I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 169

Zoe had just taken a sip of tea.

She nearly spat it out.

She felt like this professor was purely here to sabotage her.

Even now, she had no memory of how she had ever become acquainted with this old man.

Garrett's expression froze completely.

He blurted out, "Ms. Lynd—you're married?"

Seeing as she barely looked to be in her early twenties, he had never imagined she was already married.

When he heard Hayden mention picking up a kid earlier, he assumed Hayden meant he was picking up his brother's widow's child.

Now it was obvious he had arranged to pick up Zoe's child.

She nodded. "My daughter is four years old."

She wasn't intentionally trying to overshare with Garrett, she was simply telling the truth.

Noticing the conversation drifting, the professor forcibly dragged it back.

"So, Zoe, who is your husband?"

She instinctively cast a quick glance at Hayden.

Garrett didn't notice the micro-expression, entirely consumed by the crushing disappointment of learning she was married.

But the sharp-eyed professor caught it immediately.

Hayden calmly continued pouring tea. He handed the first cup to the professor, and the second to Zoe.

The third cup, he kept for himself.

As for Garrett—

He completely ignored him.

As a man, Hayden could easily tell Garrett harbored feelings for her.

Zoe thought about the professor's question for a moment.

"Been a widow for years," she said smoothly.

Hayden's hand stopped mid-air.

She picked up the tea he had just poured her, took a sip, and set it back down.

Without so much as looking at him.

Garrett heard her perfectly.

He could hardly believe his ears.

Learning she was married had felt like a death sentence.

But now, he felt instantly resurrected.

"Oh, so your husband passed away."

He sounded distinctly thrilled as he said it.

Completely missing the way Hayden's eyes instantly darkened.

Garrett quickly apologized.

"Ms. Lynd, I didn't mean it like that."

The professor shot a deeply meaningful look at Hayden, then looked back at Zoe.

If he managed to steal her away, this incredibly gifted student would be all his.

Haha—

Just thinking about it made him happy.

"Professor."

Garrett couldn't understand why the professor seemed even happier than he was to hear Zoe was a widow.

The guy was ancient. Was he seriously trying to make a move on her?

Hayden took a slow sip of his tea.

She really had grown a spine, daring to curse him to death right to his face.

"I'm afraid what Ms. Lynd means by 'widow' isn't quite what you think, Mr. Stone."

Garrett's eyes sharpened, but right at that moment, the waiter arrived with the food, temporarily halting the conversation.

He still hadn't put the pieces together.

The professor spoke cryptically.

"Well, obviously. Otherwise, Mr. Thorne sitting here eating with us would mean we're dining with a ghost."

Zoe choked on her food again.

Since the dishes had arrived, she decided to just bury her head and eat.

But Garrett remained completely oblivious.

They all ate the meal lost in their own wildly different thoughts.