Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 111 Arguing? I’ve indulged you enough already

Chapter 111: 111 Arguing? I’ve indulged you enough already

In the hospital room

Zoe Bell ate two pastries, somewhat preoccupied, until Lucas Bell came over, interrupting her thoughts.

"Sis, I specially made soup for you."

"Thank you."

Zoe Bell was still a bit distracted until she took a sip of the soup and almost spat it out due to its awful taste, "What is this?"

Poison?

"Pig’s trotters stewed with lotus root, to nourish the body with similar shapes."

"Try it yourself, is this something fit for people to drink?"

"I’ve tried it, I think it’s okay." Lucas Bell’s gaze shifted to William Hale, "Brother-in-law, would you like to try it?"

William Hale’s expression remained unchanged, "This kind of nutritious stuff, better to leave it for Zoe to eat."

As he spoke, he still glanced at Zoe Bell, "It’s not easy to make soup, appreciate your brother’s effort and eat more, don’t waste it."

"..."

But this concoction was indeed terrible to drink.

Way too greasy.

Instead of coming to his rescue, he deliberately fanned the flames, causing Zoe Bell to sneak an irritated glance at him. William Hale’s corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he turned to speak with Lucas Bell.

"Brother-in-law, could I ask you for a favor?" Lucas Bell ventured.

William Hale gestured for him to continue.

"On Mid-Autumn Festival, will your younger uncle also come home?"

"Unless there’s a special circumstance, he should."

"Could I trouble you to get his autograph for me? I’d originally asked my sister, but she’s too shy, probably embarrassed to ask."

"..."

What did that mean?

His sister is shy?

His own dignity, was it not important?

Apparently, nobody had ever made such a request to William Hale. He paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Lucas Bell was only 19 after all, with a bit of a childlike spirit. Unable to hide his excitement, he glanced at the mooncakes placed on the table and casually asked, "Who sent these?"

"Director Hall from the orphanage," Nanny Parker answered, "She even lost her keys, no idea if she found them yet?"

"There’s been no call, she probably found them," Zoe Bell said, stirring the pig’s trotter soup in front of her.

"Oh, it’s her..."

Lucas Bell was naturally happy he would get the autograph, so he restrained his smile when Director Hall was mentioned. The contrast was noticeable.

Clearly, he wasn’t too fond of Director Hall.

With her IV finished, Zoe Bell had been feeling quite comfortable after eating a few pastries, but the bowl of pig’s trotter soup from Lucas had made her feel uneasy.

She didn’t want to drink it, but compelled by her brother’s good intentions, she forceed herself to take a few sips.

Now her stomach churned with discomfort.

Setting one foot on the ground, she rushed to the restroom.

Almost vomiting.

"Sis, are you okay?" Lucas Bell stood at the door.

"I’m fine, just a bit nauseous."

When she came out, William Hale handed her a cup of water, while Lucas Bell stood aside, his gaze wandering but settling on her stomach as if to say:

You’re not pregnant, are you!

Zoe Bell was speechless, how had she never noticed her brother’s tendency to overthink things!

She was always dancing and continuously on an IV drip, how could she possibly be pregnant?

What made her most frustrated was when Lucas Bell turned to William Hale and said, "Brother-in-law, do you like children?"

William Hale didn’t speak, just looked at Zoe Bell.

His eyes seemed to ask:

Did you tell him to ask that?

Zoe Bell was at a loss for words.

——

Zoe Bell had been in the hospital for three days, getting ready to be discharged and leave.

Everything was normal, the nurses were changing shifts on time, and the oncoming nurse was doing her usual rounds, but as she neared Zoe’s room, she heard an argument.

"...I don’t want to go to Capital City." It was Zoe Bell’s voice.

"Is it that you don’t want to go to Capital City, or don’t want to be with me?" William Hale’s voice was as usual, cold and calm.

Mr. Hale was particularly difficult to approach.

The nurses dared not speak more than a few words to him.

"Going to Capital City, where I know no one and have no support," Zoe said.

"Do you have any support in Greenland?" he retorted.

The two nurses, upon hearing this, were taken aback.

Everyone in Greenland knew about the Bell Family’s troubles.

William’s remarks were indeed hurtful.

"Think it over, whether you want to come back to Capital City with me or continue to stay here. I don’t have time to go back and forth. Spending time here in the hospital with you has already wasted a lot of my time," he said.

"Wasted?" Zoe chuckled softly, "Is spending time with me a waste?"

"In any case, if you’re not coming back to Capital City with me, then don’t bother leaving at all!" His tone was cold, "Zoe Bell, I’ve indulged you enough. Think it through and then contact me."

"Or just don’t contact me at all."

...

As they spoke, the door to the hospital room opened, and William’s already stern and profound features appeared even more intense and sharp. The nurse gave him a smile, but he acted as if he saw nothing.

The coldness hit them full in the face, frosty and snowy as if the air itself was filled with chill.

The nurse felt a tingling on her scalp.

As she hesitantly knocked on the door of the hospital room, Zoe was sitting on the bed in a daze, surrounded by clothes that needed organizing.

"Miss Bell, time for a check-up," she said.

Zoe squeezed out a faint smile, "Thank you for your hard work."

"You’re being discharged today; do you feel unwell in any way?" The nurse helped her take her temperature, "The temperature is normal."

"I’m quite alright."

"Then you can come and complete the discharge procedures later, and you’ll be free to go." The nurse looked around the room, noting that the middle-aged woman who had been caring for Zoe over the past two days was no longer there.

Her right foot had swelling reduced but still moved with some difficulty, her head bent as she gathered her clothes.

She was slender, her figure frail—looking as if...

She was about to cry.

The nurse felt it wasn’t her place to ask and quickly left the room, but once outside, she couldn’t help discussing it with others.

"It’s good to go back to Capital City with Mr. Hale; why wouldn’t she go?"

"Capital City is a complicated place. Maybe she feels she has no support and is worried about being dumped."

"I’ve said it before; their relationship won’t last long."

...

Zoe’s leg made it difficult to pack; she was slow. Before long, someone knocked at the room’s door. She turned her head and was momentarily taken aback by the sight of the person at the door. Then she smiled, "Mommy Hall, what brings you here again?"

"I was just out handling some errands, but why are you all alone?"

"Just..."

She seemed to want to explain, but couldn’t find the right words. Biting her lip, she bowed her head, feeling wronged.

"Zoe, has something happened?" Director Hall approached and took Zoe’s hand.

Her voice was tender and full of concern.

"It’s nothing," Zoe replied with a forced smile.

"You’re about to cry; how can it be nothing?" Director Hall frowned, "I overheard some talk on my way here, saying that you..."

"Had a fight with Mr. Hale?"

"Don’t listen to their nonsense. It was just a little argument, nothing serious. Don’t worry," Zoe assured her, although her smile was clearly strained.

"You’re like my own child. I’ve watched you grow since you were over two years old. You were such a tiny thing, crying day and night—it broke my heart. You can tell me anything, but now that you’re grown up, do you think I’m not trustworthy?"

"Not at all, you’re overthinking it," Zoe said helplessly.

"So what will you do after you leave the hospital? Where will you go after your argument with him?" Director Hall asked, her brow furrowed.

"Does the institute still have a room I can stay in for a couple of days?"

"..."

After a few seconds of silence, Director Hall smiled, "Let me make a call and check on that for you."

Only after she left the room did Zoe lower her head to continue sorting her clothes.

She looked at the time on her phone.

It had been barely more than half an hour since her argument with William. Considering the distance from the orphanage to the hospital wasn’t far, and judging by the driving time,

She came...

Quite quickly!