Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 218 The Payne Family father and son share a timid affection, Mr. Hale’s clarity.

Chapter 218: 218 The Payne Family father and son share a timid affection, Mr. Hale’s clarity.

Zoe Bell was caught off guard, feeling somewhat helpless, and instinctively reached out to grab a tissue for him.

However, with an IV needle in the back of her hand and her right leg immobilized, it really was inconvenient.

"What are you trying to do? I’ll help you," Mario Payne hurried forward.

"I..."

Zoe had intended to pass him a tissue, but as the words came to her lips and she saw that he wasn’t crying, she changed tack, "I’d like a drink of water."

"I’ll pour it for you."

Mario Payne, who had long been caring for his wife, appeared cold but was actually exceptionally attentive and considerate. He raised her hospital bed to make her more comfortable and even thoughtfully tested the water temperature for her.

Zoe’s mind was somewhat muddled.

She glanced at Junior President Payne with a puzzled look:

What’s going on?

Moreover, the way Uncle Payne looked at her was very odd—it was hard to describe. It seemed like excitement, yet he also seemed somewhat afraid of her, extremely cautious and careful.

"My dad is used to taking care of my mom, so when he saw you moving, he instinctively thought to help you," Tim Payne covered for his father.

He poured water and handed it to her. Zoe felt surprisingly cherished as she took it with both hands, "Thank you, Uncle."

The moment her fingers unintentionally touched his, she distinctly felt the man’s fingers tremble. Though she had taken the cup, his hands still hovered in mid-air, his gaze falling on the bruises on her wrist that hadn’t completely faded.

"What happened to your hand...?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"I had a bit of an accident earlier," Zoe said while drinking water, pulling down her sleeve.

These were marks left by the rope used in her kidnapping.

Not wanting to discuss the matter, she deliberately changed the subject, "Uncle, what brings you here?"

"I, I..."

I came here specifically to see you.

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but Mario Payne suddenly understood why his son had not directly acknowledged her. It was a kind of timidity, mixed with fear, because he was uncertain of her reaction. Would she share their excitement and joy, or...

Would she blame him?

Unwilling to recognize him?

Mario Payne stared intently at her, not looking away for even a moment.

It was as if he wanted to memorize every feature of her face.

For many years, he had imagined what his daughter would look like grown up...

But the figure in his dreams became more and more indistinct.

Now here she was, appearing so vividly and lifelike before him that the emotions he had just calmed surged again. He turned away awkwardly, prompting Zoe to give him a few extra glances.

Junior President Payne’s father...

Really strange.

Zoe had a drink of water and picked up her phone, only to discover that William Hale had sent her a message half an hour ago:

[Something came up at the company, I had to leave for a bit. Uncle Payne and Junior President Payne will take care of you. If you need anything, feel free to tell them.]

She frowned.

After all, they were strangers, and the atmosphere felt awkward.

"Oh, the design drawing I modified for you has been sketched out. Do you want to take a look?" Junior President Payne broke the silence.

Zoe nodded eagerly.

Watching his son move a chair next to the bed and flip through the album on his phone for her, Mario Payne felt a fleeting overlap with his memory. Because there was nearly a ten-year age gap between his children, his daughter was still young when his son already started elementary school...

Back then, she loved to pester her big brother, asking him to read her picture books.

Since the incident with her, their home had been devoid of laughter and joy.

Mario Payne watched, his eyes moistening again.

Stepping out of the hospital room, leaning against the outer wall, he couldn’t help his eyes welling up again, drawing the attention of passing nurses who couldn’t help but take a second look.

But in a hospital, where birth, aging, sickness, and death are commonplace, and reactions vary among family members, they were used to it and didn’t think much of it.

William Hale didn’t return until evening, bringing several meals, "Uncle Payne, Junior President Payne, thank you for taking care of Zoe for me all afternoon. I’ve brought some food for you, let’s eat together."

"This..." Mario Payne naturally wanted to stay.

"I’ve already bought the meals, please don’t be polite," William Hale said frankly.

"Then I shall graciously accept your offer."

Zoe: "?!".

After the meal, the Payne father and son stayed briefly in the hospital room before leaving reluctantly.

Zoe looked at William Hale: "Why do I feel like they were acting strange?"

"Do they make you uncomfortable?"

"Not really, it’s just that I’m not familiar with them, and it always feels a bit awkward and embarrassing. And you, just disappearing the entire afternoon without giving me a heads-up,"

"Did you miss me?" He braced his hands on the edge of the bed, leaning down to look at her, a smile in his eyes.

"Not really..."

"Stubborn," he teased.

Before she could finish speaking, William Hale leaned down to kiss her.

Being considerate of her physical state, his kiss was careful, tender, and lingering; he held her face in his hands, his fingers unintentionally brushing over her ear, a sensitive spot, causing her to let out a soft moan.

William Hale always wanted to hear her say she missed him before he would stop.

Meanwhile, outside the door

After Mario Payne left, he entered the elevator but didn’t want to leave; he even thought of rushing back, "Dad, she needs to rest."

"I think I left my phone in there."

"I’ll get it for you."

Junior President Payne understood that his father was just reluctant to leave, just looking for an excuse. He was about to knock when he glimpsed through the hospital room’s glass window and saw William Hale...

Pressing down on his sister, and the angle made it clear...

He turned around, grabbed his father’s arm, and dragged him back.

"Tim?"

"Dad, it’s not a good time to go in."

"Why?"

"It’s nothing, I’m just tired and want to go home to sleep."

"Go home? We’re staying in the hospital tonight," Mario Payne glanced at his son. "I know it’s late, I won’t go in, I’ll just sneak a quick peek from the door, just one look."

"I’m afraid that might be inconvenient."

"What’s so inconvenient about that?"

"The couple hasn’t seen each other all afternoon, they’re exchanging affection."

"Exchanging affection..." Mario Payne suddenly got tongue-tied, and his face quickly showed a variety of expressions – surprised, anxious, and embarrassed. In the end, his face even flushed red; after struggling to speak, he finally ground out, "Then forget it, I won’t look."

Mario Payne took a deep breath, chastising himself for being too impulsive. Imagine if he had barged in.

How awkward that would have been.

"Do you think William Hale has guessed something?" Mario Payne turned to his son.

Junior President Payne nodded, "Definitely knows."

He had seen the urgency William Hale had for his sister. He and his father had almost no private interactions with William; who would entrust their wife to be cared for by two almost "strangers"?

And moreover, of the opposite sex.

William Hale wasn’t that magnanimous.

Besides, throughout the afternoon, no one had come to disturb their visit, likely because he had spoken to his family in advance.

He purposely gave them time alone.

No wonder the public has such a high opinion of him, not only insightful but also very thorough.

"Why haven’t I heard about William Hale getting married?" As the joy of finding his daughter ebbed away rationality and now that he was gradually calming down, Mario Payne finally looked at his son, puzzled. "The Hale Family hasn’t had a wedding in recent years, have they?"

"They didn’t have a wedding ceremony."

"No wonder."

"They even kept their relationship a secret from the public."

"..."

Mario Payne paused for a moment, "Why? That young man doesn’t want to go public, is it because he looks down on my daughter?"

"That’s probably not it; my sister has been through a lot over the years, things are not as simple as you think," Junior President Payne explained.

Mario Payne, noting the bruise on her wrist, nodded, "Keep an eye on the director of the Greenland orphanage, Director Hall, for her case."

Mario Payne had already heard of Director Hall’s actions.

The thought of if it hadn’t been for this wicked woman hiding the existence of his daughter for her own selfish motives.

Perhaps, they would have been reunited as father and daughter long ago.

"I don’t want to see her behind bars."

"If possible..." Mario Payne spoke, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

"I want her dead."

For someone as evil as her, even being hacked a thousand times wouldn’t quell the raging fire in his heart; she wasn’t worth even a thousand deaths!