I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 64

"What's wrong?"

Zoe didn't understand how such a young child could hold so much sorrow.

She looked so incredibly melancholy.

"But you didn't used to be like this, Mommy. You used to be just like Daddy, only loving Holden."

Zoe froze.

She loved Holden?

Sienna's son?

How was that possible? Was she out of her mind?

But Lily was just a child, and children didn't lie.

"Who told you Mommy loves Holden? I will only ever love you. If I ever favored anyone else, I must have been blind."

The mother and daughter sat by the window, happily eating their meal.

Outside, a light drizzle had begun to fall.

The sound of the rain against the glass was soothing, and Lily's smile was the sweetest thing in the world.

Through the rain, Hayden watched them. He didn't know what Lily was saying, but the two of them leaned in close, and a moment later, they burst into joyous laughter.

That heartwarming scene slammed into Hayden's chest.

It was a warmth he had never experienced, something only other people's children received.

And it was a tenderness he had never given to his own wife and child.

Colin had no idea why Mr. Thorne had suddenly ordered him to pull over.

Not until he spotted Zoe and Lily.

Through the bustling streetlights and the misty rain.

The upscale restaurant kept the cold out, brightly lit and filled with happy chatter.

There were decorations strung up, and soft, melodic music drifted through the air.

Colin thought his boss would go inside to fetch them, but after a moment of silence, Hayden's voice cut through the quiet, cold and detached.

"Go get them. Who said she could feed Lily this garbage?"

Hayden was visibly furious, and Colin knew better than to argue.

Bracing himself, he pushed open the restaurant door, awkwardly interrupting the joyful mother and daughter.

"Mrs. Thorne, Mr. Thorne wants you to come home with him."

Colin was stunned. Wasn't Mr. Thorne overreacting?

After all, she was just one woman.

There was no need for such a massive show of force.

Still, he wouldn't dare disobey. He made a call, and soon, seven or eight hulking bodyguards arrived.

Colin broke into a sweat for Zoe.

He completely failed to understand his boss's logic.

They were husband and wife. Why couldn't they just talk it out? Did it really warrant—

Violence?

Wait—

Colin glanced toward Zoe, and his jaw dropped in sheer panic.

Had Mrs. Thorne just taken down every single bodyguard?

Zoe planted her foot squarely on one of the guard's faces, snarling aggressively.

"You've got the wrong girl, assholes."