Chapter 18: Are You Just Reluctant to Leave That Bastard?
Sebastian was frantically calling in favors and connections, desperately trying to track down a targeted therapy drug that could save Vivian.
He couldn’t stand the thought of Hazel going back to that research lab-being around that man.
If he could just get the drug….
Hazel could return to her place at home, and Vivian wouldn’t have to suffer anymore.
In his mind, it was a perfect win win.
After exhausting every possible lead, he finally received a call-from Danni.
Her tone was breezy: “Sebastian, I heard you’re trying to get your hands on Hawking’s targeted therapy drug?”
Sebastian remembered what his mother had said-Danni’s family had grown increasingly powerful in recent years, connected to the upper crust of
the Capital Circle.
Maybe she really did have a way.
“Yes, Danni,” he said warmly. “One of my patients urgently needs it. Do you think you can help?”
Danni let out a soft laugh. “Our family’s had business with Hawking for years. Their young heir is my distant cousin. If you need the drug, I can get you as much as you want.”
Sebastian’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t expected a breakthrough like this.
“Really? How soon could you get it?”
Danni chuckled again. “But I don’t just hand out favors.”
Sebastian understood. In their world, everything was transactional. He was prepared to pay a steep price.
“Name your price.”
“I don’t want money. Do I look like I need money, Sebastian?”
“Then what do you want?”
He immediately thought of her feelings for him. Was she trying to become his mistress?
He was trying to figure out how to turn her down when she said coldly, “I want your wife to apologize to me.”
Sebastian blinked. “You mean Hazel?”
“Exactly. She called me a homewrecker and a mistress the other day. No one’s ever said something that insulting to me in my life. I want her to apologize. In person. With you there. And you’re not allowed to speak for her.”
“If she does that, I’ll give you the drug immediately.”
Sebastian was caught off guard by her firm tone. It was a problem.
He loosened his collar irritably and tossed his glasses on the desk.
He had to get the drug. That was non-negotiable.
But forcing Hazel to apologize to another woman in front of him-it felt like too much.
Still, he picked up his phone and dialed her number.
JONAIRE!
No answer.
He tried again. Still nothing.
Only after several attempts did she finally pick up.
His tone was instantly annoyed. “Why didn’t you answer?”
Hazel’s voice was cool. “What do you want?”
“That’s your tone now? I can’t call my own wife without a reason?”
Hazel didn’t understand what he was suddenly so upset about. She didn’t want to argue, so she held back. “Just get to the point.”
Sebastian took a deep breath. “You’re still at the lab?”
“Yeah.”
Before he could say anything else, a familiar male voice came through the receiver: “Get over here already. Is your body adapting?”
Sebastian’s mind exploded.
Your body adapting?
What the hell did that mean?
What were they doing that required her body to adjust?
He remembered how Hazel had refused his touch recently, how she buried herself in the lab, how she even insisted on washing that man’s coat
herself.
Jealousy surged through him like a blaze.
“Hazel, get to the hospital right now-or I’m going to wait for you outside the lab.”
Hazel ended the call without a word.
Elias, who was standing nearby, nudged her gently. “Feeling sick again?”
Earlier, she’d suddenly collapsed. He had to give her medication, and they still didn’t know if her body was tolerating it.
Hazel shook her head. “No. Physically, I’m fine.”
Elias’s eyes flicked to the name on her phone screen-Sebastian.
“What did he want?”
“I’m not sure yet. I’m heading to the hospital to find out.”
All she wanted was for the divorce date to come faster.
She just wanted to focus on her work at the lab.
At the hospital, Hazel entered Sebastian’s office,
He didn’t even look up, continuing to read through his files like she wasn’t there.
Hazel frowned. “You called me here. What is it?”
Sebastian’s brow tightened. He restrained himself.
She used to run up to him, call him “hubby” sweetly, offer a massage if he looked tired.
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Now, she acted like he was a stranger.
Maybe he had spoiled her too much. She had no sense of urgency, no fear of losing him, no care left.
“Come with me,” he said curtly, standing up.
At the restaurant.
Hazel thought he was simply taking her out for lunch-until she saw Danni sitting at the table.
Her stomach twisted.
Danni smirked. “Miss Carter, fancy seeing you again.”
Hazel turned to Sebastian, confused. “You’re having lunch with her. Why bring me?”
She turned to leave, but Sebastian grabbed her wrist.
Danni’s smile widened. “You didn’t tell her, Sebastian? She’s here to apologize to me.”
Hazel froze. “Apologize? For what?”
Danni lifted her chin. “For calling me a mistress. A whore. I’ve never been spoken to like that in my life.”
Hazel turned to Sebastian. His silence confirmed everything.
She clenched her jaw. “Not happening.”
Sebastian knew exactly how to hurt her.
He’d actually brought her here-to apologize to another woman.
He gripped her shoulder tightly. “Hazel, listen to me.”
He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “Danni can get Asidant. She can also get us access to future targeted therapies through Hawking.”
“If you just apologize today, she’ll give me the drug immediately.”
“This way, your sister will be saved. And you can leave the lab for good. I’m doing this for you.”
Hazel let out a laugh full of disbelief. “Are you insane? If you want to apologize, go do it yourself.”
Sebastian was stunned. Even after he explained everything-she still wouldn’t budge?
Was it really so hard to say a few words?
Especially when she had insulted Danni first?
His voice grew cold. “Or is it because you can’t bear to leave that bastard? You don’t want to leave the lab, so even an apology is too much for you?”
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PULONAIRE!
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