Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 308 - 307 Cunning Argument, But Got Stabbed (5 Updates)

Chapter 308: 307 Cunning Argument, But Got Stabbed (5 Updates)

Iva Payne’s fingers tightened abruptly at her side.

Breathing rapidly, she was so angry her liver trembled.

She had thought Ophelia Wilson was easy to control, which was why she had brought her into the house, believing her to be a tame dog, but she turned out to be a mad dog that bit people. It was like a bolt from the blue for Iva.

Biting her cheek fiercely, she almost drew blood from the inside of her mouth.

She rushed up, wanting to kill that wretched girl.

"What are you talking about nonsense!"

"Another lack of evidence?"

"Brother, sister-in-law, it was my oversight, a moment of folly that led me to bring such a vile creature into our home. She not only tried to seduce Tim, thinking she could marry into a wealthy family, but when that failed, she plotted again, accusing me of murder with no evidence. She must be insane!"

Mario Payne also frowned, "Miss Wilson, the police have already concluded that it was an accident; please be careful what you say."

"I wasn’t aware of the incident at the time, so I can’t comment, but when Iva sought me out, she recounted many details related to the car accident."

"Including how many people were in the car and how the car lost control and plunged into the sea."

"It felt as if..."

"She was sitting in the car at the time."

Wyatt Hale suddenly spoke up, "Some details, if not personally experienced, can only be known by the involved parties or possibly by..."

Finn Hale: "The murderer!"

"So the car accident at the Payne’s might not have been an accident."

"It was deliberate."

"A police closure doesn’t mean the case is settled; they’ve only made inferences based on available evidence. I believe Mrs. Payne accepted this impostor daughter back into the home because she never believed her daughter was actually dead."

Finn nodded, "Otherwise, if somebody already dead suddenly came back to life, it would be terrifying."

...

The Uncle and nephew from the Hale family were in perfect sync, thoroughly infuriating Iva.

So nosy.

Just as the duo finished, Michale Shaw jumped in, "However, the passing of Junior President Payne’s sister did benefit someone significantly—after all, a certain person wasn’t yet in the core circle of power at Payne Corps at that time."

This statement stirred up a buzz around them.

"No wonder Mrs. Payne suddenly retired from the scene back then, stopped designing and even traveled far to Summerland for a health retreat."

"With the death of their daughter, how could Mario Payne and his wife have the heart to focus on business? It just gave a certain someone the perfect opportunity."

Michale Shaw nodded, "Exactly, and now they want to harm Junior President Payne."

"It’s the same old trick!"

"If they can’t win by fair means, they resort to foul play, not even sparing their own kin. Isn’t that asking for a shortened lifespan, to die a terrible death?"

"Iva!" Michale Shaw, wishing he could smash his face in, added, "This is our Payne family’s affair!"

"I know, I’m not interfering; just having a discussion."

"You..."

"I just can’t help stepping in when I see injustice. Why don’t you poison me to silence, since you’re brave enough to even kill?" Michale Shaw provocatively suggested.

Wyatt Hale silently gave him a thumbs up:

Indeed, a role model of our generation!

Iva calmed her breathing and looked toward her parents, "Mom, Dad, you don’t really believe her, do you?"

"Are you implying that you had nothing to do with what happened back then?" Julia Yates spoke up.

"Sister-in-law, the incident took place abroad. I had already returned to the country by then, how could I possibly be involved?"

William Hale: "It’s possible to commit a crime by remote control, hiring someone to commit murder!"

Iva felt like her lungs were about to burst with anger.

This William Hale usually didn’t meddle in other affairs. Why was he fanning the flames now, not even giving her a chance to defend herself?

"So what, just based on her few words, you want to pin the past on me?" thought Iva, quickly turning to Tim Payne, "I see it clearly now."

"I was wrong to find someone to impersonate your sister."

"For the sake of power, you intentionally incited her, first by slandering me with drugging, trying to frame and ruin me; now you’re dredging up year-old incidents."

"It seems to me that your whole family is colluding against me, solely to strip me of the control I hold in my hands."

"You even stoop to accusing me of murder. How vicious!"

Zoe Bell clenched her teeth.

Her mouth was indeed formidable.

She had previously distorted the truth, and now she was using the company’s power struggle to confuse the issue, wishing to muddy the waters.

After all, when everyone’s focus was on the struggle for power and profit, who would pay attention to a years-old case that even the police hadn’t solved? They would only think that bringing up the past was merely a tactic for the power struggle.

The crowd looked at each other, baffled, unable to discern who the real culprit was.

After all...

In a great family like theirs, when it came to vying for power and profit, there was nothing they wouldn’t do.

The Junior President Payne, so distinguished and unique, probably couldn’t escape the norm either.

"It seems that tonight’s events are still about the struggle for control over Payne Corps."

"It depends on how the Elder Mrs. and Mr. Payne handle it, after all, they can’t bear to part with either side."

"Is Junior President Payne too impatient? Celine Payne has no capability; even though Iva Payne is getting on in years, if you just wait it out, ultimately the company will still be his."

"With such a scandal, even the daughter they found turned out to be fake; I’m afraid tonight’s banquet is doomed."

...

The crowd was abuzz with discussion.

Zoe Bell glanced at her parents and brother.

Since tonight’s incident had escalated, if there wasn’t a conclusion, it wouldn’t cause her any harm if it were to be brought up later.

Could it be, the incident from back then was just going to fade away unresolved?

Zoe Bell felt anxious, but William Hale squeezed her hand to signal her not to worry.

Now that the situation had come to this, a resolution had to be reached tonight.

He didn’t believe

that Tim Payne didn’t have a contingency plan.

At this moment, the crowd at the back suddenly whispered among themselves, "Vice President Gonzalez is here."

Gonzalez?

Zoe Bell turned her head and saw Celine Payne’s father entering the room, holding a briefcase. The man was refined and handsome. As a son-in-law who spoke very little, he nearly lacked presence within the Payne family.

"Jovan, where have you been?" Iva Payne saw her husband with a glint of joy.

After all, she and her daughter were alone and helpless.

An extra person provided additional support.

"Dad—" Celine Payne’s face was disfigured from a beating. Upon seeing her father, tears streamed down as she ran towards him, covering her face, "Look at my face, someone has made it look like this."

"They are even slandering my mom, saying she killed my cousin. Isn’t that laughable?"

Jovan Gonzalez was gentle by nature, a compassionate father. With Celine feeling wronged, she naturally turned to him for comfort.

Yet, to her surprise, Jovan Gonzalez stepped back, avoiding her reaching hands.

"Dad?"

Jovan Gonzalez ignored her and looked at the Elder Mrs. and Mr. Payne, "Dad, Mom, I’m sorry I’m late. I was taking care of some things this afternoon and just finished."

Mr. Payne nodded, "No matter."

"Thank you all for your years of caring and nurturing. Big brother and sister-in-law have been like family to me, and I appreciate that."

"Jovan, why suddenly say such things?" the Old Lady frowned.

"I’m preparing to divorce."

Iva Payne was stunned.

She thought her husband’s arrival meant she would have more backbone and he might be able to help her.

But she didn’t expect...

He would stab her with his first words!