Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 202 Do you have the appearance of an old friend? Indeed, there’s a fate (2nd update)

Chapter 202: 202 Do you have the appearance of an old friend? Indeed, there’s a fate (2nd update)

"They say his parents had him when he was eight or nine, or perhaps in his teens." Finn Hale took a deep breath, "The specific reasons are unknown, it might have been illness or an accident, but they passed away early."

"But I only heard about it, after all, I’m not close to the Payne Family, and this is a rather private matter for them."

"I heard that after that, his mother’s health declined significantly, and she also had an accident, and her mental state wasn’t very good."

William Hale’s eyes dimmed slightly.

"Her mental state wasn’t good?"

If their daughter had passed away early, it would be understandable.

Basically, the Payne Family is too low-profile, rarely socializes with others, and William Hale is not interested in jewelry or the likes, so he knows very little about the Payne Family’s affairs.

"Since it’s a private matter, where did you hear about it?"

He had never heard that the Payne Family had a daughter.

Mainly because the Payne Family is low-key enough that the news about them is scarce.

Finn Hale lifted his eyelids slightly, "Why do you care so much!"

He certainly couldn’t say that he considered him a rival and collected intelligence everywhere, trying to find his weak spot.

As a result,

he stumbled upon this piece of information.

And it’s just hearsay; the specifics are most likely only known to Payne Family members.

If he inquired further and the Payne Family found out, agitating them, he likely wouldn’t benefit from it.

So, at the time, he didn’t pursue the matter any further.

He was impulsive at the time and afterwards, he disapproved of his own actions. He wanted to defeat him in an open and aboveboard manner; surreptitiously investigating someone’s weaknesses was truly not the behavior of a gentleman.

"Perhaps because they are of similar age and she bears the manner of a person from the past, he sees her in a different light," Finn Hale speculated.

As a rival, he understood the man quite well.

He probably wouldn’t harbor unusual thoughts about a married woman.

If he really had other intentions towards Zoe Bell, he wouldn’t be so overt and unequivocal about it.

Wouldn’t that be openly challenging his own nephew?

He’s not that foolish!

"That daughter from the Payne Family, is she really gone?" William Hale asked.

Finn Hale shook his head, "Unclear, but it’s said that she is."

"Alright, rest assured, from what I know about him, he won’t harm your wife," Finn Hale indicated for him to be at ease, "However, you should ask less about the Payne Family’s affairs, after all... it’s not very appropriate."

William Hale understood.

If the relative had passed away, there was no need to reopen old wounds.

Although he was not sure whether the information was true or false, it probably wasn’t a groundless rumor, and there might have been such a person. Coupled with the fact that Zoe Bell is an orphan, perhaps that’s why Junior President Payne unconsciously empathized with her.

Maybe that’s why, on the day Serena Conner caused a scene, he personally intervened.

Having understood the reasons, William Hale felt much more relieved.

Finn Hale turned his head to look at his nephew, "You don’t think he’s trying to steal your wife, do you?"

William Hale was silent.

But Finn Hale laughed out loud, "I never realized before, but you’re quite the jealous type."

"You’re not married, you don’t understand."

"Even if I were, I wouldn’t be like you."

"You’d better remember your own words."

"..."

This nephew of his was inherently unlovable, and after getting married, it was even more so.

William Hale turned to his uncle, "Your argument with grandfather just now, it wouldn’t be because he’s pressuring you to get married, right?"

Finn Hale’s face darkened.

He had just hit the nail on the head.

Originally, William Hale had always been reluctant to participate in matchmaking or discuss marriage, and their grandfather said it was because his uncle had set a bad example for him.

Now that his nephew was married, and he, being older and still unmarried, was naturally less favored.

The old man hinted at him:

Useless!

Zoe Bell had been busy with her work when she caught sight of someone at the door from the corner of her eye. Looking up, she saw William Hale standing at the door holding some pastries.

"When did you arrive? Why didn’t you make a sound?"

"I didn’t want to disturb you."

William Hale had stood at the door for a while, and he hadn’t noticed any resemblance between his wife and that Junior President Payne.

"Bro, I’m a bit hungry," Wyatt Hale smiled as he took the pastries from his hand and then gestured for Joy Watson to come and eat.

At first, she was somewhat shy and hesitant, but Zoe Bell urged her on, so she took a piece of egg yolk pastry.

"You should hire some people," William Hale suggested.

Zoe Bell nodded, "I think so too, but it’s too hard to find someone who meets my standards. If they don’t understand perfume-making, I have to teach from scratch. I’ve been too busy lately and really haven’t had time to train newcomers."

"Sister Zoe..." Joy Watson muttered as she raised her small hand, "I can learn too."

"You’re already busy with customer service most of the time," Zoe Bell said.

"There’s always some free time," Joy Watson said, eager and enthusiastic.

Wyatt Hale’s face darkened:

It’s over,

she really did come to compete for affection.

He had to work even harder.

Later, when Joy Watson heard Wyatt Hale calling the boss’s wife, she furrowed her brow and asked, "Are you brothers with Mr. Hale?"

"Don’t we look alike?" Wyatt Hale snorted coldly.

"Apart from the name, there’s no resemblance at all in appearance or personality."

"..."

Wyatt Hale felt that this was something of an insult to himself.

**

Zoe Bell’s online store finally started to pick up, and she was busy around the clock. The continuous rainy days caused her leg pain to worsen, and when she went to the rehabilitation hospital, even the doctor scolded her.

"I told you to come at least two to three times a week, but you only came once last week?" the doctor said sternly.

Zoe Bell hung her head guiltily.

It was like being back in school, dominated by the fear of teachers.

"You’re no longer young, yet you still don’t know how to take care of your own body. You only come to the hospital when your leg pain is unbearable, right?" the doctor lectured while massaging her.

"The way you’re doing, like fishing for three days and drying the nets for two, the massage won’t be very effective. It would be better not to come at all."

"If it weren’t for Old Sir Lewis’s sake, I would have kicked you out long ago."

...

Zoe Bell wished she could bury her head and said, "I will definitely come on time in the future."

Although the doctor was harsh, it was for her own good.

So, after the massage was done, she politely thanked the doctor, gathered her things, and dashed out, rushing for the elevator. Once inside, she let out a long sigh of relief, her heart still pounding, feeling like she could finally catch a breath.

At that moment, she heard laughter.

She turned her head and realized there was an acquaintance in the elevator.

"Junior President Payne?" Zoe Bell was surprised; she hadn’t expected to bump into him here.

Assistant Law was baffled.

What kind of fate was this!

Coming to the hospital and running into her.

In this place, he almost never met anyone he knew, so running into Zoe Bell was really unexpected.

If Junior President Payne couldn’t help it, he rarely came to the hospital. His visit today was also on a whim, and seeing her was truly serendipitous.

"Are you here for treatment?" the man sized her up.

"I injured my leg before, so I’m here for massage therapy," Zoe Bell explained, her gaze falling on his assistant who was holding a bag of medicine, while Junior President Payne himself had something resembling plaster on his right wrist.

Noticing her scrutinizing gaze, the man explained, "Tendinitis, an old problem."

Zoe Bell understood.

Someone like him, who spent long hours designing and took part in the hands-on production, was indeed prone to tendinitis from overuse of the hands.

"Are you alone?" Junior President Payne asked.

Zoe Bell nodded, "The person picking me up will be here soon."

Kyle Lowe was occasionally called over by Cousin Miss.

Lately, he had been quite secretive; it seemed like William Hale had arranged some work for him.

"Since your ride isn’t here yet, and it’s rare to bump into you, how about we have a cup of tea together?" Junior President Payne offered.

The assistant was speechless:

Your hand is like this, and the doctor has told you to rest more, yet you don’t go home to sleep and instead choose to have tea?

What is this...

A get-together of patients?

Are you two planning to discuss your conditions together?

Kyle Lowe was called away by Hannah Johnson, and when he arrived at the teahouse near the rehabilitation hospital and saw his lady and Junior President Payne together, he was dumbfounded.

William Hale asked him to keep an eye on Cousin Miss, and now...

He had recently discovered that Cousin Miss was cohabiting with some scoundrel.

He was supposed to keep an eye on his lady and pay more attention to that Junior President Payne,

and now,

Junior President Payne had appeared.

This damned job, better off not taking it.