Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 401 - 400 Wishing her to get what she desires and fall into crisis

Chapter 401: 400 Wishing her to get what she desires and fall into crisis

In the lounge

Tim Payne appeared relaxed, with an air of grace as if he were embracing the moon and carrying the wind.

Sipping tea, his gaze landed on the window, seemingly admiring the lights of thousands of homes; through the opposite glass, he could clearly see Cressida Jones sneaking glances at him.

Hesitation, uncertainty,

It was clear she had something to say.

Just now at the engagement party, her expression was pitifully beautiful and poignant, winning the sympathy of everyone present.

Everyone thought she was a lovelorn soul let down.

Even if Marigold were to wed into the Jeans Family in the future, Mrs. Jeans probably wouldn’t spare her.

She hadn’t yet spoken when her phone vibrated; seeing the caller ID, her expression subtly changed, "Hello, Dad?"

"I’m in the VIP room on the far right of the first-floor banquet hall, come here."

After speaking, the call was disconnected.

"Junior President Payne, I have some matters to attend to and need to leave first..."

As she stood up, Tim also rose and approached her, handing her a sapphire bracelet from his pocket.

"This gift is too precious, and I’m not the main character getting engaged today."

Tim remained silent, only lifting her left hand, his fingertips clearly feeling a thin callus, warm to the touch, as he gently and carefully supported her wrist.

That feeling, as if she were being treasured and valued.

He placed the bracelet on her wrist, and as he fastened the clasp, his fingers inevitably brushed lightly over her wrist.

Stirring a wave of warmth.

"Once a gift is given, there’s no reason to take it back." After securing the bracelet, Tim naturally withdrew his hand, "Your skin is fair; the sapphire suits you well."

"Although the engagement wasn’t finalized, consider this gift a congratulations to Miss Jones..."

"You’ve gotten what you wished for, regained your freedom."

This was indeed Cressida’s heart’s desire, yet having Tim articulate it so bluntly still caught her off guard.

He truly...

Saw through everything.

"I also need to thank Junior President Payne today for standing up for me. When you’re free... I’ll treat you to a meal." Cressida still pondered how to silence him, "I have something else to attend to, so I’ll be going now."

Finished speaking, she turned to leave but was stopped by Tim calling out, "Miss Jones."

"Hmm?"

"Inviting me to dinner doesn’t seem very sincere."

"I am sincere."

"We don’t have each other’s contact information, how do you plan to find me? Visit my office?"

"I can contact Assistant Law."

Cressida had forgotten this part; despite having met Tim a few times, they indeed didn’t have each other’s contact information.

Tim’s gaze fixed firmly on her.

As if asking:

You invite me to dinner by contacting my assistant?

What kind of logic is that?

Are you really sincere?

Realizing it might be inappropriate, Cressida chuckled and pulled out her phone, "Junior President Payne, shall I scan you?"

After adding contact details, she nearly fled.

Zoe Payne, having changed clothes, walked out of the cubicle at the sound of the door opening, "Where’s Miss Jones?"

"She had some matters, left first."

"Didn’t expect our sizes to be so similar, her clothes fit quite well." Zoe spoke as she touched the soft flesh around her waist, "I feel like I’ve gained weight recently. Last time I had a check-up, Grandpa Lewis said my leg has mostly recovered, I can try resuming dance training."

Tim nodded.

Soon after, Assistant Law came back with Wyatt Hale, probably having run into each other in the hallway, holding clothes and a meal.

Watching the excitement all evening, they hadn’t eaten.

Wyatt opened the meal box, devouring the food voraciously, prompting Tim to frown, "Are you mistreated at the Hale Family?"

"Bro, I’m still growing, I eat a lot!"

"Then I’ll give you mine too."

"Hmm?" Wyatt’s mouth was full; after swallowing the food and taking a sip of water, he asked, "Aren’t you eating?"

"Not hungry."

Tim sat by the side looking at his phone, Assistant Law warmed up his tea and brought it over, accidentally glimpsing his phone screen, her pupils dilated, and her heart skipped a beat.

His boss...

Actually scrolling through Miss Jones’ social media.

Because of buying green plants, he had added Cressida Jones on WeChat. Most of her posts were advertising, featuring floral and green plants, and she would send some greetings during the holidays. Honestly, there wasn’t much to see.

What exactly was Junior President Payne looking at?

He seemed quite engrossed.

"Sister-in-law, I won’t be going home with you later," Wyatt Hale looked at Zoe Payne. "I have classmates nearby and plan to hang out with them."

"I’ll have Kyle Lowe take you there."

"Thank you, sister-in-law."

Zoe Payne thought that the engagement party would take at least an hour or two, so she decided to let Kyle Lowe go to eat first. Besides, with her brother and Little Wyatt around, nothing should go wrong.

"But tonight was really worth it. Now the whole Capital City is buzzing, everyone is talking about tonight’s engagement party." Wyatt Hale hummed, "Miss Jones is really unfortunate."

"She’s too nice. If it were me, I would have kicked that scumbag into paralysis right there on stage!"

Tim Payne gestured for Assistant Law to come closer, "Help me with something."

"Yes, sir."

Assistant Law listened silently, his pupils gradually dilating.

——

Elsewhere,

Cressida Jones arrived at the VIP room, not just her father, but almost everyone from the Jeans and Jones families were there. The doctor was helping Marigold Jones with her torn earlobe, and she was sobbing in pain, with Beckett Jeans beside her, distressed.

Everyone’s expression was terribly grim.

Still, Mrs. Jeans walked over to her, grasping her hand, "Cressida, you were wronged tonight."

Her gaze fell on the sapphire bracelet, a thought flickering in her mind.

That bracelet had been taken by Assistant of Tim Payne.

Now, it was back on her wrist.

A lot had happened tonight, almost everyone felt pity and sympathy for Cressida Jones, seemingly the Payne siblings were no exception.

Cressida Jones shook her head, glanced at Beckett Jeans, her eyes reddening again.

"What are you waiting for? Apologize to Cressida now!" Mrs. Jeans snapped, and Beckett reluctantly stepped forward to mutter an apology.

"If you had told me earlier that you liked Marigold, I could have made your wish come true, and none of tonight’s troubles would have happened."

"Cressida Jones! What are you pretending for!" Suddenly, Marigold Jones charged forward, "You caused all of this, didn’t you? You knew about my relationship with Beckett long ago, but you kept it to yourself, just waiting for tonight."

"How malicious of you, wanting both our families to be shamed!"

"You act like such an innocent, you... you..."

Everything at the engagement party happened too quickly, Marigold Jones couldn’t react in time; after discussing with her mother and thinking it over, she was convinced it was all orchestrated by Cressida Jones.

Her reputation was ruined, even her friends didn’t want to deal with her.

And Cressida Jones...

received everyone’s sympathy and pity.

"Me doing this?" Cressida Jones chuckled lowly, "Did I make you sleep with Beckett? Or did I make you give him pajamas, steal my jewelry?"

"If I knew earlier, would I flaunt fake jewelry, letting everyone point fingers?"

This statement seemed quite reasonable!

In high society, it’s taboo to wear high replicas or fake jewelry.

"Marigold Jones, you got your wish to be engaged to Beckett, what else do you want? Stop making a scene!" Mrs. Jeans was so irritated she gritted her teeth.

She specifically called Cressida Jones to gauge the Payne siblings’ attitude on this matter, thinking about how to please them.

"I have already sent someone to check the surveillance at the dress shop, asking the staff who exactly filmed that video, we’ll know soon!" Marigold Jones’ face was still swollen from being hit. Speaking hurt, twisting the torn corners of her mouth into a grimace.

"Whether you left the dressing room when I went to the restroom, a check will reveal all!"

Cressida Jones’ heart skipped a beat.

She was sure there were no cameras near the restroom corridor.

But she hadn’t paid close attention to the other areas in the shop.

Maybe from another angle, the cameras might have caught her filming.

After all, she couldn’t have foreseen the intimacy in the restroom with Beckett, and Tim Payne’s arrival—all happened too fast, and she didn’t have the kind of reach to bribe every shop’s staff.

If Marigold Jones was willing to spend money, it was also possible that an employee was bribed to frame her.

She secretly clenched her teeth, thinking of countermeasures.

For a moment, her eyes met with her stepmother Lavinia Wilde, and she immediately understood:

It was her who was giving direction from behind.

Marigold Jones wasn’t very smart, but her mother was very cunning.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have climbed from a shameful mistress to the position of Mrs. Jones.