I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 62

"Come here."

Hayden motioned to Lily, but she gripped Zoe's hem in terror, shaking her head. She would rather die than step closer.

"Apologize to Holden."

Hayden was not about to let Holden suffer the slightest grievance.

He was Charles's son. Years ago, Charles had been severely crippled saving Hayden's life, so there was no way he would ever let Charles's boy suffer.

Zoe had clung to a shred of hope. Hayden was Lily's biological father, after all. Even if he didn't favor his own daughter, he should at least be fair.

But he was actually demanding Lily apologize to Holden. Everyone had seen Holden throw the silverware at her for no reason. If Zoe hadn't blocked the heavy fork with her own body, it could have blinded Lily.

Shielding her daughter, Zoe's eyes blazed with endless fury.

"Why should Lily apologize to him?"

Zoe was no longer afraid of Hayden.

Her previous fear of him had just been an intimidated response to his ruthless reputation.

Seeing him falsely accuse someone without a second thought made her despise him.

"I said apologize, so she apologizes. Do I need a reason?"

Had he been too lenient with Zoe lately? Had she forgotten this was merely a contract marriage and started acting like the real Mrs. Thorne?

Zoe held onto Lily tightly.

"No apologies. He needs to apologize to Lily. He was acting like a brat, and he deserved to be disciplined."

Hayden set Holden down and advanced on Zoe, step by agonizing step.

With every step, a cold word slipped through his gritted teeth.

"Make Lily apologize to Holden."

Or else, he wouldn't let this go.

Not to mention she had just tried to physically take him down.

Give her an inch and she wanted a mile. She had clearly forgotten exactly who she was dealing with.

Lily stiffened her neck, her little face a mask of pure stubbornness.

"No way."

Hunter couldn't stand watching this unfold.

The implication was clear: Hunter was overstepping his bounds.

The two men stared each other down, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Hunter could clearly feel the threat in Hayden's voice; if he continued to defend Zoe, there would be hell to pay.

But Hunter showed no fear.

He was no longer the naive boy from five years ago who had slinked away in heartbreak when his girlfriend was taken.

After years of grinding abroad, he had built his own empire.

Bringing Zoey back to meet the family was just a cover for his past failures; his real goal was to shift his business operations back home.

He also needed to know if his connection with Zoe was truly dead after all these years.

Seeing Hayden treat her so poorly broke his heart, but at the same time, wasn't this the perfect opportunity?

A chance for him and Zoe to start over.

Zoey watched from the sidelines, visibly nervous.

"Hunter, we're just guests. Let Hayden and Zoe handle their own issues."