I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 190

“Consider it done,” Nadia promised fiercely. Destroying arrogant homewreckers was her absolute favorite sport. Over the past two years, she had hunted down countless hidden assets in high-profile divorce cases. There wasn’t a single offshore account or shell company she couldn't unearth if she dug deep enough.

By the time Zoe left the DMV, the afternoon was slipping away. She headed straight to the kindergarten to pick up Lily.

As fate would have it, she spotted Hayden’s car near the gates. For a brief, fleeting second, she thought he was actually there for Lily. Instead, the doors opened, and Sienna stepped out.

Sitting quietly in the back of her cab, Zoe watched them with dead eyes. She watched Hayden scoop Holden into his arms, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Sienna. And then she watched her own daughter, Lily, spot Hayden.

Lily’s face lit up. She ran toward him, her mouth opening to call out for her father.

Hayden’s eyes swept coldly over Lily, completely devoid of recognition or warmth. He looked right through her, turned around with Sienna and Holden, and walked away without a single backward glance.

Zoe threw the cab door open and sprinted to her daughter. Before the crushing weight of rejection could fully register on Lily’s face, she saw her mother. Her sadness vanished instantly, and she threw her little arms around Zoe’s legs.

“Mommy! You came to get me!”

“Yeah, baby, I’m here,” Zoe murmured softly, holding her close. She didn't care if Hayden wanted to play happy family with Sienna and Holden. But the fact that he deliberately broke Lily’s heart filled Zoe with a blinding, toxic hatred.

Even if Hayden despised her, Lily was still his flesh and blood. How could he be so incredibly soulless that he couldn't even acknowledge his own child? Was his heart literally made of stone?

“Mommy, I think I just saw Daddy,” Lily whispered. She was no longer afraid to mention Hayden in front of Zoe. She had spent a little time with him recently, and he hadn't been as scary as she always thought. He had even held her once and come to the school gates. Sure, he never actually got out of the car, always sending Mr. Zachs to fetch her, but just knowing he was there made her incredibly happy. She didn't have to be terrified of the other kids mocking her for being fatherless anymore.

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