I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 222

Hayden even kissed Zoe on the cheek right in front of Eleanor.

Eleanor was utterly astonished. She looked at Zoe carefully and asked, "Are you really married to Hunter? And you have a child together?"

Zoe felt a wave of helplessness. This man was entirely shameless, and judging by her grandmother's reaction, the poor woman was getting confused again.

She knew how much Eleanor adored Hunter, and terrified of triggering her condition, Zoe forced herself to nod against her conscience while secretly trying to pry Hayden's fingers off her waist.

Having experienced her fierce resistance before, Hayden had wised up. He used just enough leverage to hold her without engaging in a direct test of strength.

Trapped in his grip, Zoe's face flushed hot with fury.

She kept her struggles subtle, desperate to hide the conflict from her grandmother.

Eleanor frowned softly. "But I thought you were in love with Hayden Thorne?"

Zoe instantly froze.

Above her, a low, rumbling chuckle vibrated from the man's chest.

It was brazen, completely devoid of any intention to save her pride.

Zoe shot him a venomous glare before turning back to Eleanor.

"I stopped liking him a long time ago. I must have been blind back then..."

A sharp pinch at her waist cut her off, the sudden pressure making her gasp in pain.

The amusement vanished from Hayden's face, replaced by a dark, displeased shadow between his brows.

Zoe immediately clamped her mouth shut.

"Grandmother, Zoe and I have some errands to run. We'll come back and visit you another time."

Hayden politely bid Eleanor farewell. The older woman was beaming with happiness, walking them all the way to the door.

The moment Eleanor stepped back inside, Hayden released Zoe's waist, his expression instantly plunging into an icy gloom.

Zoe had never seen someone switch demeanors so quickly. She knew damn well he hadn't come here out of the goodness of his heart.

"What exactly are you trying to pull?"

Hayden ground his back teeth together, his face an unreadable mask.

"I visit this place about once every three months. Your grandmother receives excellent care from the staff. It costs millions of dollars a year to keep her here. But even with money, things don't always run smoothly."

His words were heavily veiled, but Zoe listened carefully.

Just as she suspected.

His obsessive need to protect that mother and son had reached pathological levels.

She was beginning to seriously doubt if Lily shared any blood with Hayden at all. Was she even his daughter? She felt an urgent need to run a paternity test.

For her daughter's sake, Zoe absolutely refused to compromise.

"The fact that you can even say those words proves you have no soul."

Hayden's gaze darkened significantly.

He didn't show the slightest intention of backing down.

"I warned you a long time ago. Don't provoke Sienna and her son, especially Holden. He is my brother's flesh and blood."

Zoe's eyes brimmed with mockery. If your precious nephew murdered someone, would you help him cover that up, too?

His uncompromising defense of them finally forced Zoe to see the brutal reality.

"You have two choices," Hayden continued icily. "Either you write the statement yourself, or I have my lawyers draft a public notice proving this situation has nothing to do with Holden. You decide."