Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 229 - 228 Uncle and Junior President Payne, in deep affection?

Chapter 229: 228 Uncle and Junior President Payne, in deep affection?

In the Hale Family’s Garden

Finn Hale never imagined that one day he’d be strolling through a garden with his archenemy, Tim Payne was also doing it on purpose, "Uncle Finn, just wandering around? That’s got to be too boring."

"What do you want to do then?"

"Tell a joke, let’s hear it."

"..."

A joke?

Wasn’t he already one himself, wasn’t that funny enough?

Irked, Finn Hale clenched his jaw, and Tim Payne just chuckled, "At first, I thought calling you Uncle Finn would really bug me, but then I realized, having one more elder to love and look after me isn’t so bad, right, Uncle Finn?"

The corners of Finn’s mouth twitched in a strained smile.

He took a deep breath, "Anyway, congratulations on finding your sister."

"Thanks."

"How did you recognize her?" Zoe Bell didn’t look much like the Payne Family members. If there had been a resemblance, Finn Hale would have found her familiar the moment he saw her.

"Her eyes, and a feeling."

Tim Payne looked at Finn Hale, "I have two favors to ask of you."

"Ask?" Finn Hale raised an eyebrow, "What could be so important that you’d use that word?"

Junior President Payne, talented and always arrogant.

"I know you don’t like me, and the feeling is mutual..."

Finn Hale’s face darkened.

A mutual dislike was a fact. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been archenemies for so many years.

But discussing such issues with another man just felt... weird.

"In front of my sister, however, I hope we can bury the hatchet and pretend to be friendly; I don’t want her to worry."

Zoe once prodded Tim Payne as to why her relationship with Finn Hale was so bad.

There was no deep hatred between the two, not even a fallout; it was all about one-upmanship, each always trying to outdo the other.

Their stiff relationship might cause trouble for his sister.

Finn Hale looked at him, "You mean you want me to play along with you?"

"I’m willing to agree to a condition," said Tim Payne, who was in a good mood lately and speaking with a hint of a smile, "When you get married, I can do free design work for your wife and give you a set of jewelry as a gift."

"My wife? I don’t even have a girlfriend."

"Isn’t it rumored in the circle that you’re chasing that girl, even to the point of traveling abroad? What, haven’t you gotten her yet?"

"..."

In the circle, there was always this rumor about Finn Hale chasing his wife to the crematorium.

Whether it was true, nobody knew, nor dared to ask.

After all, who would have the nerve to ask him to his face, even the Hale Family never mentioned it.

Except for Tim Payne, who apparently wasn’t intimidated by him; as a long-standing archenemy, anything he said was like a stab in the heart.

Daring to ask him face-to-face,

He was the first!

"Tim Payne, are you asking me for a favor right now? Is that a proper way to speak to me?" Finn Hale lightly raised an eyebrow.

Junior President Payne chuckled lowly:

"That tone... could the rumors actually be true?"

No emotion could be seen on Finn Hale’s face.

"Didn’t you say you had two things to ask of me? What’s the other one?"

"I’ve heard that you designed the renovation of your family’s old mansion. I want to renovate our family’s old mansion too, we can negotiate on the price."

"You really are..." Finn Hale knew that Tim Payne using the word ’ask’ meant nothing good was waiting for him.

"We’re family."

Finn Hale gritted his teeth:

Just get the hell out of here!

----

Even if he wasn’t an elder, Finn Hale wasn’t so small-minded; his niece by marriage hadn’t had an easy life, and it was a relief for her to finally find her relatives. He was happy for her too.

If playing along with Tim Payne in front of her could make her happier, then why not do it.

So half an hour later, when both families gathered around the dining table, everyone was surprised to find that Finn Hale and Junior President Payne, who normally didn’t get along, were unexpectedly sitting together for once.

Tim Payne took the initiative to offer Finn Hale a toast, which was taken as burying the hatchet.

Finn Hale then said with a smile, "The crabs are good this year. You should try some."

"Sure."

"There’s a design exhibition by Master W coming up. Are you interested?"

"I’m overseas, so I probably can’t make it, but I do like his design style. His use of color is bold and avant-garde, and his style is very innovative."

"You should definitely go have a look when you get the chance. I’ve had a few interactions with him. If you want to meet him, I can introduce you."

"Okay."

"..."

As they talked, they looked like old friends reunited, getting along famously.

The others watched, dumbfounded, as Wyatt Hale, seated close to his two cousins, leaned towards Logan Hale and whispered, "Uncle, what’s up with little uncle?"

"Can’t you tell? He’s made amends with Junior President Payne."

"Why do I feel like his smile is so fake, it gives me the chills?" Wyatt Hale clicked his tongue, finding it very odd.

"Just eat your meal, don’t concern yourself with the affairs of your elders," Simon Hale reminded him, while reaching for a crab for him.

"I’m just curious. You guys have been arch-enemies for most of your lives, and suddenly you start loving each other—I feel like..." Wyatt didn’t finish his sentence before Simon interrupted,

"Last time you asked me about calculus, saying you couldn’t understand the recent lectures. How is it going now?"

"I probably won’t fail the final exam."

At those words, Wyatt Hale suddenly found the crab in his mouth tasteless.

Big brother is simply devilish!

On this day of family reunion and universal celebration, who would want to discuss calculus?

"Brother, can we not talk about this?" Wyatt Hale pleaded humbly.

"You’re really strange, always have been. You can’t focus or memorize when it comes to studying, but mention Ultraman, and you can recite his entire genealogy backwards," said Logan.

Wyatt Hale was flabbergasted.

He was far past the age of playing with Ultraman!

"Brother, please, stop exposing me," Wyatt Hale wanted to cry.

"Then shut your mouth and eat!"

"Understood, sir," replied Wyatt Hale, hanging his head and not daring to look around any longer.

In this family, sister-in-law is the best!

However, at this time, Zoe Bell’s thoughts were totally focused on her newly discovered relatives, leaving her no time to bother with him. This made Wyatt Hale feel sad, and he became thoroughly emo.

Old Sir Hale felt joyful seeing his youngest son getting along well with Tim Payne,

This kid,

he has finally grown up!

He raised his glass to celebrate Zoe Bell finding her family, with both families enjoying themselves harmoniously.

After the meal and some idle chat, the evening grew late. Although the elderly members of the Hale family strongly urged them to stay, Mario Payne and his wife couldn’t bear to part with their daughter and ended up spending the night at the Hales’.

Julia Yates helped her daughter wash and dried her off. Usually, these tasks were performed by William Hale or their caregiver. Since mother and daughter hadn’t spent much time together, it was somewhat awkward for Zoe Bell to have her mother help with such intimate care.

"Zoe, your father, brother, and I will return to the Payne Family’s house tomorrow," said Julia.

"I haven’t been back to Capital City for many years. There are things I need to take care of."

"I’m not very familiar with the Hale Family members, but having seen them today, I find them to be very nice. You’ll be well here, surely without any mistreatment," Julia reassured.

...

Julia Yates helped Zoe sit on the bed and used a dry towel to wring most of the water from her hair. Then, she picked up a hairdryer and began to dry her hair gently.

"Besides, binding you to me all this time hasn’t given William a chance to be alone with you. He’s a good kid. He doesn’t say much, but he surely wants to spend time with you."

"I worry that staying longer might affect your relationship with your husband."

Zoe Bell said nothing, feeling the warm air from the hairdryer on her scalp and neck as it made her whole body feel comfortably warm.

Julia chatted with her for most of the night. Zoe slept late and woke up late, only discovering upon waking that her parents and brother had already left.

Two days later,

several major events happened in Capital City.

One was that the Payne Family suddenly started renovating their old mansion;

The other was the unexpected return of Mario Payne and his wife to Capital City, with Mario planning to make a comeback to Payne Corps.

Over the years, even though Junior President Payne had been in charge of the design department, the major power within Payne Corps lay with his aunt and uncle. With the return of Mario Payne and his wife, it meant that someone would have to relinquish their authority.

Changes were looming for Payne Corps.