I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 456

"How is it a good thing? If you hadn't already signed the divorce papers, I'd swear you were suffering from Stockholm syndrome and defending him.

Do I look like I need the cash? I want a social life! I'm grinding away like a corporate slave day and night, and they dump the most garbage litigation on my lap.

Some petty couple broke up and fought over custody of a golden retriever, and they hired me. A senior partner! Can you believe that?"

As Nadia aggressively vented her frustrations, Zoe curled up comfortably in her recliner, gently rubbing her pregnant belly.

In truth, she was thrilled Nadia was swamped. Nadia still didn't know about the pregnancy.

Zoe was terrified that if Nadia found out, she'd accidentally let it slip to Asher Kendall, which meant it would inevitably reach Hayden's ears.

"Ever since you two finally pulled the plug, the curse lifted! I told Asher that you guys actually divorced and that the Kendalls officially took you in, but he flat-out refused to believe it.

Thank God I had a photo of the divorce certificate saved on my phone to shove in his face. And it's the craziest thing—the morning after you dumped that scumbag, my caseload instantly leveled out.

You have no idea what a living hell I've been in. I was literally cross-examining witnesses in my nightmares. Zoe, thank you for divorcing that absolute jinx and giving me my life back."

"..."

Zoe realized she couldn't get a single word in edgewise to defend herself. The idea that Hayden's toxic energy could somehow magically impact Nadia's billable hours was beyond absurd.

She wanted to confess that the divorce wasn't exactly finalized, and the certificate might be completely void thanks to military protocols, rendering her freedom a sheer illusion.

But hearing how elated Nadia was to celebrate Hayden's status as a walking curse, Zoe couldn't bring herself to crush her spirit.

Nadia was about to launch into another rant when the distinct crunch of tires pulling into the driveway caught her attention. She realized Asher had arrived.

Over the years, every time Nadia threw herself into the crossfire to protect Zoe from Hayden's wrath, Asher inevitably pinned all the blame on Zoe.

Nadia lowered her voice to a frantic whisper. "Asher is home. I have to hang up!"

The antique clock on the wall read nearly eleven. She scrambled to kill the lights and fake sleep to avoid enduring another one of Asher's grueling lectures.

Just as she buried her head under the duvet, a sharp, violent crash echoed from the first floor.

Jolting up in bed, she held her breath, straining to listen. When the heavy rush of running water broke the silence, she threw off the covers and bolted downstairs.

In the kitchen, the faucet over the marble island was blasting on full force.

Slumped on the floor beside the living room sofa was Asher. The top two buttons of his dress shirt were ripped open, exposing the hard, defined lines of his chest.

A suffocating wave of high-proof alcohol hit Nadia's senses. Water dripped mercilessly down Asher's face and throat.

His expensive black dress shirt was plastered to his skin, his hair a soaked, chaotic mess.

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