Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 230 - 229 Payne Family Faces Shakeup, Junior President Payne’s Scandalous Girlfriend? (2 Updates)

Chapter 230: 229 Payne Family Faces Shakeup, Junior President Payne’s Scandalous Girlfriend? (2 Updates)

The Payne family has always been low-key, but this time Mario Payne and his wife were very high-profile, and there were even rumors that Julia Yates was preparing to pick up her pen and start writing again. People were speculating:

It might be for Junior President Payne.

Over the years, the couple hadn’t bothered with the company, and suddenly they’re back.

It must be to pave the way for their son.

The Payne family aunt and the Yate family uncle, they say, are not easy to deal with.

It looks like the Payne family might be in for a storm of blood and violence.

"...Originally everyone was still discussing you and Serena Conner’s situation, but then the Payne couple made a high-profile return, and now all the eyes in the Circle of Capital City are on them, saving you from being watched every time you step out."

Today, Hannah Johnson accompanied Zoe Bell for a follow-up visit at the hospital.

"You’ve only been to Summerland for about a week, but you seem to have recuperated quite nicely."

"No wonder they say that place is livable and suitable for retirement, I’m going to buy a house there too, and move there once I retire."

Zoe Bell and Hannah Johnson had been in touch during this period.

Hearing that her cousin had suddenly taken her to Summerland, Hannah was speechless. Knowing Zoe’s character, she would have chased after them angrily. At first, he wouldn’t let anyone visit her in the hospital, and now he had whisked her away.

The cousin must be crazy!

"By the way, you’re quite familiar with that Junior President Payne?" Hannah Johnson didn’t know about Zoe Bell’s relationship with the Payne family.

"What about it?"

"Is he going to get married?"

"..."

His brother is getting married?

Why doesn’t she understand?

"But the funniest thing is, everyone thought Junior President Payne must have a partner already, and even the gossip-mongers followed him for a while, hoping to catch a glimpse of his scandalous girlfriend. Guess what they caught on camera?"

"Hmm?" Zoe Bell was curious.

She usually stayed at home, and aside from Wyatt Hale, no one shared gossip with her.

Wyatt Hale hadn’t been coming back to the old house recently, saying he went to Simon Hale’s place to cram on advanced mathematics.

"They caught him coming and going with his uncle."

"..."

"These two are quite strange. They never used to see eye to eye, and it was rare to see them appear together at major events. Now, out of the blue, they suddenly become friends."

Hannah Johnson had been quite busy lately.

She had to work, spend time with family, and keep company with her pampered husband at home.

She felt the world was changing too quickly.

"There are rumors that the Payne couple is back to seize power and pave the way for Junior President Payne," Hannah sighed. "I heard his mother is starting her design work again; my mom was so happy when she heard this news."

"But with her return, certainly a bunch of people will rush to commission jewelry from her, and even if my mom wanted to, she’d have to wait years in the queue."

Zoe Bell smiled wryly, just about to speak.

It was just her turn to enter the room for the checkup, which interrupted their conversation.

"You’re looking well," Peter Lewis said with a smile as he looked her over.

Originally, he did not agree with William Hale taking her out of the hospital for the long journey, but Zoe Bell’s eyes were red and her condition was poor at the time, so he reluctantly agreed.

"The wound has healed nicely, too. Today I’ll help you remove the plaster cast. You can start trying to walk with crutches and routinely visit the Rehabilitation Hospital for physiotherapy exercises," he added.

Zoe Bell didn’t have a fracture; she had just undergone a minor surgery.

But injuries to muscles and bones still needed proper care.

"Thank you," said Zoe Bell, smiling.

"Keeping a positive mindset is helpful for your recovery. You should get more calcium recently," Peter Lewis advised earnestly before letting her leave.

After leaving the hospital, Hannah Johnson drove Zoe Bell back to the Hale residence.

On the way, she received a call from her mother, Yumi Johnson, who wanted to visit Zoe Bell.

After hanging up, Hannah was amazed, "Grandma and my mom have been wanting to visit you, but that damn William whisked you away."

"Cousin, if auntie wants a piece from Mrs. Payne’s designs, I might be able to help," Zoe said.

"I was just saying. Even if Junior President Payne takes good care of you, I can’t let you ask for favors. It’s not appropriate. Your job now is to recover well. If my mom really wants her jewelry designs, I can make an appointment and queue up at Payne Corps."

"I hear Mrs. Payne is quite easygoing, probably not as hard to make an appointment with as Junior President Payne,"

Driving the car, Hannah Johnson was also humming a song.

It’s been a long time since she’s seen Zoe Bell, and she was quite happy about it.

"Actually..." Zoe cleared her throat, "Mrs. Payne is my mother."

Hannah seemed not to have heard.

Zoe frowned slightly, "Sis, did you hear what I said? I only found out recently myself, and I wanted to tell you sooner. My mind was a mess at the time, so..."

She didn’t finish her sentence.

Hannah suddenly braked hard and stopped the car on the side of the road.

Turning to look at her, "Zoe, are you serious?"

"We’ve already recognized each other."

Hannah was stunned for a few seconds, "Since when did the Payne Family have a daughter?"

"Well, there’s always been one."

"So, Junior President Payne is your brother?"

"Yeah, my own brother."

Hannah stared intently at her, "You two don’t look alike, either."

"Indeed, not much."

Hannah looked at her for a long while, that gaze made Zoe feel rather odd, "Sis, did I scare you?"

"What did William Hale do to deserve such luck, marrying you? Where did he find this gold nugget?"

"... "

So, the return of Mr. and Mrs. Mario Payne was not to pave the way for their son, but to welcome their daughter’s return. Hannah never would have guessed that Zoe Bell had any connection to the Payne Family.

When she returned to Yarden, Isaac Shea had classes today and had also just gotten back, reaching out to hug her.

Their relationship had made a rapid progression of late.

Affectionate gestures became increasingly natural.

Hannah had also grown accustomed to his closeness, being hugged by him, and they kissed for a while when her phone vibrated—a fine notice for a traffic violation because she had parked illegally on a whim earlier in the day.

She glanced at the message and sighed.

"Why did you park illegally?" Isaac glanced at the text with the corner of his eye.

"To listen to some gossip."

"Weren’t you supposed to accompany Mrs. Hale for a check-up at the hospital? What gossip could there be?" Isaac asked casually.

Hannah smiled, "Nothing much, just talked about the Payne’s. Do you know about the Payne Family?"

Isaac didn’t respond, seemingly unaware.

"They specialize in custom-made jewelry. The last time Zoe and I went there, that’s how we ran into Serena Conner, and all that followed. Their family is going through some stuff lately..."

"It feels like the whole Circle of Capital City is about to be shaken up."

Having been with Isaac Shea for so long, Hannah naturally trusted him a lot.

But trust is trust, and since Zoe Bell’s relationship with the Payne Family hadn’t been made public, and Zoe had confided in her, Hannah obviously wouldn’t tell anyone else.

She was already getting excited:

If the Payne Family went public with their relationship with Zoe Bell, and then everyone learned that she had already married her own cousin.

The whole Circle of Capital City would probably explode.

She was already curious about everyone’s expressions then.

"You seem very interested in the Payne Family’s affairs," Isaac raised an eyebrow at her.

"Not really, I’m going to take a shower."

Isaac nodded and turned towards the kitchen.

The Payne Family, huh...

Lately, it does seem like something big is about to happen.

Junior President Payne appears to have a special regard for Zoe Bell. During the last Conner Family incident, he showed a particular concern. There might be other reasons for this.