I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 671

She was made of flesh and blood too. For five years, she had demeaned herself and still failed to win a man's heart. Now that she was finally living as her true self, how could she possibly hand herself over again?

"I know. What I mean is, it's different now that there are kids involved. Feelings can be nurtured slowly. We couldn't protect Ian, and there's still Lily to think about."

Garrett was consumed by a deep sense of regret and sorrow.

He had been arrogant once.

He thought that when he developed feelings for Zoe, he could pull out all the stops to win her over.

He succeeded in bringing her into his circle, built a platform for her, presented her to the national stage, and finally secured the status and recognition Zoe deserved.

He thought she was safe. But when she and her children faced real peril, the powerful Kendall family was utterly helpless.

The one who solved the crisis was the biological father he had looked down upon, dismissed, and even despised.

Little Ian carried the Kendall last name and would eventually call Garrett his godfather.

But was he even worthy of being a godfather?

"Garrett, this was an accident. You can't blame yourselves."

Zoe's voice was choked with tears.

Yara, who was usually stoic and silent, suddenly spoke up, her words startling everyone.

"You can trust Mr. Thorne."

It was the only fair thing Yara had ever said on Hayden's behalf.

She didn't mean to belittle the Kendall family, nor was she trying to persuade Zoe.

She was merely stating a fact.

Zoe's gaze swept lightly over Yara.

A strange sensation flickered in her chest, though she couldn't quite pinpoint its origin.

She felt that Yara's words weren't spoken to defend Hayden, but rather out of a sense of pity for Garrett.

"I know..."

Zoe lowered her eyes, a flash of melancholy passing through them.

Garrett couldn't bear it. "Zoe, please don't misunderstand my intentions."

Though, admittedly, her cold, aloof demeanor really did make a man want to cross the line.

But Garrett had also weighed the reality: with a combat-ready woman like Yara, hardly any man could even get close to her.

Yara followed Zoe out.

As Zoe's bodyguard, it was only natural for her to stick by her side.

Garrett felt that Yara was incredibly sharp sometimes, but at other times, she seemed a bit...

Like she was missing a wire in her brain.

"Officer Quinn—"

Garrett chased after her, nearly getting a gun pointed at his head.

"What is it?" she asked coldly, looking at him like he was a thief.

Speechless, Garrett reached out and gently pushed the barrel of her gun aside, whispering, "Zoe is going to see Mr. Thorne. Are you sure you want to go and be a third wheel?"

"..."