Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 134 She teases, he smiles: Zoe crushes peach blossoms.

Chapter 134: 134 She teases, he smiles: Zoe crushes peach blossoms.

In the private room

William Hale’s face showed no emotion, but Zoe Bell clearly sensed his impatience.

Under the table, she gently took his hand.

His mood eased a little, turning his wrist so their palms pressed together.

"Miss Bell," Liam Hugh changed the topic, sizing her up, "I heard you dance? Which famous school did you graduate from?"

William’s eyes dimmed significantly.

Zoe’s lips lifted into a faint smile, "Just an ordinary school, not as outstanding as Miss Conner. Beautiful, stylishly dressed, with an air of wealth—truly enviable."

Serena Conner unconsciously straightened her back.

"Of course, our two families have been friends for generations."

Liam glanced at Zoe with a look that seemed to appreciate her sensibility.

"Serena has been smart since she was young, not something the average person can compete with."

Zoe didn’t show any reaction.

This was clearly a jab at her.

Suggesting she wasn’t good enough, not up to par with Miss Conner.

But Zoe had heard this too many times to care.

"William, do you remember? When she was little, she always followed you around, calling you ’brother.’ You two were so close back then."

"You played house together, you were like a real family."

"Speaking of which, it’s been a while since you’ve seen each other, hasn’t it? Serena must have grown up quite a bit, becoming more and more beautiful."

The intention of Uncle Hugh couldn’t be clearer.

He wanted to introduce Serena Conner to William Hale.

Zoe thought to herself:

The concubine is willing, but the lord is uninterested!

But William Hale played house? She couldn’t even imagine it.

Just as William was about to speak, Zoe began teasing his palm with her fingertips.

She still had the mood to play?

Serena held her water glass with both hands, a blush spreading across her face, her cheeks flushed with shyness, "Uncle Hugh, please, that was all so long ago, Hale..."

She dared not call him ’big brother’ anymore.

Instead, she just said, "Perhaps he doesn’t remember anymore."

"Having a foundation of feelings, just spend more time together. Besides, William has been in Capital City lately. You’ve been abroad for several years, and now that you’re back, he could show you around."

"I was thinking, if you could really become a family in the future, that’d be great."

Upon hearing this, Serena blushed even more.

Liam looked over towards William as he spoke.

He was already running out of patience,

Originally, he hadn’t planned to bring Zoe to meet this uncle, but since his father had mentioned it and considering he was his mother’s only brother, he still cared about the family ties.

He brought Zoe here to meet him, not to cause trouble.

William’s gaze was icy, like the stillness of a snow-capped mountain, which at any moment might avalanche.

Zoe, however, was smiling, continuing to scratch the palm of his hand, "Mr. Hale, if you could really become a family with someone as outstanding as Miss Conner, that would be nice, don’t you think?"

"What did you say?" William’s voice was very low.

Liam was taken aback, then he looked at Zoe seriously:

She seemed to have quite a bit of self-awareness.

She seemed meek, easily bullied.

An orphan with no support, what waves could she possibly make?

He really did not know what William saw in her—pretty face, good figure? Women like that were a dime a dozen. It’s still best to choose someone of equal social standing.

But Zoe’s next words turned Liam’s face green, for she said:

"Since uncle likes Miss Conner so much, why not acknowledge her as your goddaughter?"

"This way Miss Conner can continue to call Mr. Hale ’big brother’ and also fulfill Uncle’s dream of becoming a family with her."

"It’s the best of both worlds."

Liam Hugh’s face changed dramatically.

What nonsense is this brat talking about?

Is that what he meant?

He might as well say it himself, after all the talking he did, she had hardly any reaction, so she was waiting here for him!

In contrast, the until-now silent aunt’s eyes brightened a bit upon hearing this.

She turned her head to size up the young girl beside her.

Perhaps because she had to maintain her figure for dancing long-term, she appeared very slender, but her eyes were exceptionally beautiful, spirited, and lively, with a hint of stubbornness.

Upon hearing this, William Hale lowered his head and remained silent.

Yet the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled into a smile.

"I didn’t plan to acknowledge Serena as my goddaughter," Liam gritted his teeth, "I was hoping she could be with William..."

Zoe Bell cut him off directly before he could continue:

"Are you suggesting that Mr. Hale acknowledge him as his god-sister?"

"I’m afraid that’s not possible..."

"It has to be approved by grandfather, grandmother, and the other elders. After all, not just anyone can enter the doors of the Hale Family."

Zoe’s tone was light and casual, and after speaking, she even smiled at Liam Hugh.

Harmless and ingeniously simple!

Having been with William Hale for so long, she had to learn some skills.

Liam Hugh was so angry he wanted to slam the table!

But if he really did that, the dinner would be thoroughly ruined.

After all, he was William’s uncle. In the Capital City, who didn’t give him some face? Who gave her the guts to even dare to smile at him?

Indeed, those who caught William’s eye were no ordinary people.

They were scheming and capable!

He had underestimated and belittled her.

The key point was, did she call the Hale elders grandfather and grandmother?

What did that mean?

Had she already entered the doors of the Hale Family?

Liam Hugh felt his head spinning. Had this brat managed to win over the challenging Hale Family?

Serena Conner, who had just been full of shy blush, was now extremely embarrassed, "Miss Bell is joking. I haven’t even thought about any of the things you mentioned."

She wanted to be with William Hale in a marital way, who wanted to acknowledge any god-relations with him!

But Zoe’s words had hit her sore spot.

Because she couldn’t enter the Hale Family’s doors!

That’s why she took a different approach, trying to start from the Hugh Family.

"William, the girl you brought..." Liam Hugh scoffed, "She has quite the eloquent mouth, looks demure and gentle, didn’t expect her to be so articulate."

William Hale chuckled softly, "I never thought about acknowledging relatives of that sort."

"Zoe is smarter after all, quick on the uptake."

"If Uncle really likes her, why not take the opportunity today to acknowledge her as your goddaughter? After all, you only have one cousin, and she’s often not at home, you always say the house feels empty and lonely."

"Aunt Yumi, what do you think?"

Yumi Johnson’s mouth curved into a smile, "I don’t mind, it’s up to your uncle."

"We also have to see what your cousin thinks, her temper... I can’t handle it."

Liam Hugh felt like his lungs were about to explode.

He deliberately brought Serena Conner here, mainly to test Zoe Bell’s position in his heart.

He didn’t expect William to indulge her so much.

"Miss Conner, what do you think?" William Hale looked at her, his gaze as cold as ice.

"Just now, Uncle Hugh said he didn’t want to acknowledge me as his goddaughter, so even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. Everything has to be mutually consensual, doesn’t it?"

"So you do understand the concept of mutual consent."

"..."

William Hale’s mouth was always unforgiving.

He didn’t spare even his own younger brother, let alone her.

Serena Conner understood what he meant, her face turned a shade paler.