Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 226 - 225 Ready to return to Beijing, meet the parents-in-law (2 updates)

Chapter 226: 225 Ready to return to Beijing, meet the parents-in-law (2 updates)

Wyatt Hale and Tim Payne were enjoying the sea breeze, drinking wine, and seemingly having a great time until the young president Payne received a phone call about a design matter.

"Still working this late?" Wyatt Hale’s face showed no emotion.

"An overseas client."

"Do you only handle design-related work at the company?"

Junior President Payne nodded, "Other business expansions and market operations are currently managed by my aunt. The procurement business is handled by my uncle."

"Uncle?"

"Yes, my mom has a younger brother. Originally, this aspect of the business was managed by my dad, but ever since my sister had an accident, all his energy has been focused on finding her and supporting my mom. He hardly manages the company anymore."

Tim Payne took a deep breath, "My grandparents are old now. My grandmother has poor eyesight and went abroad for surgery after Mid-Autumn Festival. Both of them are currently not in the country."

"If we told them that we have found my sister, given my grandmother’s temperament, she definitely would come back before her vision recovers. Being too emotional and crying is bad for her eyes, so we haven’t told them about it yet."

Wyatt Hale nodded.

"Why did Zoe have an accident back then?"

"A car accident, she fell into the sea. We searched for a long time, only finding the bodies of the driver and my mother’s assistant."

"It was no accident," Wyatt Hale said with certainty.

Tim Payne’s face turned cold instantly.

If they never found his sister in this lifetime, maybe he would believe that the incident back then was truly an accident.

But now, knowing she was in the same car that had the accident when she was not even three years old and was kidnapped after they found her clothes from the sea,

it all seemed too unreasonable.

"Over the years, who have you suspected?"

Tim Payne remained silent, "Even if there were suspicions, there’s no evidence."

"It’s okay for Zoe to return to the Payne family now?"

Tim Payne drank his wine, not saying a word.

It seemed he already had a plan in mind.

**

Zoe Bell’s surgery was very successful; she had stayed in Capital City for several days and rested for a week at Summerland Hospital before returning to the vacation house with her parents. This place had Payne family’s private beach, which was very tranquil.

She was originally very anxious, unsure how to interact with her parents.

The Paynes felt the same, both excited and nervous.

The first few days were quite formal.

As time passed, their interactions became more familiar and natural.

After Julia Yates was discharged from the hospital, she went to the temple to fulfill her vow. Mario Payne and Tim accompanied her, while Zoe Bell and Wyatt Hale finally had some time alone.

"Have you been staying in Summerland all this time? Isn’t there a problem at your company?"

Zoe Bell’s surgery was quite sudden and must have disrupted all his work plans.

"I had my second uncle step in."

After all, Quade Hale was managing the company before him.

He was familiar with the business operations.

Zoe Bell was startled.

"Was your uncle willing to?"

"If he wasn’t, I had my grandfather inform him."

"..."

Quade Hale went to work with a cold face every day. It was unimaginable for him that, having retired for seven to eight years, he could return to work and retire earlier every day. His high efficiency made it tough for his subordinates,

as the new tasks would arrive before they could finish the current ones.

Everyone initially thought that Quade Hale coming back would make things easier since he was of age, but...

He was working with great enthusiasm!

Wyatt Hale candidly said in the family group:

[No wonder they say the fifties are the prime time for striving. Uncle’s style remains unchanged, just as in his younger years!]

Later, when they met, he was almost killed by the cold glare of his own uncle.

"I never thought that my surgery would also trouble my uncle." Zoe Bell felt somewhat guilty.

"When you tell me this, do you want me to leave?" Wyatt Hale raised his eyebrow.

"No..." Zoe Bell shook her head, "Mom and dad said they’ll take me back to the Capital in a couple of days."

Calling them mom and dad felt uncomfortable at first.

When she first called Mario Payne dad, she saw her father’s eyes tear up.

"They say that Summerland’s medical conditions definitely aren’t as good as in Capital City, and having you stay here all the time isn’t suitable, it’s too much of a delay, and also..."

"They also want to pay a visit to grandpa and grandma."

"To thank them for taking care of me during this period."

Zoe Bell left the Bell family, and the Hale family gave her the warmth of a family, healing her.

The Paynes naturally felt grateful.

As the younger generation, it was proper to personally go and express their gratitude.

Wyatt Hale nodded, showing he understood.

——

At this time, Julia Yates was on her way to the temple, accompanied by her husband and son, proceeding with three prostrations and nine kowtows.

She once made a vow in front of Buddha.

If she could find her daughter, she was willing to give up the rest of her life, do more good deeds and return to the temple with three prostrations and nine kowtows to fulfill her vow. When she arrived at the temple, she was so exhausted she could hardly stand, yet she still knelt in front of Buddha and kept kowtowing.

Despite the fatigue, she was genuinely happy.

Recently, with Zoe Bell accompanying her, she ate more. Her anorexia was a psychological issue, and her appetite had increased greatly these days. Even the abbot noticed and mentioned that she looked healthy.

"I might not be able to come here often in the future," Julia Yates looked at the abbot.

"Then I should congratulate you,"

the abbot smiled and said, "It means Mrs. Payne’s worries are over. That’s good news. I wish you and your family happiness."

"Thank you."

After leaving, Julia Yates donated a large sum of money to the temple.

Back at the vacation home, she started packing up things to return to Capital City.

Ever since her daughter’s accident, she had been living in a daze, feeling as if a boulder was pressing down on her chest, keeping her from breathing freely. Now, she could finally breathe easily.

"We’ll head back to Capital City in a couple of days. Do you want to give your family a heads up?" Junior President Payne looked at William Hale.

He nodded.

The night before returning to Capital City, William Hale made a call home, "Is everyone at home?"

Old Sir Hale frowned, "Isn’t your uncle home?"

"Where is he?"

"Working, he’s been out of the country for a couple of days."

"Will he be home tomorrow?"

"Is there something that necessitates your uncle being home?"

"There’s something I haven’t told you and grandma," William Hale stood by the seaside, accompanying Zoe Bell as they enjoyed the breeze. He was always calm and composed, and spoke deliberately, "Zoe has found her family."

The old man was pruning the flowers when he took the call.

Upon hearing this,

"Snap—" he accidentally cut off a healthy branch.

"We’ll return to Capital City tomorrow. Zoe’s family wants to visit you and grandma at our home."

"What ... what did you say?" Old Sir Hale hastily put down his scissors, "William Hale, are you serious?"

"Yes."

"When did this happen?"

"Recently, it was quite sudden, and I didn’t get the chance to tell you."

"That’s wonderful news! They’re coming tomorrow, right? What do her family members like? Should we prepare something in advance? What about dinner? Do they have any dietary restrictions? Or should we eat out instead?"

Old Sir Hale got a bit excited, then shook his head, "No, that won’t work, Zoe’s leg isn’t fully healed, it’s inconvenient to go out. We should eat at home."

"How many people are coming? I’ll have someone tidy up the rooms right away so they can stay with us for a couple of days."

...

After hanging up, Old Sir Hale excitedly went to share the good news with his wife.

The Old Lady was originally making tea. Startled by his sudden exclamation, she spilled the water and frowned, "You’re at such an age, can’t you be a bit more composed? What kind of example are you setting for the children?"

"Zoe has found her family."

"What?"

The Old Lady was first astonished, then burst out laughing, "That’s really wonderful news! How did she find them?"

"I don’t know."

"Are her parents alive? Where are they from?"

"Not sure."

"What are her family members like? Have they been looking for her for many years too?"

"Don’t know."

"..."

The Old Lady was frustrated by the lack of information, but she immediately began making arrangements.

Wyatt Hale was attending a late class and only realized upon returning to the old house that it was brightly lit at midnight, with all the servants working overtime, and even the watchdog was not spared.

In the middle of the night, what are they fussing over now?

When he found out his sister-in-law had found her relatives, he naturally was happy for her.

Amid his joy, he let out a deep sigh:

It’s done!

Would there be another person to compete for affection with him?

He was no longer the sole darling of his sister-in-law.

Since they would now be relatives, it would usually be appropriate for the men’s side to visit first. Yet, now it was Zoe Bell’s family who would visit first, necessitating the Hale family to put in even more effort.

Finn Hale was urgently summoned back from abroad.

Meeting the in-laws for the first time, having the whole family present also showed more respect to the other side.

Having heard that Zoe Bell had found her family, Finn Hale was quite surprised, booked the earliest flight home, and even brought some gifts from abroad, all to support his nephew’s image—

As his uncle, he had to give his full support.