I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 197

Grandmother Thorne's face darkened with absolute fury at Holden's tantrum.

Zoe held the keys. They felt heavy in her hand, but a satisfying rush of vindication washed over her.

Watching Holden thrash around on the pavement, Lily secretly stuck her tongue out and pulled a funny face at him.

"Thank you, Grandmother," Zoe said softly.

Holding those keys, she felt all her previous anger evaporate.

Hayden stepped forward, attempting to pull Holden up from the ground.

But the boy was so out of control that he started kicking Hayden too.

Hayden's expensive tailored trousers were instantly covered in dusty footprints.

The suit was ruined.

"Get up," Hayden ordered, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous register, his expression uncharacteristically grim.

In all these years, he had never spoken a harsh word to Holden.

He usually spoke to the boy with infinite patience—more patience than he ever showed to the women in his life.

Sienna felt deeply embarrassed watching her son act like a wild animal.

Still, she looked at Hayden with red, tear-filled eyes.

"Hayden, he's just a little boy. Don't scare him. He's growing up without a dad—"

The words "without a dad" instantly extinguished Hayden's temper.

Grandmother Thorne frowned deeply.

She couldn't stand the sight of Sienna.

And now, even this great-grandson, whom she had once loved dearly, was becoming insufferable to watch.

The apple truly didn't fall far from the tree.

"So what if he doesn't have a father? Millions of kids grow up without fathers, and they don't act like wild animals!"

Unable to take it anymore, Grandmother Thorne marched over, grabbed Holden by the arm, and firmly swatted his backside twice.

Sienna gasped, completely shocked that the matriarch would strike Holden.

Her heart broke as she rushed forward to shield him, tears streaming down her face.

"Grandmother, it's my fault! I haven't raised him right, but please don't hit him! His father passed away, and there's no one to teach him. It's all my fault."

Sienna repeatedly weaponized Holden's fatherless status, effectively shattering whatever resolve Hayden had left.

He could tolerate a lot of things, but he could never tolerate his late brother's memory being dragged through the mud.

Attacking Charles's son was equivalent to attacking Charles.

Hayden's expression turned terrifyingly bleak as he roared, "Enough!"

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