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Zoe Bell felt her face growing hot from his calling her “Mrs. Hale.”
Before William Hale left, he said to her, “I will have Zac Cruz deal with the orphanage matter.”
Zoe Bell was stunned.
Because she hadn’t yet brought up the matter with
him.
Later, she followed Nanny Parker into a bedroom on the second floor.
The entire villa was decorated primarily in black, white, and gray. The bedroom also appeared bleak and desolate, seeming particularly oppressive and gloomy, just like William Hale himself, who gave off an
overwhelming sense of pressure.
“The toiletries are all complete, and clothes have been prepared for you, although I am not sure if the size is right, so let me know if you need anything,” Nanny Parker said.
Zoe Bell stood blankly in the room, her face a mask of
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13 013 was shamefully thrilled again
bewilderment.
How exactly had things developed step by step to this point?
In just one hour,
she…
became a married woman?
And even to William Hale?
It’s a tale so implausible, perhaps no one would believe
- it.
After a quick shower, Zoe Bell came out and found that sleeping oil was lit on the bedside, sandalwood mixed with cedar, the warm aroma of wood mingled with the crispness of cedar, as if she were in the midst of a forest.
A glass of warm water and medicine to prevent a cold were also present.
The rain outside showed no signs of stopping. In a strange environment, she should have been tense and unable to sleep, but as she hugged the blankets, she suddenly felt inexplicably secure.
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In a daze, she dreamed of her days in the orphanage, when she was adopted by the Kevins, how happy she was, how her friends envied her…
Yet, her days with the Bells were like walking on thin
ice.
She slept restlessly for the latter part of the night, tossing and turning until the sky began to brighten, and only then did she fall asleep again.
In the study on the other side
William Hale was up all night.
Zac Cruz was almost dead tired but the master had not a hint of sleepiness. After Zoe Bell went to sleep, he started working like a man possessed, as if he had been injected with chicken blood.
Only when dawn was approaching, did he put away documents and glanced again at the marriage agreement set aside.
“Sir, you should try to get some sleep at least.” Zac Cruz could hardly hold on, “You haven’t rested well these days, keep this up and your body won’t be able
the
3/1
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to take it.”
Who knew they had been waiting near the Bell family’s villa area for so long.
He seemed to have anticipated that Zoe Bell would be kicked out, sooner or later.
Just like a beast lurking in the dark, ready to seize its prey at the slightest appearance-
And never let go!
“Sir, the agreement is signed, Miss Bell has been brought back too, even if she wants to back out now, it’s too late.”
The truth about the leg injury, the proposal, being thrown out of the house… a series of events had already rendered Zoe Bell incapable of thought. Brought back?
It was nothing more than him taking advantage of the situation after plotting meticulously!
William Hale gave him a look, and Zac Cruz felt a chill down his spine, “Did I say something wrong?”
“It’s not Miss Bell.”
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“Huh?” Zac Cruz was puzzled.
“From now on, she is Mrs. Hale,” William Hale
corrected.
Zac Cruz was speechless.
**
When Zoe Bell awoke, it was already past ten in the morning.
The sky had cleared, typical of the rainy season, half wet, half sunny.
She knew she had to leave that home eventually, but the Bells treated her like a thief. It was only after she started working that she had saved some money. The property prices in Greenland were high, and her savings were just enough for a down payment on a single–bedroom apartment in the suburbs, providing her a place to land no matter what happened in the
future.
Yet, before she could buy the house, Mina Bell had returned, throwing everything into chaos.
And more chaotic still…
How had she ended up marrying William Hale!
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Marriage?
Zoe Bell bolted upright in bed, surveying the unfamiliar bedroom!
After a good night’s sleep, she was exceptionally clear–headed, and she despised her behavior from the night before, succumbing to temptation, fallen.
Ever since William Hale appeared last night, she felt as if in a dream.
It was all…
true!
She sat on the bed, staring blankly for a long time.
How had she agreed to this?
And why, why had William Hale appeared there in the middle of the night?
Was it a coincidence?
Why choose her?
Fully awake now, countless questions flooded her mind, but they were interrupted by the ringing of the phone. She picked up the mobile phone; it was a call from Director Hall, “Zoe, where did you get so much
13 013 was shamefully thrilled again
money from?”
“What?”
“This morning, a Mr. Cruz came by saying he was donating a sum of money on your behalf to us,” Director Hall sounded excited, “it’s really a lot.”
Zoe Bell simply laughed, glossing over the topic.
Director Hall hesitated before asking, “Did something go wrong between you and Young Master Stone?”
Last night, Brandon Stone made the entertainment headlines with his new love interest, and by this morning, everyone in Greenland knew about it.
“We’ve terminated our engagement,” she said.
“What did you say? What’s going on? He has always been nice to you, could it be because of the Bell Family…” Director Hall didn’t finish the sentence but just asked, “Zoe, are you… are you alright now?”
That question made Zoe Bell’s nose sting with emotion, and she squeezed out a slight smile from t corner of her lips:
“I’m quite alright!”
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But the night before, she couldn’t resist the temptation and made a deal with William Hale.
“You should come back for a visit when you have time,” she said with her lips, but Director Hall obviously
didn’t believe her, “I haven’t seen you for a long time and miss you quite a bit.”
“The weather hasn’t been good lately, my legs are hurting. I’ll visit you in a couple of days.”
After hanging up, Zoe Bell stood up and found various articles of clothing already prepared in the wardrobe, all made of the finest fabrics
It took her a long time to mentally prepare herself in her room before going downstairs.
Unexpectedly, William Hale was still there at this hou In the living room, in front of the floor–to–ceiling windows, was a miniature rockery with a trickling stream that formed a pool, where several small fish swam among the plants.
William Hale sat beside it, the epitome of finery and ease, pinching fish food in his hand, a pot of tea by side, and an incense holder with a half–burned stic
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She liked fragrance, and didn’t share her interest in incense.
“Mr. Hale, good morning.” Due was inevitably awkward.
William Hale nodded in ackno
“Madam,” Nanny Parker, seein
already prepared some tea an
will be ready soon, please hav
over.”
The address “Madam,”
Made Zoe Bell feel embarrass
- it.
Zoe Bell nibbled a few snacks William Hale, “Mr. Hale, I’d lik out for a bit.”
“Hmm?” William Hale raised
at her.
“I need to go back to my wo things, and I want to make a well.”
* Hole regarded her.
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“What, what?” Zoe Bell was already a bit intimidated by him, and always felt restrained in his presence, her thoughts all muddled.
Her mind couldn’t catch up with his meaning, despite the high concentration of her thoughts.
He had already stood up and approached her.
She hadn’t noticed the previous night that she only reached up to his chest. As he looked down at her with relaxed eyes and closed the distance, his overpowering scent incessantly stimulated her nerves and invaded every breath she took.
And his piercing, wolf–like gaze made her nerves tens up again.
“Mrs. Hale…”
His voice pressed low, like a whisper of sweet nothing between lovers.
“Hmm,” Zoe Bell responded in a muffled voice.
He said, “Although we’re married, I don’t need an obedient vase.”
“Here, you are free.”
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“You may go wherever you wish, and if you’d like to share your plans with me, I’d be happy to listen, but there’s no need to report to me.”
“You can do whatever you want.”
The voice of William Hale was both warm and refined, somewhat desolate, yet his words touched her warmly.
Zoe Bell’s heart was shamefully stirred once again.
At the orphanage, whenever someone came to adopt, she was always the chosen one; at the Bell Family, she was constantly indoctrinated to be grateful, compliant, obedient, and not to think for herself…
Even her dress choices were subject to her foster mother’s scrutiny, with virtually no freedom to speak
- of.
They claimed it was for her good, but never bothered to ask if she was actually well.
Her fate was never in her own hands.
So she was moved!
Who was it that said William Hale was heartless and
harsh?
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He was clearly a good person.
“I’ll be heading back to Capital City in a bit, and will return in a few days,” William Hale said before turning back to feed the fish.
This allowed Zoe Bell to breathe a sigh of relief.
The corners of William Hale’s eyes deepened, yet he couldn’t help but chuckle to himself as he turned around.
Was she so happy to hear that he was leaving?
**
William Hale left without having lunch, and Zoe Bell, like a dutiful wife, sent him off in the car. Zac Cruz found it odd, “Sir, heading back to Capital City isn’t urgent; at least have lunch before you leave.”
“She’s still not comfortable around me.”
“Give her more time.”
And he had important matters to attend to in Capital City.
“Is 5 years a big age difference?” William Hale suddenly
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asked.
Zac Cruz was startled, “Not at all, you’re in your prime, and match Miss Bell… I mean, your wife perfectly!”
William Hale didn’t say anything else, but opened his phone. It was unusually quiet inside the “Hale Family’s Special Group (Official Version)” until he sent a
message:
“I’ll be home tonight.”
“You know to come back? What do you want back here for! There’s no place for you in this home, I get
annoyed just seeing you.” The reply came from the old Mr. Hale, his tone displeased, and it caused others to refrain from speaking as well.
William Hale: “I need the Passport Card.”
“What? You want to start your own household! I’m not dead yet, are you thinking of splitting the family?”
“No.”
“Don’t bother! Get lost–”
“I need the Passport Card to get married.”
The group exploded!
