Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 439 - 438 Zoe’s reminder? Forced melons aren’t sweet

Chapter 439: 438 Zoe’s reminder? Forced melons aren’t sweet

Goddaughter?

The Payne Family was amused to hear this, especially since Wyatt Hale had offered to recognize Martin Yates as his godfather on New Year’s Eve, but was declined. The reason given was that he preferred children like Cressida Jones.

If both parties have no objections, naturally, it would be a good thing.

Julia Yates looked at her daughter who was lost in thought and smiled, "Zoe, what do you think?"

Zoe Payne pursed her lips, her mind racing in just a few short seconds.

She felt that her brother treated Miss Jones somewhat differently.

But since he said he didn’t like her, force-feeding a bull water to drink would prove ineffective, let alone forcing marriage. Perhaps...

Brother’s feelings for her weren’t of fondness?

So she smiled and said, "I think it’s quite nice."

"Then I will ask your uncle’s opinion later. Spend more time with Miss Jones to observe and casually gauge her thoughts," Julia was cautious, "If she’s unwilling, we can’t force her."

"I understand."

After Julia Yates left the tea room, she went to find her brother.

Martin Yates had always been a loner. When he was younger, he didn’t think about getting married and settling down. He roamed around abroad without the ties of family, enjoying a carefree life. Now that he’s older, having returned to his homeland and living alone, he didn’t feel loneliness or desolation.

But he would indeed be pleased to have a younger person he admired come and visit often.

"I have no objections; I just fear she might be unwilling."

"I’ll have Zoe regularly invite her out to play and test out the waters."

Since nothing was certain yet, after discussing, they did not inform others of the plan.

After all, Wyatt Hale was a big talker. If the news spread widely and Cressida Jones found out, and if she was unwilling, she would certainly avoid them, or she might feel obliged to reluctantly accept.

No matter what, for recognizing each other as family, the willingness of both parties is always essential.

So Tim Payne was unaware of this matter.

Zoe Payne had once tried to discuss the issue with her brother.

He was talking to Finn Hale at the time about a design exhibition starting on the second day of the Lunar New Year and making plans to go. They were discussing one of the designers when Zoe Payne lingered nearby.

Sipping tea one moment, eating fruit the next.

Which prompted Tim to chuckle lowly, "Zoe, is there something you need?"

"Just..." Zoe Payne cleared her throat, "I heard that you and our parents went to offer prayers today and you saw Miss Jones?"

This was already the first time that Finn Hale had heard this name.

Miss Jones was currently a sought-after figure in Capital City.

Tim Payne casually took a sip of his tea and nodded in response to his sister, "Saw her."

"What do you think of her?"

Upon hearing this, Finn Hale became intrigued and turned his head to take a curious glance at the person beside him. Tim simply said in a subdued tone, "Just so."

Zoe Payne pursed her lips, that assessment...

Forget it!

A melon picked forcefully is not sweet, maybe there’s just no destiny between them.

"Why do you ask her about it?" Tim still inquired out of curiosity.

"Just asking randomly, I thought you were quite acquainted. Michale Shaw is organizing an outing on the third day of the Lunar New Year, and I thought of inviting her along. Are you coming?"

Finn Hale spoke up, "Your brother and I have plans to visit a design exhibition."

"Then never mind."

After Zoe finished speaking, she turned around and left. Finn Hale, watching the interaction between the siblings, felt that Miss Jones was rather interesting - her name was coming up often at home.

If his niece wanted to ask out Miss Jones, why not simply do so? Why bother asking Tim?

It seemed...

Quite unusual.

**

On the other hand

Cressida Jones’s flower shop was only closed on the first day of Chinese New Year, and by the third day, many people were placing orders for flowers. When Zoe Payne called her to hang out, Cressida was stunned for a few seconds.

After all, they weren’t that close.

"I still have to run the shop, might not have time."

"What time does the flower shop close?"

"About six o’clock." Since it was Chinese New Year, she too wanted to slack off a bit; usually, she would be open until after nine o’clock at night.

"Then I’ll send someone to pick you up."

The engagement party had caused trouble because of her; Zoe always felt apologetic about dragging Zoe into it without fault. That’s why when she was earnestly invited, she didn’t refuse.

Originally, Zoe planned to have Kyle Lowe pick her up, but she and William Hale were already at the party venue. When Michale Shaw heard that it was Cressida Jones coming, he seemed interested, "Sister-in-law, give me the address, I’ll go pick her up."

"You’re going?" Zoe frowned, her expression troubled, "You’re interested in her?"

"Nowadays, in the entire Capital City, who isn’t interested in her?"

Zoe raised an eyebrow.

Michale immediately laughed, "Not that kind of interest, just purely curious."

After the big incident with the Jones Family, Miss Jones emerged as the final winner. Plus, with everything that happened at the engagement party, everyone could tell there was something more to see.

"Don’t worry, I’ll definitely pick her up properly, not asking anything I shouldn’t. I have a good sense of propriety."

Everyone was speechless:

Sense of propriety?

Do you even have that thing?

But Michale Shaw was a vexing little imp, and Zoe couldn’t do anything about it, so she could only give him the flower shop’s address.

He always had a flamboyant style, and since it was Chinese New Year, he specifically chose a red sports car, wearing a blue shirt paired with a floral tie, and a leather jacket over it, his hair meticulously combed.

With a carefree and haughty air, and an untamed wildness in his eyes, he looked like a runway male model as he pushed the door and entered the flower shop.

The bell above the door tinkled crisply. Cressida Jones didn’t look up and said, "Sorry, we’ve stopped serving for the day. If you want to order flowers, we can only deliver them tomorrow."

"Miss Jones, sister-in-law sent me to pick you up."

Cressida Jones then looked up, startled.

Isn’t this the young master of the Shaw Family?

They had never spoken, but she had seen him from afar.

He was famously fond of spectacles and always dressed flamboyantly, like a peacock.

His outfit relied entirely on his face to pull it off.

But it must be said, he really was handsome.

"Please take a seat, I’ll be ready in a moment," Cressida Jones said as she finished arranging the flowers, took off her apron, and went to the back to wash her hands. Her phone vibrated with an unfamiliar number. Thinking it was a client, she answered with a hello.

"Cressida..."

It was actually Beckett Jeans.

Cressida Jones felt somewhat helpless, "I’ve already told you, stop contacting me."

She had blocked Beckett Jeans’ contact details. This was the fourth time he had reached out with an unfamiliar number, but she needed to keep her business line open and didn’t want to miss customer inquiries, which was annoying.

"I’m not trying to bother you, just want to have dinner with you. Are you free tonight? I can come to pick you up."

"I have plans, I’m not free."

"How about tomorrow night?"

"Also not free."

"Cressida, didn’t you say you liked me? Were all those things you said in the past lies? My involvement with Marigold was just for show, you’re my true love, she’s just someone I was momentarily amused by, a plaything to pass the time..."

Cressida Jones couldn’t be bothered to argue and hung up the phone, then she left with Michale Shaw.

"Miss Jones, please get in the car," Michale courteously opened the door for her.

"Thank you."

"Watch your head."

After he closed the door for her, Michale made his way to the driver’s seat, drove off, and at that moment, a figure holding flowers appeared from the shadows. In the cold wind, that person’s face instantly darkened.