Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 347 - 346 Jealous, the pretty young auntie who was almost mine is about to slip away (2 updates)

Chapter 347: 346 Jealous, the pretty young auntie who was almost mine is about to slip away (2 updates)

Tim Payne had a decent impression of his junior sister’s male colleague.

But...

He seemed too enthusiastic toward him.

"I never expected Lopez to be junior President Payne’s junior sister; she never mentioned it."

Assistant Law stood beside his boss and couldn’t help but think to himself:

If she never mentioned it, that means their relationship isn’t close.

"After all, we’re not in the same industry, and we hardly see each other regularly." Tim Payne was polite since he was his junior sister’s colleague.

"I thought she was sick, not injured."

Declan Saunders wasn’t foolish.

The public assault incident involving Liam Hugh had caused quite a stir; everyone knew it was aimed at Zoe Payne and inadvertently involved a "friend" of hers, but he never imagined that this friend would be Sussie Lopez.

This was a life-saving grace.

Even a cursory help from the Hale Family could ensure he’d never have to worry about food and drink for a lifetime.

But the extreme reaction made Tim Payne feel somewhat uncomfortable, and just when it was getting close to lunchtime, he wanted to find an excuse to send him on his way.

"I’ll go buy lunch," Declan Saunders offered.

"No need, my assistant has already ordered a meal." Tim Payne smiled at him, "Mr. Saunders, you’ve been in the hospital room for quite a while; you probably have work to attend to."

Tim Payne was tactfully showing him out.

Declan Saunders didn’t want to leave but had no choice, as Assistant Law directly said, "Mr. Saunders, let me escort you."

"..."

After he left, Tim Payne then turned to his own junior sister, "If you’re looking for a boyfriend, make sure to spend a lot of time getting to know him, keep your eyes peeled, and don’t give your heart away based on a first impression."

Sussie nodded.

She was thinking about work; although other tasks could be postponed, Zoe Payne’s wedding was imminent, and the decoration of the marital home couldn’t be delayed.

She didn’t notice her senior brother’s abnormal behavior.

Some things, Tim Payne could understand; in today’s society, when talking about marriage, some weigh family background heavily, and marriages often happen without even liking each other.

That Mr. Saunders, knowing the deep connection his junior sister had with him, appearing more diligent was normal—it’s human nature.

He just feared that his feelings for his own junior sister were mixed with too many self-serving elements.

Such a relationship wouldn’t last.

As Sussie pondered work matters, Assistant Law, having escorted the visitor, brought in the preordered lunch. While she was eating, she was caught off guard by what her senior brother said:

"After you’re discharged, you should move in with me."

Sussie nearly choked on her food, "Senior brother, that’s not necessary. It’s too much trouble."

"It’s no trouble at all. My mom would be delighted if you could stay at my place, plus I wouldn’t feel at ease with you living alone."

"Senior brother, I..."

"Should I move in to take care of you?"

Sussie’s scalp tingled.

Her mind raced:

It’s over!

What’s with this situation? Finn Hale was like this, and so was her senior brother, both wanting to live with her.

They claim to be archenemies, yet their approach is so similar.

They both want to be with her, she might as well...

The three of them should just live together.

Tim Payne scrutinized his junior sister with an evaluative gaze:

She was hiding something from him.

It wasn’t that he wanted to pressure her, but she got hurt trying to save his own sister. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to explain it to their parents.

—

Old House of Hale Family

Wyatt Hale came home from school and saw his sister-in-law, clamoring about wanting to go skiing in the neighboring city for Christmas.

"Skiing? I don’t know how."

"Let big brother teach you. I went with classmates last year, and it’s so much fun. There’s even a special area for fireworks..." Wyatt Hale spoke with excitement.

But he slowly realized something was off at home.

The atmosphere was tense.

The air pressure was low.

It made it hard to breathe.

Especially when his mother kept giving him meaningful glances, he looked around and realized that the gloomy atmosphere was coming from his uncle; he quickly moved to his sister-in-law’s side, whispering, "What’s going on? Did uncle and the pretty auntie have a fight?"

"No."

"It wasn’t the pretty auntie who bit his mouth, was it?"

"..."

"Surely uncle didn’t try to force his love and got bitten instead?"

Zoe Payne nearly laughed out loud.

Wyatt Hale, don’t let your imagination run wild.

"I heard uncle has a rival in love," Logan Hale added quietly.

"Really?" Wyatt Hale immediately became interested, "No wonder uncle is looking so gloomy. What does the other guy look like? Is he more handsome?"

Logan Hale: "Not necessarily more handsome, but he’s definitely younger."

"If we’re talking about age, then uncle really can’t compete."

Wyatt Hale frowned, "The pretty auntie he had in the bag isn’t going to fly away, is she?"

"Who knows."

"Uncle can’t be that useless, can he?"

"You sure dare say it."

The two were whispering when Finn Hale shot a cold look their way; Wyatt Hale immediately hid behind Zoe Payne.

Finn Hale checked Declan Saunders’ background.

Well-qualified, he managed to buy his own place in Capital City. Since Sussie Lopez returned to the city, he had been showing more enthusiasm than a usual coworker, and although he hadn’t officially confessed or pursued her, everyone around knew he liked Sussie Lopez.

So there were always coworkers who’d tease and joke about their relationship.

Finn Hale believed that in terms of qualifications, he was better in every aspect.

But as for matters of the heart, it’s hard to say.

----

In the evening, before doing his "nurse" duty, Finn Hale sent a message to Sussie Lopez, intending to find out if Tim Payne was around.

[Brother Payne has already left.]

[What do you want to eat?]

[I’m already eating; you don’t need to come over tonight.]

Sussie Lopez wasn’t incapacitated, she could take care of herself perfectly well.

When Finn Hale arrived at the hospital room, he found that Sussie Lopez wasn’t there; the nurse informed him that she had gone out to eat, but the exact location was unknown.

It gets dark early in winter, and by not even six o’clock, the streetlights were already on. Finn Hale stood by the window, frequently checking his wristwatch.

The difference in temperatures inside and outside had fogged up the window with a layer of white mist, obscuring the view.

Finn Hale wiped it over and over again.

Soon,

a familiar figure entered his line of sight.

Sussie Lopez was wrapped up tightly, only her eyes visible, but he recognized her at a glance.

There was also a man by her side.

That "Brother Saunders."

Finn Hale’s eyes darkened a few shades—him again.

From a distance, their demeanor suggested they were enjoying each other’s company.

"...For the upcoming work, I’ll have to trouble Brother Saunders. If there’s anything, just let me know," Sussie Lopez said as she treated him to dinner, since she had to count on a colleague to take care of some of her work, work that wasn’t his responsibility in the first place.

"Why be so formal with me? When are you getting discharged tomorrow?"

"Should be in the morning."

"Need any help?"

"No need, Brother Payne will pick me up."

"Your relationship with Junior President Payne seems a bit more intimate than that of typical senior and junior."

"He treats me like his own sister."

"It’s obvious. Junior President Payne cares a lot about you; he almost spent a whole day at the hospital." Declan Saunders took a sidelong glance at Sussie Lopez, making a resolution that no matter what, he must win her over.

As the two talked, they arrived at the hospital room.

Just like when she left, it was empty.

But Sussie Lopez noticed a clear spot on the glass window where the mist had been wiped away.

Her intuition told her:

Finn Hale had been there!