Better Late, But Never His Again novel Chapter 76

Hazel looked up, her tear-blurred vision meeting a pair of deep, assessing eyes.

Marcus stood there looking down at her, the usual smirk entirely absent from his striking eyes.

She blinked, thinking she was imagining things. For a split second, there had been a flash of lethal coldness in his gaze. But when she looked again, he had reverted to his casual demeanor, the corners of his lips curving upward as if he had just witnessed something highly entertaining.

"What are you crying for?" Marcus asked slowly. His voice held its usual unhurried, amused drawl, completely detached, as if he found her misery fascinating.

Hazel suddenly realized tears were still streaming down her face. She quickly lowered her head and scrubbed at her cheeks with her sleeve. In her haste, a button on her cuff scraped the corner of her eye, making her gasp in pain.

She turned her head away, unwilling to let him see her looking so pathetic.

"It's nothing."

Hazel's voice was muffled, hoarse from holding back her sobs. She rarely showed vulnerability to anyone, let alone an outsider.

Marcus said nothing. He simply turned, pushed open the door to a nearby office, and walked inside.

After a couple of steps, realizing Hazel wasn't following, he paused and glanced back. His look was an unmistakable command: Follow me.

Hazel hesitated for a second before stepping inside. The door clicked shut behind her, instantly blocking out the hum of the corridor.

The office was dead silent. Marcus walked behind the desk and sat down, leaning back against his chair. He laced his long fingers together and watched her.

"Speak. Why are you crying?"

Hazel stood by the desk, staring at the floor while nervously picking at the hem of her shirt.

She hadn't thought about anything when she bolted out of her lab. But now, trapped in this quiet room with Marcus sitting across from her, the sheer humiliation of her breakdown crashed over her.

She took a deep breath, swallowing hard to clear the lump in her throat, determined to keep her problems to herself.

"It's nothing. Really, I'm fine."

Marcus raised a brow and remained silent, keeping his eyes locked onto hers. His penetrating gaze felt as though it could see right through her defenses, leaving her nowhere to hide.

Hazel bit her lip, striving for a steady tone. "I won't let my emotions affect my work, Mr. Thornton."

"I wasn't asking about your work," Marcus replied smoothly. "I asked why you were crying."

Hazel fell silent for a few seconds as the scene in her office replayed in her mind.

Evelyn grabbing her hand and slapping herself. Julian storming in, immediately rushing to Evelyn's defense, and wrenching her wrist to force an apology without ever asking for the truth.

He had even weaponized her painful family history against her, plunging the knife exactly where it hurt most. Her heart sank, a suffocating wave of despair washing over her. She spoke in a detached tone.

"I just got bit by something repulsive. I'm completely fine now."

"Understood, Mr. Thornton." With that, she opened the door and left, an inexplicable feeling taking root in her chest.

The corridor was silent, her footsteps echoing off the walls.

She hadn't gone far when someone strode toward her. She looked up and met Julian's furious glare.

He marched right up to her, seized her wrist, and dragged her to the side. His grip was brutal, sending a sharp pain shooting up her arm.

"Don't touch me." Hazel frowned and tried to yank her arm back, but he wouldn't let go.

Julian stopped and glared at her, his eyes filled with disbelief. "When did you become like this? Hitting people, throwing away all your decency. Do you have any idea what Evelyn is going through right now? As a fellow woman, you don't even try to support her, yet you actively go out of your way to torment her?"

Hazel looked at him, the emotions she had just managed to suppress roaring back to life. She spoke coldly, her voice surprisingly steady. "Do you still want me to apologize to her?"

Julian's face was as cold as ice. "I told you to apologize. You struck her multiple times; that's deliberate assault. If Evelyn hires me as her defense attorney to sue you, I won't hold back."

Hazel genuinely hadn't expected him to say something so vicious. Her heart sank like a stone. For a moment, she had no idea what to say. Staring at his enraged face, the situation suddenly felt entirely absurd. Knowing nothing of the truth, she only wanted to laugh.

The bitter smile that touched her lips poured gasoline on Julian's already blazing anger.

Seeing her dismissive attitude made the breath catch in his throat, choking him with rage. He took a deep breath, his voice turning deadly cold.

"You better think very carefully about Professor Finch and your beloved Institute. If you don't want anything to happen to them, go back in there, give Evelyn a proper apology, and beg for her forgiveness."