I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 36

Lily's innocent question snapped Hayden violently back to reality.

The rare softness on his face vanished. Lily sat there, waiting eagerly for his answer.

Before he could speak, his phone rang. Colin immediately muted the music.

Seeing Sienna's name on the screen, Hayden answered it without hesitation.

"Uncle Hayden, when are you coming home? Mommy said you bought me a new toy. Are we going to play?"

It was Holden. The sheer excitement in the boy's voice was impossible to miss.

Lily's bright, dark eyes were still locked on Hayden, overflowing with hope.

Her daddy wasn't as scary as she thought.

Almost instantly, Hayden gave Holden his answer.

"Yeah. I'll be right there to play with you."

He chatted with Holden for another moment before sliding the phone back into his pocket. He didn't spare Lily another glance.

When the car pulled up to the amusement park, Hayden looked directly at Colin.

"Get out."

Colin blinked in confusion.

He had assumed Hayden was going to take Lily into the park, but instead, he was getting kicked to the curb.

"Take her inside to play. Don't let her eat any junk food. Take her home in an hour."

Hayden dumped Lily and Colin at the entrance and drove off without a single backward glance.

Watching the sleek black SUV disappear into the sunset, Lily's face fell, completely crushed by the rejection.

Her little face scrunched up as she sniffled, looking up at Colin with a trembling voice.

"Does daddy hate me?"

Colin sighed, completely at a loss for how to comfort the heartbroken child.

"The Boss... he's just not very good at expressing himself."

He had no idea if a child her age could even understand what that meant.

Lily was devastated. She stared down at her little dress shoes, tears welling in her eyes.

"No, he's super nice to Holden. I heard him on the phone. He's going to spend time with Holden. I'm not really his kid, am I?"

Colin was left utterly speechless.

He had assumed she was too young to understand, but she knew absolutely everything.

He didn't dare say too much in front of her.

But her dad still wouldn't spare her a second glance.

Even though her mom had changed a lot recently, and even though her mom picked her up from school now...

She could still feel that her mom wasn't truly happy.

Holden was a boy.

Dads probably just preferred boys.

And she wasn't one.

"Mr. Colin, mommy didn't come to pick me up today. Does she not like me either?"

Fat tears started rolling down Lily's cheeks, sending Colin into an absolute panic.

Oh my god, how was this kid so perceptive?

Desperate, he told a tiny white lie.

"How could she not like you? Your mom is... well, she's sick. That's why she couldn't come get you."

Lily gasped.

Her mom was sick? Then she definitely couldn't stay and play.

"I need to go home and see my mom. Mr. Colin, please take me home."