I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 54

Hunter's question carried a hint of testing the waters. Zoe froze, suddenly recalling Hayden's sarcastic jab about her going to see an old flame.

He had been talking about Hunter.

Hunter was going to the Thorne Estate?

"I, uh... I might not be."

She stammered. Was Hayden planning to drag her there to see him?

What was that man plotting?

She was terrified Hayden would do something reckless.

A bitter smile touched Hunter's lips over the line, his tone turning distant.

"Don't worry. I know you're with my cousin. I won't interfere with your lives. Besides, I already have a girlfriend."

He hung up shortly after.

"..."

Zoe stared at her phone, thoroughly confused. When the realization hit, annoyance flared.

What was that about? Was that really Hunter?

He spoke to her like she had committed some unforgivable sin.

She hadn't even said she wanted to cling to him. And what was the point of announcing he had a girlfriend?

Was it a warning, or was he trying to get a rise out of her?

She had always been fiery. If Hunter hadn't fallen for her at first sight and treated her like a queen, she never would have agreed to be his girlfriend in the first place.

Since he wanted to be cold, her temper flared to match.

She had considered avoiding the gathering, but now it seemed there was no reason to.

He had a girlfriend, and she was married. What was there to be afraid of?

Out of spite, she tossed her phone aside and pushed Hunter out of her mind.

On the other side of the building, Hayden hung up the receiver at the exact same moment.

A subtle, cold smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Zoe and Hunter were indeed still in contact.

Right under his nose, no less.

He summoned Colin.

Just as they stepped out of the preschool gates, a G-Wagon pulled up beside her.

The window rolled down halfway. Zoe never expected to see Hunter sitting in the driver's seat.

Seeing her again after five years left Hunter completely conflicted.

Even though she was now his cousin's wife, her style hadn't changed a bit from five years ago.

Simple makeup, fresh and beautiful, with those clear, vibrant eyes.

She looked nothing like the tacky, gaudy woman people had described to him.

Hunter had gone abroad right after Zoe married Hayden.

He had kept tabs on her, but even the photo someone sent him last month didn't match the woman standing before him now.

In that photo, she had been dressed provocatively, her face clouded with deep resentment, looking like a shell of a person.

It had shattered his heart, but there was nothing he could do.

He never imagined that upon his return, their first encounter would show her looking almost exactly as she had on their first date.

"Did my cousin make you take your daughter to the manor alone? Get in, I'll give you a ride."