Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 300 - 299 Showing off, counterfeit goods have had plastic surgery

Chapter 300: 299 Showing off, counterfeit goods have had plastic surgery

Simple & Plain Store

When Hannah Johnson arrived, Celine Payne was busy purchasing a large amount of incense for a banquet, deliberately patronizing Zoe Bell’s business.

The full-faced look of proud contentment was so obvious that even a fool could tell it was a deliberate boast.

On the other hand, the daughter Payne Family had found, dressed impressively though very stiff, stood by her side like a well-behaved, obedient doll.

It was also Zoe’s first time seeing her today.

She was about the same age and bore a striking resemblance to her mother.

Her eyes were not the typical lychee-shaped eyes but more like almond-shaped.

Even with makeup, her face couldn’t hide the traces of repairs.

Had this face undergone surgery?

"Miss Payne does resemble Mrs. Payne quite closely," Zoe Bell said politely.

"Of course, she is her aunt’s biological daughter, they’re bound to resemble each other," Celine Payne snorted lightly, "My cousin has suffered a lot living abroad, and both uncle and aunt have been heartbroken."

"My grandfather said that after the banquet, he plans to give half of his shares to my cousin."

Zoe just smiled, "It’s only proper. Mr. Payne wants to compensate his granddaughter; I understand."

That smile, in Celine’s eyes, appeared particularly forced, which made her even prouder, "Yes, after all, my cousin is their most beloved."

"Has Miss Payne been living abroad?" Zoe looked at the girl sitting opposite.

The girl was taken aback.

"What’s wrong?"

"I haven’t changed my name yet, suddenly being called Miss Payne feels unfamiliar." Her former name was Ophelia Wilson, and although she had been brought back, she had not yet been registered in Payne Family’s household.

So her name had not been changed.

Julia Yates said that everything was hurried when her daughter came back, even the room wasn’t ready, so Ophelia had been staying in the guest room ever since she arrived at Payne’s household.

This made Iva Payne a bit anxious.

She had mentioned this to her brother and sister-in-law in a roundabout way, but it always ended up being evasively addressed.

"It must not have been easy living alone abroad."

"It was okay, but I always thought I was an orphan and didn’t expect to still have family."

As she spoke, her eyes suddenly turned red.

Hannah Johnson watched silently from a distance.

This imposter Iva Payne had brought in...

Was really getting into her role!

"I am also an orphan, so I understand this feeling, and I’m envious of you."

"You are Mrs. Hale now, having such a wonderful husband and in-laws who adore you. Do you still need to envy me?"

"Aren’t you always abroad and just returned to the country?" Zoe sipped her tea, "You seem to know quite well about things in Capital City, even how my in-laws treat me."

Ophelia was startled.

A flicker of panic rushed through her eyes, quickly masked.

"My cousin told me these past few days."

"Yes!" Celine interjected hurriedly, "I told her!"

"I see," Zoe responded with a smile, "I had thought that even my situation with Mr. Hale had reached abroad?"

Ophelia lowered her head in guilt and remained silent.

Celine bit her teeth, and catching a glimpse of a figure, she immediately stood up smiling, "Cousin!"

Zoe turned her head and saw Tim Payne at the entrance of the store.

"Brother..." Ophelia stood up.

"Have you been crying?" Tim Payne surveyed her.

"It’s just talking with Mrs. Hale, remembering the past made me a bit sentimental." Ophelia stood up and walked over to Tim, looking at him with an admiring gaze that seemed to hint at an indescribable sentiment.

"Brother, aren’t you supposed to be at work? Why did you come here?"

"I heard you were here and thought to pick you up on my way home."

"Brother, you are so good to me."

"You are my sister, of course, I’m good to you."

As Ophelia spoke, she directly linked her arm with his.

Tim Payne’s body stiffened in an instant.

That expression almost made Hannah Johnson laugh out loud, not far away.

This Junior President Payne...

had sacrificed too much!

The look in the eyes of the imposter was clearly unusual.

No wonder, for Junior President Payne was unmatched in elegance, treating her like a beloved sister, which easily tempted those of weak will to harbor improper thoughts. In her previous life, it must have been difficult to encounter such a character.

The imposter thought Junior President Payne was showing affection for her by coming to pick her up specially.

Looking at him, her eyes nearly sparkled with stars.

Perhaps, Junior President Payne was worried that Celine Payne would bring the imposter to cause trouble, which was why he rushed over.

Assistant Law stood by, head bowed, silent.

The original paternity test report was personally handled by him; there could be no mistake.

Suddenly hearing that his boss had acquired a cheap younger sister, he was scared out of his wits.

The world was indeed becoming more insane.

The Payne Family was definitely going to face trouble.

A storm was coming.

"Brother, let’s go home," Ophelia Wilson said as she clung tightly to Tim Payne’s arm, standing too close, a bit too intimately.

"I’ll sit with Celine for a while. I’ll chat with Mrs. Hale for a bit, as she had previously ordered some jewelry from me," Tim Payne smoothly withdrew his arm.

"Let’s go to my office," Zoe Bell signaled for Tim Payne to follow her upstairs.

Celine Payne frowned, about to speak when Hannah Johnson appeared, "Miss Payne, long time no see."

This address turned Celine Payne’s face an iron shade of blue.

Ever since the incident, her grandmother had forbidden her to call herself Miss Payne; even the household servants only referred to her as Cousin Miss.

It infuriated her!

And after Ophelia Wilson returned, she should have been called Miss Payne, but she had pretentiously said, "I’m used to living a hard life, suddenly being called Miss Payne and changing my surname to Payne makes me uncomfortable."

The old Mr. Payne, his face full of sympathy, said, "Then we’ll still call you Miss Wilson, do whatever makes you comfortable."

Ophelia Wilson was stunned at that moment.

Yet she couldn’t say anything.

Iva Payne, standing by, was about to explode with anger!

Such a fool.

This resulted in Ophelia Wilson still feeling like an outsider in the Payne Family.

—

Meanwhile, Tim Payne had arrived at Zoe Bell’s office. He adjusted his tie and sighed deeply, "They haven’t bullied you, have they?"

"I’m not so easily bullied."

Zoe Bell was no longer her former self; in Greenland, she had vulnerabilities that could be exploited. Now, though she had a loved one and vulnerabilities, they were also her greatest support.

"Her face, it’s obviously been surgically altered."

Tim Payne nodded, "They say she nearly disfigured her face when her car crashed into the sea, so once she grew up and earned money, she kept repairing her face."

Zoe Bell pursed her lips.

Using that reasoning, it seemed plausible.

"She seems to remember her parents, me, and even the day of the accident, that there was more than just her in the car, and even roughly where in the sea the accident occurred, along with some details of her life before."

Probably worried her imposture would be discovered, adding more details could enhance credibility.

But sometimes, the more you say, the more mistakes you make.

As for the past, Zoe Bell, anyway, had not even a half memory of it.

"She seems to like you quite a bit," Zoe Bell laughed.

"Don’t even mention it."

"What happened?"

"She said she was scared, and came knocking on my door in the middle of the night."

"..."

Tim Payne wore a helpless expression, Zoe Bell paused for a moment, then burst into a fit of laughter.