I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 198

Sienna placed her hand on Hayden's arm, her voice soft and coaxing.

"Hayden, I know Zoe didn't mean it. Grandmother Beatrice just felt bad for her. Why don't we just let her drive that car?"

Zoe looked at her as if watching a clown perform.

Sienna had no business working in a corporate office; she belonged in Hollywood.

When Beatrice gifted the car, Sienna had been practically seething with jealousy. Now, she was playing the saint.

"It's just a car. There's no need to pass it back and forth. What's yours is yours," Hayden snapped. He turned his attention away. "Colin, drive the car back."

He meant the Rolls-Royce.

Zoe finally let out a dark laugh.

Fine. One parent-teacher conference had bought her multiple rounds of humiliation.

It was just a vehicle. It wasn't as if she couldn't afford her own.

Colin's gaze darted between them, then landed on Beatrice.

Leaning heavily on her cane, the matriarch looked entirely heartbroken.

She was getting on in years, and Hayden was beyond her control.

For this manipulative woman, he was willing to throw away the entire Thorne family's dignity.

It was a blatant display of favoritism.

Beatrice was livid. "Do whatever you want. I'm too old to manage you. Zoe, I'm sorry this old woman is so useless."

With that, Beatrice turned around and walked away, supported by her staff.

Before she left, she issued an order to Mary.

"Transfer twenty million dollars into Zoe's account. Consider it my compensation for her troubles. Tell her not to be sad. If worse comes to worst, I'll search through our social circles and find a decent man for her to marry instead."

Clutching her chest, Beatrice walked away with trembling steps.

Mary nodded and immediately instructed the butler to head to the study.

Lily watched helplessly as Hayden walked away with Sienna and Holden.

Tears stubbornly welled up in the little girl's eyes.

"Mom, why does he always bully you?"

Zoe pulled Lily into her arms, pressing a kiss to her cheek while stroking her hair.

"Something that can buy ten of those cars and then some. Do you like that? Do you want Mom to take you to buy one right now?"

Lily practically cheered, throwing her arms around Zoe's neck.

The butler couldn't help but smile at the sight of the happy mother and daughter.

He had assumed Zoe would decline the money. But the current Zoe, so authentic and fiercely independent, was far more likable than the timid, perpetually sorrowful woman she used to be.

Zoe accepted the card. "Please thank Grandmother Beatrice for me."

Why shouldn't she take the Thorne family's money?

Even if she didn't want it, Lily deserved it.

Having the Thornes fund their lives was a massive victory.

As for whether Hayden wanted to be a good father to Lily? She didn't care anymore. She had the money. If Lily wanted one, Zoe could easily find her daughter a new father she actually liked.

Suddenly, all of Zoe's internal friction vanished.

She hailed a cab and headed straight for the luxury car dealership.