Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 374 - 373 Don’t pine, that girl is already taken! (2 more)

Chapter 374: 373 Don’t pine, that girl is already taken! (2 more)

Zoe Payne was just reflecting on the girl’s engagement when...

"Mom, I like this necklace too," the girl at her side cooed.

"Today we’re here to pick out jewelry for your sister’s engagement, stop meddling," she was scolded.

"Sis, I really like it, please let me have it."

Before the girl could say anything, the woman sighed and said, "Alright, if you like it, it’s yours, your sister surely won’t mind."

"Sis, you’re the best."

"Keep looking, see if there’s anything else you like."

"I think this bracelet isn’t bad either. It would go well with my dress when you get engaged. What do you think?"

"Not bad at all."

"..."

The girl didn’t say a word throughout the entire process.

She was as docile and delicate as a marionette.

Those unaware would think that she’s the star of the day.

Zoe Payne had just been listening casually,

thinking that this was simply a mother with her two daughters, but that last comment...

It all sounded so strange.

Perhaps it was her own past hardships that made her empathize with the girl, feeling an added hint of pity for her.

When a staff member came over to inform her that Julia Yates had finished her work, Zoe finally looked away.

While heading to Julia’s office, the staff member, probably having noticed her interest in the three women, couldn’t help gossiping, "Were you just looking at the lady in the red dress?"

"Yes, what about her?"

"It’s a good thing that Junior President Payne and his wife didn’t come to the second floor today, or they would’ve been upset to see her."

"Why is that?"

"The earrings she’s wearing are from our Payne Corps designs."

"And?"

"But they’re fake."

"..." Zoe was briefly stunned.

"The craftsmanship is subpar and the gemstone’s color is off; anyone with a bit of knowledge could tell they’re not real."

"Who wears fake items to a genuine store? We were all startled when we saw them."

Zoe had been too focused on looking at her face,

she didn’t even notice what the girl wore on her ears.

"If Mrs. Payne or Junior President Payne saw her, they would surely kick her out and ban her from Payne Corps for life."

"I don’t know if she did it on purpose or if she really has no clue. It would’ve been better for her to wear something cheaper rather than a knock-off, to avoid being criticized for vanity."

"If she knew it was fake, she probably wouldn’t dare wear it to Payne Corps. She must be ignorant."

...

Zoe frowned slightly, "Let’s not talk about it anymore, and don’t tell mom or my brother, just pretend we don’t know."

She thought about the girl’s detached demeanor while selecting jewelry,

it seemed likely she was unaware that she was wearing a counterfeit.

The staff member nodded.

They had been deliberating on how to handle the situation, whether to kick her out or to blacklist her, but since the young miss had spoken, they naturally chose to look the other way.

"Mom," Zoe entered her mother’s office.

"Zoe, you’re here. I’ll take you to see the jewelry," Julia greeted.

Julia had prepared three sets of jewelry for Zoe’s wedding, to match with the Chinese and Western-style wedding dresses and the toast dress.

The engagement rings for her and William Hale were provided by Elder Mrs. and Mr. Payne, with the design completed by Tim Payne.

After looking and trying on, the session ended after about half an hour.

Zoe had been planning to invite her brother for lunch, but then she heard Assistant Law say, "Miss, Junior President Payne has gone out to a social engagement."

Julia huffed, "Is it really a social engagement or is he deliberately avoiding me?"

Assistant Law kept his head down, playing dumb.

"That brat, I just want him to make some friends, but it makes me look like a wicked stepmother," Julia complained with displeasure.

"Tell him to come home for dinner!"

"Staying in the office all the time, what’s that about?"

"Mom, don’t worry about big brother. I haven’t eaten breakfast, I’m starving," Zoe frowned, intentionally making up excuses to cover for her brother.

"You haven’t had breakfast?" It was already noon.

When Julia heard this, her son was the last thing on her mind; she took her daughter by the hand and headed out.

Only then did Assistant Law breathe a sigh of relief.

Seeing the lady leave, she trotted back to the fourth floor, "Junior President Payne, the lady and her daughter have gone."

"I saw them," Tim Payne didn’t socialize, hiding behind the curtains.

Assistant Law helplessly:

It’s just a matchmaking meeting, is it necessary to hide like this?

Now that...

everyone has left, what are you still looking at by the window?

Assistant Law curiously moved over to take a look.

She saw a girl in a red dress standing by the roadside, donning a white down jacket as if waiting for a car.

Though the warm sun shone, it couldn’t fend off the chilly breeze.

She was visibly shivering.

"Is she a guest?" Assistant Law frowned.

Tim Payne arched an eyebrow, "You asking me?"

"I’m talking to myself."

Those who come to Payne Corps to spend money are either rich or noble, usually with their own chauffeured cars. How could she be standing on the side of the road hailing a cab? Moreover, this place is in the suburbs, it’s probably hard to call a cab.

"She doesn’t have a car?"

Tim Payne dropped a comment with a hidden depth: "Her family’s car seems to have gone."

"..."

The car has left, and left her behind?

What’s going on here?

"Shall I send someone to give her a ride?" Assistant Law noticed his own Junior President Payne watching intently.

Tim Payne didn’t speak.

Seeing he didn’t object, Assistant Law found a driver to give her a lift.

Tim Payne just didn’t expect he would meet her again.

It seemed she had come with his mother. They had got into the car and left, but left her out in the cold wind.

It seems she’s not favored at home.

And she’s encountered a scumbag.

This girl is really unlucky.

Tim Payne watched her get into the car before he looked away, and just then his phone vibrated—an incoming call from Sussie Lopez, "Senior brother, my parents want to invite you for dinner, are you free tonight?"

"Yes."

"Then come to my place, my mom will cook, I’ll send you the address later."

The Lopezs had long wanted to thank Tim Payne for looking after their daughter.

And Tim Payne himself didn’t want to dine at home, so he would certainly agree.

—

Evening

On the way to Sussie Lopez’s apartment, Assistant Law drove while covertly observing his own Junior President Payne.

"If you have something to say, just say it." Sneaking glances, acting all secretive.

"Junior President Payne, there’s a situation I think you need to know about."

Tim Payne stayed silent, signaling him to continue.

"The girl you saw today, I did some inquiring for you."

Tim Payne, who had been looking down at his phone, abruptly looked up at him.

Had his assistant gone mad?

Inquiring for him?

He hadn’t asked him to do so.

Besides, if that girl found out, she might think he was some kind of pervert!

"She has a boyfriend, apparently he treats her really well, very attentive."

A mocking smile played at the corner of Tim Payne’s mouth.

Treat her really well and send her fake goods?

"Junior President Payne, don’t be disdainful, the main point is their relationship is stable, they’re about to get engaged soon. They came here to buy engagement jewelry, so stop thinking about it."

"But you rest assured, I inquired secretly, not in your name, no one knows besides me."

Tim Payne’s face darkened, "Get lost—"

Assistant Law immediately clammed up.

Why the anger tinged with embarrassment.

He specifically went to inquire, did he do something wrong?

Didn’t his own Junior President Payne take a fancy to that girl? Then why keep watching her?