Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 417: Worried sick for her, did you bully her? (2 updates)

Chapter 417: Worried sick for her, did you bully her? (2 updates)

Because Martin Yates had a cold and arrogant personality, wasn’t good at taking care of people, and couldn’t ease the atmosphere, the dining experience was inevitably stiff. Outside, the occasional sound of fireworks and crackers could be heard.

However, when it came to his experiences abroad, Martin Yates was quite talkative.

He had a wide range of interests and was once passionate about equestrianism.

"You actually won a championship in an equestrian competition, that’s really impressive," Cressida Jones praised from the heart, and it seemed Martin Yates appreciated the compliment.

"I’ve got a few horses at the equestrian center, if you’re free, I’ll take you riding."

Cressida only smiled.

The horses Martin Yates kept were originally for Zoe Payne to ride during the New Year’s holidays.

It was with much difficulty she recovered from her leg injury, but then she was pregnant and it would be a long time before she could ride horses again.

"Eat more." Martin Yates served her some food.

"Thank you, Uncle Yates."

"It’s me who should be thanking you, it’s quite the bother for you."

"It’s all part of my duties, it’s not bothersome at all." Cressida Jones felt she owed Zoe Payne, for she had almost caused her trouble, and since Tim Payne had helped her numerous times, she paid extra attention when Martin Yates asked her for help.

Martin Yates acted decisively and firmly.

He insisted on her staying for dinner and didn’t even give her a chance to refuse.

It was just unexpected to run into Tim Payne.

She still felt a bit embarrassed thinking about the night she got drunk.

Because she later remembered some of the drunken antics.

Thinking about how Tim Payne actually kneeled down to put shoes on her.

That was Junior President Payne, known all over Capital City, it was truly humiliating.

Martin Yates was very perceptive, just one look and he saw some clues, so after dinner, he specifically asked his nephew, "Did you ever bully her?"

"Bully?" Tim Payne almost didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, "Uncle, why would you say that?"

"She seems a bit afraid of you."

"..."

"Ever since you’ve been here, she’s been quite reserved in her speech."

Tim Payne was at a loss for words, and as he was preparing to send Cressida Jones off, Martin Yates reminded him, "She’s a close friend of mine, be nicer to her."

——

Cressida Jones didn’t intend to be sent off by Tim Payne, but Martin Yates was forceful and didn’t give her a chance to refuse.

This was an old district, combined with many deep alleys and dim streetlights, it seemed desolate and bleak, the chilling wind raced through the alleys with a whimpering sound, as if ghosts were crying, it was quite frightening.

Occasionally, a child would suddenly run by, leaving behind a trail of laughter.

Cressida Jones lowered her head, the thought of the drunken incident making her even more embarrassed.

"Do you deliver goods yourself?" Tim Payne suddenly asked.

"Not really, it’s just that Uncle Yates is a special case."

"Special?"

"He’s your and Mrs. Hale’s uncle, and also..." Cressida Jones cleared her throat, "he pays a lot."

"Are you in need of money? Didn’t you say you have a little savings?"

Cressida grew annoyed, he remembered the events of that night clearly, "My grandmother needs surgery, and we also need to save money to buy a house, there are a lot of expenses."

"You don’t have a house to live in?"

"No house of my own, my grandmother’s house is in the countryside, it’s inconvenient for medical treatment."

"Didn’t your mother get some property when your parents divorced?"

Even if her mother had cancer and needed money, it wouldn’t have used up all the savings.

Speaking of this, Cressida Jones sneered, "Silas Jones was prepared long ago, the assets were all in my grandparents’ hands, he didn’t have any properties to his name, just a few hundred yuan of fixed salary per month, so there was hardly anything to be divided at divorce."

Tim Payne understood.

Many wealthy people use all kinds of tactics to protect their assets.

Mentioning her mother, Cressida Jones couldn’t help feeling resentful:

"And yet, he still said that my mother married him for his wealth."

"When in fact it was him who found my mother attractive and pursued her relentlessly."

"When my mother was hospitalized, that mother and daughter pair even took the opportunity to visit, showing off their power."

...

Cressida Jones was usually very calm, but as the Spring Festival approached, the time when families reunite, thoughts of her mother inevitably made her emotions uncontrollable. When she turned a corner, a group of kids holding sparklers whooshed past.

She was too slow to dodge and nearly got hit by one of the kids.

Thankfully, Tim Payne reacted quickly, grabbing her arm and pulling her back.

Cressida’s breath hitched.

Everything happened so fast, she only felt a strong force pulling her, tumbling into his embrace.

The height difference...

Her lips, quite by chance, landed on his neck.

The cold winter wind had long blown away the warmth from her lips.

Landing on his neck,

Soft,

Slightly cool.

Yet, a spark ignited, instantly raising a wave of heat.

In the dim and hazy alley, as the children’s shouting receded, silence fell.

Cressida could distinctly feel the small patch of skin beneath her lips growing hot, too close for comfort, her hands pushed against his chest, and she could clearly smell the faint scent lingering on him.

"I’m, I’m sorry." Cressida took two hurried steps back, annoyed with herself.

How could she have made such a gaffe.

By chance, her lips had landed on his neck.

Heat spread across her face.

"It’s fine." Tim Payne’s face showed no emotion, "Let’s go, my car is parked not far ahead."

They remained silent until they got to the car.

Perhaps because the alley was dim, and Cressida dared not look at him, no one saw a blush spreading from Tim’s neck to his earlobes.

In the cold wind,

Especially around the ears and neck, it felt as if on fire.

Cressida didn’t go back to the Jones Family home but had Tim Payne drop her off at Capital City Ninth Hospital, where her grandmother was staying. After saying goodbye and getting out of the car, she almost ran into the hospital.

Tim Payne chuckled softly:

No wonder Uncle Yates suspected that I’d bullied her.

He touched his neck, as if her lips’ touch still lingered there.

Even after going home and taking a shower, it seemed he couldn’t wash away her trace. Closing his eyes, the scene in the alley replayed in his mind, the brief encounter seemed to unfold in slow motion, irritating him, and he struggled to sleep.

In his mind, echoed Uncle Yates’s words.

Don’t bully her!

He finally dozed off.

And in his dream...

He did indeed bully her.

When Tim Payne awoke, it was already late in the morning, and Assistant Law had been waiting for him in the living room. Seeing his boss looking unwell, he asked with concern, "Junior President Payne, are you feeling unwell?"

"No."

"Did you not sleep well last night?"

"You’re asking too many questions."

Assistant Law sighed. It was just a normal concern, and even this was considered too much?

He briefed him about the last few matters before the New Year, "Are you going to attend the company’s annual event this year?"

"When is it?"

"Tomorrow night."

"I’ll see."

"Oh..." Assistant Law coughed twice, "When I was negotiating the details of the event with the hotel, I heard that Miss Jones will be there for a blind date tomorrow night. It’s all over the place because of the engagement banquet, there are quite a lot of gossipers in the hotel."

Tim Payne glanced at him, "You seem pretty gossipy too."

Assistant Law smiled wryly:

Me, gossipy?

It’s all for you!

Miss Jones’s father is no good, and the suitor he arranged for her is an old lecher, I wonder how Miss Jones will resolve this.

You might as well not go.