Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 274 - 273 Moral kidnapping? You come and be filial to him then

Chapter 274: 273 Moral kidnapping? You come and be filial to him then

Inside the hall, many had come upon hearing the news.

It wasn’t often you’d see such a commotion involving the Hale Family.

"People can’t help but gossip," someone said. "The Hale Family has such misfortune, marrying that kind of daughter-in-law, with in-laws like that—it’s truly an embarrassment."

"I chatted with Mrs. Hale last night and thought she was quite nice," another commented. "I believe the adoptive father is the larger problem here."

"The Paynes are holding their first banquet since returning to the capital, and to have a scandal now—wouldn’t that be slapping the Payne Family’s face?"

...

Amidst the buzzing crowd, someone spotted Zoe Bell.

"Mrs. Hale is here."

A cry of surprise went up and suddenly, no one dared to speak; instead, they made way for Zoe Bell.

Upon seeing her, Kevin Bell’s eyes lit up.

She was dressed in simple sportswear, a beauty with striking features, and even without makeup, her eyes, clear like autumn waters and spring mountains, shone brightly with excellent complexion.

It was evident that she had been living well recently.

In stark contrast, Kevin Bell was gaunt and haggard. Ever since bankruptcy hit him, he hadn’t had a good night’s sleep, with his cheekbones sticking out through his thin face.

His eyes, murky, grew sharper and greedier.

Seeing Zoe Bell, a flicker of intensity shone in his eyes as he got up from the ground and, leaning on a walking stick, approached her. "Zoe, my dear daughter, I’ve finally seen you again."

"Do you know how much your father has missed you since you left Greenland?"

As he spoke, he even managed to squeeze out a few crocodile tears.

The Hales were wealthy; as long as Zoe Bell was willing to give him some startup capital, he believed he could rise again!

Kevin Bell made a scene publicly because he felt that the Hales cared about their reputation and wouldn’t raise a hand against him in public.

In the end, they would probably pay him off just to shut him up.

He approached her with a smile, "Zoe—"

Reaching out, trying to pull her close.

Zoe Bell raised her hand.

"Slap—" and knocked the extended hand away.

"Mr. Bell, respect yourself." Her tone was cold, her eyes even colder.

Her action shocked everyone present.

"Zoe, what do you mean? Don’t you recognize your father?"

Kevin Bell clutched his chest, his eyes slightly red, as if his heart was breaking, "We lived together for more than twenty years, I took you from the orphanage, provided you with a lavish life."

"Do you think I’m an embarrassment now that I’m bankrupt, so you don’t want to recognize me?"

Zoe Bell laughed coldly, "Kevin Bell, is this really necessary?"

"I don’t understand what you’re saying."

"Our adoption relationship has already been terminated, I have no connection to you anymore," Zoe Bell refused to look at him more than necessary.

"It was compelled by the situation!"

Kevin Bell’s face was filled with bitterness. "Are our twenty years of affection nothing but a mere adoption paper in your eyes?"

"I don’t believe it, you’re not that heartless."

"Zoe, when I took my biological daughter back, to make up to her, I indeed did some things I shouldn’t have to you, but you should understand me, she had been lost for so long, I wanted to compensate her."

"Even if you won’t acknowledge your father, in my heart, you’ll always be my daughter."

His eyes were red with an affectionate look on his face.

A short distance away, Celine Payne was secretly gleeful.

She never expected to witness such a drama first thing in the morning.

Zoe Bell wasn’t falling for it; she cut straight to the chase: "Tell me, how much money do you want?"

Kevin Bell’s face changed dramatically. "Zoe Bell, what do you mean? In your eyes, am I really so sordid and greedy?"

"If it’s not about the money, then why are you looking for me?"

"To see how well I’m doing?"

"Now you’ve seen, I’m doing quite fine..."

Zoe Bell’s lips curved with mockery in her smile, "Kevin Bell, you can get lost now."

"You..." Kevin’s fingers clenched tightly, "I raised you; you should provide for me in my old age."

Zoe’s face was nonchalant, "Yeah, why don’t you sue me?"

"To court?" Kevin gritted his teeth, "We’re family, do you really need to make such a mess?"

"Your wailing on the floor isn’t messy?"

"Nonsense. You talk about filial piety as a daughter; are you such a model father?"

"You can find a whole lot about the things you’ve done to me with a simple online search. I believe everyone here is smart enough not to be swayed by your few words."

"Fatherly love, filial piety, you..."

Zoe’s voice grew colder, and a flash of frost appeared in her eyes,

"Deserve to be my father!"

"Or rather, someone like you doesn’t even deserve to be human!"

"Zoe Bell, you wretched little wench, don’t forget who took you out of the orphanage. Without me, would you have met William Hale, or had this luxurious life?" Kevin bit down hard on his words, his tone vicious.

"I should indeed thank you. If it hadn’t been for you kicking me out of the house, making me lose my job, penniless, and forcing me to marry someone else, I wouldn’t have met Mr. Hale."

"You..."

"Is your so-called fatherly love the act of breaking my leg, so I couldn’t be a professional dancer, forcing me to get married, and throwing me out on a rainy night to be a stepping stone for your biological daughter?"

Zoe laughed coldly, "Now, seeing me well-married, you shamelessly come to act out a deep fatherly love."

"Don’t you find yourself disgusting?"

Kevin trembled with rage, "You ungrateful wretch!"

He reached out, actually wanting to strike her.

Zoe didn’t dodge or hide, but stepped forward on her crutches, "Come on, touch me and see what happens!"

Kevin’s mouth twitched violently with anger.

"Really bold with someone backing you up."

"You don’t even care if your foster father lives or dies, you’re just a thankless cur."

"You were born a lowlife, always seducing men..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Zoe suddenly raised her arm.

With a crisp slap, Kevin’s cheek instantly turned red. He looked incredulously at the person in front of him, "You wretched girl, how dare you hit me!"

"So what if I hit you?"

Kevin was frantic, glancing at the people around him, he bit down on his cheek and then plopped down on the ground.

"Ouch, everyone, come see! A daughter has hit her father!"

"..."

Zoe couldn’t be bothered with him and turned to the staff nearby, "Call the police, let the authorities handle it."

"Zoe Bell! I’m your dad!" Kevin fumed.

What’s wrong with this wretched girl, she won’t take the hint!

Before Zoe could reply, someone said, "Mrs. Hale, you’re all family; why make such a scene, and no matter what, he is your foster father."

"After all, you’ve lived together for so many years, and he’s old. You are being too harsh."

Celine Payne stepped forward.

"Even if he made mistakes in the past, he’s disabled now. Your behavior is too heartless."

Zoe’s fingers tightened around her crutches.

Why did she intervene!

"Miss Payne, if you’re so kind-hearted, why don’t you... take him home and care for him!"