I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 481

Mrs. Winters signaled for Megan to stop talking.

"Sienna naturally has her own plans, and we just need to support her. If Julian can genuinely help, he can bring it up at the office."

Sienna put her phone away and looked at Mrs. Winters and Megan.

"There's no need. Julian just joined the company and needs to focus entirely on his work. If he starts pushing for marriage, Hayden might think he only got the job through nepotism and isn't taking his role seriously. Resorting to cheap tricks to get close to him is a bad look."

Sienna's sharp reminder made Megan shudder.

Julian had finally landed a high-paying job, and her monthly allowance had skyrocketed tenfold. Naturally, Megan valued her new income above all else.

"Don't worry, if you say we shouldn't mention it, we won't say a word."

Mrs. Winters frowned in confusion. "He gifted you Blackwood Manor, but he doesn't live here? I haven't seen him in two days."

That was exactly what was bothering Sienna.

Even with the divorce certificate in hand, Sienna couldn't shake the suspicion that Hayden was still somehow entangled with Zoe.

What did Hayden mean when he said he was moving out to live elsewhere with Zoe?

Was he hinting that she should be the one to bring up marriage?

Grandmother Beatrice was the biggest obstacle standing in the way of her relationship with Hayden. It made sense that he was holding back on proposing.

"Mom, Grandmother Beatrice actually approves of Zoe. Hayden and I haven't officially made things public yet, so it's right that he isn't living here. If the paparazzi caught us living together before marriage, it would turn into a massive moral scandal.

I'm a regular on the covers of financial magazines now, and I just took over as Chairwoman of Easton Group. Hayden can only be a boost to my career.

If we get hit with negative press, it will ruin our future. We wouldn't even make it past his grandmother's scrutiny."

Sienna carefully analyzed the pros and cons, and Mrs. Winters found her logic sound, albeit a bit tragic.

"If only you hadn't married his brother... if it had been any other man, dead or alive, Hayden would have snatched you away and bound you to him with marriage long ago. It never would have been that wretched Zoe's turn."

Mrs. Winters sighed with deep regret.

Sienna remained silent.

She hadn't expected things to end up in this complicated mess either.

Ian had briefly surfaced when Ethan mentioned AI, but quickly vanished again.

No one engaged with Sienna directly.

It felt as though she was a complete stranger intruding on their space.

"Mr. Montgomery is right. I've made quite a bit lately. I can't let you pay. It's my treat tonight, let's all just have a great time."

Still, no one responded.

Sienna felt a wave of awkwardness. She had just received millions of dollars transferred directly from Terrence's mistress, liquidating the luxury assets.

She was thrilled. After months of financial stress, she could finally breathe.

When she offered to pay, Ian finally spoke up: "No need. I'll cover it. I can't let a woman pay the bill."

Finally, Hayden's message popped up.

"My treat tonight."