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.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify