I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 61

Just before Hayden's face hit the floor, he caught himself with his hands and vaulted back to his feet.

A fraction of a second later, and he would have face-planted into the ground.

Hayden stared at the young wife he hadn't looked at properly in five years, his expression unreadable.

Zoe stood like a warrior, shielding Lily fiercely behind her.

She looked ready to tear apart anyone who dared touch a hair on Lily's head.

Hayden's eyes burned with fury, but beneath it lay a flicker of sheer shock.

He knew his own combat skills; nobody could easily ambush him, let alone a woman like Zoe.

If his subordinates in Southeast Asia had seen that display, they would have laughed him out of the room.

No one had gotten the drop on him in ten years, yet Zoe had almost humiliated him completely.

As he steadied himself, his expression darkened to a thunderous scowl.

Sylvia practically shrieked.

"Zoe, what the hell are you doing? Haven't you embarrassed the Thorne family enough?"

How dared she lay a hand on her precious son?

Sylvia had never wanted Zoe, a washed-up heiress from a ruined family. Sienna was the only woman she deemed worthy of joining their family.

Grandmother Thorne, however, watched the scene with avid interest. Her arrogant grandson never let anyone cross him, and today, Zoe had finally done what the entire New York elite was too afraid to do.

"Sylvia, it's just a little lovers' quarrel between Zoe and Hayden. There's no need to make a fuss."

Seeing Zoe finally stand up for herself, and Hayden looking so helpless and livid, Grandmother Thorne almost laughed out loud.

Someone could finally put this lawless brat in his place.

And it was Zoe, the girl she had always wished would grow a backbone. The plot twist was so satisfying she nearly clapped her hands.

Sylvia was silenced by the older woman's breezy dismissal, swallowing back the rest of her harsh reprimands.

That cry of "Dad" tugged at their heartstrings, and even Grandmother Thorne spoke up.

"Enough. The kids were just playing around. Don't be so harsh."

Hayden reached out and snatched the duster from Sienna's hand, his voice heavy.

"Stop hitting him."

He scooped Holden into his arms. The boy threw his arms around Hayden's neck, sobbing so hard his little body shook.

Tears welled in Sienna's eyes, her voice laced with forced severity.

"Hayden, I didn't raise him right. He deserved it."

Hayden patted Holden's back, murmuring soothing words and refusing to set him down.

His handsome face was dark with barely suppressed rage.

He turned his gaze toward Lily, his cold, predatory stare making the little girl tremble uncontrollably.