Chapter161. 

Hazel had complicated feelings toward Sebastian. 

No matter what had happened, they had once been best friends. She gave him a nod in acknowledgment. 

Since their last 

last dinner at 

Hidden Bites, Sebastian hadn’t seen her again. 

Remembering how he had just told someone the night before that he missed her, only to leave Seattle the next day, he quickly explained, “My grandma fell ill. Right after dinner that night, I rushed back to Los Angeles.” 

He hadn’t intended to leave without a word, but the biggest reason was that he didn’t have her number. 

Gabriel’s sharp gaze lingered on the two of them, his guard instantly up. Sebastian greeted him first.“Mr. Campbell, we meet again.” 

Gabriel’s tone was indifferent.“Mm.” 

His cold eyes barely skimmed over Hazel before he turned to Sebastian.“Move.” 

Sebastian stepped aside. 

Gabriel strode out of the elevator with his two assistants, heading straight for his room. Hazel hadn’t brought any other assistants along, just Johnson. 

room was 

right 

across 

from 

next hers, directly 

to Sebastian’s. 

Gabriel’s Seeing Hazel, Sebastian didn’t rush to leave. 

He dismissed his two assistants, then casually followed her toward her room. “Haze, my grandma knew I’d be seeing you and asked me to bring you some gifts.” “They’re in my room. I’ll go grab them for you.” 

Hazel’s grip tightened around her purse, her steps faltering slightly. She looked at Sebastian’s calm face. 

Sebastian frowned.“What? Do I have something on my face?” 

Clearly, he had no idea what his grandmother had done to Hazel in the past. Not surprising. Abbie would never let her grandson be troubled. 

Hazel lowered her gaze, suppressing her emotions.“No rush. Just leave it there.” Abbie had once been a dear friend of Hazel’s grandmother. She had personally gone to Nyack to bring Hazel to Los Angeles. 

also Abbie who had forced Hazel was 

to leave. But three years later, it Sebastian sensed her sudden coldness. Thinking back to Hazel’s abrupt departure all those years ago, a sense of unease crept in. 

Could it be that it wasn’t just his mother’s doing? Had his grandmother been involved too? He studied Hazel’s face carefully, but her expression was already composed, giving nothing away. She clearly didn’t want to talk about it. With a simple farewell, she entered her room 

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< Chapter161. 

Johnson entered the suite next door. 

Menu 

Sebastian stood alone in the hallway, deep in thought. Then, with quick steps, he returned to his room and made a call. 

“Roy, I need a favor.” 

In the room across the hall, Gabriel listened to his assistants go over his schedule, though his thoughts were elsewhere. 

“You two can go,” he said. 

Emma and the other secretary exchanged glances before quickly gathering their things and leaving. 

Silence filled the room. 

Gabriel’s mind drifted to what he had uncovered about Hazel’s past. 

She had lived with the Stevens family in Los Angeles for three years, attending the same school as Sebastian. They were academic standouts, often winning competitions together. But right before college entrance exams, she had packed a small suitcase and returned to Nyack. She took the exams in a rural county and became the top scorer in the entire province, earning a sizable 

government scholarship. 

Yet, the very next day, she transferred all the money to Abbie’s bank account. Throughout her four years of college, aside from her intense studies, she spent every free moment working. 

Wherever the pay was higher, she went. 

Even the infamous bar video that Jade had leaked had an explanation–Hazel had taken that job. because the bar offered instant commissions. 

Every bottle of alcohol she sold earned her cash on the spot. 

If she managed to sell a bottle worth over 100 grand, the commission alone could reach five figures. 

Hazel worked there for six months and became the undisputed sales champion, earning millions in commissions. 

Gabriel couldn’t help but notice how much Hazel had sacrificed over those six months. The amount she had transferred to Abbie was nearly all of her part–time earnings. No wonder she had looked so thin and pale when he first met her, like she hadn’t had a decent meal in years. 

His gaze shifted to the crumbling school building in the distance. It was the only middle school in Akron, the very place where Hazel had once been a student. 

Meanwhile, Hazel stood by the floor–to–ceiling window of her room, overlooking the county 

town. 

Compared to ten years ago, it had grown much busier. 

But she would never forget the night she returned from Los Angeles, standing in the pouring rain with less than two hundred bucks to her name, unable to afford even the cheapest motel. Even after coming back to Nyack two years ago, she had rarely set foot in the county town, mostly 

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(Chapter 161 

staying in the village, 

Time had passed, and things had improved, 

thens 

After resting for a while, Hazel grabbed her bag and left the hotel. She didn’t call Johnson. She wanted to take a walk alone at Western Reserve Academy, 

Night fell. 

The town lacked vibrant nightlife, and tourism wasn’t developed. 

The streets were quiet. 

Hazel wandered aimlessly and soon found herself in front of the Western Reserve Academy. 

She had spent three years here after her grandmother brought her back from Seattle. Later, she was taken to Los Angeles, and thanks to the Stevens family’s influence, she and Sebastian had spent three years as desk mates. 

Memories surfaced one after another. Lost in thought, she failed to notice the footsteps behind her. 

It wasn’t until she passed a small alley that a greasy voice called out. 

“Hey, sweetheart, all alone?” 

Hazel turned around calmly. 

The streetlights barely masked the man’s yellowed teeth and the lecherous glint in his eyes. 

As she turned around, the man’s eyes lit up with surprise. He hadn’t expected this lone woman to be so stunning. 

But in his twisted excitement, he completely missed the icy, calculating glint in Hazel’s eyes “I’m alone too, babe. It’s a chilly night. How about 

we warm up together? swift kick from behind. be sent flying by a He reached for her, only to Gabriel had been watching her from the moment she left the hotel. He had also noticed the man tailing her. 

“Damn it, who the hell dares mess with me?!” 

The man scrambled to his feet, only to lock eyes with Gabriel’s dark, stormy glare. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up, and his black leather shoe pressed hard into the man’s knee, sending a 

of wave agony across his twisted face. 

Already weak–boned, he crumpled to the ground after just a few hits. 

Gabriel leaned in.“Still feeling cold?” 

“N–no! Not cold at all! I–I run hot! Super hot!” 

Scrambling to his feet, the thug bolted, limping down the alley, terrified Gabriel might come after him again. 

the 

hotel?” at of resting hour instead Hazel stood unfazed, watching in silence. Gabriel’s frustration flared. “Why the hell are you 

this wandering around 

alone at 

Before he could say more, she suddenly lifted her hand toward him, her pale wrist catching the light, drawing his gaze.