Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 346 - 345 Rivals are here, gloating over misfortune

Chapter 346: 345 Rivals are here, gloating over misfortune

At that moment, everyone’s attention converged on Finn Hale, while Sussie Lopez kept her head low, her heart beating wildly for no apparent reason...

He just smiled and neither confirmed nor denied anything.

Just then, a nurse knocked on the door to administer an IV to Sussie, which diverted the topic.

"...It’s cold, and the IV feels chilly on the back of the hand," the Old Lady frowned.

"It’s alright, there’s heating inside, it isn’t cold."

Sussie Lopez was startled into sweating profusely by what Finn had just said, feeling intensely overheated.

Zoe Payne’s phone vibrated—it was a call from Joy Watson, likely about something concerning the store. She stepped out to answer and learned that journalists had surrounded the store wanting to know about the incident the day before.

"If they disturb the customers or affect the business, just call the police."

She had just hung up when she realized that her brother had appeared behind her without her noticing, and she greeted him with a smile, "Brother."

"After we leave the hospital, go home for a bit; grandma, grandpa, and our parents are all very worried about you."

Zoe Payne nodded.

"Do you think, Finn Hale, is heartless and indifferent?"

Zoe was startled, "Brother, why would you think that?"

"Such a huge incident happened yesterday; uncle and Sussie were injured, and you almost got stabbed. The more I think about it, the more scared I get. I hardly rested last night. After he left the hospital yesterday, he still had the mind to chase after girls?"

"This..."

"Look at him, he may not be laughing, but I always feel like he’s asking for a punch."

Zoe Payne gave a wry smile.

That’s it,

the misunderstanding was huge.

"I always feel like that kid acts all smug around me."

"Brother, aren’t you thinking too much?"

"Right, who is he pursuing? Do you know?"

Zoe shook her head, "I’m not that close with my cousin, and he doesn’t live in the family mansion all the time."

"True, with Finn’s temperament, he wouldn’t talk to you about these things."

When the siblings returned to the room, there were six more people present, both men and women of varying ages. Tim Payne surveyed the individuals, furrowing his brow, while Sussie Lopez quickly introduced, "Brother, these are colleagues from the same studio as me."

She had taken sick leave and hadn’t been to work, so naturally, her close colleagues came to visit.

They just didn’t expect to encounter Finn Hale here...

Two female colleagues couldn’t stop staring.

Finn Hale was extremely famous within the industry.

Having the chance to see a famous living figure in their field, everyone was excited; one female colleague, in particular, squeezed next to Sussie Lopez, "Sussie, it’s not fair of you to know Mr. Hale and not tell us."

"Just..." Sussie Lopez didn’t know how to explain.

"Help us get an autograph later."

"Alright."

The conversation had barely proceeded when Tim Payne also arrived, addressing them politely, "Thank you all for taking care of my sister."

"Junior President Payne, you are too polite," several colleagues hurriedly responded.

Before this, everyone only knew that Sussie Lopez was a mid-career switcher who previously studied jewelry design, but they hadn’t expected her to share the same mentor as Tim Payne.

Their eyes shone as they looked at Sussie Lopez.

Having such connections in the industry, one could swagger all they want.

Amid her colleagues’ assessing, skeptical, and teasing gazes, Sussie felt her scalp tighten and picked up the cup from the bedside to drink water; however, she subconsciously used her injured arm. The movement tugged at her muscles, her fingertips quivered, and she almost spilled the water...

Finn Hale frowned, instinctively stepping forward but someone beat him to it.

"Careful!"

One of Sussie Lopez’s male colleagues was close enough to steady the cup for her.

"Thanks, Brother Saunders."

"No problem."

"Sussie, you didn’t know, but when you called the boss for sick leave this morning and he found out you were hospitalized, Brother Saunders was really worried." A colleague teased, "He even brought you some sweets you love. Try them later, they are really delicious."

It was obvious to everyone that Brother Saunders held special feelings for Sussie Lopez.

The colleagues were just teasing and having fun.

The Hale elders instinctively glanced at their youngest son.

Finn Hale, expressionless.

Yet his gaze seemed sharp enough to kill.

They knew, with such a beautiful girl, how could there not be suitors.

And here we go...

The suitor has arrived.

Tim Payne was currently sizing up Sussie’s Brother Saunders, who didn’t look particularly outstanding but seemed honest and reliable.

At her age, it wouldn’t be strange for her to be dating or even married with children; Tim also hoped she wouldn’t focus all her attention on work and wouldn’t mind if she found someone suitable to date.

"Are you also an interior designer?" Tim Payne wanted to ensure everything was good for his junior sister.

"No, I studied architectural design."

Finn Hale raised an eyebrow:

Unexpectedly, they were in the same field.

Tim nodded, feeling the guy seemed trustworthy.

Declan Saunders, in an effort to impress, was busy pouring tea and taking diligent care of everything.

Sussie’s hand was injured, and there were some tasks she needed to delegate, which this Declan Saunders would be in charge of.

"Since you need to talk about work, we’ll leave first," said the Hale elders without lingering, as Zoe needed to head back to the Payne Family Mansion, and Finn had no reason to stay.

Before leaving, he took a glance at the two exchanging work responsibilities.

The hands in his pockets unconsciously clenched.

"Restless?" Old Lady looked at her son, "The kid looks good, works well, it’s no surprise she has suitors. Besides, Tim is there; that lad wouldn’t dare try anything improper under his watch."

"Ah, a love rival has arrived."

Mr. Hale relished the schadenfreude, sarcastically targeting his disobedient son.

"The kid looks decent enough, colleagues who spend day and night together, it’s normal if feelings develop."

"And, from what I observe, the girl doesn’t seem to reject him."

Finn’s expression turned cold:

Looks decent?

That guy may appear honest and reliable, but who really knows whether his heart is red or black.

"Old man!" Old Lady frowned, giving him a meaningful look.

Want to reject your daughter-in-law?

You should be encouraging him.

There’s no need to throw cold water now.

"If only you knew this would happen, why let her go abroad in the first place? By now, your children might have been making soy sauce already," Mr. Hale snorted coldly, feeling his son was underperforming.

Finn still couldn’t understand; back then, Sussie loved him so much, why did she leave without a word.

However, he had no mind to think about the old times now because...

His love rival had just shown up in front of him.

—

Meanwhile, inside the hospital

Tim Payne sat on a nearby sofa handling work, and Declan Saunders, who hadn’t left yet, poured him a glass of water.

"Thank you."

"Junior President Payne is too polite."

Declan Saunders was attracted to Sussie, after all, who wouldn’t like a beautiful, capable girl, and from how she dressed and her expenses, it showed she probably came from a decent family background.

Even if not extremely wealthy, she was at least middle class.

But he hadn’t realized that Tim was her senior brother.

No wonder she managed to secure the design projects for the Payne Family Mansion and William Hale’s marriage house.

Colleagues in the studio were still gossiping, saying she was fortunate, while others said she deliberately went to Zoe’s store to schmooze and secure the projects, calling her scheming.

It turns out there were deeper connections at play.

With such connections, marrying her could save him at least twenty years of struggle.

Sussie...

He had to win her over.