Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 296: Old Sir Hale questioned, asking if the younger uncle should go on a blind date?

Chapter 296: Old Sir Hale questioned, asking if the younger uncle should go on a blind date?

The new store was bustling with activity as Zoe Bell worked tirelessly until the last group of customers left, finally allowing her to rest.

Joy Watson, promoted to store manager, was busy tallying the day’s sales and inventory, while also organizing a list of gift-giving customers—a practice of reciprocation for future reference.

"Sister Zoe, didn’t Mr. Hale make dinner plans with you tonight? You can go ahead, I can handle the rest," Joy said, her smile wide as she looked over the day’s earnings.

"No rush."

At that moment, the doorbell hanging on the door chimed, and Joy looked up smiling, "Sorry, ma’am, but we’ve closed for the day."

"I know."

Zoe lifted her head at the sound.

It was Iva Payne.

Holding a bouquet and a gift in her arms, her smile was gentle, but her eyes and brows bore signs of exhaustion, not as haughty as before.

"Joy, please pour us some tea," Zoe gestured for Iva to follow her to a side seat.

As the tea steeped, Iva took the opportunity to scrutinize Zoe once again.

The warmth from the indoors allowed her to wear a lotus-pink Chinese-styled blouse, adorned with a string of Southern Red and white jade around her neck—its luster warm, her hair loosely tied up, exuding elegance and poise.

"Mrs. Hale, congratulations on the opening of your new store, and may your business prosper," Iva said.

"Thank you."

"Last time at the old house, I was too impulsive, and I really want to apologize properly to you. Celine’s detention is a consequence of her own actions," Iva sipped her tea, her gaze fixed on Zoe, "I’ve been busy with work and neglected to discipline her."

"It’s all in the past," Zoe replied indifferently.

Iva had always looked down on Zoe before and never took a close look at her.

Now, as she looked more carefully,

she increasingly thought Zoe resembled her "deceased" niece.

However, Zoe was slender, not as plump and rosy as her little niece.

Iva bought some Incense Cards before leaving. When she arrived at the detention center, Celine Payne saw the gift bag next to her mother’s purse and exploded, "Mom, did her store reopen?"

"Yes."

"And you actually went there?"

Iva nodded.

"Mom, why? It’s her fault I ended up like this, I wouldn’t have been detained if not for her!"

"Your grandparents went as well; wouldn’t it be inappropriate if I didn’t show up?"

"That little bitch is just relying on having eyes similar to my cousin’s; otherwise, my grandparents wouldn’t bother with her!" Celine gritted her teeth, "If only my cousin were still alive."

"With her around, that wretched girl would never dare to be so presumptuous!"

Iva remained silent, but a dark glint passed through her eyes.

Indeed,

If that girl were still alive...

The situation for the Payne Family would be quite different.

To this day, her parents didn’t suggest she move back into the old house, and every time she brought it up, they’d just gloss over it.

**

Since Celine Payne’s detention, Zoe enjoyed a period of relief. Running a physical store for the first time, she was inevitably overwhelmed, often working overtime, busier even than William Hale.

Anyone wishing to dine with her needed to make an appointment in advance.

The Payne senior couple often made excuses about custom incense to see her.

This left William frequently on his own.

"Is Zoe not coming back for dinner tonight?" Old Lady Hale asked her grandson.

"Business is busy at the shop."

"She’s doing quite well with her business, I’ve seen some old friends recently and they all spoke highly of her," the old lady beamed with pride, "William, now that Zoe’s leg is recovering well and her business is getting on track, you should consider making wedding plans."

Lily Lott chimed in, "It’d be best around the New Year—very festive."

Brock Hale added, "She’s busy with work, and as her husband, you should take care of the wedding arrangements."

William nodded, "I will discuss it with her."

The Hale Family hadn’t had a celebration in a long while; the Old Sir was in a good mood, heating up a pot of yellow wine. A few cups in, his gaze inadvertently fell on his estranged son nearby and his disdain grew.

"Drink less," Old Lady Hale urged.

"I know my limits," he replied.

Yet the old man finished off a jug of yellow wine regardless.

The warm yellow wine went straight to the head.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of his contrary son and seized the drunken opportunity to speak up, "Finn Hale!"

"Dad?" Finn, suddenly called out, was a bit startled.

"Tell me honestly, did you disappoint a girl, break her heart so badly that you chased after her abroad these past few years?"

"Cough—" Wyatt Hale, who was busily eating, choked on his food but immediately pricked up his ears.

Oh man,

The uncle’s gossip!

This kind of opportunity was rare.

Why didn’t his sister-in-law come home for dinner tonight!

No way,

He had to give her a live update.

Wyatt Hale sneakily texted Zoe Bell.

The rest of the Hale Family pretended to eat but were all ears for the gossip.

Finn remained unfazed, "Dad, who told you that?"

"So it’s not true? Then why did the girl run away!"

"There’s no such person."

"So the rumors are false?" Old Sir Hale frowned, "If you don’t have someone you like, then I will arrange a blind date for you tomorrow."

"I’m not going."

"What are you pretending for in front of me? There was a time when you drank every day. Your mother and I thought you were worried about some design project, but it turns out..."

"Dad!" Finn cut off his father’s words, "I have work to do; I’m going back to my room."

With that, he stood up and walked out.

"Finn Hale, you little rascal, you have the nerve to lose someone. Go find her then—if there really isn’t anyone, I’ll set you up on a blind date tomorrow!"

"Did you hear me? I told you to go on a blind date!"

"..."

After Finn left, Wyatt Hale immediately asked with gossip-hungry curiosity, "Grandpa, so is it true about the uncle’s funeral-like chase for his wife that’s going around outside?"

The next second, Logan Hale picked up a chicken wing and stuffed it into his mouth.

Stay out of your uncle’s business, don’t watch, don’t handle, don’t ask!

This kid really was asking for trouble.

Although Zoe wasn’t home, she got her share of the juicy story.

Just as she was finishing up and planning to close the shop and go home, a customer walked in.

This was her first time owning a physical store, and Zoe Bell wanted to do everything herself. She didn’t want to miss any customer, so she greeted with a smile, "Hello."

"Are you closing up?" The woman had just come in from outside, using a scarf to cover half of her face to keep warm.

"Not yet."

"Do you customize fragrances here?"

"Yes, please have a seat," Zoe gestured for her to sit down, then turned around to pour her some tea, "Is plain hot water OK?"

"Yes, that’s fine. Thank you," the woman replied.

Zoe came back with the water only to find that the woman had taken off her scarf and coat.

With eyes like autumn waters and lips like summer cherries, she was fit for a painting.

Under the light, she was as if the moon gathered snow.

She was so beautiful that Zoe couldn’t help but take a few extra glances, when her phone vibrated with a call from William Hale, "Hello, Mr. Hale..."

"Still busy?"

"About to get off work."

The expression of the woman who was drinking water changed subtly in a moment.