I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 572

"I actually think Zoe's making brilliant points. I've consulted with top industry experts, and..."

"What do you know? The material she's presenting, those modules on the screen? I've seen them before. Stop calling her Zoe like she's some visionary. The real developer of that tech is standing right over there."

Ethan pointed his cocktail glass toward Sienna across the room, his face twisted in a sneer as he looked back at Zoe.

Ian looked surprised. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. I invested in Easton's emotional AI project and pulled out a fortune. Where else could Zoe get this data? Don't tell me—"

His eyes widened. "She must have blackmailed Sienna for it. I heard Hayden's nephew has been surviving on her daughter's blood. That has to be it."

Ian thought Ethan was losing his mind. "Let's just watch and see. If this was really Sienna's work, Sterling wouldn't have just invited Zoe. Even Garrett is just here as her plus-one. Do you really think he has enough pull to rig something this massive for her?" Ethan wasn't listening.

Scanning the crowd, he finally spotted Hayden. He was standing near the stage, hands deep in his pockets, silently watching Zoe like any other spectator.

The woman on stage was lightyears away from the miserable, pleading wife he used to know. She radiated the magnetic confidence of a fully realized woman.

He stared at her so intensely his eyes burned.

From a distance, Sienna was also tracking Hayden. Seeing the way he looked at Zoe sent a spike of pure panic through her.

It was Hayden who had dragged her to this symposium, only to abandon her the moment they arrived.

She couldn't read him anymore. But the absolute fixation in his eyes—a look she had never received even at the peak of their romance—terrified her.

Realizing he couldn't convince Ian—especially since his logic was sound—Ethan threw his hands up.

"You're brainwashed by her too. Fine. I can't stomach watching a plagiarist put on a show. I'm going to find Hayden. Stay and worship her if you want, but don't come crying to me when you realize you've been played."

Ian ignored Ethan's tantrum, keeping his focus locked on Zoe's presentation. Ethan shook his head, shot one last disgusted look at the stage, and stormed off.

The moment Ethan left, Quentin walked over.

He had been listening from the sidelines for a while. His hospital was currently integrating AI to solve complex surgical issues, requiring doctors across all departments to adapt. Even the veteran surgeons were learning to use AI diagnostic tools.

More importantly, highly intricate procedures were now utilizing microscopic robotics to eliminate human fatigue and prevent medical malpractice during grueling surgeries.