Chapter 16 Meeting Randy Again

"You still haven't told me who you were talking to." Lawrence was still pushing for an answer. Hazel shot him a glare, her tone sharp. "Just an old colleague."

"An old colleague?" Lawrence said.

"Yeah, and also my investor. Wanna invest in me too, honey?" Hazel asked.

Hazel didn't drop Kelly's name, but Lawrence knew she was talking about a friend from her previous job.

He turned off the light and lay down. "I'll decide if I wanna invest based on your performance. Now, let's get some sleep."

Tonight, Hazel had switched up the aromatherapy scent for him. There had been some issues at the company recently, and Lawrence needed a good night's rest.

The next morning, when Hazel woke up, Lawrence was already gone.

She went downstairs and asked Ruby, who told her that Lawrence had left before dawn. "Mr. Johnson left early this morning. He asked me to make sure you have breakfast when you wake up, Mrs. Johnson."

After eating, Hazel also left the house.

She didn't notice that as soon as she stepped out of the Johnson Mansion, a car started tailing her.

After finalizing a contract at Victory Square, Hazel visited several aromatherapy shops.

The most famous fragrance company in Rosewood City was the Anderson Group, which dominated nearly seventy percent of the aromatherapy market here.

After a morning of shopping, Hazel was about to find a place to eat when she ran into a familiar face.

"Hazel!" Randy exclaimed.

It had been a few days since she last saw Randy, who had just been discharged from the hospital.

His injuries had mostly healed, but the bandage on his head made him look somewhat ridiculous.

Hearing his annoying voice, Hazel remembered the events of that night and felt a wave of nausea.

Her face paled, and she tried to ignore him and walk away.

But Randy quickly ran over and blocked her path, staring straight at her.

"Move, you're in my way!" Hazel had no patience for Randy now and showed him no kindness.

Surprisingly, Randy didn't get angry at her attitude this time. "Hazel, can we talk?"

Hazel refused without hesitation. "No, we have nothing to talk about."

She just wanted to stay far away from this jerk. As long as he didn't bother her, she was fine.

"Hazel, I know you married Lawrence to spite me. Can you give me another chance? Let's start over." People were passing by, and Randy shamelessly said this out loud.

Stunned by his words, Hazel let out a cold laugh. "Randy, are you out of your mind? I'm already married. Why would I start over with you? Who do you think you are? You and Cheryl are perfect for each other. Please, stay together forever and stop disgusting me. My husband Lawrence is handsome and wealthy, a hundred times better than you. How can you be so confident?"

Randy's face darkened as she insulted him, and he dropped his gentle facade. "You just latched onto the Johnson Family, Hazel. Do you really think Lawrence likes you? He's just using you. Once he's done with you, he'll kick you to the curb."

The crisp sound of a slap echoed, and Randy's face turned to the side, a red handprint appearing on his handsome face.

Hazel's eyes were cold. "Do you think everyone is as vile as you? Randy, don't think I don't know what you're up to. I don't know what deal you made with Cheryl, but stop bothering me!"

Randy's sudden change in attitude and his attempt to win her back had to be part of some scheme.

She suspected he and Cheryl had teamed up to force her to hand over Chloe's formula.

She hadn't thought of this before, but Kelly had helped her piece it together.

The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became. She had likely fallen into Cheryl's trap long ago.

Now that she was married to Lawrence, who knew what new schemes Cheryl might come up with?

Sure enough, after she finished speaking, a flash of panic crossed Randy's face.

Just as she thought, Hazel didn't want to say another word to him. She turned to leave, but Randy grabbed her arm. "Hazel, you can't leave. Let's get back together, okay?"

Randy's grip was strong, and Hazel was caught off guard, pulled into his arms. Anger surged within her, and she fiercely broke free, kicking Randy in the groin. "Randy, you're despicable! Get lost!"

With that, Hazel left, her face full of disgust.

Randy was left clutching his groin, his face contorted in pain.

Outside the mall, Hazel's face remained stern.

What a terrible day. She had run into that jerk.

Taking a deep breath, Hazel suppressed her anger and found a place to eat.

She regretted not having Jason with her today. He could have taught Randy a lesson.

Unbeknownst to her, the moment Randy had pulled her into his arms had been captured on camera.

After a long day out, Hazel returned to the Johnson Mansion in the evening.

As soon as she walked in, she saw Luna and Jeremy sitting in the living room, the atmosphere tense and serious.

"Well, Mrs. Johnson is back. You must be exhausted," Luna sneered sarcastically.

Hazel frowned in displeasure but held back her retort, greeting Jeremy first. "Grandpa."

Jeremy nodded, his expression unreadable. "Didn't Lawrence come back with you?"

"Grandpa, I was busy with my own things today, so I didn't come back with Lawrence." Hazel answered truthfully, but Luna jumped in again. Maybe you were busy meeting a lover and didn't want Lawrence to know. Jeremy, I've been saying some people have bad intentions. They think marrying into the Johnson Family means they can do whatever they want."

"Aunt Luna, what do you mean by that? You need evidence to back up your words!" Hazel's voice grew colder as she questioned Luna without hesitation.

"Evidence?" Luna smirked, waving a few photos in front of Hazel. "This is the evidence. Do you think I'd speak without proof?"

The photos showed a man and a woman in a close embrace.

Hazel immediately recognized the background as the mall where she had encountered Randy earlier.

The people in the photos were her and Randy.

Luna smirked, "Well, what do you have to say now?"

Seeing Hazel's silence, Luna's tone grew more arrogant. "You've only been married to Lawrence for a few days, and you're already sneaking around with another man. Hazel, how shameless can you be?"

Jeremy sat silently, exuding a faint sense of pressure.

Scoffing, Hazel took the photos from Luna's hand. "A photo doesn't prove anything. Maybe the person who took these was under Aunt Luna's orders, capturing just the right moment."

They didn't capture her kicking Randy, only this.

No wonder she felt something was off when she came back. They had been waiting for her.