Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 236 - 235 Malicious Targeting? Hand Crushed (2nd Update)

Chapter 236: 235 Malicious Targeting? Hand Crushed (2nd Update)

Due to the time difference, it was just morning for Lucas Bell who was far away abroad. The end of the term was fast approaching, and he had many papers to write, as well as a part-time job to make some money. His time was tightly squeezed.

After a simple meal, he took the medicine prescribed by his psychologist before heading to class.

Lately, he felt he was constantly being watched.

Yet, he found nothing amiss.

Thinking he was just overly tired recently, he visited the psychological clinic again after his classes.

"You’re looking quite well lately," the doctor diagnosed, "It’s probably just fatigue, get more rest."

Since returning from his home country, the doctor had noted a significant improvement in his psychological issues, provided some counseling, and after taking some medicine, Lucas surprisingly fell asleep in the clinic.

The environment was too comfortable here.

"Sorry," Lucas realized it was dark when he woke up.

"It’s okay," the doctor smiled, "I’m about to go home. Would you like a lift back to school?"

"No need, I’ll take the subway."

The weather was a bit muggy here, opposite the season back home. Lucas left the clinic and hurried to catch the subway. By the time he reached the station, he was sweating profusely.

His school was at the last stop. By the time the subway reached it, there weren’t many people left in the carriage.

When he exited the subway, he saw from a distance a bunch of guys on motorcycles, smoking and talking. Head lowered, he quickly left.

Unexpectedly, the group caught up with him, grabbing the backpack he carried over his shoulders.

Lucas frowned and tried to yank it back.

But to his surprise, he was pushed to the ground.

The group laughed boisterously. Lucas clenched his teeth; he was lean and outnumbered, putting up a weak defense. He grabbed his backpack, ready to leave.

But the group was relentless, deliberately mocking and playing with him.

It was obviously intentional harassment.

When he could take no more and punched the leader in the face, he was swarmed by the group.

Bystanders passed by, yet none came to his aid.

It was not until Lucas was knocked down that he tried to get up, using his hands for support. From afar, the sound of motorcycles grew louder, the blinding headlight flashed towards him, and his vision blurred into white...

He could only hear the piercing engine noise growing louder, exploding by his ears!

The wheels rolled over his wrist!

The pain was sharp and bone-piercing as it spread instantly through his body, and he cried out in shock. Blood trickled down his wrist, while the group rode off on their motorcycles, cheering as they went—

**

Capital City, midnight

Zoe Bell awoke suddenly from a nightmare, sitting straight up in bed.

"Zoe?" William Hale, woken by her movement, asked, "What’s wrong?"

"I had a very strange dream," Zoe said, breathing heavily with a cold sweat over her body, heart still racing uncontrollably, unable to calm down.

William Hale gently patted her back to soothe her and handed her a glass of water, "It’s just a dream, don’t be too tense."

Zoe nodded.

In the dream, she encountered a hideous ghoul that clung to her, impossible to shake off. The imagery was vivid, and it took her a long time to calm down. She looked at the time; it was only just past three in the morning.

Lying down, whenever she closed her eyes, the nightmare returned. She was wholly unable to sleep.

William Hale had to go to work the next day, and Zoe didn’t want to disturb him, so she lay awake until dawn before getting up. Perhaps due to the lack of sleep, her hand, holding the crutch, lacked strength, and she nearly stumbled.

Sitting in the Incense Making Room, she couldn’t focus on concocting scents.

Until her phone suddenly vibrated with a strange number from Greenland.

Hesitant, she answered, "Hello?"

"Zoe—" Vivi Lange’s voice, tinged with a sob, suddenly erupted, causing Zoe’s heart to race again, "It’s me, I’m your mother..."

"Ms. Lange, what do you need?" Zoe frowned.

"Your brother, he’s had an accident."

Zoe stood up abruptly, completely forgetting that her foot was still not fully healed. Thankfully, Joy Watson was nearby and quickly steadied her, "Who did you say?"

"Lucas has had an accident abroad!"

"What happened?"

"I don’t know either. I got a call from the school saying he was beaten up by some punks, and they even broke his hand. What do we do now?"

Vivi Lange was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Although Lucas Bell had chosen to help Zoe Bell escape from the Bell Family, he hadn’t abandoned his parents when trouble arose.

He was the only support for Ms. Lange in the latter half of her life.

"Zoe, I’m begging you, please help him. Your father and I are being sued due to the company’s bankruptcy and debt, and our high spending has been restricted. We can’t afford to fly over there."

"You get along best with Lucas, I’m begging you, can you go and see if he’s okay?"

"He’s always been good to you; you won’t just stand by and watch him die, right? I beg you!"

On the other end of the phone, Vivi Lange was crying inconsolably.

"They said his hand is broken... What are we going to do? He’s still so young, if his hand is crippled..."

Zoe Bell ended the call, her face deathly pale.

Joy Watson was by her side, hearing everything clearly.

"Sister Zoe, why don’t you make a call to check if it’s true? Maybe it’s a scam?" she comforted.

Zoe Bell nodded and called Lucas Bell. No one answered at first, but eventually someone picked up. The person on the other line spoke English, asking if Zoe was family and informed her that Lucas’s condition was serious and he needed surgery arranged as soon as possible.

How could something like this happen so suddenly?

He was all alone in a foreign land, lying in a hospital bed with a broken hand...

When William Hale received a call from his wife about Lucas’s accident, he immediately arranged for a friend handling his affairs abroad to take care of it.

The feedback received:

Everything Vivi Lange had said was true.

William Hale decided to make a trip himself. Zoe Bell was on edge, wanting to go but unable to due to her recent surgery; it wasn’t advisable to fly so soon, leaving her stuck in the Capital City.

"How could something happen all of a sudden?" Wyatt Hale frowned, "Is the security abroad really that bad?"

"They said he ran into a motorcycle gang?" Logan Hale also had a grave expression, "Some foreigners are quite hostile toward us, they might provoke or humiliate intentionally, but to go as far as deliberately breaking his hand?"

"Sister-in-law, have you asked him if he’s offended anyone recently?"

Zoe shook her head.

Lucas’s situation was too severe for them to have had any phone conversations.

Simon Hale analyzed from the side, "If it was just a random provocation, that would be one thing, but I fear it’s malicious targeting. If this isn’t handled properly, he could be in danger again abroad in the future."

"Malicious... targeting?" Zoe murmured.

She knew her brother’s temperament very well.

Aloof and peculiar, he would prefer not to interact too much with others due to psychological reasons; how could he have possibly offended anyone?

"Let’s not speculate wildly." The Old Lady frowned, signaling her grandsons to quiet down, "Zoe, don’t overthink it, William should be arriving soon, let him handle it. Your brother will be alright."

Zoe Bell nodded but remained restless.

**

Abroad

After William Hale arrived at the hospital, surgery was arranged for Lucas Bell, and he then went to the local police station. The troublemakers had been arrested, most of them minors, claiming that Lucas was of Asian descent and they attacked him simply because they didn’t like him.

They even hired a lawyer.

After posting bail, they were released.

As they walked past him, they deliberately provoked him.

"These damn brats!" Zac Cruz could hardly stand it, fuming with anger.

William Hale didn’t respond, simply reached into his pocket for a pack of cigarettes.

He took out one, placed it in his mouth, and as the lighter clicked—a sudden bright light of flame illuminated his dark pupils intensely.

His eyes held a fiery color, full of danger.

"Have someone follow them."

"Sir, do you think there’s something wrong with them?"

"Have you ever seen a bunch of punks hiring a lawyer, and not just any lawyer, but a rather well-known local one?"

This matter was definitely not as simple as it seemed.