Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 172 The so-called reaping what one sows is really just being delicate

Chapter 172: 172 The so-called reaping what one sows is really just being delicate

Zoe Bell adjusted her emotions, "Sister, I’ll accompany you back to the ward first."

Hannah Johnson nodded.

The two of them walked without speaking, the atmosphere oppressively tense to the extreme. Kyle Lowe did not dare ask, because if the suicide of the late lady was related to Liam Hugh, it would really be a big deal.

The entire Hale Family had good feelings toward this lady.

Especially...

The Hale Family’s young uncle.

He was only a few years older than his own grandfather. When Eva Hugh married into the family, he had just learned to walk. Because he was a late child, the old lady had rested her body for a long time back then. Although there were nannies and nurses in the family, it was still Eva Hugh who took care of him the most.

The so-called eldest sister-in-law is like a mother, and this young uncle’s affection for her was anything but ordinary.

After all, it was she who brought him up during the first few years he began to recognize people and remember things.

During that time, his feelings for her could even be said to have surpassed those for his own biological parents.

Those who left early, left everyone with good memories.

She was the white moonlight in everyone’s heart.

Moreover, in a few days, it would be her death anniversary again. The lord did not necessarily come home for the New Year or on festivals, but he would return for the incense ceremony every year around the former lady’s death anniversary.

Kyle Lowe sighed:

It’s over!

After all, they are real siblings, could they really be so cruel?

——

Meanwhile, inside the hospital room, Zoe Bell had no mind to manage her online store. Looking at Hannah Johnson, who was still in a daze, "Sister, maybe she was just talking nonsense, can we really take the words of a drunk person seriously?"

"There’s also a saying that drunken words are sober thoughts."

"Do you believe it?"

"But his personality changed drastically indeed, and it happened after our aunt’s death. Everyone thought he was overwhelmed by grief, so my mother could really understand him."

Sitting on the hospital bed, Hannah Johnson felt a chill all over her body.

In her memory, her father had a good relationship with her aunt.

Her aunt was kind to everyone, and it was only after her death that Hannah Johnson learned what they call smiling depression.

"Zoe, give me some time to think about this. Don’t mention it in front of William for now," she needed to consider carefully before deciding how to approach the family about it.

"I understand," Zoe nodded.

The silence in the hospital room was eerie until the setting sun cast a golden glow, when William Hale knocked and entered, observing the somber mood, he slightly furrowed his brows, "What happened?"

Before Hannah Johnson could come to her senses, Zoe Bell quickly said, "It’s just that my shop listed a new incense a couple of days ago. I think it’s really good and want to stock up, but my sister says it smells average, so there was a bit of a disagreement."

"The scent of incense is subjective; different people have different tastes. Even this can lead to a quarrel?"

"It’s a scent I carefully crafted, and she said it didn’t smell nice. Of course, I’m unhappy," Zoe argued.

Indifferent, Hannah Johnson said, "What I said was the truth; you can’t always listen to only good reviews."

"..."

Their argument continued, leaving William Hale feeling a headache.

"Enough, you guys should leave. I haven’t broken an arm or a leg; no need for you to stay," Hannah Johnson waved them off.

Zoe Bell packed up the laptop and even pulled William Hale to leave with her.

"Zoe?"

William Hale felt she was behaving abnormally.

After all, the two were as close as real sisters on normal days. Why were they acting like petulant children having a tiff?

However, sharp and keen as he might be, he wouldn’t connect their abnormal behavior with their mother who had passed away over twenty years ago.

"Did someone special come to the hospital room today?" William Hale asked casually on the way home.

Checking her phone, Zoe Bell said, "Molly Hanson’s husband and her son came."

"Hmm?"

"They came to plead for her. The child is really pitiful. I just accompanied my sister to her ward. She was crying her eyes out, asking for our help. However, extortion is a criminal case; we can’t interfere," Zoe explained.

To lie convincingly, you mix truth with fiction.

As she spoke, she didn’t forget to send a message to Hannah Johnson, asking her to corroborate the story.

William Hale remained silent.

However, Zoe Bell was never particularly good at acting, and often wore her emotions on her face.

She simply said, "Lucas recently went abroad, and Kevin Bell has already been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home. I hope he and Vivi Lange don’t stir up more trouble, and that he focuses on his studies and graduates successfully."

William Hale nodded in response, not probing any further.

After dinner, Zoe Bell, as usual, went to the Incense Making Room, somewhat distracted.

"Which scent did my sister say was unpleasant?" William Hale asked. "Let me help you test the incenses."

"That would be good."

The incense stick was lit, and the scent of sage diffused into the air, pungent and distinctively characteristic.

"What’s wrong? You seem to be in an odd mood tonight," William Hale said, wrapping his arms around her waist and easily pulling her into his embrace.

Zoe Bell’s back pressed against him. The Incense Making Room was very quiet. She could even feel the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed and the warm tickling at her earlobe, mingling with the scent of sage.

Intimate, hazy,

everything that followed seemed to happen naturally.

But in the Incense Making Room, Zoe Bell felt uneasy.

"You’re a bit off tonight," William Hale said, kissing her lips.

"Am I?"

Zoe Bell felt annoyed with herself for not being as skilled as him at hiding her emotions, especially since the day’s events had been so shocking. She was afraid that William Hale would notice something was off, her gaze falling on the slight throbbing veins in his neck and the subtle movement of his Adam’s apple...

She took the initiative and kissed him.

William Hale froze, his body tensing up.

His arms tightened, embedding her even more firmly against him.

Zoe Bell finally understood:

What it meant to reap what one sows.

Fortunately, when they left the Incense Making Room, Nanny Parker had already gone to rest in the nanny’s room. Thanks to the good soundproofing, she probably wouldn’t hear a thing.

Zoe lay on the bed, too tired to lift her arms.

Limp as if boneless, she let William Hale wipe her down. She glared at him, and he just chuckled, "Weren’t you the one who came onto me? And now you’re blaming me?"

His fingers pressed on her right ankle, massaging the place where she had once been hurt, eliciting a muffled groan from her.

"Could you be a bit gentler?"

"Did I use too much force?"

"..."

His tone was suggestive,

as if calling her oversensitive.

Zoe Bell gritted her teeth and turned her head away, ignoring him.

**

In the hospital, everything was regimented, with meals delivered on schedule. Hannah Johnson, truly lacking any appetite, said she wanted to go out for a walk.

"Shall I accompany you?" Kyle Lowe immediately offered to follow.

He had already been warned by Hannah Johnson. Liam Hugh’s matter should not be mentioned, not even half a word for the time being.

"You go eat."

"The old man said..."

He didn’t finish his sentence before a cold look from Hannah Johnson dissuaded him, "You’re afraid of him, not me?"

Kyle Lowe said no more.

Being a hired hand is really tough.

Hannah Johnson was somewhat absentminded, sitting in the hospital’s small garden in a daze. At first, there were quite a few family members walking with patients, but as darkness gradually swallowed the sky and streetlights lit up one by one, only she remained, alone in the garden.

A chill breeze blew, sending shivers down her spine.

The forests were fully tinged with colors of decay, and the verdancy was fading. The season itself easily provoked melancholy feelings.

Thinking of her aunt’s situation gave her another headache.

Hannah Johnson felt cold and stood up, intending to return to her ward, but then she saw a familiar figure under the distant streetlight.

She was momentarily stunned.