I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 25

He reached out and gently pinched her cheek.

Hayden was not a man lacking in self-control. For five years, Zoe had been submissive to his every whim. Her resistance today had ironically created an entirely new kind of thrill.

It gave him an unprecedented, intoxicating experience.

If this was just another one of her tricks to get his attention, he had to admit it worked wonderfully.

Hayden's eyes darkened further. In the dim light, his Adam's apple bobbed heavily.

Zoe involuntarily shuddered. That predatory feeling was back.

Terrified he might pounce on her again, she quickly pulled the jacket tighter and blurted, "Fine, let's go to the mall."

Hayden finally suppressed his rising desires. What a brilliant play of playing hard to get.

She was starting to learn exactly when to hit the brakes right as he was getting interested.

This woman had successfully piqued his curiosity.

Since they still had a year left on their marriage agreement, he didn't mind playing along with her a bit longer.

After all, aside from her as a person—whom he refused to fully accept—he quite enjoyed everything else.

"Good."

Hayden played the role of Zoe's chauffeur, driving straight to the city's largest luxury shopping center.

He took the VIP elevator directly to a top-tier designer boutique.

Standing in front of the astronomical price tags, Zoe felt dizzy.

A basic shirt started at fifteen thousand dollars.

She had checked her bank account; she only had a pitiful seventy thousand dollars to her name.

Hayden frowned, pulling a black card from his wallet. "Swipe mine."

Zoe hesitated for only a split second before browsing the racks. She picked out a complete outfit and headed into the fitting room. When she stepped out, Hayden, with a cigarette between his lips, froze for a full thirty seconds, unable to tear his eyes away from his little wife.

A simple chiffon blouse paired with a beige maxi skirt and straight boots. Perhaps inspired by Hayden's jacket, she chose a tailored, neutral-toned blazer. Her long hair cascaded down her shoulders, the sleeves rolled halfway up. When she walked out of the fitting room, she looked like a completely different person.

"So beautiful, so elegant, and incredibly stunning," the store manager praised genuinely.

Earlier, when Zoe walked in wearing only a dark men's suit jacket, flaunting legs that went on for days, her hair messy and wearing stilettos, the manager had assumed she was some international supermodel.

Zoe was very pleased with her reflection. She had wiped off the heavy makeup in favor of a clean, natural look. To hell with those skin-tight, revealing dresses she had in her closet—she hated every single piece in her wardrobe.

Those clothes made her look like a high-class escort looking to seduce men. She preferred this clean, elegant look that highlighted her femininity with a subtle edge of dominance.

The outfit fit her flawlessly. Because of her stunning curves, it radiated a deep sensual allure without looking cheap. It was completely natural, carrying an intoxicating sense of high fashion.