Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 137 Zoe is kidnapped, don’t lead her astray (2nd update)

Chapter 137: 137 Zoe is kidnapped, don’t lead her astray (2nd update)

Facing William Hale’s knife-sharp gaze, Hannah Johnson was not intimidated in the least.

After all, William Hale had always called her sister since they were little, and she wasn’t a coward like Wyatt Hale, who gets weak in the knees at the sight of his own brother.

She kept looking at Zoe Bell, "Since we live close by, it’s convenient to visit back and forth, and also..."

"My house has a cat."

"You really don’t want to come over and play?"

A cat?

According to the intelligence she received from Wyatt Hale, Zoe Bell was quite fond of small animals.

Zoe Bell was somewhat tempted, but she glanced at William Hale with the corner of her eye; he had just returned from a business trip, and it didn’t seem right to leave him alone at home.

"Cousin Miss invites you; you should go," William Hale said frankly.

In the past, the Bell Family restricted her, leaving her without friends.

She indeed needed to socialize.

But her own cousin...

By the end of the meal, William Hale even took a moment to move closer to Hannah Johnson and say, "Sister, she’s naive, don’t lead her astray."

Hannah Johnson was almost amused to anger.

Was she some kind of bad influence? Could she possibly lead his wife down the wrong path?

She’s naive?

So, in his eyes, his cousin was not naive.

The Hugh Family had a driver, so there was no need for them to send Yumi Johnson home personally, but Hannah Johnson still took a moment to remind her mother, "If he goes crazy at home, let me know."

The "he" she referred to was naturally Liam Hugh.

"Got it, you two should head home too."

After seeing off Yumi Johnson, Hannah Johnson had Zoe Bell ride in her car, which resulted in Zac Cruz finding William Hale alone when he arrived; he frowned and asked, "Sir, where is the lady?"

"She’s been kidnapped."

"..."

It must have been the Hugh Family’s Cousin Miss; seeing his boss in a bad mood, Zac Cruz chose not to say anything further.

After all, this cousin from the Hugh Family was not someone to be trifled with.

**

By this time, Zoe Bell was already in Hannah Johnson’s car, who at one point took a work call. Since they weren’t that close and Zoe Bell wasn’t particularly good at socializing, she could only look down at her phone to ease the awkwardness.

"I’m really sorry about today; my dad must have made you feel uncomfortable," Hannah Johnson initiated the conversation.

She had a purpose in specifically inviting Zoe Bell.

Even though she hadn’t experienced it herself, during the dinner, she took a moment to whisper with her mother and learned about what her father had done previously.

She owed an explanation for tonight’s ordeal.

"I’m okay."

Zoe Bell had struck back this evening.

Liam Hugh and Miss Conner hadn’t managed to gain any advantage.

"My dad wasn’t like this before, but ever since my aunt’s death, my uncle’s remarriage, and the birth of little Wyatt, he started to act out in all kinds of absurd ways, especially in recent years—his attitude towards my mother and me has also changed a lot," Hannah Johnson lamented.

"He worried about my uncle’s remarriage that William would be bullied and once even wanted to take custody of him," she continued.

Zoe Bell frowned slightly.

"The grandparents of the Hale Family, along with my uncle, all disagreed, and things nearly turned ugly at the time," Hannah Johnson went on.

"Moreover, my dad has always acted recklessly in recent years, trying to set William up with partners, leading to William wanting nothing to do with him."

"So, when he heard that William was with you, he went berserk at home that night."

"Tonight’s dinner was without a doubt due to my uncle’s influence; he’s a man of reputation and still wants to improve the relationship between my dad and William," she explained.

With this explanation, Zoe Bell began to understand the situation somewhat.

But whether Liam Hugh was fighting for custody of William when he was a child or forcibly introducing him to potential partners now, his motives were likely not pure.

Based on what she knew so far, because William was the Hale Family’s eldest grandson and his mother had died early, the Hale elders held him in high esteem. She had heard that he was given quite a few company shares at birth.

If one could become his legal guardian, the property they could control was not insignificant.

Zoe Bell didn’t want to think the worst of people.

But driven by interests, even fathers and sons could turn against each other, let alone an uncle.

No wonder the nephew-uncle relationship is tense.

Hannah Johnson gripped the steering wheel, "As for that Serena Conner, she’s like a sticky plaster, always clinging to William since they were young. She must’ve gone crazy in private knowing he’s with you now."

"You’re going to be living in Capital City from now on, so it’s inevitable that you’ll bump into her. Just be on your guard."

"If she bothers you, you don’t have to be polite about it."

Zoe Bell nodded.

"If it really comes down to it, we can have that Logan Hale kid secretly teach her a lesson. Anyway, he has plenty of people under him."

Zoe Bell was astonished.

This cousin, her approach is so wild?

**

When they arrived at Hannah Johnson’s home, although it had the same room layout as William Hale’s, the different decorations gave off two completely different styles, with hers feeling more lived-in.

As soon as she entered the house, she was greeted by a...

Fat, big cat coming up to her.

From its fur pattern, it was a ginger cat.

"What’s its name?" Zoe Bell asked.

"Fanta."

After rubbing against Hannah, Fanta lay down to one side, eyeing Zoe Bell, the stranger, with a wary look.

It appeared...

Extremely lazy.

Zoe Bell was curious about what it had eaten to get itself so round and plump.

"Do you want something to drink?" Hannah Johnson found her a pair of slippers, "Make yourself at home, don’t be shy."

"I’ve just had dinner, I’m not thirsty." Zoe Bell had never seen such a fat ginger cat before; its laziness was palpable, and she was sure it would feel great to pet, "Why is it so fat?"

"Because it spends every day either showing off its food or on the way to show off its food," Hannah Johnson was also at a loss for words.

When she picked it up, it was still a very delicate kitten.

In just half a year, it had ballooned from a ginger cat to a ginger pig.

"If you want to pet it, you can feed it some snacks," suggested Hannah Johnson.

While Zoe Bell was playing with the cat, Hannah Johnson changed her clothes, "Tell me about the online store you want to open, what’s your general plan? Share it with me, I might have some suggestions for you."

When it came to work, Hannah Johnson was very serious.

Zoe Bell talked to her for nearly two hours and benefited a lot.

"It’s getting late. Why don’t you stay at my place for the night? I’m here by myself," Hannah Johnson said with a smile.

"No, thanks. It’s close by, I’ll just go back and stay there."

"I’ll drive you."

"No need, it’s so close. You should rest early." Zoe Bell glanced again at Fanta lying in its nest, which had already lazily closed its eyes.

"Then, let’s make plans to hang out sometime later."

Zoe Bell smiled and nodded.

The two exchanged contact information and chatted a little more before parting ways.

During the time spent alone with Zoe Bell, Hannah Johnson also understood why her cousin liked her.

Looks were one thing. She spoke gently, and when you talked to her, she would softly gaze back. Even as a woman, she couldn’t resist pinching Zoe’s cheek, let alone a man.

So it turned out her cousin was into that type.

When Zoe Bell reached the ground floor, it was already after ten at night, and the autumn wind was a little chilly.

Catching a cold gust unexpectedly, she couldn’t help but shiver. She had barely taken a few steps when she saw a familiar figure standing under the streetlight not far away.

The man stood in the chilly breeze, tall and slender. The lamplight cast a frosty glow upon him.

He looked distinguished and aristocratic, except for the cigarette pinched in his hand, which added a touch of disreputable allure between the wisps of smoke.

——

Upstairs, Hannah Johnson lay by the window, with a pair of binoculars in hand due to the height of the building.

All she did was send him a message to let him know that Zoe Bell was about to leave, and he actually came directly to pick her up. It seems he truly fell in love.

And fell quite deeply at that.