Better Late, But Never His Again novel Chapter 77

Hazel's eyes narrowed dangerously. Her brows furrowed as her voice spiked. "Are you threatening me?"

"I'm perfectly willing to use extreme measures when necessary," Julian replied, his voice devoid of a single ounce of warmth.

Hazel's breath hitched.

She stared at the man in front of her—the man who had once vowed to protect her for the rest of her life. Now, he was standing here, leveraging the people she cared about most to terrorize her.

Hazel closed her eyes tightly, utterly exhausted. When she finally opened them a long moment later, they were dead and emotionless.

"Fine. I'll apologize."

Julian grabbed her wrist again, his grip even tighter than before, as if afraid she might back out. "No more stunts this time."

Hazel said nothing, simply following him back.

She stared at Julian's broad, straight back. It was a silhouette that used to make her feel perfectly safe, but now, it only brought her disgust.

He pushed the office door open. Evelyn was sitting in a chair, her head bowed and her shoulders trembling as she cried endlessly.

Hearing the door, she looked up, saw Hazel, and instinctively flinched, shrinking back into her seat.

Hazel walked over and stood right in front of her, staring down at the crying woman. The overhead lights cast a heavy shadow between them.

"I'm sorry," Hazel said coldly, devoid of any feeling. "I shouldn't have hit you."

Julian stood to the side, his tone laced with warning. "Watch your attitude."

Hazel exhaled a deep breath and closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly. When she reopened them, her voice was so soft it carried no trace of emotion.

"Whatever you want me to do to make this right, I'll do it."

She had no other choice. Queenie was her only remaining family. She couldn't let Queenie get hurt because of her own mistakes. Professor Finch was already gone; she couldn't bear losing his widow too.

Julian's expression finally softened. He turned to Evelyn, his tone incredibly gentle, a complete 180 from his hostility just seconds ago. "Evelyn, just tell her what you want. This is entirely Hazel's fault, so don't feel guilty. I'll take the heat for whatever you ask of her."

Hazel stood there, his words wrapping around her heart and crushing it like a vice.

Her husband was standing right in front of her, granting another woman complete immunity and promising to shoulder any consequences on her behalf.

He stood there looking so justified, utterly oblivious to the sheer cruelty of his actions.

Hazel forced a faint smile while her heart bled out.

She silently counted the days in her head, wondering how much longer it would take to finally be free of him.

Why was time moving so slowly? She wished she could just leave tomorrow.

Evelyn finally looked up, her eyes bright red. She glanced at Hazel, then back at Julian, speaking in a pitiful, trembling voice.

Julian wrapped his arm around her, resting his chin on top of her head.

Hazel walked out of the Apex building, stood by the curb, and dialed Queenie's number. The call connected after two rings, and the familiar, cheerful voice filled the line.

"Hazel, dear, what's up?"

Hazel's throat tightened. She took a deep breath, forcing her voice to sound natural. "Professor Finch, how are things over there? Is everything okay at the Institute?"

Queenie's laughter bubbled through the receiver. "Everything is perfectly fine. Are you missing me already? If you are, come home early tonight. I'll make some BBQ ribs for you."

Gripping her phone, Hazel's eyes began to sting. She blinked rapidly to suppress the tears. "Okay. I'll come home early tonight."

She hung up and stood on the sidewalk, watching the bustling crowds pass by.

She narrowed her eyes, the tension finally leaving her body. Queenie was safe. The Institute was safe. As long as she quit, Julian wouldn't touch Queenie or the Institute.

His devotion to Evelyn was truly staggering. He was willing to use Queenie as collateral, throwing Hazel into a bottomless pit without a second thought, completely crushing any chance of a fight.

She raised her hand to wipe an imaginary tear from her eye, her heart freezing solid. She turned around, went back inside, and knocked on Marcus's office door.

His deep voice resonated from the other side. "Come in."

Hazel stepped in slowly, pressing her lips together before speaking. "Mr. Thornton, I'd like to resign."