I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 504

Mr. Kendall Sr. froze for a moment as Hayden Thorne turned to face him.

Without wasting words, his voice was cool and even.

"Where are my wife and child?"

Mr. Kendall Sr. was no pushover. He caught the distinct phrasing—wife and child, not wife and daughter.

Clearly, this visit wasn't going to be simple.

Did Hayden already know?

"Are you planning to cause a scene in my home, Mr. Thorne?"

Mr. Kendall Sr. had a commanding presence. His words were sharp and deliberate, carrying the undeniable aura of a hardened military veteran.

Hayden's gaze turned somber, entirely unfazed by the older man's hostility.

He sat back down on the sofa, the metal lighter in his hand clicking rhythmically with a chilling sound.

"Mr. Kendall, I'm not the one causing a scene. Zoe is my wife. You've kept her here without my consent, separating my family. Legally and morally, I have every right to take her home.

"Furthermore, ours is a military marriage. If you continue to keep me from seeing her, the Kendall family might not be able to shoulder the criminal charges. I don't mind if you genuinely like my wife and kids and invite them over as guests.

"But given your actions today, I have every reason to suspect unlawful imprisonment. Surely, you wouldn't want to ruin your family's legacy over something so trivial."

It was less of a negotiation and more of a blatant threat.

Upstairs, Zoe Lynd and Sylvia Kendall had been listening closely to the commotion.

Hearing Hayden's words, Zoe realized how serious the situation had become.

"What does he mean?"

Sylvia's expression turned grave.

After a moment of thought, she decided to tell Zoe the truth.

"Zoe, as long as you don't want to leave, no one can force you. But Mr. Thorne's status..."

Sylvia hesitated, trailing off.

Zoe understood immediately.

"Hayden's position is much higher than the Kendall family's, isn't it? Who exactly is he..."

Sylvia grabbed Zoe's hand, stopping her from asking more.

But the unspoken implication sent a chilling wave of despair through Zoe.

"To be honest, we aren't entirely sure of his exact rank. But we do know he is someone you don't cross."

Zoe nodded in silent realization.

His footsteps became uncharacteristically soft as he stepped inside.

Zoe watched him like a hawk. Before he could get too close, she scooped Ian into her arms, holding him tight.

Lily Lynd scrambled onto the bed, bravely shielding her mother and baby brother.

"Bad Daddy! Don't you dare bully Mom and my little brother!"

Hayden glanced at his daughter, his expression unreadable.

Seeing his own flesh and blood treat him like a monster felt like a bitter joke.

Justice Jordan hurried up the stairs, carrying the legal agreements Hayden had ordered him to draft just hours ago.

Hayden snatched the paperwork from Justice Jordan and held it out to Zoe.

"Read it."

Zoe had no idea what kind of trap he was setting.

She took the file and flipped through the first few pages.

The eldest legitimate heir of the Thorne family. Custody belongs exclusively to the Thorne family.

Dozens of pages of clauses, every single word meticulously crafted to weaponize the full extent of the law.