I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 244

Zoe felt like she had been plunged into freezing water.

Philip Lynd gambled away five percent of the family company.

And Hayden was using it to buy Sienna's innocence.

Over a hundred million dollars. He was willing to burn money for her.

"What do you want?"

He stared at her, clearly out of patience.

"Don't tell me you need to think about it. I don't have time. I've got a buyer lined up. The contract gets signed in two hours."

The cold gleam of Hayden's luxury watch caught the light, irritating Zoe's eyes.

He was insanely generous when it came to Sienna.

"Over a hundred million. You really don't hold back, do you, Mr. Thorne?"

The Lynd shares could not fall into the hands of an outsider.

Zoe knew exactly what was at stake, and Hayden knew exactly where to strike.

His stance was perfectly clear.

He was protecting his lover.

She was protecting her family.

"Sienna doesn't have to hold a press conference. A written apology, posted publicly for three days. That is my absolute bottom line. You can refuse. It's only five percent. Even if you sell it, Lynd Enterprises will survive."

Hayden's grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles turned white.

Zoe reached for the door handle.

Click.

The door popped open, and Zoe stepped out with perfect elegance, sweeping her hair over her shoulder in a stunningly confident move.

"Call me when you've made up your mind, Mr. Thorne."

She gave him a mock salute and hailed a yellow cab that pulled up right on time.

Hayden watched her slide into the taxi and disappear from his sight.

He scoffed, ripping the dummy contract in his hands to shreds.

He had to admit it.

This new Zoe had completely backed him into a corner.

He pulled up Sienna's number and called her directly.

"A public post for three days? A written apology? Hayden, what about the video? Holden and I will be destroyed. The Thorne family will—"

Sienna's voice was laced with panic and tears. Was Hayden really powerless against this?

Who the hell was this Lily, and what was her connection to Zoe?

Why was she willing to go to war with the Thorne family for her?

"I'll handle Grandmother. I'll make sure the apology is buried so it won't show up in search results. It's just a formality."

Hayden's reassurance finally calmed her down.

Sienna had no choice. A buried apology was vastly better than a massive infringement lawsuit.

Zoe arrived back at the office.

Hayden's text came through immediately.

She saw it.

She ignored it.

Two minutes later, another message chimed.

"Set up a time for the transfer. The five percent stake will be put in your name."

Zoe traced the edge of her phone with her thumb.

It was then Zoe realized the massive gap between her and Hayden.

She had made millions over the last five years. For a woman, she was at the top of her game.

Hayden's net worth was unquantifiable. She guessed tens of billions was just the starting line.

A man like him operated on a completely different frequency.

She felt deeply manipulated.

On the other side of town, Sienna saw the post and smirked.

If this was the "public apology" Zoe demanded, she could write a million of them.

The crisis faded like a wisp of smoke.

But one thing still bothered Sienna.

Zoe had been ruthless at the summit. How had Hayden convinced her to back down?

It didn't make sense until she found the torn pieces of a contract in Hayden's car.

It was a contract for five percent of Lynd Enterprises.

Sienna sneered. So that was it.

She thought Zoe had a spine and loved her daughter.

But a measly five percent was all it took for her to sell out her principles.

And this cheap woman thought she could compete for Hayden?

Sienna found it hilarious.

Zoe might as well have a price tag stamped on her forehead.

Holden's birthday was coming up, and Hayden had asked what he wanted.

Sienna looked at the shredded contract pieces and dialed Hayden's number.