I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 180

By the time the SUV pulled up to the manor, Zoe still hadn't formulated a convincing lie.

She was terrified that if she confessed, Hayden would literally strangle her.

Hayden leaned in close, trapping her against the seat.

They were so close she could see the fine hairs on his skin trembling above a dark, vicious bruise.

A bruise.

"Your face?"

Zoe gasped. Had Hayden been in a fight?

Who on earth was capable of beating up Hayden Thorne?

Good for them.

Hayden let out a dark scoff.

"Are you happy about this?"

"No—"

Zoe denied it instantly.

Suddenly, a terrifying realization flashed in Hayden's eyes.

He stared at her, his gaze lethal.

What he said next made Zoe want to spontaneously combust.

"Tell me you didn't draw Asher Kendall and your best friend's faces onto these bodies."

"..."

Zoe practically sprinted into the house, but Hayden wasn't about to let her go.

He grabbed her and dragged her straight into the master bedroom.

Down the hall, Mrs. Gable and the staff heard the commotion.

They immediately retreated to their rooms and locked their doors.

No matter what sounds echoed through the manor tonight, none of them were coming out.

In their minds, the couple's relationship was spicier now than it had been in the past five years combined.

Hayden slammed Zoe against the wall, pinning her there.

"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"

Zoe wanted to cry.

What was she supposed to say?

That he had guessed exactly right?

He would flay her alive.

Just as panic was fully setting in, Hayden's phone rang, the sharp tone piercing the suffocating tension in the room.

He stepped back slightly to check the screen.

Sienna Winters.

His expression darkened. Taking the split-second opportunity, Zoe slipped out from under his arm and bolted.

Thank God.

For the first time in her life, she was deeply grateful to Sienna.

Safe in her own room, she locked the door tight.

Assuming it was nothing serious, she calmly walked into the bathroom to brush her teeth.

She set her phone on the counter on speaker so she could listen while stretching.

"I saw it! You and Hayden! You two are—"

Nadia was stammering, her voice shaking.

Zoe rolled her eyes.

Was that it?

Her and Hayden on the tabloids?

Which blind gossip rag was linking them together now?

How absurd.

"You need to look at it right now. The comic you drew for me sold over a million copies upon release! I heard they're doing a live promotional exhibition today in the hotel lobby right next to Easton Group! Your book is the main feature!"

Zoe nearly choked on her toothpaste.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror like she had just seen a ghost.

Was Nadia speaking English?

"My... comic?"

She had only drawn one comic in her entire life, and it was a private gift for Nadia.

Nadia practically screamed in confirmation.

"Yes! Zoe, I had no idea you were such an incredible business genius. The book exploded!

"Haha, it's a shame they censored the explicit parts, though. The hardcore fans are really missing out on the good stuff."