don't have the time or energy to clean up whatever mess you've made this time."

Gideon awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. "Mom and Dad already handled that last incident. I definitely lost my cool back then, but I never expected that bastard to actually try and stab me in the back."

He looked at her, his eyes practically begging for her approval. "You haven't been home in forever. I actually really miss you."

Hazel stared back at him, a deeply complicated knot of emotions tightening in her chest.

Growing up, her brother had been an endless source of chaos and burden for her. There were times she had genuinely hated him—hated him for effortlessly stealing every ounce of their parents' affection and attention.

But he was also the boy who would sneak half of his favorite treats to her whenever their parents showered him with gifts. He was the brother who would throw himself into fistfights to protect her from bullies at school, and the kid who would go to absurd lengths just to make her laugh when she was crying. The resentment was real, but so was the bond.

Julian arrived remarkably fast.

He pulled the car up and immediately noticed the shopping bag in her hand. He reached over to take it, offering a small smile. "That's very thoughtful of you. It's nice that you remembered to pick something up for her."

Hazel frowned, about to correct him, but Julian was already tossing the bag onto the backseat. "But you really don't need to be so formal. We're just going home, after all."

He pulled open the passenger door and gestured for her to get in.

Hazel stared at his incredibly entitled posture, deciding it wasn't even worth the effort to argue as she slid into the seat.

The Maybach glided through the gates of the luxurious Hayes family estate. Before they even stepped through the front doors, Grandma Hayes's booming, energetic voice echoed from the foyer. "Where is my granddaughter-in-law? What is taking her so long!"