I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 669

Sylvia struggled to regain her composure, her face icy. "What good would your savings do? I want her to face the punishment she deserves. Cora, our time together as employer and employee is over. You may leave. Do not mention the Kendall family again."

Tears streamed down Cora's wrinkled face as she sobbed and walked away.

Zoe watched the scene unfold with a heavy heart.

"Zoe, you've been through so much terror. If anything had happened to Ian, my guilt would have been unbearable."

Sylvia looked at little Ian, wanting to hold him but not daring to reach out.

Zoe knew how devastated Sylvia felt, so she gently placed Ian into her arms.

"Sylvia, no one wanted this to happen. It's not your fault."

Garrett stood silently on the sidelines, unable to find the words to comfort his mother.

Hayden broke the silence. "The estate burned down. For the time being, why don't you and Mr. Kendall Sr., and..."

Hayden glanced at Garrett, addressing him respectfully in front of everyone. "Garrett, why don't your family stay at my place? I'll personally drive you all back once your estate is restored."

Garrett immediately declined, and Mr. Kendall Sr. and Sylvia politely refused Hayden's offer as well.

They understood that despite everything Hayden had done, and despite the faint glimmer of fatherly affection he seemed to hold for the kids, Zoe's stance remained unchanged.

Zoe continued to treat Hayden with total indifference, lacking any warmth or emotional attachment.

Naturally, the Kendalls had no desire to associate with someone Zoe disliked.

Even if that person was Ian's biological father.

Furthermore, they didn't know much about Hayden. Given his unfathomable background and the fact that their own powerful family couldn't dig up a single trace of his history, Hayden didn't feel like a safe harbor to them.

Protecting Zoe was their absolute priority.

They had their own people to look after.

"Zoe, what do you think?"

Hayden looked at Zoe. If she nodded, the Kendalls would agree to go.

And if they went, Zoe would inevitably follow him back.

Zoe wasn't stupid; she instantly saw through Hayden's motive.

But...

She had no intention of playing along.

"That won't be necessary. The Kendalls have more than one property. Besides—"

He had almost forgotten that since she regained her past memories, her resentment toward him had multiplied, and she had become fiercely physical.

She injured him at the slightest provocation.

"If you have something to say, say it. Keep your distance."

Zoe couldn't stand the crisp, clean scent radiating from him. It felt like a deliberate assault on her defenses.

It triggered her visceral memories.

The good ones, and the horrific ones.

She knew there might be some things Hayden was genuinely unaware of.

But that didn't give him the right to recklessly hurt his own biological daughter.

Five years together. Even a dog would have developed loyalty by then.

Let alone a human being.

Since he had no heart for her, he needed to stay far away.

She would love her own children fiercely. What use did she have for him?