Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 373 - 372 Mr. Hale: Zoe, let’s have a child.

Chapter 373: 372 Mr. Hale: Zoe, let’s have a child.

William Hale looked at the crumpled design drafts in the trash can, his lips curving up slightly, "You’ve been drawing for so long, and you’re willing to throw it away just because of one flaw?"

Finn Hale chuckled, "A single flaw, to me, is also a ruined draft."

It was just like the incident with Finn Robinson, and it wasn’t just because of Sussie Lopez.

He...

had overstepped his boundaries.

As Finn spoke, he picked up the coffee William had brought him, frowning slightly, "Have you been very free lately?"

Drinking coffee and even making latte art.

"It’s okay."

William had been in high spirits lately, as his wedding was drawing near. Before he left, he said, "The latte art was originally for Zoe, but she insisted on making a Christmas tree. This cup was a mess-up. I didn’t want to waste it, so I gave it to you."

"..."

"By the way, there’s this." William took out a wedding invitation from his pocket, "It’s for Miss Lopez, could you pass it on to my uncle?"

"I will."

"She’s Zoe’s lifesaver. We’d be happy if she could come to the ceremony without preparing any gift, just taking some time out of her schedule."

"I’ll pass on the message."

William left the study after handing over the wedding invitation.

It was the first time Finn saw his nephew’s wedding invitation, and he suddenly remembered how William used to follow him around when he was little. But his sister-in-law passed away early, and since then his demeanor had grown much colder. And now...

He was about to get married.

---

Incense Making Room

Zoe Payne was kneading the incense powder in her hands and knew by the footsteps entering the room that her Mr. Hale had come back, "Did you give the invitation to my uncle?"

"Do you still not trust my work?"

"Just double-checking."

"Still busy?" William wrapped an arm around her waist from behind and brushed back the loose hair at the nape of her neck. When he kissed her, the warmth of his lips made her body tremble.

"Stop it."

"I’ll be busy tomorrow."

"No, I..."

Zoe hadn’t finished her sentence when William scooped her up with one arm, opened the door, and carried her towards the bedroom. On the way, they even ran into Aunt Mindy Xander and Logan Hale, and he politely greeted them.

Zoe was too embarrassed to face anyone.

"Put me down quickly, what if we run into someone else?"

"There was no one at first, but if you keep shouting, the whole family will come out."

"..."

Biting her teeth, Zoe could only let him carry her obediently.

Once the bedroom door opened and closed, Zoe’s body was pressed against the cool wall.

Their bodies pressed tight, tangled in a passionate embrace and kiss.

The room was dimly lit, she felt the chill of the wall, her body leaned forward to his, feeling the squeeze at her waist as he kneaded through her clothes, making her go weak all over, her hands instinctively wrapping around his neck.

William’s kisses trailed lower...

And he started to unbutton her blouse.

His lips,

barely touched her, yet they were palpable.

His hot breath fanned her skin.

Zoe could clearly feel his breath becoming deeper and more uncontrollable.

Buttons scattered, clothes half-pushed aside, he kissed her shoulder and murmured, "Zoe."

His voice was both low and magnetic, now tainted with half a measure of desire, deliberately pressed against her ear, making it all the more seductive.

"Hm?"

"Let’s... have a child."

William’s fingers gently rubbed her waist, then moved down to her stomach, "I asked Grandpa Lewis, and he said your leg is almost all healed up now. It’s fine to have a child now."

"What about you? What do you think?"

A child?

If it had been earlier, Zoe might not have wanted one.

But a lot had happened in the past half year, and her mindset had changed too.

"But my career is just starting..." Zoe pretended to be troubled.

"I can spend more time at home."

"You won’t go to work?"

"Let the second uncle handle it."

...

Mindy Xander couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Is the second uncle a brick?

To be moved wherever needed?

"Stop laughing, I’m discussing something serious with you," said William Hale earnestly. "If you don’t want it for now, we can wait."

Mindy Xander smiled lightly, "I didn’t say I didn’t want it."

No sooner had she finished speaking than an even more fervent kiss met her.

"I just handled incense powder; my hands are still dirty. I want to take a bath."

Mindy Xander’s breathing was erratic, her voice sweeter than usual.

Those lychee-like eyes, when she looked at William Hale, were wet and laced with watery silk, like raindrops on tobacco leaves; her tone one of negotiation, yet also coquettishly pleading for affection.

William Hale nodded, "Alright, go take a bath first."

It was also due to the recent exertion that had drained half her strength. She bit her lip and gave William Hale a quick glare.

She straightened her clothes and was about to grab some fresh ones to change into...

When suddenly her feet lifted off the ground, and she was swept horizontally into William Hale’s arms as he strode toward the washroom.

Outside the bathroom,

As clothes fell to the floor, the bathtub brimmed with water that spilled over, flooding the floor and filling the room with steam.

---

After exiting the bathroom,

Mindy Xander had no more energy to spare, letting him hold her as he dried her hair. "By the way, how are things between Uncle and Miss Lopez?"

"Not sure."

"Grandma and Grandpa said that the last family recognition banquet was a bit unpleasant because of Iva Payne, so for the wedding this time, the Payne Family has invited a lot of people; we’ll be busy when the time comes."

The last family recognition banquet was organized by Iva Payne, and with the Elder Mrs. and Mr. Payne personally intervening in this wedding, naturally, more people would attend.

"Not just us being busy, someone might be even busier," William Hale chuckled, turning off the hair dryer.

"Who?"

"The eldest brother."

"Hasn’t he always been busy?" Perhaps the news of Uncle and Miss Lopez dating had gotten to him; after New Year’s Eve, Mindy Xander hadn’t seen him. He was said to be living at the company.

"No, probably because you’re getting married, someone brought up his marriage. Mother-in-law said if there’s a suitable match, she could introduce someone. Just wait and see at our wedding. It might turn into the eldest brother’s matchmaking banquet."

Mindy Xander laughed, no wonder the eldest brother recently holed up in the company.

However, she was planning to visit Payne Corps tomorrow; perhaps she’d bump into the eldest brother.

**

The following day

When Mindy Xander woke up, it was already past nine. Annoyed with herself, she had arranged to meet her mother at Payne Corps at ten, and getting ready now would surely make her late.

The mother and daughter had planned this meet to look at a set of burnished blue jewelry specially custom-designed for her wedding by Julia Yates.

She called her mother, and Julia Yates just laughed, "I happen to have a client who came early. You take your time getting ready, eat something before you leave, and don’t go on an empty stomach."

Julia Yates always treated her like a child, even nagging about her meals.

When Mindy Xander arrived at Payne Corps, it was half-past ten; today, both her mother and the eldest brother were there, but both were busy.

"Miss, should I escort you to the fourth floor?"

"I’ll just wander around, don’t worry about me; go ahead with your work."

"Probably because of the upcoming New Year, there have been a lot of people buying jewelry these days. I won’t attend to you then." The staff member, knowing Mindy Xander was down to earth, hurriedly attended to other customers.

Mindy Xander went directly to the second-floor jewelry display’s lounge area, poured herself a cup of coffee, and sat to wait for a message from her mother.

The comings and goings of customers were frequent, with some stopping to say hello.

Buying jewelry is a happy occasion, and most people had smiles on their faces. This is why Mindy Xander, when she spotted a girl sitting alone and looking somewhat forlorn, couldn’t help but stare a bit longer.

The girl wasn’t by herself; there was another girl of similar age sitting next to her, along with a middle-aged woman. These two appeared extremely cheerful, listening to a staff member’s presentation and picking out some finished jewelry pieces.

They happened to be sitting by the window, where the winter sun shone warm. The girl was wearing a red dress.

Her face was flushed by the sunlight, like red lanterns reflecting on snow.

So beautiful that even her red dress seemed to fade in comparison.

"...How about this necklace? It would be perfect to match with your dress when you get engaged," the woman asked her with a smile.

"Pretty good."

Her voice was also faint.

Mindy Xander pursed her lips.

Engagement?

It made sense; such a beautiful person not being pursued would’ve been abnormal.