I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 105

Heh.

The driving rain blurred Zoe's vision.

Even with Hayden standing right in front of her, it felt like there were thousands of miles between them.

He didn't need to speak so loudly to ensure she heard him.

He cared about Sienna, and Sienna was the only one in his eyes.

Five years ago, his actions had proven to the entire world exactly how much he loved Sienna.

And exactly how little any other woman mattered.

Zoe bit down on her lower lip so hard she tasted copper.

No matter how much her bare feet ached against the sharp gravel of the driveway, or how the freezing rain made it impossible to catch her breath, she refused to make another sound.

Hayden pocketed his phone with calculated nonchalance.

He slowly assessed Zoe's delicate, rain-slicked face.

For a rare moment, he actually found himself admiring her stubbornness.

Over the past five years, she had tried every trick in the book.

But this particular routine—playing hard to get, acting tough, pretending she didn't care, and openly defying him—was brand new.

He was genuinely curious to see what other earth-shattering drama Zoe's endlessly scheming brain could conjure up next.

Hayden turned around and walked back into the living room without a shred of pity.

He sat down on the sofa and casually lit a cigarette.

The minutes ticked by.

Lost in thought, he occasionally crossed and uncrossed his long legs.

Or shifted his posture.

He would check his watch, sinking deeper into contemplation.

Or—

He would stare through the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out into the yard.

The midnight storm was only growing more violent.

The highly trained bodyguards in the yard stood like statues, not shifting an inch.

He was precisely calculating the time.

And he was harboring a strange, inexplicable sense of anticipation.

He sat quietly on the sofa, his thumb rhythmically flicking his lighter open and shut.

The silver metal casing glinted under the dim lights.

Hayden couldn't stop himself from glancing out the window one more time.

If Zoe would just say one soft word, apologize just once, he would let her back inside immediately.

He would have the staff brew her hot ginger tea.

She would instantly have a warm bed and a steaming hot shower.

Mrs. Gable scrambled to obey.

Hayden carried Zoe up the stairs and quickly stripped off her soaking wet clothes.

The bathtub was already full of steaming water.

He held her close and stepped into the water with her.

Zoe's eyes were squeezed shut, her lips a bruised shade of purple.

Hayden's gaze turned dangerously cold.

Was she really so stubborn now that she would rather pass out from the cold than say a single word of submission?

His fingers brushed against her delicate neck, a fleeting urge to strangle her flashing through his mind.

Ultimately, he just held her tighter, letting the hot water soak into her skin, slowly thawing her freezing body.

Inexplicably—

His heart physically ached in his chest.

He was hurting for her.

He studied the woman's face. If this was just another elaborate scheme to get his attention, then she had spectacularly succeeded.

Hayden gently stroked her beautiful face, watching her reflection in the mirror.

Zoe was completely unconscious. Under the warmth of the water, her skin slowly shifted from an alarming grey to a soft, rosy pink. She was gradually coming back to life.

Outside the bathroom door, Hayden heard the soft shuffle of footsteps. It was likely Mrs. Gable bringing the ginger tea upstairs.