Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 257 - 226 Mrs. Hale, am I trying hard enough?

Chapter 257: 226 Mrs. Hale, am I trying hard enough?

William Hale had just returned to the country, and his family hadn’t taken up too much of his time, allowing him to go back to his room to rest.

After his shower, he saw his wife leaning against the headboard, playing with her mobile phone. As soon as she saw him come out, she hurriedly turned off the screen, looking immensely sneaky.

"Who were you chatting with?" he asked, towel in hand, wiping his hair.

"No one."

"Zoe, you’re not good at lying."

Zoe Bell was never able to hide her emotions well in front of him, and he was too perceptive.

"I was just casually chatting with my cousin. She said many people in the Circle of Capital City are discussing our relationship now."

"What are they discussing?" William Hale sat down beside the bed.

"Many people don’t believe it; some think I’m a witch who has bewitched you, others say that you should try harder..."

William Hale just smiled and reached out to touch her face.

He was accustomed to cold showers, even in such cold weather, his fingertips cooled by the water.

When they touched her warm skin, it made her shudder involuntarily and she couldn’t help but shrink her neck...

The next second, William Hale leaned down to kiss her.

They hadn’t been intimate for a long time,

He kissed her urgently.

Causing Zoe Bell to moan softly, "Be gentle, my leg is injured."

Her voice was soft, filled with intimacy.

His hair wasn’t completely dry, and occasionally a droplet fell along his hair strands.

Landing on both of them, the steam seemed to instantly evaporate in the heat between them.

That night,

the air was humid;

the temperature,

scalding;

the two of them,

indulged in abandon...

Perhaps because it had been so long since they last met, William Hale did it purposefully.

Unable to endure it, Zoe Bell gritted her teeth and said, "William Hale, I’m a patient."

"Don’t worry, I know my limits."

Limits?!

Their cheeks stroking each other, warmth lingering.

As they intertwined, William Hale’s voice was deep and magnetic, his breath burning hot:

"Mrs. Hale, am I trying hard enough?"

Zoe Bell, clenching her teeth.

Too hard!

She still had to go to the Rehabilitation Hospital regularly, which already drained too much of her energy, but William Hale wouldn’t let her be.

He seemed determined to tire her out completely.

When it was over, Zoe Bell lay there, not wanting to move.

William Hale, wearing pajama bottoms, bare-chested, twisted a hot towel to wipe her body.

There was laughter in his gaze, "Why are you crying now?"

His rare tenderness made him seem incredibly gentle and soft-hearted.

Zoe Bell, through gritted teeth:

You have the nerve to ask? Have you no shame?

"I’m going to take another shower, you should go to sleep," William Hale kissed her forehead.

Zoe Bell had been so worn out by him, just before sleeping she picked up her phone and saw that two hours earlier she had sent a message to Hannah Johnson, but had not yet received a reply. Could she really have run off to Mr. Shea’s dorm? Were the two busy?

By the time William Hale came out from the shower, Zoe Bell had already fallen asleep.

Jet-lagged, he couldn’t sleep and, not wanting to disturb Zoe Bell, he left the bedroom. Passing by Finn Hale’s study, he noticed that the lights were still on despite it being past two in the morning.

He knocked and entered, finding him still bent over working on drawings.

"Uncle Finn, haven’t you gone to bed?"

"Not done yet."

William Hale stepped closer and noticed it was still the architectural blueprints for the Sheng Family Mansion, "Weren’t the design drawings already completed?"

"There were some issues during construction that needed revising," Finn Hale held his pen, "Mrs. Payne recently redecorated a room previously used by her niece-in-law, and there have already been inquiries within the Payne Family about it."

At this moment, the Payne Family believed Zoe Bell was dead.

Julia Yates not only preserved her room but also refurbished it, truly arousing suspicion.

"Who inquired?"

"Servants, housekeepers..." Finn Hale looked up at him, chuckling softly, "Mr. Payne and Mrs. Payne have been away from Capital City for too long. This place, I reckon, has long been hollowed out."

"How did you respond?"

"I told them that Mrs. Payne was ill from longing for her daughter, wanting to preserve her daughter’s room."

"Did they believe that?"

"Who knows, but with the couple returning to the Payne Family and even entering the company, stumbling over others’ toes, they won’t be able to sit still for long."

Finn Hale spoke and glanced at William Hale, "Why aren’t you sleeping at this hour?"

"Just finished some work; can’t sleep, thought I’d chat with you for a bit."

"..."

Finn Hale’s face grew stern.

This damn fool, what is he showing off for?

Having a wife is something impressive huh!

Lately, his parents kept bringing up the subject of finding a girlfriend, but such matters couldn’t be solved by simply dragging anyone off the street; it had to be the right person...

An image flashed through Finn Hale’s mind.

His expression changed subtly, his fingers involuntarily tightening.

"Uncle Finn?" William Hale noticed his unease, "Who are you thinking of?"

"Elderly matters, none of your business, I’m going to sleep!"

With that, he threw down the papers and walked out.

William Hale chuckled softly, annoyed into anger, was he?

He glanced down at the blueprints of the Sheng Family Mansion. Today he had met with his in-laws who mentioned planning to hold a banquet soon as a formal announcement of their return to Capital City, by then many celebrities from Capital City would be invited.

Although their relationship wasn’t public yet, William Hale would certainly bring Zoe Bell to attend.

That was also why Martin Yates had postponed his trip abroad.

Soon, news of the Payne Family preparing for the banquet spread throughout the Circle of Capital City. They selected their guests carefully, not just anyone could attend, and a meticulously designed gilt invitation became a symbol of status and recognition.

Hannah Johnson’s invitation was with Zoe Bell.

When Zoe Bell visited her home to pet the cat, she had handed over the invitation.

Isaac Shea was also there that day, brewing fruit tea for the two of them.

"You’re welcome to visit anytime," Zoe Bell smiled.

"Sure."

Hannah Johnson smiled, unintentionally revealing a bite mark on her neck.

Zoe Bell sipped her tea, eyeing Isaac Shea who was busy in the kitchen again from the corner of her eye.

Truly domestic!

This Teacher Shea seemed like a tame and obedient big dog...

In private,

was he so wild?

"Sis, what’s your relationship with Teacher Shea now?" Zoe Bell had been curious for too long.

"Boyfriend and girlfriend." Hannah Johnson looked at her seriously, "Don’t tell William about this just yet. When I was in school, any boy I liked would be scared away by him, and Isaac is quite timid."

Zoe Bell was astonished:

Timid?

But the things he did were quite bold.

Maybe her cousin had a misunderstanding about timidity.

Zoe Bell still needed to go to the Rehabilitation Hospital and didn’t stay long at their place. After she left, Isaac Shea glanced at the invitation, not even inquiring about the event, only asking:

"Are you going?"

"Not sure if I’ll have the time. My company’s been too busy lately. My damned father messed it up so badly; we just fired a bunch of moles and hired a lot of new staff recently. The transition is causing me a headache."

Hannah Johnson said this while massaging her temples.

Isaac Shea’s gaze lingered on the invitation.

Because,

his family also received an invitation. The Payne Family hadn’t hosted a banquet in nearly thirty years, and almost everyone invited would attend.

His parents even demanded:

That he should go too!

As long as Hannah Johnson didn’t go, it would be fine...

Hannah Johnson noticed his gaze and chuckled softly, "What are you looking at? Interested in the banquet? I’ll take you there to have fun."

"..."

Take him there to have fun?

Was she out of her mind?

If his parents saw them or they ran into acquaintances, it would be over!

"I’m busy with school stuff, don’t have time," Isaac Shea said ruefully.

"Really?" Hannah Johnson frowned, holding the invitation, "Why do I feel like you’re quite interested in this?"

Hannah Johnson’s intuition was accurate.

Isaac Shea leaned in close, "Sis, I’m only interested in you."

As he spoke, he kissed her lips leisurely.

"In broad daylight, stop fooling around," Hannah Johnson pushed him, feeling ticklish as he held her waist.

Her laughter was full of allure, and as Isaac Shea pressed down, her body sank into the soft sofa...

Unceasingly,

sinking deeper.

In a daze, pulling Hannah Johnson back to their first time.