Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 122 Complimenting along the grain, Zoe’s suspicion

Chapter 122: 122 Complimenting along the grain, Zoe’s suspicion

In the Dining Room

Most people had already taken their seats. Zoe Bell noticed that Mindy Xander wasn’t there, and glanced at William Hale, "Aren’t we waiting for Aunt Mindy?"

"No need to wait."

Zoe Bell pursed her lips.

But she heard Logan Hale say dispassionately, "My mom definitely hasn’t woken up yet; she loves to sleep in. Whoever rushes her will have to deal with her."

Simon Hale, "That’s not called sleeping in. Mom says it’s ’nurturing the body and spirit.’"

"Anyway, as far back as I can remember, unless there’s something special going on, she rarely gets up early, let alone makes us breakfast."

"Would you dare to eat if Mom cooked?"

The two brothers were playing off each other.

Quade Hale cast a cold glance at his two sons and both immediately fell silent.

"I didn’t marry your mother to cook for you two. I haven’t said a word, so you both better stop now."

Uncle Quade of the Hale Family always seemed cold but was very affectionate towards his wife.

"Zoe, we don’t have so many rules in our family, so if you don’t feel like getting up in the morning, you’re welcome to sleep in more," Old Lady Hale said, as if it were normal.

"Life and work are tiring enough. At home, you should do whatever makes you comfortable and relaxed."

"I’m old and really can’t sleep anymore; otherwise, I would love to sleep more, too."

Wyatt Hale was eating shrimp dumplings and muttered, "It’s probably because Grandpa snores too loudly that you can’t sleep, right?"

Old Sir Hale shot him a cold look, and he quickly swallowed his last shrimp dumpling and looked at Simon Hale, "Cousin, I’m going to wash my hair, it’ll be quick, wait for me!"

Wyatt Hale went out, and no matter what, he always had to wash his hair.

The more he looked at his newly cut hair, the uglier it seemed.

Lily Lott immediately helped her son to deflect the focus and looked at Zoe Bell, "Zoe, you had a tiring journey yesterday. After you eat, you can go back to take a nap."

She nodded with a smile.

The Bell Family had many rules. For example, if Kevin Bell was at home, everyone had to wait for him to start eating; if you were late for dinner, you’d likely miss out on eating...

She always thought that the richer a family was, the more rules they had.

But now, it seemed not necessarily true.

Manners and rules don’t need to be displayed all the time.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have raised a son with such a free and easygoing nature as Wyatt Hale.

"I have to go to the company later. If you’re at home and need anything, just contact me," William Hale whispered to Zoe Bell after finishing his coffee.

"Okay," she nodded in agreement.

"Even if you don’t need anything, you can contact me."

"..."

Logan Hale ate his shrimp dumplings, his expression as if he was about to devour someone.

"This afternoon, a doctor will come to check your right leg and then we’ll think about the surgery. I might not be able to make it back in time," William Hale reminded her to wait at home in the afternoon.

——

Around eight o’clock, when everyone who had to go to work had left, Zoe Bell went to walk her hamster in the yard and saw Old Sir Hale tidying the vegetable garden. She had to lay it on thick before going back to the main hall.

That’s when she realized that Logan Hale hadn’t gone to work.

Sweetbean was very excited to see him.

He unhooked the leash from little Sweetbean, bent down, and scooped the little hamster into his hands.

Being tall with large hands, the hamster looked particularly small in his grasp.

"You didn’t go to work?" Zoe Bell took the initiative to speak.

"Not busy."

With his defenses breached, he had no interest in work.

He wanted to see just what charm Zoe Bell possessed that had his brother so spellbound.

Zoe Bell just smiled, "Sweetbean is quite cute. Taking care of small animals isn’t easy; you must be very attentive usually."

Logan Hale raised an eyebrow and, while patting Sweetbean, said, "It’s okay."

"I heard you used to be an athlete?"

"Yeah."

"That’s impressive. Regular intense training without any negligence, the hardships probably only known to oneself. I find dancing tiring enough, and even for talented athletes, rigorous training is essential."

Logan Hale continued to stroke Sweetbean, finding his sister-in-law’s words quite pleasant to the ear.

"No wonder my brother praises you."

"My brother... he praises me in front of you?" Logan Hale raised an eyebrow.

His face was expressionless, but he was clearly intrigued.

"Yeah, they say you’re bold yet meticulous."

...

When Mindy Xander woke up and came to the front hall, she didn’t see anyone yet, but she heard a conversation.

"So you must know a lot of celebrities, right?" Zoe Bell’s voice.

"Not many."

"You and I are about the same age, yet you’ve accomplished so much professionally. I really admire you."

Mindy Xander chuckled softly, William’s wife was a smart one.

She seemed to have figured out that all she needed to do was to stroke their youngest son’s ego, keep praising him, and the little brat would probably keep a straight face, but be over the moon on the inside, swelling with pride.

It wasn’t that Zoe Bell was too clever, rather, before William left, she had specifically asked him:

How to get along with Logan Hale.

William had said, "Just lay it on thick!"

When Logan Hale was floating on cloud nine from all the praise, Zoe Bell finally showed her true colors.

"Can I take care of Sweetbean for a few more days? I just love it so much."

Logan Hale subconsciously replied, "Sure."

It was only when Zoe Bell happily held onto his Sweetbean that Logan regretted it.

This sister-in-law...

Could it be that she had set her sights on Sweetbean from the very beginning?

Could it be that she didn’t want to give Sweetbean back to him?

While the two were chatting, Mindy Xander had already walked over, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then smiled, "I’m free this afternoon, want to go out for a walk? I heard you didn’t get to go out at all the last time you were here in Capital City."

"Yeah, I came in a hurry last time, but I need to stay at home and wait for the doctor this afternoon. I can’t go out," Zoe Bell politely declined her invitation.

"Have you been to Capital City before?"

"I have."

"When?" Mindy Xander was just making small talk.

"When I was eighteen, I went with the song and dance troupe to participate in an exchange performance here."

"Didn’t have a good time?"

"It was a rush, no time."

"You’ll have plenty of time in the future. I’m free at home; if you ever need company, you can come to me anytime."

...

The Hale Family wasn’t as scary as the rumors made them out to be; who knows who said that the Hale Family was a dragon’s lair and tiger’s den? After lunch and a brief rest, a servant knocked on her door to tell her the doctor had arrived.

Surprisingly,

it was a familiar face.

"... I thought I’d have some peace after retirement, turns out I’m busier," the man speaking with Old Sir Hale was Old Sir Peter Lewis; seeing Zoe Bell, he smiled, "We meet again."

"Hello," Zoe Bell greeted him politely.

"William has shown me your medical records. Please have a seat; I’ll examine you," Old Sir Lewis said with a smile.

"What? You’ve met before?" Old Lady Hale was making tea beside them.

"Yes, Dr. Lewis visited Greenland to see patients, and I consulted with him," Zoe explained.

Peter Lewis didn’t say much.

Only after Zoe Bell sat down, he reached out to check on the condition of her right leg.

"If it hurts anywhere, just let me know."

As Dr. Lewis examined her, Zoe Bell’s thoughts were in turmoil.

This Old Sir Lewis was an authority in orthopedics, someone others found difficult to meet even once, but he seemed very familiar with everyone from the Hale Family, even calling Mr. Hale by name, William, which implies more than just an ordinary relationship.

Back then, his appearance in Greenland, was it really just a coincidence?

Just as her troubles with the Bell Family and Brandon Stone arose?

The diagnosis from Peter Lewis,

pushed the conflict with the Bell Family and Brandon Stone to a climax.

Arguments, disassociation, being kicked out of the family seemed like an inevitable outcome.

Yet he was acquainted with William Hale...

Old Sir Lewis himself had said he was very busy since retirement; did he really have the time to go to a place like Greenland for a consultation?

Was it all a coincidence, or,

was it done on purpose?