I Forgot I Ever Loved You (Zoe and Hayden) novel Chapter 69

Hayden stared sharply at Colin. "Follow her."

One word was all it took for Colin to switch straight back into private investigator mode.

Zoe pulled up to Philip Lynd's three-story townhouse.

It was early spring, and the garden was blooming with fresh greenery. Everything felt so familiar to her, yet somehow, drastically different.

She stood on the porch, hesitating to ring the bell.

She hadn't called her uncle before coming. Showing up unannounced felt a bit too bold.

While she debated turning around, a tall man in beige loungewear spotted her from the doorway, freezing in pure shock.

"Zoe?"

Philip hadn't expected her to show up out of nowhere.

Zoe handed him the gifts she had brought, tears welling in her eyes.

"Uncle Philip."

"What are you doing here? Come in, come in! Rhonda just finished making a few dishes. I'll tell her to cook up some of your favorites."

Philip warmly ushered her inside.

In the dining room, Rhonda had just sat down. At the sound of Zoe's voice, her expression soured.

"Rhonda, could you whip up a few more of Zoe's favorite dishes?"

Rhonda stared darkly at Zoe, who was beaming with pure joy to see her.

"I wouldn't dare cook for her," Rhonda spat coldly.

Zoe faltered. Philip shifted awkwardly, shooting his wife a desperate look.

Extremely reluctant, Rhonda marched into the kitchen. From the second floor, Philip's daughter, Wendy, trotted down the stairs and immediately stormed over.

"Wendy, look what I brought you."

Seeing the mature young woman Wendy had become finally hit Zoe that five whole years had passed.

Her aunt and uncle hadn't seemed to change much.

Boiled over with rage, Philip marched up to Wendy and slapped her hard across the face.

"Zoe is your cousin! Don't you ever speak to her like that!"

Seeing Philip strike their daughter sent Rhonda over the edge.

She rushed to pull Wendy into her arms, but her venom was directed entirely at Zoe.

"Mrs. Thorne. Our family is too small to afford crossing you or your husband. I don't care what your situation with him is right now, but we cut ties with you a long time ago. So please, Mrs. Thorne, show some mercy and leave the Lynd family alone."

Zoe swayed on her feet, tears pooling in her wide, disbelieving eyes.

Why couldn't she understand a single word they were saying?

Cut ties?

Between her and her uncle's family?

Why would they ever cut ties?

A bitter, broken smile tugged at Zoe's lips as she stared at Philip through her tears.