Zoe Bell awoke again to find herself lying in a hospital bed with a nurse making her rounds, taking her temperature, "Your temperature is back to normal. You had passed out from the fever after receiving fluids in the emergency room."
"Is that so?" Zoe Bell said, smiling at her in gratitude.
A blurry profile flashed through her mind…
"You're welcome. You'll need to continue receiving fluids today, and your leg needs more rest," the nurse said.
"Thank you."
"In a few days, Dr. Peter Lewis will be coming to our hospital for a consultation," the nurse mentioned.
"Peter Lewis?" Zoe murmured the name, "Is he the renowned orthopedist? Hasn't he retired?"
"Exactly, because he's retired he has time to visit places like ours to consult and guide our work. If he hadn't retired, it would be difficult to even get a chance to see him, as his appointments are hard to secure," the nurse replied with a smile. "When he holds a consultation, you should come and see him. It'll be good for you to have him adjust your treatment."
Zoe nodded, glancing at her right leg.
Her injury from the accident years ago hadn't healed properly, and she had planned to seek a consultation in Capital City.
But at that time, her primary doctor had already told her plainly that it wouldn't matter even if it were Peter Lewis or if Hua Tuo himself were brought back to life, her leg couldn't be fixed.
Additionally, Peter Lewis had already retired then, and she had no means to contact him.
During that period, her spirits were at a low, and it was thanks to Brandon Stone busying himself contacting doctors and caring for her.
She had never been treated with much kindness growing up, so naturally, she was touched by the attention. Coupled with her adoptive parents matchmaking, she understood that she had never had a say in her own marriage. So, the two of them ended up together.
Initially, everything had been fine until she repeatedly refused physical intimacy with Brandon and didn't want to spend nights out with him.
Then Mina Bell came back…
And everything changed.
The nurse left after a few more reminders, and Zoe, her thoughts foggy, picked up her phone to discover that it was already after 10 o'clock the next morning. Last night…
William Hale?
Was it him or was her memory mistaken?
She didn't have time to ponder because her phone was nearly exploding with calls from her adoptive parents, who, unbeknownst to her, had set it to silent mode, resulting in her missing all the calls.
At that moment, Kevin Bell's call came in again. She pressed the answer button and before she could speak, she was barraged with a scolding: "Not answering your phone? Zoe Bell, you're very bold, daring to stay out all night. Where did you go?"
"I'm at the hospital."
"Don't give me that nonsense. What exactly were you doing?"
"Really, at the hospital. You can check that," she replied.
"The hospital?" Vivi Lange's voice came through as she had taken the phone, "Zoe, what made you run off to the hospital? Are you not feeling well?"
"My leg hurts."
"Why didn't you say something about your leg hurting earlier? Are you okay now?"
"I'm fine now."
Zoe couldn't help but find the concern amusing. These issues with her leg were chronic, and everyone around her knew it. They simply never took her situation to heart.
"Fine, if you're okay, come home early. There's something I need to discuss with you," Kevin said, then hung up.
—
Bell Family
By the time Zoe Bell returned home from her IV treatment, it was already dark. The rainy season always brought earlier evenings.
The housekeeper informed her that Kevin Bell had instructed her to find him in the study as soon as she got back.
Following the chaos from the night before, the Bell Family was in disarray.
Everyone had heard that Kevin Bell and Mina Bell's reputations had been tarnished in public by William Hale, all to gain favor with the Hale Family while distancing themselves from their own family.
Kevin Bell was beside himself with fury.
He inwardly cursed Zoe as a jinx.
But since Zoe had already made an impression in front of William Hale, he didn't dare to give her too hard a time for now.
The Stone Family had also made a call, with Brandon's father, Ethan Stone, saying outright, "Brandon will certainly not marry Mina Bell. Zoe Bell is the daughter-in-law our family has recognized. Don't let Mina cause any misunderstandings."
Kevin and his wife were furious.
When they had first brought back Mina Bell, the Stone Family had tacitly allowed her to get close to Brandon. Now they were speaking as if their daughter was at fault.
"The Stone Family really are despicable, ready to sacrifice our daughter to please William Hale!"
Surrounded by crises, Kevin Bell's blood pressure skyrocketed.
"Mina will definitely be heartbroken once she knows. She cried all day today, and I've just managed to soothe her to sleep," Vivi Lange fretted, pacing around the house.
Mina Bell felt humiliated and had not dared to leave the house all day, hiding in her room wiping away tears.
She also mentioned wanting to go back to her original home, which naturally filled Vivi Lange with both heartache and urgency.
"This William Hale really, it's almost as hard as reaching the sky to see him ordinarily, but last night, how so coincidental, so many people try every possible way and may still not be able to see him."
Vivi Lange sighed, "Who knew that girl would run into such good fortune."
Kevin Bell was just about to speak when the door to the study was knocked open.
Zoe Bell stood at the door.
Vivi Lange hurriedly put on a smiling face and said, "Zoe, how is your leg?"
"It's alright."
"Oh, where did you run into Mr. Hale yesterday? Are you... very familiar with each other?" Vivi Lange asked tentatively.
"It was just a chance encounter, not familiar at all."
"How could he recognize you?"
"I had seen him once before when accompanying Brandon Stone to an event."
"Just one meeting, and he remembers you?" Vivi Lange raised her eyebrows skeptically.
"Maybe Mr. Hale has a good memory."
Kevin Bell snorted, "Just as I thought, a chance encounter. People like Mr. Hale, are they the kind that just anyone can see whenever they want?"
With a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth, she thought others meeting him was taken for granted, but if she ran into him, it was considered a stroke of luck!
Everyone felt she was unworthy, unworthy of having good things, even...
Unworthy of knowing someone like William Hale.
"You're still smiling, are you satisfied now?" Kevin Bell scoffed, "Not saying a word when you ran into William Hale, making us look foolish, causing Mina to lose face, while you still get to marry into the Stone Family—this must be your plan."
"I want to say, have you ever given me a chance?" Zoe Bell responded helplessly, "Besides, I've said..."
"But no one believes it."
All they think is that she's not only glib-tongued but also vain and social-climbing, deliberately lying.
Zoe Bell's smile was bitter, "In your heart, am I really so disgraceful?"
"Back then you..."
Kevin Bell's words reached his lips but then got swallowed back, and he changed tack, "Now that the Stone Family has named you specifically, you must be very happy."
"I have already decided to do as you wish and call off the engagement," Zoe Bell stated firmly.
"The Stone Family..."
"I won't marry!"
Her tone had never been so resolute!
"What did you say! You won't marry?"
Kevin Bell's anger was uncontrollable!
His business ruined, his own daughter's reputation damaged, his perfect plans fallen through—he was already seething with rage.
Seeing Zoe Bell so calm and composed only fueled his anger, "You've racked your brains trying to marry into the Stone Family. I'm telling you, don't overplay your hand."
"Enough, stop fighting." Vivi Lange hurriedly intervened to smooth things over, pulling Zoe down to sit, "Zoe, I know, ever since Mina came back, your dad and I have neglected you, and you hold a grudge in your heart, but you must understand us. Mina has been adrift for so long; we always want to give her the best and have overlooked your feelings."
"The Stone Family has already made it clear. As long as you..."
"Mom, I've already thought it through," Zoe Bell interrupted her.
But Vivi Lange spoke with a light smile, "Don't bet your lifetime of happiness on a whim of anger. Everyone knows about your engagement, especially Director Hall. She has been looking forward to your wedding."
"Do you have the heart to disappoint her?"
"She hasn't had it easy, has taken special care of you, and even said that to thank our family for the donations, she wants to give you a big gift when you get married?"
Zoe Bell's breathing grew heavy.
That was the teacher who had looked after her at the orphanage, who is now the director, and the two had a very good relationship and had always kept in touch.
Vivi Lange's words were not a persuasion, but a threat.
As the Bell Family is currently the orphanage's biggest donor, donating a large sum of money every year, the consequences would be dire if the Bells stopped their contributions.
"Zoe, life is long, there's no need to strive over momentary emotions, don't you think?" Vivi Lange said with a smile, stroking her hair, "In a few days, the Stone Family is hosting a dinner party, and I have prepared your dress and jewelry."
As long as Zoe Bell appeared and put on a show of affection with Brandon Stone, it would naturally quash any rumors of the engagement being called off.
In the face of William Hale, they would only mention the hotel incident as a misunderstanding; someone of his stature wouldn't hold onto such a trivial matter.
Over time, Mina Bell would naturally be able to clear her name.
Zoe Bell just felt a chill throughout her body.