Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 189: As long as you’re willing, I’ll go home with you tonight.

Chapter 189: As long as you’re willing, I’ll go home with you tonight.

Hannah’s heart raced when he called her "sister," and their postures remained ambiguous. Although Isaac Shea did not make any further advances, he simply held her close, allowing their breaths and body heat to intertwine...

"Why? I’ve made up my mind, but now you’re unwilling?" he asked, his head hanging low, his eyes bright and clear.

His tone carried a hint of melancholic disappointment.

"Could it be..."

"During this time, have you found a better option?"

So, she didn’t want him?

Isaac’s tone was quite aggrieved.

Hannah pursed her lips:

This...

How did it turn into him being pitiful?

Hannah was not foolish, she knew he wasn’t genuinely naïve and simple, and she clearly understood that this "puppy dog act" was deliberate, his tone still carried an undertone of manipulation—how could a man act this way.

"I don’t have other options," she replied.

Hearing this, Isaac’s lips curled up slightly, "So, am I still your first choice?"

Hannah nodded.

Not the first choice,

but the only one!

Before meeting him, Hannah had never had such ludicrous thoughts.

A moment’s lapse had led to the current situation.

"Do you mind that I know Simon?" Isaac initiated.

"At least you know what I do, and where I work; I’m not some unreliable person. It’s better than truly knowing nothing. Aren’t you afraid I might be pretending, scamming you for money or affection, or that I might have some illness?"

Hannah indeed hadn’t considered that much.

She just thought he was attractive and subconsciously felt he wasn’t a bad person.

Though she didn’t know much about him, having been in society for many years, she had some ability to judge people.

Even so,

she had been mistaken!

But his words made sense; Simon must have known him for more than just a day or two, at least that ensured he was a good person.

At that moment, footsteps sounded in the distance. Hannah’s breath hitched, she instinctively gripped his arm, trying to push him away, but the hand that rested on her waist did not relax at all.

"People are coming," Hannah whispered.

Compared to her nervousness, Isaac seemed much calmer.

After all, besides Simon Hale, he knew no one in the Hale family.

Far from letting her go, he leaned in closer.

Approaching,

bending down,

and whispering in her ear, "If you’re willing..."

"I can go home with you tonight."

His warm breath on her ear.

It made her heart flutter softly.

Hannah’s breath stalled, feeling her heart pound wildly; this man was clearly doing this on purpose.

She hadn’t yet reacted when the hand clamped around her waist finally loosened. Isaac stepped back, and as the autumn breeze brought a chill, Hannah slowly came back to her senses.

Isaac had already walked to the other side of the path. Taking a deep breath, Hannah turned her head and saw Finn Hale approaching.

The timing was perfect.

"Uncle? What are you doing here?" she feigned calmness.

It was also a deep night, dark and mysterious.

Otherwise, Finn would definitely see her ears burning red.

"This is my house, so it’s not strange for me to be anywhere here," Finn sized her up, "But you, what are you hiding in this corner for?"

"Just wanted some quiet time alone."

"Are you sure it was alone?" Finn’s lips curled up slightly, his expression intriguing.

Hannah couldn’t see through him,

he had been like this since she was young, always putting on airs.

"Otherwise?" Hannah retorted.

At a critical moment, she definitely couldn’t show weakness.

Finn smiled without a word.

"I’m leaving first." Hannah didn’t want to stay with someone whose entire being was cunning, but just as she took a couple of steps, she heard a voice from behind:

"Hannah, don’t you think that Teacher Shea brought by Simon is quite interesting?"

Hannah’s heart skipped a beat.

This scheming man!

She turned her head and smiled at him, "Why, are you interested in him?"

"Yeah, it’s rare to see someone who finishes their PhD at this age and stays on as a teaching assistant. Simon said that with the articles he has published and his expertise in the field, he could easily be an associate professor. It’s not often you meet someone so outstanding, so naturally, I wanted to chat with him more."

Finn said as he broke off a branch of osmanthus, twiddling it in his hands.

If voodoo dolls worked, Hannah would definitely make one and slap it across the face.

"Why are you telling me this? Do what you want."

She said, turning and quickly walking inside.

Finn played with the osmanthus branch in his hand and laughed.

Last time he and Hannah met was during the New Year last year. After not seeing her for over half a year, she sure had become more interesting.

—

When Hannah returned to the living room, Isaac Shea was already there, and Zoe Bell handed him some nicely packaged Incense Sticks.

It was a new product in her store, with a neutral, mild scent. She wanted more people to try it out and give her suggestions.

"I won’t be polite then." Isaac took the gift box with both hands.

At that moment, Finn entered the room.

Their eyes met for a split second, sparking a fire.

Finn said casually, "Is Teacher Shea preparing to leave? It’s rare for you to come, and this place is out of the way. Why not stay the night?"

William, who had been quiet, raised an eyebrow.

His uncle had a strange temperament and didn’t like strangers.

It was rare for him to offer someone to stay over.

Simon chimed in, "It’s quite late, Mr. Shea. Why don’t you stay at our place tonight?"

After all, they had plenty of guest rooms, and hosting Mr. Shea was no trouble.

It would save him the trouble of having to drive him back to school late at night.

Isaac didn’t answer his question right away but instead let his gaze linger unintentionally on Hannah.

Because he had just said,

"If she’s willing,

she could take him home tonight."

The choice to stay with the Hales or go with her was in Hannah’s hands.

Many thoughts flashed through Hannah’s mind, but her concern was:

If she let Isaac stay at the Hale residence tonight, given her understanding of Finn, she feared something might slip from his mouth, putting their relationship at risk of exposure...

The safest course of action was:

To take him with her!

But taking him away meant agreeing to develop a relationship.

Given the current situation, she couldn’t afford to hesitate, so Hannah carelessly said, "I’m heading back to the city, Mr. Shea. If you’re leaving, I can give you a ride on my way."

"On your way?" Isaac asked.

Hannah scoffed inwardly,

’On my way or not, don’t you know?’

What tea-colored puppy?

He’s practically a green tea dog!

Hannah pretended it was no big deal, her lips curling up slightly, "On the way, shall we go?"

"Then I’ll have to trouble Miss Johnson." Isaac was exceptionally humble and polite, hardly recognizable as the same person who was flirting with her moments ago.

With someone else to take the teacher back, Simon gladly agreed.

He even confided to Hannah in private:

"Mr. Shea usually doesn’t talk much, spends most of his time studying, but he’s a good person, not really familiar with the ways of society. I hope you’ll look out for him a bit."

Hannah almost choked.

This tea-colored pup sure knew how to pretend!

To think he could make Simon say something like that.

That tone, as if she were some kind of ferocious beast and his Mr. Shea was a naive sweetheart, he seemed genuinely worried she might bully him.

Simon, you really don’t know your teacher!

Only Finn, giving Hannah a meaningfully deep smile as they sent off the pair, and saying, "Hannah, it’s dark and the road is dim, drive carefully."

"Thanks, Uncle." Hannah gritted her teeth.

If it weren’t for his meddling today, she wouldn’t have been so passive.

Staying at the Hales’ had been nerve-wracking.

After the two left, William finally turned his serious attention to his uncle.

"What are you looking at me for?" Finn said warmly.

"You seem to be smiling... with some ulterior motive."

"Just thought of something fun."

"Let’s hear it."

Finn chuckled lowly, "You won’t like it."