Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 110: Do you want to settle down with me in the Capital City?

Chapter 110: Do you want to settle down with me in the Capital City?

William Hale wore formal attire, his suit jacket draped over his arm, his white shirt tucked into his lean waist, features cold and sharp, emanating aggression.

Director Hall hurriedly put down her cup and stood up, "Mr. Hale."

"This is the director of the orphanage," Zoe Bell introduced, "She’s here to see me."

"I appreciate the thought, please sit, don’t be formal," he said, his tone neither slow nor hurried.

His gaze swept over her, a top-down scrutiny that made one’s scalp tighten, but when he turned to look at Zoe Bell, it was all gentle warmth.

With William Hale present, the conversation was always constrained. Director Hall smiled amicably, "I’m very grateful for Mr. Hale’s generous donation this year."

What she referred to was, of course, a donation.

"That was all Zoe’s doing, it had nothing to do with me."

When Zac Cruz made the donation, it was made in the name of Zoe Bell, but everyone knew that the money came from William Hale.

Yet his words seemed to indicate that he didn’t want to get involved with the orphanage’s affairs.

Director Hall gave a wry smile, feeling her scalp prickle under William Hale’s gaze.

She raised her hand to adjust her hair at the temple, and as her sleeve pulled up, a jade bracelet was revealed.

William Hale’s gaze swept over it, tone even, "The bracelet on Director Hall’s wrist... it looks nice."

It was then that Zoe Bell noticed the jade bracelet on Director Hall’s wrist.

In her memory, she didn’t wear jewelry, quite plain.

After all, she had to take care of the children, and the orphanage was not short of babies abandoned within months, wearing jewelry was inconvenient.

A flicker of panic crossed Director Hall’s eyes, though her facial expression remained unchanged.

Composed, she smiled casually, "This was something my daughter-in-law bought while being duped on a trip, cost a few hundred bucks, probably made of glass. It’s the thought from the kid, I couldn’t well refuse it, just wearing it to match my clothes."

"You think it looks good?"

"Could it be she just happened upon a great deal by chance? Anyway, I wouldn’t know."

"Your son got married?" Zoe Bell knew she had a son and a daughter.

Director Hall smiled, "He got married three or four years ago, just gave me a grandson two years back."

"Congratulations, I had no idea," Zoe Bell said with a light smile.

"Thank you."

"They’re in Greenland?"

"Yes, they’ve been asking me to help with the baby, but I really can’t bear to leave the children in the orphanage," Director Hall sighed.

At that moment, William Hale interjected abruptly, "Settled in Greenland? It’s quite expensive to live here, getting married and then having a child, must’ve been quite the expense these past years."

Director Hall’s fingers, holding a paper cup, tightened imperceptibly, then she smiled again, "They took out loans."

"I haven’t retired yet, and I still draw a salary, so I can help them out."

William Hale said no more.

After chatting with Zoe Bell for a little while, Director Hall mentioned she had matters to attend to at the orphanage and hurried off.

Zoe Bell’s eyes, however, lingered on William Hale.

"It seems you don’t really like Mommy Hall."

"Is that so? To me, other than friends and family, everyone else is the same," William Hale was always stern, but Zoe Bell was accustomed to his gentle and gentlemanly manner.

Zoe Bell also felt that Director Hall was a bit strange.

Especially that jade bracelet on her wrist.

It was lustrous and appeared to be of good quality.

Having been in the Bell Family, she had seen her share of fine things, and a bracelet of that quality would cost at least tens of thousands to acquire.

Was it really a cheap purchase forced upon her during her travels?

Or perhaps, it was a pricey item bought by her daughter-in-law, who lied about the price fearing rejection?

"What would you like for lunch?" William Hale spoke, breaking her train of thought.

"I’m fine with anything," Zoe Bell responded, then inquired, "Zac Cruz and Kyle Lowe didn’t come back with you?"

"They have other matters to attend to."

Right before significant holidays, there was always a multitude of trivial things to take care of.

"There’s something I need to discuss with you." William Hale sat down at the edge of the bed, looking at her earnestly.

Zoe Bell, seeing his serious expression, also sat up straight.

"The Bell Family’s company can only hold out until the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Lucas Bell is likely to go abroad after the holiday. There isn’t much happening at the orphanage right now either. Besides these, do you have any other people or matters in Greenland worth thinking about?"

Zoe Bell shook her head, not quite understanding what he meant by that.

"Do you want to come with me and settle down in the Capital City?"

"..."

Zoe had already considered living in the Capital City when she signed the agreement with him.

"If you want to return to Greenland, you can come and stay periodically." William Hale continued.

Zoe pursed her lips, "When will we move?"

"Before the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Zoe Bell was alone in the world.

But William Hale’s company headquarters were in the Capital City, and all his relatives and social connections were there; he had already been staying here for the past two or three months, which was quite extraordinary.

His intention was very clear:

After going back to the Capital City for the Mid-Autumn Festival, he didn’t plan to return to Greenland unless there was a special reason.

"Regarding the... surgery," Zoe glanced at her right leg.

"I will arrange it for you in the Capital City."

Zoe nodded.

Before meeting the Hale Family, she might have been nervous, but after living together for a while recently, she found it unsettling when they left, feeling the absence. If she were to live in the Capital City, amidst her uneasiness, she also felt anticipation.

At that moment, Nanny Parker’s voice suddenly came from outside.

"Director Hall? You haven’t left yet? Why are you standing outside?"

Zoe Bell and William Hale exchanged a glance.

Silent, wordless.

In the midst of their eye contact, there was an undercurrent.

"Oh, I think I left something behind, I came back to look for it..." While speaking, the door to the ward was knocked open, and Director Hall appeared at the door with a chuckle, "Zoe, Mr. Hale, I’m really sorry. I seem to have lost a set of keys, I came back to look for it."

Zoe just smiled, "I haven’t seen any keys, feel free to look around."

"What kind of keys? I’ll help you look."

Nanny Parker hurriedly put down the box of pastries she was holding.

After searching for a long time, nothing was found.

"Maybe I left it somewhere else, I’m getting old and my memory is not what it used to be," Director Hall felt very apologetic.

"If it really is here and I happen to see it later, I’ll contact you," Zoe said, her face always wearing a faint smile.

"Alright then, I’ll be on my way."

Nanny Parker exchanged a few more polite words before Director Hall finally left.

"I stepped out and saw a pastry shop; the pastries looked so exquisite that I bought some to satisfy your craving," Nanny Parker said with a smile, placing a box of pastries in front of Zoe. Inside were Ten-Mile Golden Osmanthus, Hawthorn Berry Crisp, and purple sweet potato mochi... so delicately made they were almost too beautiful to eat.

"You, you’ve been busy practicing dance recently, trying to keep in shape and not eating properly. Now you can eat to your heart’s content."

Zoe thanked her, then picked up a piece of White Magnolia Cake and asked seemingly casually, "When you came back just now, was Director Hall at the door?"

Nanny Parker nodded.

She looked around, "I didn’t see any keys?"

While speaking, she checked the surroundings again.

Zoe took a bite of the pastry and said, "Don’t worry about it."

"She seemed quite anxious, it must have been important," Nanny Parker frowned.

"It’s probably fallen somewhere else, sit down and take a break, there’s no rush," Zoe said with a smile, so faint that... it hardly covered what lay beneath her eyes.

Most likely,

there were no keys in the first place.

William Hale, on the other hand, had been quiet throughout.

----

At that time, Director Hall had already returned to the orphanage, looking troubled.

Just as she pushed open the door to her office, there was someone inside, and she hesitated for a moment before putting on a smile, "President Bell, what brings you here?"

"Didn’t you text me before, saying you wanted to treat me to a meal?" Kevin Bell stated plainly.

Director Hall gave a sheepish laugh, as that had been nearly two months ago.