Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 118 People are treacherous, relatives have looked for her (2 more updates)

Chapter 118: 118 People are treacherous, relatives have looked for her (2 more updates)

Although the temperature dropped a few degrees after autumn, the stuffiness did not lessen.

William Hale, though cruel-hearted, wouldn’t make things difficult for a child who knew nothing.

"She said if you don’t see her, she won’t leave."

"Let Nanny Parker bring her to the Incense Making Room then."

Zoe Bell didn’t want to discuss matters in front of the child.

Director Hall originally thought that by using the bait of a family member, Zoe Bell would actively seek her out. After waiting fruitlessly all night and not seeing her figure, she became anxious and quickly asked her daughter-in-law to make contact.

Her daughter-in-law, who looked to be only about twenty-six or twenty-seven, appeared haggard as if something had happened at home and there hadn’t been time to tidy up, with red-rimmed eyes.

As soon as she entered the Incense Making Room, she kneeled down with a plop in front of Zoe Bell.

Tears instantly fell like beads.

Her pitiful cries were heartbreaking to witness.

Zoe Bell merely glanced at her indifferently and said nothing.

She didn’t help her up either.

"Miss Bell, I know my mother-in-law deserves it, but for the sake of her having taken care of you, please help us."

"Help? On what grounds? She took care of me, and she got benefits from it."

And even if that were set aside, working at the orphanage and taking care of her was part of the job.

Zoe Bell was sitting in front of the desk. Most of her belongings had been packed away by Nanny Parker, making the Incense Making Room seem all the more desolate.

"I’ve always heard that you are a good person. Even for the child’s sake... my son is still so young, he is innocent, and so is my husband."

"It was all my mother-in-law’s doing; my husband had no idea."

Upon hearing this, Zoe Bell suddenly laughed out loud.

She propped her cheek with one hand, turned her head to look at her, and said, "Madam, do you take me for a fool?"

"Is he a three-year-old child? He’s just an ordinary corporate employee, and you’re a full-time housewife. During your pregnancy, you stayed in a confinement center that cost seventy or eighty thousand a month, you have a nanny at home, and your husband has five properties to his name. Have you never thought about where all this came from?"

"Your mother-in-law may be the director of an orphanage, but as for her salary, I don’t believe you are unaware. Living in a mansion, driving luxury cars—I refuse to believe you never had doubts."

"We are all adults here; we know very well whether your husband is innocent or not."

"Pretending to be innocent, playing the victim, deliberately bringing the child here to gain sympathy—there’s really no need for that."

She hadn’t expected Zoe Bell to be so heartless.

Because based on her mother-in-law’s description, with her own kneeling and crying, she was sure to soften Zoe’s heart.

She stood there dumbfounded for a few seconds before slowly getting up and walking in front of Zoe Bell, "Miss Bell, my mother-in-law said, if only you can save my husband and get him out, she will tell you about your family."

"You tell me first, then I’ll consider whether I want to help or not."

"You have to promise me first," she demanded.

"Then I’ll have to ask you to leave," Zoe Bell quirked an eyebrow, "I’m not interested in what she has to say."

The woman was taken aback.

"Don’t you want to find your own family?"

"Mina Bell found her family, only to end up in jail. As you can see, finding family doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good thing."

"..."

She hadn’t anticipated Zoe Bell to be so unyielding.

The woman hesitated for a long time before pulling out a small red cloth bag from her bag and handing it over to her.

Zoe Bell opened it, and inside was a woven red cord.

"My mother-in-law said that you were rescued from human traffickers by the police when you were young, and since your family couldn’t be found, you were sent to the orphanage. This red cord was on your wrist at the time."

"It’s said that you could say a few simple English words—in that era, that would mean your family was well-off."

Zoe Bell held the red cord, unable to see anything special.

However, the pattern of weaving was unique.

The style was quite exquisite.

"My mother-in-law said, someone once went to the orphanage looking for someone with physical characteristics similar to yours."

"But I’ve never heard about it," Zoe Bell clutched the red cord tightly.

"Because at that time you had already been adopted by the Bell Family, she was afraid that if you were found, she would lose the donations from the Bell Family..."

At that moment,

Zoe Bell felt a chill wrapping around her from all directions, enveloping her entire body.

The human heart, it turns out, can be so vile!

The woman hung her head, looking very guilty.

For the sake of the Bell Family’s donations, Director Hall deliberately hid Zoe Bell’s existence, and for Zoe, this likely meant missing the chance to be reunited with her blood relatives.

Seeing her pale face, the woman quickly added, "Maybe they weren’t your relatives. The girl they were looking for had long hair, but you had short hair when you arrived at the orphanage."

"Miss Bell, I’ve told you everything I know, please save my husband."

Zoe Bell just smiled at her, "You said your husband is innocent, didn’t you? You should trust the police; they won’t wrongly accuse a good person, so you don’t need to ask me to save him."

"The law will bring him justice."

"And I, I can’t influence the police’s investigation, nor can I sway the law."

These words left the woman speechless.

Hesitantly, she said, "My mother-in-law says she really wants to see you."

Zoe Bell’s eyes were indifferent, "I don’t want to see her again in this lifetime."

When leaving, Zoe Bell cheerfully took some mooncakes for the children; the boy clearly didn’t know what had happened and thanked her with a grin.

He said, "Auntie, I wish you an early Happy Mid-Autumn Festival."

Zoe Bell forced a smile on her lips, "Thank you, Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to you too."

William Hale didn’t ask what they specifically talked about, only saying, "We’re going back to the Capital City tomorrow."

**

On the day of departure, Lucas Bell specially came to see them off. He didn’t mention anything else but looked at William Hale, "Take good care of my sister, don’t bully her."

The day they returned to the Capital City was the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival; perhaps due to the typhoon, the weather in Greenland was not so good.

The light drizzle made the whole city appear hazy and blurred.

And her mood was just like the weather,

Gloomy, and low.

Until her phone vibrated, Lily Lott was calling, "Zoe, have you set off yet?"

"We’re already on the way; if there’s no traffic, we’ll reach the Old House of Hale Family by evening."

"Good, no rush, drive slowly, safety is most important."

"I know."

The Hale Family were discreet and considerate. They did not inquire about the orphanage matter, not even the most gossipy Wyatt Hale asked about it, which was thoughtful.

"If you’re tired, take a nap," William Hale looked at her, Zoe Bell had not been resting well lately.

Once she fell asleep, William Hale asked Zac Cruz, the driver, to turn up the air conditioner a bit.

He extended his hand,

and gently drew her into his embrace.

——

Capital City, Old House of Hale Family

Because it was Mid-Autumn Festival, a day for family gatherings, and since it was Zoe Bell’s first time celebrating a festival at home, Old Sir Hale said, "It’s not like you haven’t met before, no need for a big fuss."

Yet, as soon as Wyatt Hale arrived at the Old House, Grandpa scolded him, "What’s with that hair? Go get a clean-cut hairstyle."

"Grandpa, this hairstyle is the newest and most fashionable; you just don’t understand fashion."

Wyatt Hale had just gotten his hair done and thought it looked quite handsome.

"Is messy nest hair the fashion now?"

"..."

Having no choice, Wyatt Hale had to get a haircut. Before heading out, Old Sir Hale also gave a reminder, "Take the family dog out for a bath on the way."

The crux of the matter is, a bad haircut lasts for three days, and it’s a major festival. Did he really have to make himself look so unsightly?