Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 133 Mr. Hale’s Peach Blossom, Childhood Sweetheart (2 more Chapters)

Chapter 133: 133 Mr. Hale’s Peach Blossom, Childhood Sweetheart (2 more Chapters)

However, the next day when she woke up, a certain person was sitting by the window in white clothes and black trousers, listening to the latest financial news, drinking coffee, with the scenery clear and the moon bright, still presenting a cold and indifferent demeanor.

It was as if the person who had lost his composure over her body last night...

was not him.

Zoe Bell had an old injury in her leg, which he made sore and uncomfortable, and she could only sigh that he was indeed a sly wolf in disguise!

She hung her head low, not willing to look at him even while eating.

But William Hale stared directly and intensely at her.

Zoe Bell, unable to display his thick-skinned demeanor, unconsciously crossed her legs and said softly, "You should eat properly and stop staring at me."

"I have to go on a business trip this afternoon."

Upon hearing this, Zoe Bell looked up at him.

"I’ll probably be back the day after tomorrow. If you don’t want to stay here alone, you can ask Kyle Lowe to take you to the old mansion to stay for two days until I return. In the evening, we’ll go visit Uncle Hugh together."

She indicated that it was no problem.

——

After William Hale left on a business trip for just two days, Zoe Bell stayed at the old mansion for one day and then went home to manage her online store. Wyatt Hale heard she was working on her shop and volunteered eagerly to help.

By the way, he also brought her an unexpected surprise.

"Why did you bring Sweetbean here?"

Zoe Bell hadn’t seen this little cutie since the bite incident.

"Second cousin has been busy recently and didn’t have time to care for it. He left it at the old mansion, and thinking that you like it, I brought it here to keep you company," Wyatt Hale lied without a hint of red on his face or change in his heartbeat.

Logan Hale had been feeling guilty for Zoe Bell being bitten.

So, he sent Sweetbean over to accompany her.

But he was stubborn and didn’t want to speak up himself, so he had Wyatt Hale make up a story.

Wyatt Hale was speechless—why did he have to do it? Facing his second cousin’s muscular physique, he dared not voice his anger.

However, Logan Hale didn’t make him run the errand for nothing and sent him a red envelope as a reward.

When Wyatt Hale opened the red envelope, it contained just over sixty cents.

He also said that was all the change he had.

Was this meant to send off a beggar?

"Is my brother coming home this afternoon?" Wyatt Hale asked while looking at Sweetbean eating assorted grains. "Are we all having dinner together tonight? I’ll call the two cousins as well."

The younger ones had not yet gathered on their own.

"I have plans for tonight."

Wyatt Hale didn’t ask further; he had classes later in the evening and left around four o’clock. Zoe Bell then took a bath, finished her makeup, and was selecting clothes when William Hale arrived home.

Despite being travel-weary, his gaze was still sharp.

Zoe Bell was wearing a cheongsam with pearl embroidery and a continuous sleeve design that outlined her graceful and exquisite figure. The slit wasn’t open on the side of her leg, but there was a mysteriously enticing charm about it.

She was searching through her jewelry box, looking for the right accessories.

"You’re back? I’ll be ready soon," Zoe Bell said, glancing at the person standing at the doorway from the corner of her eye.

"It doesn’t look good."

"Hm?" Zoe Bell’s movements came to a halt.

"That outfit is not good-looking."

"..."

The blush peach color matched with white pearls was very fresh and elegant, and considering William Hale’s deep affection for his biological mother, she naturally placed great emphasis on Uncle Hugh. After exerting so much effort in her choice, it was casually vetoed by him.

"What’s not good-looking about it?" Zoe Bell frowned.

"It’s ugly."

"Change into another one," William Hale said, and then he turned and left.

Zoe Bell examined herself in the mirror:

She thought it was pretty good.

Ugly?

What was his sense of aesthetics!

But thinking that William Hale was more acquainted with the Hugh family’s preferences, she still changed into another outfit. As they left the house, twilight was falling, and by the time their car arrived at the hotel, the evening lights were just starting to illuminate.

Zoe Bell had already prepared a gift, and when William Hale escorted her to the private room,

a waiter helped open the door where three people were sitting inside.

A middle-aged couple dressed in low-key formals and a woman who seemed to be in her mid-twenties.

The middle-aged man, in his fifties, still had handsome features, wore a black suit, and had his thick eyebrows furrowed, his gaze on Zoe Bell carrying scrutiny and appraisal.

However, that look made people feel uncomfortable.

Whereas the woman appeared gentle, and from the moment she entered, a slight smile was always on her lips.

"Uncle, Auntie," William Hale greeted them.

Zoe Bell smiled at them too, and followed by calling out, "Uncle, Auntie."

Liam Hugh slightly furrowed his brow, "Take a seat first."

Zoe Bell’s eyes met with the other woman in the room, that...

Could it be his cousin?

But she didn’t look anything like Liam Hugh’s couple, and Zoe Bell was uncertain about her identity. As she hesitated over how to address her, the girl took the initiative to stand up, "Brother Hale, long time no see."

Brother?

Then she wasn’t his cousin!

Her voice didn’t sound like it either.

Her calling him Brother Hale was very melodious and pleasant.

"Serena just happened to visit our house today, so I brought her along," Liam explained. "Even though it’s a family banquet tonight, you’ve known each other since childhood, like childhood sweethearts, so she’s not an outsider."

Zoe Bell’s gaze shifted.

How did a childhood sweetheart suddenly come into the picture?

The woman had a delicate and pretty face, wearing a knee-length dress, with long, black, silky hair that draped gracefully down her back, and her skin was fair and translucent, like a porcelain doll.

She smiled at Zoe Bell, "Miss Bell, nice to meet you for the first time, I’m Serena Conner."

"Hello," Zoe replied courteously.

But the shy embarrassment on her face as she looked at William Hale was so obvious that even a fool could see what it meant.

Zoe Bell marveled to herself:

Having known William Hale for so long, this was the first time she had seen his romantic interest.

But William Hale’s eyebrows were sharp as he said:

"We only knew each other since childhood, that doesn’t count as childhood sweethearts."

"Uncle, perhaps you shouldn’t say that anymore. I don’t want to be misunderstood."

"And..."

"Don’t call me brother, we’re not that close, and I don’t like hearing it."

Liam’s expression changed slightly.

That statement was clearly meant for Zoe Bell to hear.

Was he afraid she would misunderstand?

Could the two of them actually be serious?

Serena Conner’s complexion briefly revealed a hint of embarrassment, but she still maintained a calm smile, her fingers at her side curling into a tight clasp.

"What misunderstanding? Is even calling you brother not allowed?" Liam raised his eyes, staring intently at Zoe Bell, "I don’t see a problem with it. Miss Bell, do you mind?"

With that, he put her on the spot.

Zoe Bell also became abruptly aware that the Hugh family and the Hale family were different.

Especially this uncle,

he clearly did not come with good intentions.

The Hale family, always maintaining decorum, would never ask her such an uncomfortable question.

William Hale raised an eyebrow: "It’s not you being called brother, so of course, you don’t mind."

"You..."

What kind of response was that! He was old enough to be her father, what ’brother’?

Liam’s face darkened.

This nephew of his had always been this way since childhood, expressionless, with every word laced with thorns, not approachable at all.

He had thought that after managing the company and maturing, he would change.

But this mouth of his was still just as biting.

Showing absolutely no respect for him.

Zoe Bell pursed her lips:

What was really going on here?

Why was there tension from the very beginning?

It was different from the petty squabbles with Old Sir Hale. With this uncle from the Hugh family, it seemed like there was true discord.

And judging by the tone of their conversation,

they clearly didn’t know her real relationship with William Hale.

It seemed they were not normally close.

William Hale’s biological mother had only this brother, and she had thought the two had a good relationship.

"You’ve been inside for a while now, hurry up and sit down," said the aunt who hadn’t spoken much, trying to smooth things over and gesturing for everyone to take their seats.

William Hale was very polite to his aunt and arranged for Zoe Bell to sit next to her.

"Serena, don’t mind him, William just talks like that," Liam smiled, indicating for her to sit down, then with a seemingly casual remark, "Serena just came back from abroad, having graduated with her master’s degree. She excelled in her studies, winning scholarships every year, she is truly outstanding, and very considerate and sensible..."

"Uncle Hugh, please stop, you’re making me embarrassed," Serena said with a smile on her lips.

Her gaze wandered, but ultimately settled on William Hale.

Zoe Bell pressed her lips together.

She wasn’t stupid; it was clear that Uncle Hugh had specifically invited this girl, and she was obviously targeted at her.