Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 290 - 289 Junior President Payne made a move, just for the cousin (2 updates)

Chapter 290: 289 Junior President Payne made a move, just for the cousin (2 updates)

Zoe Bell was visiting the Sheng Family Mansion for the first time. The mansion covered a vast area, with construction still going on at the back. Thanks to the heating system, once the doors and windows were closed, no noise from the outside world could be heard in the living room.

Bone china tea cups, and an agarwood desk.

The living room, mainly in shades of off-white, light blue, and pinkish-beige, was adorned with several bonsais, a pot of orchids, and sunlight streaming through a carved window creating a dappled shadow effect.

The new Chinese style of Song’s aesthetics, understated luxury yet elegantly refreshing.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hale, it really is rare to see you. What brings you to our home?" Mario Payne had already had the servants serve tea.

The fragrance of lychee red tea spread, temptingly sweet.

Smelling the aroma, Celine frowned:

Do we even have this kind of tea in our house?

"We’ve come unannounced because we need to speak with Junior President Payne," William Hale was the first to speak.

"Me?" Tim raised an eyebrow, "If it’s work-related, you should look for me at the office."

"It’s a personal matter."

"We hardly interact personally. What personal matter could there be?"

Finn Hale sat by the window where the sunlight was streaming through.

Basking in the sun, he silently watched the spectacle unfold between these two.

You two, keep the show going!

Zoe sipped her tea, but her gaze involuntarily drifted to the various porcelain items displayed on the wall beside her. Not being an aficionado, she simply found them beautiful.

Celine humphed:

All these are antique vases collected by Grandfather; this woman really hasn’t seen much of the world.

William looked at Tim and chuckled, "My wife has recently encountered some trouble, and I believe Junior President Payne must have heard something about it."

"Naturally."

"Then I’d like to ask where my wife has offended you?"

"Offended?"

This word made both Mario and his wife frown.

Julia Yates spoke up, "Mr. Hale, your tone suggests you are here to accuse us. Tim has been innocently implicated due to his association with your wife, and not only do you show no sign of apology, but you even come here accusing us. How does that make sense?"

"In Capital City, the reputation you have, we’ve heard."

"But this is the Payne family!"

The implication was clear:

Telling William to watch his step and not overstep!

Zoe cleared her throat, "I consider myself a friend of Junior President Payne, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out how I’ve wronged you to deserve this treatment."

"I... targeted you?"

"Having people maliciously order from my shop and leave bad reviews, wasn’t that your doing?"

"What are you talking about?" Tim frowned.

"Junior President Payne, stop playing dumb."

"I..."

Before Tim could continue, Celine interrupted, "Mrs. Hale, what bad reviews? Could there be some misunderstanding here? My cousin is so busy, how could he possibly stoop to such things?"

"You really are funny, blaming your store’s problems on my cousin without reflecting on what’s really happening."

"Zoe Bell, this is the Payne house, not the Hale house!"

"My cousin is simply close to you yet got dragged into this. We haven’t even settled accounts with you yet, and here you are trying to smear him. Have you no shame?"

Zoe chuckled lowly, "Miss Payne, I was speaking with Junior President Payne, isn’t your interjection a bit ill-mannered?"

"Are you saying I’m ill-mannered?"

Celine turned to Tim, "Cousin, you see what she’s saying..."

"I’m also curious why Mrs. Hale would say that!"

"I came here because I have evidence." Zoe pulled out several sheets of paper from her bag, "Here are printed transaction records. The payee is a professional who was hired to leave bad reviews, and the payer..."

"Is Junior President Payne!"

"Surely you owe me an explanation for this."

Tim held the transaction records, remaining silent for a long time.

Celine leaned over to glance, "Cousin, this must be a forgery, right? You definitely wouldn’t do such a thing."

"I think she’s just trying to throw dirt on you because she fears you’ll hold her accountable. It’s despicable!"

"Uncle, Aunt, cousin is your own son, you certainly wouldn’t believe this, right?"

Mario and Julia remained silent.

"Mr. Hale, although you and my cousin were once arch-enemies, you certainly know him well. Do you really want to watch this woman slander him?" Celine turned to Finn.

He only lowered his head to drink tea.

Honestly, this lychee red tea tasted quite fragrant.

Tim Payne glanced at the remittance account. "This is indeed my account."

William Hale: "Are you admitting it?"

"But this is the salary card issued by the company when I first joined. I’ve hardly used it, and haven’t even changed the initial password," Tim explained.

"Besides, if it were really me, I wouldn’t be stupid enough to use my own card to transfer the money."

"Isn’t that just openly telling everyone: I’m the one sneaking around?"

"But the number of people who can access your salary card and know the password should be limited," Finn Hale suddenly spoke.

"It must be someone from the family."

"There aren’t many Payne Family Members, and not many would know you have this card and nearly never use it," Finn analyzed. "Whoever could access this card and holds a grudge against my niece-in-law..."

"Eliminate a few, and you should know who did it."

Upon these words, all eyes suddenly focused on Celine Payne.

She felt a chill in her heart.

This...

Why is everyone suddenly looking at her?

"What does this have to do with me? Why are you all staring at me?" Celine pressed her lips together nervously, "I didn’t do it!"

"Are you sure?" Tim stared at her intently.

His gaze was so sharp that it made her scalp tense.

"It definitely wasn’t me!"

"I’ll ask you one more time, are you sure it wasn’t you?"

"Brother, I’m your own cousin, don’t you trust me? How could I possibly do such a thing? Besides, these transaction records could have been fabricated, she’s just trying to stir up trouble between us."

"Zoe Bell, your scheming is so malicious, failing to frame your own cousin and now you slander me!"

"It’s your own fault for selling counterfeit products. You deserved it when your store was shut down!"

"Say that one more time!" Zoe Bell suddenly stood up.

Her normally gentle eyes instantly turned fierce.

"I’m not wrong, are I? You’re married, yet show no prudence, staying so close to my cousin causing him to be criticized, it’s all because of you!"

During the argument, Zoe suddenly stepped forward, causing Celine’s breathing to falter.

Her guilt and nerves made her subconsciously step back two steps, "Miss Payne, which eye of yours saw me being irresponsible?"

"Can’t a married woman have male friends?"

"Do you believe there can be pure friendship between men and women?" Celine scoffed. "You must be trying to gain some benefits from my cousin."

"Hiding under the guise of friendship, who knows what vile thoughts you’ve harbored for my cousin."

"Mr. Hale, you must keep your eyes peeled, don’t be fooled by her."

Zoe clenched her teeth.

Furious, she suddenly raised her hand and struck at Celine!

But she didn’t dodge,

she was intentionally provoking Zoe, forcing her to act.

Guessing it was about time for her grandparents to return from visiting old friends, if Zoe dared to strike at her home, it would definitely look awful.

You like to be liked, don’t you?

I want to see what your face looks like when everyone despises you!

Just as Zoe’s hand hastily reached Celine’s face, Tim Payne quickly intervened, grabbing her wrist, "Mrs. Hale, what are you doing!"

"Cousin!" Celine looked aggrieved, "Look at her, she actually dared to hit me?"

"This is the Payne household, she’s being way too presumptuous."

"She completely disregards you and your parents!"

Zoe frowned, struggled a bit, and pulled her wrist from Tim’s grasp, "That’s because you were too offensive in your speech."

"Who made you act so ugly? I was just stating the facts, and you dared to strike? The one who deserves to be hit is you!" Celine watched as neither William Hale nor Finn Hale spoke up on her behalf.

Cousin protecting himself again!

She charged directly at her, swinging her arm to hit back!

Only the crisp sound of a slap was heard.

"Slap—" once,

Celine’s body staggered almost falling to the ground, while her right cheek instantly swelled, the fingerprints clear. She covered her face, looking at her own cousin’s now lowered arm.

Her face was full of disbelief!

Has he gone mad, sticking up for Zoe Bell and hitting her?