Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 219 Recognition: May the daughter be blessed by heaven and have peace and smoothness (2 updates, must click)

Chapter 219: 219 Recognition: May the daughter be blessed by heaven and have peace and smoothness (2 updates, must click)

The Payne father and son did not leave that evening and simply made do at the hospital.

They did not bring up their relationship with Zoe Bell proactively, and neither did William Hale, who had a painful night with her legs causing her to sleep poorly.

The following day, she woke up when the doctor came for rounds.

"Feeling uncomfortable?" Peter Lewis came in person.

"It’s bearable." Zoe knew this was a necessary phase in the recovery of her wounds and always hated to worry others.

Peter removed the fixed brace, checked her wounds, and said, "The wound is healing well. Later, I’ll have a nurse treat the area and apply a cast. Then William can carry you in a wheelchair to move around a bit."

"Staying cooped up in the room can also drive you insane."

"But don’t put any pressure on the operated leg, and contact me immediately if you feel any discomfort."

"Thank you, Grandpa Lewis." William thanked him.

"Eat light for now, don’t replenish too much, and take it slow." Peter gave a few more pieces of advice, "You have your infusion first, I’ll be leaving now."

William took the initiative to see him out.

Hearing a knock, Zoe, expecting the nurse who was to administer her infusion, looked up only to see Mario Payne again.

With a hint of suspicion, she courteously greeted, "Uncle, good morning."

"I... I came for a checkup and Tim and I thought we’d drop by to see you."

"Thank you."

Although Zoe said this, she couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

The Payne father and son did not stay in the room too long, but their frequent appearances over several days inevitably caused Zoe’s suspicion.

——

Until that day, when the nurse administering her infusion casually asked, "Miss Bell, the uncle who frequently visits you recently, what relative is he to you?"

"Relative?" The one she referred to was probably Mario Payne.

"Last time I saw him crying outside, and these past two days, he has rested in the hospital corridor overnight and has not left."

"He hasn’t left?"

Zoe’s heart skipped a beat.

"Yes, it’s getting colder and colder, and the heating hasn’t started yet. At night, the hospital is still pretty cold. I saw him twice when I was on night shift during ward rounds."

This being a VIP ward, the rooms were spacious enough to accommodate several family members for resting.

Thus, someone spending the night in the corridor naturally aroused special attention.

"He’s not young anymore; maybe you should tell him not to sleep outside at night, so he doesn’t catch a cold."

Zoe nodded.

Her mind was instantly filled with torrents of thoughts.

Knowing her limited mobility, the nurse saw her lips were dry and asked, "Can I get you some water?"

"Thank you."

Yet as she took the water, a thought suddenly flashed through her mind:

Mario Payne, Junior President Payne...

Could they have some relation to her?

Family?

?!

For a moment, her breathing tightened, her fingers trembled, and she spilled the water.

"Oh, are you okay?" the nurse hurried to help her clean up, but the water soaked through her clothes and bedding quickly, and William Hale wasn’t there, as this was the time Mario Payne and his son typically came. When the nurse went to find someone to help, Mario Payne entered the room with sweets.

Seeing the room in disarray, he dropped the sweets and rushed over, "What happened?"

"The water spilled." The nurse frowned.

"Did you get burned?" Mario instinctively reached out to check, but the moment he touched her hand, he felt it wasn’t right and quickly let go.

"It was warm water, no harm done, but it did get the clothes and bedding wet." The nurse explained, "Let’s get her into the wheelchair, and I’ll have someone change the bedding."

"Alright."

Mario looked at Zoe, feeling awkward and not knowing what to do.

Zoe caught all his emotions and subconsciously tensed her fingers, inexplicably feeling a lump in her throat. She bit her lip, "Uncle Payne, could you help me?"

"Of course."

Mario, experienced in caring for his wife, appeared flustered and overly cautious now, holding her waist gently while his other hand passed under her knees to lift her carefully.

Zoe could clearly sense his nervousness, caution, and care...

She was gently placed into the wheelchair, and Mario quietly asked, "Did you get any burns on your body?"

She shook her head.

At that moment, two nurses came in and quickly changed the bedding, it being her fault for not holding the cup steady, and she couldn’t blame anyone else.

"Sir, your items are on the table," one nurse had already picked up Mario’s dropped sweets from the floor.

"Great, thank you."

"What did you buy?" Zoe changed the subject.

"I heard there’s a Lychee Rose Cake nearby that’s good, would you like a taste?"

Zoe nodded.

Upon hearing that, Mario quickly opened the sweets and offered her a piece.

She took it, bit into it, and found it very sweet.