Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 108 likes you, thousands and thousands of times

Chapter 108: 108 likes you, thousands and thousands of times

Rain began to pour from the sky, accompanied by several peals of thunder, turning the streets into rivers by the time they reached the hospital, with streetlights shimmering in the water like glinting waves. Zoe Bell was carried out of the car and after finding a doctor at the emergency department, got admitted to a ward for an IV infusion.

"Your foot is swollen, you’ll need an IV antibiotic, along with oral medication. It’s best not to walk around, just rest." the doctor suggested.

"How many days will I need to rest?" Zoe grimaced, her foot had been hurting badly even before the competition.

She truly had overexerted herself by finishing the dance.

"That will depend on how you recover. Stay in the hospital for a while so we can monitor you."

"Can I be discharged before Mid-Autumn Festival?"

"You should be able to make it home for the holiday." said the duty doctor, who happened to have caught up on the dance competition gossip and smiled, "If you have a long trip ahead, you need to rest more starting now."

Zoe was startled.

Because the Hale Family was in Capital City.

Once the nurse helped her get the IV started, Zac Cruz and Kyle Lowe tactfully made themselves scarce, leaving only her and William Hale in the room.

The atmosphere turned awkward for no reason.

William poured her a glass of water; she had been worried about the frequent bathroom breaks affecting her performance before the competition and hadn’t drunk any water.

Holding the cup, she gulped down several mouthfuls.

Fortunately, Wyatt Hale suddenly made a video call. She adjusted the camera angle before answering, only to find Old Lady Hale on the other end. She greeted with a smile, "Hello, Grandma."

"I’m doing well, and you’ve done your makeup beautifully." Zoe’s face was still adorned with her stage makeup. "I heard you won an award. Our Zoe is quite impressive."

"It’s a shame I didn’t win the championship."

"You did very well already."

As they chatted, Zoe noticed Old Sir Hale slowly amble into view behind the old lady, leaning on his cane.

Then, just as leisurely, he wandered back.

Drifting back and forth like a ghost...

Old Lady Hale couldn’t stand it anymore and turned to look at him, "What are you doing?"

"I’ve just had dinner, taking a walk to aid digestion."

"Go outside to walk!"

"The autumn mosquitoes are fierce outside, one bite swells up."

"You’re thick-skinned, you’re afraid of mosquitoes?" Old Lady Hale saw through her husband’s little schemes long ago and glanced at the phone screen, "Stop dawdling, come say hello to Zoe."

Old Sir Hale leaned on his cane, hesitated, and glanced at Wyatt, "Adjust the camera angle for me, this angle makes me look rather short."

Zoe couldn’t help but laugh and called out first, "Old Sir Hale."

Old Sir Hale was immediately displeased.

Just now, it had been sweet grandmother this and that, so why did it change to Old Sir Hale for him!

He still faced the camera and congratulated Zoe.

Just as he was about to say more, Lily Lott came in. "Having a video chat with Zoe, Dad? Want to talk for a bit longer?"

"No need, you talk."

Lily didn’t hesitate to take the phone and squeezed in with Old Lady Hale while on the sofa nearby, Old Sir Hale, Brock Hale, and Wyatt sat in a row, six eyes looking at one another.

Old Sir Hale watched his wife laughing happily and prodded Wyatt with his cane.

"Grandpa?"

"Go, peel a pomegranate for me."

"I can ask a servant to do that for you..."

"You peel it, it tastes sweeter when a grandson does it."

Wyatt felt like he was going nuts. He was all thumbs and hated peeling pomegranates the most, but he couldn’t defy his grandfather. So, he resigned himself to the task, perched on a little stool, browsing the internet for pomegranate-peeling videos, and sighed in resignation.

"Grandpa, if you want to video chat with your sister-in-law, just lean in."

"Not one bit, what’s there to talk about," grumbled the old man, his gaze drifting while his ears perked up to listen to their laughter and chatter.

Zoe had a delightful chat, and after hanging up the call, she realized that William had been watching her the whole time.

His gaze was direct...

Not shying away in the slightest!

With a smile on his lips, his fondness for her laid bare on his face, no longer concealed.

She quickly looked away, pretending to play with her phone, only to hear him suddenly chuckle, a low and magnetic sound that seemed to travel directly into her ears in the otherwise empty ward.

What kind of world were they living in?

The one confessing his feelings was fearless, while she, the one being confessed to, felt nervous and at a loss.

She was due to receive three bags of medication; later on, Zac brought a laptop, and William got down to work, both peacefully minding their own business.

Until...

Two hours later, Zoe Bell, having received an IV and drunk quite a bit of water, wanted to go to the restroom.

One hand was attached to an IV drip, and one foot couldn’t easily touch the ground.

Having no choice, she could only ask William Hale for help.

"Just take me to the restroom door," she said. The restroom was equipped with handrails on the walls, which made it more convenient.

"Are you sure you don’t need me to accompany you inside?"

"No need."

Have him accompany her?

She’d rather not go at all.

With her limbs being uncooperative, it took her a while to wash off the stage makeup from her face. When she finally came out of the restroom and opened the door, she found William Hale still waiting outside, holding her IV bag, with his other arm naturally wrapped around her waist.

His movements were natural and skilled.

But Zoe Bell felt uncomfortable all over, especially with the warmth of his palm pressed against her waist.

As his fingers tightened, she couldn’t help but catch her breath.

After helping her to the bed, William Hale supported himself on the bed’s edge and leaned over to look at her, "Does my liking you really matter to you?"

"Not really," Zoe replied defiantly.

She cared deeply about it.

Zoe knew all too well William’s special treatment toward her, which she always presumed was part of a show. Now, he was telling her his feelings were genuine.

"Not really?" William chuckled softly, sitting on the edge of the bed, taking her hand without the IV, and gently brushing and grazing the back of her hand with his fingertips. The tingling feeling was almost too much to bear, "But your expression tells me you do care."

"It feels too surreal."

Zoe Bell still felt like she was in a dream at that moment.

The dance, the award, the flowers, the applause...

His affection.

The night was filled with too many ups and downs.

William’s fingers weaved through hers, locking them together with gentle movements, as if he were playing with a treasured object, his voice low and husky, "What would it take for you to believe it’s real?"

She couldn’t answer that question.

Unable to look directly at William Hale, she kept her head slightly lowered when a kiss fell on her forehead.

His lips were soft and warm.

"Do you dislike me now?" William’s fingertips continued to caress the back of her hand.

"No."

He leaned in, his head lowered, his chin just brushing against the shoulder she had been bitten on, his breath light and full of warmth.

"Then do you like me?"

The atmosphere was enchanting, his breath intruding dominantly, tinting her face red bit by bit.

Zoe Bell felt flustered, not even getting the chance to respond before feeling a warmth on her earlobe.

Her heart quivered.

She could distinctly feel the temperature of his lips near her ear.

Wet. Wet, hot. Hot.

The tingling sensation made her body tremble slightly.

"If you think it’s not real, I can say I like you a hundred times, a thousand times, as long as you don’t dislike me, why not try liking me? You might find I’m not too bad," he said, his voice low and raspy, seductive and hoarse.

Zoe Bell’s heart was trembling...

Profoundly moved.

At that moment, Zoe Bell’s phone suddenly vibrated; she saw it as a lifesaver and quickly pulled away from William’s hand, "I have a message."

It was a voice message from Lucas Bell that left her at a loss. After opening it, she went completely numb.

"Since your brother-in-law has confessed to you, don’t be timid; just go for it!"

"How will you know if he’s right for you if you don’t give him a chance?"

Give whom a chance?

What on earth was he talking about!

Zoe Bell thought salvation had come, but instead...

It led her to death’s door!