Better Late, But Never His Again novel Chapter 8

Only then did Hazel realize he was nearly a foot taller than her. He walked around the counter, stopping right in front of her. His long, elegant fingers reached out to pick up the painting, his movements so gentle he seemed like a completely different person.

After a long moment, Zachary rolled the painting back up, his cold eyes lowering. "Pick it up in three days."

Hazel blinked in shock. "You'll do it?"

Zachary had already turned around, walking toward the back room. "The door is behind you."

Hazel stood there, watching his broad back disappear into the shadows of the inner room, unable to process what had just happened.

That guy was completely bizarre, but at least her painting was saved.

The cruise ship gala was tomorrow night. Hazel felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach, wondering what the head of Apex Holdings, Marcus Thornton, would be like. Surely he couldn't be as difficult to deal with as Zachary.

Standing in front of her walk-in closet, Hazel frowned at the rows of dresses. None of them were appropriate.

She was going to a luxury cruise gala to meet Marcus Thornton. She had to look the part. But given the Institute's current financial crisis, she had zero extra cash to blow on a new evening gown.

Suddenly remembering something, she hesitated for a moment before deciding to go back to the house to get it.

Hazel drove back to Julian's mansion.

As she pulled into the driveway, she noticed the living room lights were on, and silhouettes were moving behind the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Her footsteps faltered, her heart skipping a beat as she quickly walked up to the door.

The moment she pushed the front door open, she saw Evelyn standing in the middle of the living room, wearing a breathtaking evening gown.

The pale purple fabric shimmered under the lights, the tailored design perfectly hugging her stunning curves. The hem grazed her ankles, making her look elegant and delicate.

Julian stood across from her, a faint smile on his lips, looking at her with a level of tenderness Hazel had never seen before.

Hazel felt like she had just been punched in the gut. Her heart completely stopped.

That dress was the three-year anniversary gift Julian had bought to make up for missing their celebration.

He had told her he ordered it custom-made half a year in advance and poured his heart into designing it. Hazel cherished it so much that she only wore it on the most important occasions.

Julian used to say she was the only woman in the world worthy of that dress.

Julian frowned, clearly annoyed that she was refusing to let this go. He stepped forward, grabbing her by the waist and leaning down to coax her.

"Alright, honey, I know you're upset, but it's just for one night. It's still your dress, it's not going to get ruined. Evelyn is in a really tough spot right now. What's wrong with helping her out?"

Hazel took a step back. "Julian, if she borrowed you for a night, would you say the exact same thing?"

Julian's face went completely black. "Hazel! How can you say something so disgusting?"

Evelyn rushed over, her face a mask of pure guilt.

"Hazel, I am so incredibly sorry. I had no idea this dress meant so much to you. I'll take it off and give it back right now."

Hazel suddenly felt violently nauseous. She let out a heavy breath. "Keep it. Since you love picking up my trash so much, it's all yours."

Evelyn froze, her eyes instantly filling with tears.

Julian's face was thunderous. He let out a dark sneer. "Hazel, Evelyn was kind enough to apologize to you, and you treat her like this? You are being completely unreasonable. Apologize to her right now."

Hearing those words, the last bit of warmth in Hazel's heart shattered into ice.