I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 18

Writing the divorce terms right out the gate? They might as well have signed the divorce papers at the altar.

[Article 2: The marriage shall remain strictly confidential. The female party is forbidden from publicly acknowledging her status as Mrs. Thorne, nor may she refer to herself as a wife, spouse, or any title associated with the Thorne family. The male party retains total personal freedom. Addendum: The male party holds no responsibility for any damages or consequences resulting from the female party's inappropriate behavior. If said behavior causes severe repercussions, the male party may file for immediate divorce, and the female party shall have no right to contest.]

Zoe's delicate brows knitted fiercely as she read the second clause. What kind of braindead lawyer drafted this garbage?

The strangest part was, Zoe felt completely certain that the woman who signed this couldn't possibly be her. She must have been possessed.

With her personality, how could she ever agree to such an absurdly unequal, downright degrading contract?

It was absolutely impossible.

"Listen here, buddy—"

"Call me Mr. Thorne. Or..."

Hayden paused, then slowly spat out, "Hayden."

Zoe's face scrunched up, her almond eyes blazing with indignation.

"Mr. Thorne, there must be a mistake. I would never sign a prenup like this. No woman with half a brain would. Don't try to take advantage of my amnesia to trick me. I refuse to acknowledge this."

Hayden stared at her in silence for a solid minute.

For five years, she had barely dared to speak above a whisper around him, let alone look him straight in the eye.

Where had she gotten the nerve to suddenly challenge his authority today?

A notification popped up on his phone from Colin.

It was a series of photos and headlines from international business magazines and elite fashion features: 'Top Ten Entrepreneurs', 'The Young Tech Titan'... and slapped across every intimidating accolade was a single name—Hunter Keating.

Hayden's eyes swept coolly over the screen, absorbing the information.

Hah.

So that was it.

For years, Zoe had groveled and played the obedient doormat for him and the entire Thorne family.

Especially for him.

If he told her to go east, she wouldn't dare look west.

She had even thrown jealous fits over Sienna and staged suicide attempts to get his attention.

It all made perfect sense now. Hayden let out a cold scoff.

Her old flame was back in town, and suddenly she had the spine to talk back to him.

Of course, Hayden didn't think for a second that a nobody like Hunter could actually pose a threat to him.

In Zoe's delusional mind, she probably thought dangling Hunter in front of him would make him jealous.

She wanted him to care, to finally pay attention to her.

He could read her little scheme like a children's book.

But none of her pathetic tricks would work on him.

If she wanted to put on a show, he would happily play along.

It would be a mildly entertaining distraction after a long day of work.

Hayden locked his phone screen, staring at Zoe so intensely it made her skin crawl.

"Talking to me like this... Have you found yourself a new sugar daddy to back you up?"