Chapter 10: Suspected of Cheating
Hazel hadn’t even made it to the elevator when she was stopped by Sebastian’s close friend, Adrian Blake.
“Hazel,” Adrian blocked her path, “Sebastian asked me to bring you to his office.”
Hazel frowned. “I’m busy.”
She stepped to the left-he blocked left.
She went right-he blocked right.
Adrian shrugged. “Sebastian said no matter what you’ve got going on, he comes first.”
Hazel knew Adrian. He’d always idolized Sebastian, followed him like a shadow.
With so many people around at the hospital, she didn’t want to draw attention or fuel gossip. So she turned around and headed to Sebastian’s office to
wait.
The office was spotless, just like always. Sebastian had a thing about cleanliness. On the shelf, aside from stacks of medical literature, there was a framed photo of the two of them. Right in the center was a heart made from a folded hundred dollars bill.
Hazel stared at her smiling face, pressed so close to his in the picture. She had been so happy then.
She took the photo down, walked to the trash bin, and lit it with a lighter.
Flames swallowed their once-happy smiles. Ash floated upward. Gone.
“What are you burning, babe?” Sebastian’s voice came from the hallway, puzzled
Hazel didn’t even look up. Her voice was soft. “Just some garbage. Nothing important.”
He didn’t question it.
He walked in and started explaining, “Your sister’s condition is getting worse. Without a bone marrow transplant, she might not survive the next three months.”
“I know you’ve been upset with me lately,” he added, “but I hope you can try to understand me, okay?”
Hazel looked at him calmly. “So… because she might only have three months left, that’s why you’ve been so good to her?”
Sebastian nodded. “Of course. And she’s my patient. I have a responsibility to care for her.”
Hazel’s fingers clenched. “What if I only had three months left?”
Sebastian blinked, then chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair affectionately. “Don’t be silly. You’re perfectly healthy. Why would you say that?”
“Don’t joke about things like that, alright?”
Hazel pulled away from his hand and stared at him, unwilling to let it go. “What if I was seriously ill too? Who would you choose-me or her?”
Sebastian looked at her serious expression, his brows tightening. His lips pressed into a thin line. “I know you’re jealous, but don’t take it too far.”
Too far?
He used to say he loved when she got possessive, when she cared that much.
Now, it only annoyed him.
Hazel kept telling herself not to care-but her heart kept aching anyway.
That night, Sebastian brought her home.
Martha was delighted to see them return together. She rushed forward to greet them. “Sir, ma’am, would you like something to eat?”
Sebastian smiled gently. “No need. We already ate.”
He took Hazel’s hand and led her inside.
As soon as the door shut, he pinned her against it. His head lowered, and he kissed her deeply.
“Mmph-” Hazel didn’t have time to dodge. She struggled against him.
“Don’t push me away,” he murmured. His warm breath brushed her ear, hot against her skin.
Hazel felt nothing. No spark. Only revulsion.
She couldn’t stop imagining those same hands touching Vivian.
And then it hit her-nausea.
She clutched her stomach and gagged.
Sebastian’s face changed instantly, his expression darkening.
He remembered-she reacted the same way last night when he tried to kiss her.
Sure, she’d always been reserved about intimacy, but she never outright rejected him like this.
And lately-her distance, her resistance, her talk of falling out of love, of divorce_
A dark thought crept into Sebastian’s mind.
Hazel didn’t love him anymore.
But why would she suddenly stop loving him?
Because… she had someone else.
“Babe.” He stepped closer, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. Watching her gag, he gently patted her back, his tone soft and sweet. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Hazel instinctively flinched away from his hand.
That tiny movement confirmed everything for him.
His eyes darkened. Despite the warmth on his face, something cold lingered beneath. “Let me take a look, okay?“
He yanked down her collar, eyes scanning her neck, her chest, her skin-inch by inch.
The longer he looked, the darker his gaze became.
Then he picked her up and threw her onto the bed.
“No!” Hazel realized what he was doing and screamed in protest.
Sebastian gripped her chin, grinding the words out slowly. “Tell me the truth. Are you seeing someone else?”
Hazel’s eyes widened in disbelief. She trembled with rage. “You’re disgusting!”
He was the one who cheated-and now he was flipping the script?
“Get out!” she shouted, pointing at the door.
Sebastian’s lips tightened. He stared at her for a few seconds, then turned and walked out.
Hazel pulled her knees to her chest, burying her face in them as her body shook.
Tears spilled over her lashes.
She never thought he’d say something like that.
All because she wouldn’t sleep with him-he accused her of cheating.
A guilty man always assumes the worst in others.
Sebastian left the room, but his chest felt tight, suffocating.
Just then, the housekeeper approached. “Sir, where should I put this jacket?”
“I don’t care. Anywhere,” he snapped.
But then he caught sight of the sleeve button.
It looked unfamiliar.
He picked up the entire jacket-a black men’s windbreaker.
He didn’t own anything like it. “Where did this come from?”
The housekeeper flinched at his tone. “I saw ma’am hand washing it earlier and hanging it on the balcony to dry… I just thought I’d help fold it.”
Sebastian’s voice dropped several degrees. “She washed it herself?”
Since they got married, he never let her do chores.
And now she was secretly washing another man’s jacket?
He told the housekeeper to put it down and immediately pulled out his phone.
“Find out what my wife’s been doing lately.”
That jacket became a dagger in his heart.
A sign. A trigger.
So it was true-she had another man.
After they married, he made sure she didn’t have to work. She had no reason or opportunity to meet other men.
He checked her phone every day. Every contact. Every message.
No male friends allowed.
Could it be… the institute?
Was that why she kept going back and refused to come home?
The more he thought, the darker his expression grew.
If he found out who it was, he’d destroy him.
The next day was Vivian’s birthday.
When Hazel and Sebastian arrived, the place was already packed.
Vivian wore elegant makeup and a white gown-pure and graceful.
As soon as she saw them, she rushed over.
“Sis, Sebastian! You’re finally here. I’ve been waiting forever.”
Hazel looked around at the lavish party.
Her parents had always spoiled Vivian the most.
Her own birthday? They never remembered it.
Expressionless, Hazel said, “Happy birthday.”
Vivian clearly wasn’t moved by the words. Instead, she looked at Sebastian and openly batted her lashes. “Sebastian, my private doctor, do you have a special birthday wish for me?”
She emphasized the word “private.”
Hazel’s fingers curled into her palm.
Private doctor. Patient?
Were they even role-playing that behind closed doors?
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