Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 295 - 294 Payne Family’s Grand Gesture, Directly Gifting a Building (2 More - s)

Chapter 295: 294 Payne Family’s Grand Gesture, Directly Gifting a Building (2 More Chapters)

The Payne family was reunited, and no one had much appetite for dinner. The Old Lady didn’t even touch her chopsticks, only sipped half a bowl of soup before clutching Zoe Bell’s hand and refusing to let go.

She even said, "It’s getting too late. Why not spend the night at the old mansion?"

Naturally, Zoe was thinking exactly that.

The Paynes did it to avoid leaving her alone, which would have been too conspicuous.

So they arranged accommodations for William Hale and Finn Hale, including... Michale Shaw!

Turns out, his role tonight was to be the handyman!

The Payne’s mansion had plenty of guest rooms, but they were under renovation, and since they rarely had visitors, only two rooms were available—taken by the Hale uncle and nephew, respectively.

Michale Shaw gritted his teeth:

Damn!

Do I have to share a room with Hale or the younger uncle tonight?

Tim Payne clapped him on the shoulder, "Caught between a rock and a hard place? Before Mr. Hale got married, this was something countless girls in the Circle of Capital City could only dream of."

"Choose Mr. Hale or Finn Hale? So many ladies worried over it."

"Now the chance is before you. You really should treasure it."

Michale Shaw gave a wry smile, "Can I choose to die instead?"

"How about you sleep with me tonight?"

"I’ll sleep with Hale."

After all, he was the one Michale knew best.

But when he actually got to the room, Michale realized how big the pressure was, "Hale, about the bed... do you want the inside or the outside?"

"You want to sleep with me?"

"What else? There’s only one bed, we’re all grown men, I don’t mind."

"I mind, I’m married."

"So?"

"You sleep on the floor."

"..."

Michale Shaw was going crazy. The bed was so big, and it still couldn’t fit little old me?

Your marriage is none of my business. I don’t like men, I’m not going to topple you or anything. Michale grumbled to himself yet resignedly set up his bedding on the floor, not forgetting to gossip a bit, "Hale, is your wife really from the Payne family? She doesn’t quite look the part."

"How did she get lost back then?"

"Celine Payne doesn’t know about your wife’s relation to the Paynes, does she? Iva definitely doesn’t get it either. Why keep it secret from them, and not go public? Are you guys plotting some earth-shattering plan? Count me in."

Michale Shaw chattered like a parrot, even more tiresome than his brother.

——

It was Zoe’s first time back in her room.

The room had been redecorated but still retained her childhood toys and photos. New clothes and various jewelry had been prepared – the Old Lady had too much to say, causing Mr. Payne to stand to the side, unable to get a word in.

"Ahem—" Mr. Payne suddenly cleared his throat, "It’s getting late."

The Old Lady replied, "Then you go to sleep."

"You’re not resting?"

"I’m not tired. Seeing our little darling, I don’t feel like sleeping at all."

Zoe was premature, had to stay in an incubator after birth, and Julia Yates was very weak after delivering. Hence when Zoe got discharged, everyone was extra cautious, not daring to entrust her care to others. The Old Lady took care of Zoe the most.

Cooing and cradling her every day, calling her baby, little darling, naturally the affection was there.

Mr. Payne coughed, "Then I’ll wait a while longer to sleep."

Saying this, he found a stool and sat beside Zoe to stare at her, making her inexplicably nervous.

"You’re afraid of him?" the Old Lady seemed to see right through her.

"..."

"It’s okay, this old man is all bark and no bite. He might look fierce, but he’s really not that bad." The Old Lady glanced at her husband, "Before you were born, he prepared quite a bit of jewelry for you, planning to give it to you when you came of age and for when you got married. But—"

Mr. Payne interjected, "We didn’t expect you to marry so early."

"The matter between Mr. Hale and me isn’t easy to explain in a few words."

"That’s not important. As long as he takes good care of you now, and you two are affectionate and harmonious as husband and wife, that’s what matters." The Old Lady’s eyes were never dry from her tears, "We’ve also prepared other gifts for you, you’ll definitely love them."

Especially when she saw Zoe’s foot not moving too freely, her heart ached even more.

At this moment, a servant knocked on the room door, seemingly having something to say.

Mr. Payne stepped out, and only then did the servant speak, "The son-in-law has returned."

"Where is he?"

"He wanted to greet you and the Old Lady, but I said you were resting. So he took some clothes and left, asking me to extend his regards and to apologize to Mrs. Hale."

"I understand."

Her daughter had always been competitive since she was young.

Now, her granddaughter wasn’t raised well, and her marital relationship was tense, leading to her current life being a complete mess.

At this moment, Iva Payne gathered some clothes and brought them to the detention center. Without being able to bail out her daughter, there was always a way to see her for a moment. Celine Payne, who had kneeled in the cold wind for over an hour, was now continuously sneezing and had a runny nose.

"Mom, save me, I don’t want to stay here," she cried with swollen eyes.

"Celine, stay in there for a few days, and Mommy will pick you up."

"A few days?"

Upon hearing this, Celine Payne nearly fainted from crying.

She had never suffered such humiliation growing up, "It’s all that bitch Zoe Bell’s fault!"

"Do you still think it’s her fault?"

Iva Payne clenched her teeth.

"Your uncle and aunt came back to Capital City all worked up. You gave them a handle to grab at this time, and she just happens to be the Hale family’s daughter-in-law. You insisted on bringing destruction upon yourself."

"Now look, your grandparents have driven our family out of the old house. Once you get out, you can no longer say that you are Miss Payne."

Celine Payne had kneeled outside the house, unaware of the inside story.

Now hearing this, she felt her head buzzing with resonance.

"Mom, do grandma and grandpa not love me anymore? They even tested me. I’m their own granddaughter, yet they don’t believe me."

"I’ve told you long ago not to do unnecessary things, but you wouldn’t listen,"

Iva Payne frowned, "Your grandparents have never been easy to fool, these past years we’ve had you pretend to be well-behaved, to avoid trouble."

"With this mess now, I’ll see what you’re going to do in the future."

Celine Payne cried miserably.

And Iva Payne left the detention center still thinking about how to fix things for her daughter. She would definitely have to apologize to Zoe Bell, but the Hale family wasn’t short on money, and she really didn’t know what to offer.

On the other hand, she also urgently needed to mend the relationship with her parents.

But her parents were definitely furious right now, so a few days later, Iva Payne carried gifts back to the old house.

Only to be told that her parents were out.

"Is sister-in-law here?" Julia Yates spent most of her time in the old house’s study, drawing design sketches.

"The lady is not in either."

"They are all out?"

The servant nodded, not disclosing their whereabouts.

However, she received a message on her phone from her assistant:

[Deputy President, Mrs. Hale’s new store is opening today. Old Sir Hale and the Old Lady, including Junior President Payne, are all there to congratulate her. Do we need to have a flower basket sent over?]

Zoe Bell is opening a new store?

Iva Payne had been so troubled lately that she had no energy to bother about her.

When she drove there, she found it was an antique-style commercial property, situated in the city center with four floors plus a small attic, bearing the sign "Triple & Double," endorsed by Old Sir Hale’s name.

The place was bustling like a marketplace, teeming with people who had come to offer their congratulations.

People from Capital City’s Circle knew best how to trample or lift someone up. The list of customers looking for customized incense from Zoe Bell was already full until next year.

Wyatt Hale was happily helping out with the work.

Indeed, sticking with his sister-in-law meant there was meat to eat.

Zoe Bell hadn’t expected that the gift her grandmother mentioned before would turn out to be an entire building. It was already renovated, and even a few employees were recruited. She could just start the business immediately.

Michale Shaw made the grandest gesture, even pulling a banner behind an airplane, wishing her business prosperity.

Wyatt Hale glanced at his own gift:

A fortune cat.

He watched Michale Shaw, grinning as he charmed his sister-in-law away. Grinding his teeth, he wondered if another person would come along to compete for his sister-in-law’s favor.

Iva Payne watched the airplane circling in the sky.

It was just a shop opening, a small incense business, and yet it was as lively as a grand event in Capital City.

Surrounded by people, Zoe Bell smiled radiantly.

Those eyes were bright and full of life.

She was so much like that girl who had died.

Naturally likable, like a little pink dough ball, soft and sticky. She, as her aunt, had truly adored her at some point.

Fortunately, she spent most of her time abroad.

Even so, since her arrival, her daughter had inevitably felt neglected at home.

In that moment, she seemed to understand why her daughter was always targeting her.

That feeling was as if...

She had returned!