Mrs Hale, I Surrender
Chapter 83 - 083 Awake, yet falling into his tenderness

Chapter 83: 083 Awake, yet falling into his tenderness

Jealous?

Zoe Bell was chopping vegetables when her movements came to a halt. She turned her head impulsively to look at the person by her side. William Hale had his sleeves rolled to his wrists and rested one hand on the countertop. He watched her with a direct gaze that neither dodged nor wavered.

His eyes were wolf-like, usually sharp and cold, but now they were tinged with a playful smile, causing her to lose focus instantly.

She didn’t know how to respond to these words.

William Hale had once mischievously teased her, and Zoe couldn’t tell if his words now were true or false.

Her gaze drifted away, avoiding eye contact.

"What are you avoiding?" William Hale moved closer, the scent of wood from his body drifting over, causing the hand that Zoe Bell held the knife in to sweat slightly.

"I’m not avoiding, I’m making dinner."

"Then look at me."

Zoe Bell bit her lip, took a breath, put down the knife, and turned to look at him, but he suddenly leaned in closer.

His lips curved into a smile as he looked down at her.

God knows how fast her heart was beating. The kitchen was semi-open, and someone could pass by at any moment. Zoe Bell felt anxious, but William Hale kept moving closer.

His breath on her face stirred ripples of warmth.

As their noses brushed,

Gently, warmly.

Between breaths, the heat made her skin shiver.

Zoe Bell’s breathing became hurried, her throat tight, "Uncle Hale and Aunt Lott could wake up at any moment."

"Are you afraid?"

"Afraid."

"What’s there to be afraid of?"

"I need to save face."

Her tone almost suggested that he was shameless.

In front of him, her bravery was growing.

This, was good.

William Hale smiled as he leaned down to kiss her.

His lips were cool at first but quickly generated warmth.

His kisses, fervent and urgent, made Zoe Bell feel as if she was on fire. Her heart trembled lightly, and just as she felt her legs grow weak, she was already in his embrace.

Bodies pressed together, warmth lingered on her face for a long time.

"When you talk to that kid, you’re quite bold. How come you don’t dare to look at me?" He kissed her lips gently.

"You’re not the same as him."

William Hale watched her intently, his voice low and bewitching, "What’s different?"

Zoe Bell pursed her lips, she hadn’t spoken when he said,

"You don’t like him, but you like me?"

"..."

Zoe Bell stiffened.

He had heard her conversation with Lucas Bell?

At that moment, Zoe Bell felt as if a fire had ignited from beneath her feet, warmth rushing to her face, and a string in her mind snapping abruptly, leaving her unable to think rationally.

And when William Hale lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, he leaned down again, capturing her with a kiss.

The kiss was gentle.

Until that moist warmth touched her cheek, her ear...

She bit her lip, a sound almost escaping from her mouth.

"You did very well today," his fingers gently brushed the top of her hair as he whispered, "And spoke well too."

Zoe Bell lingered in a daze, meeting his gaze which was gentle.

He watched her with a smile, "Also, congratulations on successfully passing the preliminary round. It must have been hard work during the competition."

Her heart raced, and she now realized with utmost clarity...

The softness at the tip of her heart,

Was as if it were about to surrender.

William Hale always knew when to stop, Zoe Bell’s temperament was such that she resisted obvious pressure, suited to a frog being boiled in warm water.

But the temperature had to be just right, if he pushed too hard...

She might start hiding!

He took over the task that Zoe Bell had left unfinished. While chopping the vegetables, he said, "I know you watched him grow up, but you can tell, he is very opinionated and has ideas, and he likes you. You can’t keep treating him like a child."

"He’s not the timid teen who was sent abroad."

"Daring to rebel and even scheme against his own parents, do you think he’s a child?"

Zoe Bell adjusted her emotions, "I’m just used to it."

From the time she had memories, she had been in the orphanage. The teachers there didn’t have the energy to look after everyone, so most of the time, it was the older kids who took care of her.

So she was also accustomed to taking care of Lucas Bell.

Subconsciously, she always thought of him as younger.

"I’ll adjust, and not treat him as a child anymore," Zoe Bell pursed her lips, "But... when you followed us out today, what time did you leave?"

She was aware he had even heard their conversation.

"Not long after you left," William Hale said truthfully.

Zoe Bell pondered to herself:

She thought that this kind of behavior was something only Wyatt Hale was capable of, yet it appeared that Mr. Hale would also track and eavesdrop on other people’s conversations.

What about that time Mina Bell kissed Brandon Stone?

Was it really Zac Cruz who listened from around the corner?

William Hale then added, "Wyatt insisted on following along, worried something might happen to you, but I was more concerned about him causing trouble."

Zoe Bell nodded in acknowledgment.

A seed of doubt had taken root in her heart.

"I’ll make you something to drink." Zoe Bell left the kitchen because William Hale insisted on preparing the food, only to run into Brock Hale.

He seemed to have just come downstairs, and exchanged a simple greeting.

"You cooking?" Brock Hale sized up his son.

"Why did you and Aunt Lott come here so suddenly?" William Hale cut straight to the point.

"So direct? It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, son. Shouldn’t we exchange pleasantries before getting into serious topics?"

William Hale looked at his father, "Are you taking the warm and fuzzy approach now?"

Brock Hale sighed with resignation; having a son really was a curse, not a single bit of closeness, "It was your grandfather who specifically sent me here. The Bell Family has delivered the news right to his doorstep."

"They definitely want to press us to make you break up with that girl, to give the Bell Group a chance to catch their breath."

"But I didn’t expect that the Bell Family would act so quickly, and that their son would turn on them at the critical moment."

William Hale did not express his opinion, "What does grandfather think about this matter?"

"Are you asking if he has an opinion about that girl?"

"Yes."

"The old man sees through everything; the Bell’s little tricks are nothing in his eyes," Brock Hale said with a frown, "Moreover, they are too anxious, it’s as if they’re behaving like a cornered beast, making mistakes everywhere. I don’t understand how such idiots managed to accumulate such a vast fortune."

William Hale laughed lightly, "Blessed by ancestors and benefiting from the prosperity of the times."

"With the economy heading downward in recent years, it’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who has been swimming naked."

At this moment, Zoe Bell happened to pass by the kitchen, "Uncle Hale, I made drinks, please come have some."

Brock Hale responded and moved closer to his son, whispering, "Your Aunt Lott is here."

"Hmm?" William Hale tilted his head with a puzzled look at his father.

"You two getting cozy in the kitchen for so long, it makes it difficult for me."

Brock Hale had only slept for half an hour; he was somewhat particular about his sleeping environment and couldn’t sleep well. It was hot, and he was thirsty, so he thought of getting something to drink, but instead...

It made him feel quite embarrassed.

Especially upon hearing the words his own son spoke.

He was so embarrassed he could not find a place to hide his old face.

He thought about going back to his room, but the chance to overhear his eldest son’s conversation was rare, making him very uncomfortable.

"Dad, eavesdropping is shameful," William Hale said solemnly.

"If I weren’t eavesdropping, how could I know how shameless you are? Wyatt said he’d go to see the situation, and you actually went as well. How can you have the nerve?"

"When Aunt Lott didn’t want to get back with you and went on blind dates, you followed her around too," William Hale retorted.

"Do you think as a single dad, raising you was easy?"

"I helped you chase Aunt Lott back then, even had the gall to say I’d move in with her. You, out of concern for me, moved in with us too."

"William Hale, bringing up old grievances isn’t interesting," Brock Hale said.

"Old accounts, if frequently revisited, remain fresh. I find it quite interesting," William Hale replied.

"..."

Brock Hale left the kitchen with a dark expression but immediately put on a smile upon seeing Zoe Bell.

Which father wouldn’t feel as aggrieved as he did?

Then Wyatt Hale appeared out of nowhere, humming a tune and grabbing a cold drink from the refrigerator. As he passed by his father, he suddenly received a kick.

He frowned, "Dad?"

"Drink less cold stuff; it’s bad for the stomach."

"..."

"Don’t hover around me; it’s irritating."

Wyatt Hale was baffled. What was going on? Had he done something to upset him? Who was loitering around him?

Could it be that his father was going through a midlife crisis, to have such a fiery temper!