Mrs Hale, I Surrender

Chapter 19: 019 Close, Mr. Hale is very good at playing to the gallery. Chapter 19: 019 Close, Mr. Hale is very good at playing to the gallery. William Hale had originally planned to stay home for a couple more days and wanted to give Zoe Bell some time to adjust, but Brandon Stone was restless, and he himself was anxious to return, which is why he headed back to Greenland overnight.

Zac Cruz leaned against the driver’s seat, already asleep.

The marriage agreement had been signed, and she was already at home; where could she run off to?

Was it necessary to rush back overnight?

He didn’t understand and even asked, “Sir, there’s no need to rush back like this, right?”

William Hale simply said, “You’re not married; you wouldn’t understand.”

Zac Cruz was at a loss for words—after all, you’ve only been married for a few days!

——

Zoe Bell couldn’t sleep at all. She did a simple wash-up, changed into her pajamas, and when she went downstairs, although it was just past five o’clock, the summer day was long, and it was already bright outside.

William Hale was standing by the rockery waterfall, with a grave expression on his face.

He seemed to be in a bad mood.

“Mr. Hale, I fed the fish for you,” Zoe Bell spoke up first.

“I can see that.”

“Hmm?”

“One of the fish appears to have been overfed to death.”

“…”

Upon hearing this, Zoe Bell hurried forward.

Indeed, there was a white-tailed, red-bellied fish lying belly-up on the water’s surface.

Zoe Bell had been in a good mood the night before, indeed overfeeding a little, not expecting that it would lead to the fish’s demise.

“Mr. Hale, I didn’t do it on purpose.”

As she was speaking, she hurriedly picked up a small fish net from the side, trying to scoop up the dead fish.

But as soon as she touched the fish, it suddenly jerked, struggled, and splashed, flinging water out of the pool. Zoe wasn’t expecting it to “play dead,” which startled her, and she instinctively stepped back, only to bump right into the man’s chest.

William Hale’s arm reached out, his fingers encircling her waist.

The warmth of his palm, as if burning through the cloth, made her body tense up.

She involuntarily clenched the small fish net in her hand, her breathing unsteady.

“Are you alright?”

Too close,

His breath brushed past her ear, the imposing woody scent entangled with a faint smell of tobacco enveloping her.

It was as if warmth was drilling into her limbs and bones.

“I’m fine,” Zoe struggled, realizing she couldn’t break free, “Mr. Hale…”

William Hale then tilted his head to look at her, his gaze still stern, but his voice was low and gentle. Being so close, it made her whole body tense from the ticklish sensation.

“We are husband and wife; you should learn to adjust and get used to being close to me.”

Zoe nodded, indicating she understood.

She tried to control her breathing, which was irregular due to nervousness.

“In some time, you’ll need to accompany me to meet my family. You can’t show any flaws in front of them,” his voice was husky, grazing her ears.

“I know.”

“We both need to get into our roles quickly, don’t you think?”

Zoe nodded.

Having said that, William Hale had already let go of the hand on her waist.

Calm and composed.

Everything was so natural.

It only made her seem overly nervous.

As the lingering warmth on her waist vanished, Zoe took a deep breath, thinking to herself:

He really is a big shot, very good at putting on an act.

It seems I have to work harder.

“When will we meet your family?” Zoe tensed up at the mention of this.

From what she knew, the Hale family didn’t consist of pushovers: Old Sir and Lady Hale, his father, including two uncles and aunts… they were all well-known figures in the Circle of Capital City.

How could she not feel anxious and worried about revealing cracks!

“In some time,” he replied.

Zoe glanced at him, “Mr. Hale, does your family agree with our marriage? I don’t want to be the cause of any strain in your relationship with your family. After all, we’re not officially registered yet, so maybe…”

“You’re using me and now you want to run?” William Hale looked at her, his gaze full of pressure.

Using him?

Zoe felt that term was quite awkward.

“That’s not what I mean.” She hurried to explain, “I’m just worried your family might object.”

William Hale looked at her intently, “As husband and wife, you should face difficulties together, not think of running away first or leaving the other behind to escape. Am I right, Mrs. Hale?”

“I didn’t mean to abandon you.” She was just used to being alone.

“That’s good.”

…Facing together…

The phrase warmed Zoe Bell’s heart.

“Regarding the issue with Brandon Stone, I heard about it,” William Hale suddenly mentioned yesterday’s event. Zoe Bell was worried he might be angry, but to her surprise, he said, “You handled it very well, except for one thing…”

“What?”

“You shouldn’t have been alone with him!” William Hale looked at her.

His gaze was oppressive, making her tense up completely.

“I did say you can do anything you want, but you should not put yourself in danger.”

“That was a police station; he wouldn’t dare to do anything rash. If anything happened, I just had to shout for help.”

“Not even a ‘just in case’ is acceptable!”

Zoe Bell’s fingers clenched abruptly; the tip of her heart…

…a corner was gently collapsing.

She was used to being alone, to not relying on anyone, to the indifference of others.

Faced with William Hale’s concern, she somehow felt at a loss.

Fortunately, Zac Cruz arrived, discussing work matters with him. Zoe Bell intended to excuse herself, but he said it was okay, and besides, Nanny Parker was also bustling about not too far off, so it looked like there was nothing that couldn’t be overheard.

Only then did she sit down beside the water feature, picking up the fish net, and poked at the little fish that was “playing dead” and misbehaving.

The little fish frolicked, splashing a bit of water, which made Zoe Bell frown tightly.

This stinky fish!

Next time when feeding, she would definitely not feed it.

Zoe Bell put down the fish net sulkily, and that petulant gesture made her appear charming and lively.

William Hale watched this, and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but lift up.

Zac Cruz is crazy!

My dear father, what about work!

You’re married now; you’ve got plenty of time to stare, do you need to keep watching her like this?

Later, William Hale went to the study to deal with work while Zoe Bell “took revenge” on the little fish; then she stood up and went to the kitchen to simmer the previously prepared wine and lychee peel until it was reduced, and then took it outside to dry.

**

Meanwhile, Brandon Stone, who was supposed to be receiving medical treatment, had also arrived at Larkhill Villa Area.

After being hit in the groin area with Zoe Bell’s knee and suffering soft tissue damage, he had asked the hospital to keep it confidential. He had been in pain all night and only managed to fall asleep in the early hours.

The Stone Family, when informed of the whole story, were furious at his lack of resistance.

Ethan Stone felt it was a disgrace and gave him a dressing down.

“To end up like this over a woman, aren’t you ashamed!”

“What you need to do now is recuperate. Make a good impression on William Hale. If you can get into his good graces, what kind of woman will you not be able to find in the future?”

Brandon Stone gritted his teeth:

He, he only wanted Zoe Bell!

And he had been asking around for her whereabouts these past few days.

Finally, someone told him they’d seen her at Larkhill, although they weren’t exactly sure which villa she was staying in.

Brandon Stone had already driven around the villa area several times; finding someone here was not easy. He obviously couldn’t knock on each door, and the security guards wouldn’t let him check the surveillance.

Just as he was about to return to the hospital, while passing the entrance to a villa…

…he saw a familiar figure.

In front of the villa’s gate was a large expanse of green lawn. Zoe Bell, wearing a pale pink long dress with her hair in a traditional Chinese bun secured by a white jade hairpin, was bent over drying something.

She was actually…

…really living here!

Brandon Stone slammed his car to a stop and ran towards her, “Zoe Bell!”

His voice was loud, even William Hale on the second-floor study heard it, and he got up to look out the window.

Zac Cruz also poked his head out, “Sir, Brandon Stone really is relentless, he actually found this place.”

William Hale’s voice was steady,

“Since he’s here, invite him in to sit.”

Zoe Bell hadn’t expected him to find this place; she paused upon hearing him.

Yet Brandon Stone had already rushed to her, “You’re actually living here? Whose house is this?”

His words had barely fallen when he saw Zac Cruz appear at the doorway, “Young Master Stone…”

“It’s hot, my master invites you in for a cup of cool tea!”

Zac, Assistant Cruz?

Brandon Stone’s body stiffened as if struck by lightning!