Zoe Bell returned to her room shivering, where a gown and a set of jewelry were already laid out on the bed. She mocked herself silently, laughing at her own helplessness for being so easily manipulated.
No matter how challenging it was, she was not afraid.
Why involve innocent people?
Was this what her life had come to?
A sense of helplessness welled up inside her.
In the following days, Mina Bell was in a bad mood, Vivi Lange accompanied her to go out to clear her mind, and Kevin Bell was busy dealing with the company affairs.
Zoe Bell took a leave of absence from work due to leg pain, which was quite peaceful for her.
The day of the Stone Family's dinner party, which also coincided with Dr. Peter Lewis's consultation day, arrived quickly.
There were many people there for a consultation. Zoe got up early and got a number, but she still had to wait until the afternoon to see him.
When she entered the office with her medical record, she saw an elderly man with white hair, accompanied by two young doctors who were helping him with the records.
"Dr. Lewis, hello," Zoe Bell said politely.
Dr. Peter Lewis pushed up his glasses and scrutinized her, "Have a seat."
"Thank you, this is my medical record," Zoe handed over her medical record.
The old man flipped through it briefly, then asked her to roll up her pants leg and place her right leg on a stool beside her for examination.
"How did this happen?" he pressed his fingers against Zoe Bell's right calf and ankle to examine it.
Zoe Bell bit her lip, "An accident."
"From dancing?" He could tell from the wear on her feet.
Zoe Bell nodded.
Dr. Lewis continued, "Did you go through conservative treatment at the time without having surgery?"
"Yes, the doctor said surgery wouldn't make much of a difference."
"Absolute nonsense!" Dr. Peter Lewis suddenly raised his voice, startling Zoe Bell, and even the two young doctors responsible for taking the notes jumped.
"Dr. Lewis, what's the matter?" a young doctor asked.
"Her leg could have been normal by now if it had been operated on promptly back then. It isn't a big problem; even a non-expert or non-orthopedic authority could see it. Who is this incompetent doctor who told you that your leg was beyond help…"
Zoe Bell felt a buzzing in her ears and didn't hear a single word of what Mr. Lewis said after that.
At the time of her injury, when mobility was compromised, her foster parents had helped her see many doctors, and Brandon Stone also said he would help her contact orthopedic specialists both domestically and internationally—those doctors…
All said it was untreatable.
They said surgery was pointless and might even lead to complications.
She had also visited several hospitals, received the same outcomes, so she gave up on surgery and consequently on dancing.
She stopped participating in competitions, ended her professional career, and thus completely altered the trajectory of her life.
The doctors had no reason to deceive her; it had to have been her foster parents and Brandon Stone…
In Greenland, they had the means to do it!
Yet she had been touched because, during the time of her injury, her foster parents had been kind to her, and Brandon Stone had taken great care of her—turns out it was all a facade.
It appeared they had never planned to let her return to the stage and had used her injury to achieve their own goals.
Brandon Stone got to date and engage her as he desired;
The Bell Family got their desired alliance with the Stone Family.
Her life was not supposed to be like this!
Why?
A chill enveloped her from all directions, wrapping around her entire body.
It was terrifying!
So terrifying that her whole body trembled.
She knew her foster parents didn't really love her, and Brandon Stone's affection might have been because she was beautiful, but she had never imagined that to achieve goals, human nature could be so vile.
Zoe Bell wandered out of the hospital in a daze, the sky during the rainy season was the color of smog, much like her life…
Heavy clouds obscured the sun, leaving no trace of light.
She even forgot to take her medical record.
Still, Dr. Peter Lewis's assistant caught up to her.
"Thank you, it's been a bother," Zoe Bell squeezed out a slight smile from the corner of her mouth.
The smile shattered like a fragile flower in the wind.
"Mr. Lewis said that if you want to undergo surgery, you can contact him. Because your leg has been delayed for too long, he can't guarantee that it will allow you to successfully perform on stage again, but at least it might mitigate the pain during damp weather."
After thanking him, Zoe casually found a place to sit down, her movements slow and heavy, feeling suffocated with every inch of air she breathed in.
As people came and went, she seemed like a wandering spirit in this world...
No place to depend on, nowhere to go.
Meanwhile, across the street, someone had already been accompanying her for a long time.
Zac Cruz sighed, "Grandfather, bringing this up is too cruel for her."
William Hale's gaze locked onto Zoe Bell, "I've waited too long, I really don't want to wait anymore."
If this storm is bound to come,
Let it be quicker and more fierce.
----
As the sky darkened and her phone vibrated, Zoe Bell checked it and saw it was a call from Vivi Lange. She took a deep breath and tried to stay calm.
"Hello, Mom?"
"Where are you? The Stone Family's banquet is about to start, you should hurry over."
Zoe Bell replied, her mind a mess at that moment; she wanted to confront them, asking why they had treated her this way.
She didn't wear a gown or jewelry, just rushed straight into the hotel where the Stone Family held the banquet, and a waiter led her to the door of a private room.
The moment she pushed the door open...
She hadn't even recovered when suddenly "bang bang—" a burst of colorful fireworks came right at her...
She instinctively squinted her eyes and when she regained her senses, the center of the room opposite the door was surrounded by countless balloons and flowers.
Brandon Stone, in a white suit, held flowers and smiled at her brilliantly.
In the room, besides Brandon Stone, there were his parents, including Kevin Bell and his wife Mina Bell, some other relatives and friends, and sitting not too far away was William Hale!
Zac Cruz glanced at the man sitting on the sofa from the corner of his eye...
Seemingly casual.
But his gaze fell on Zoe Bell at the doorway, his fingers tightening on his lap, knuckles slightly whitening.
Zoe Bell wasn't a fool, she clearly understood that tonight's so-called banquet...
Was actually a carefully planned proposal by Brandon Stone.
"Miss Bell, what are you spacing out for, hurry over," someone pushed her forward.
The rest of the people in the room were egging them on, the atmosphere vibrant, only the Bell family wore forced smiles, especially Mina, who almost burst into tears, yet managed only to squeeze out a slight smile.
"It's okay, Mina, without Brandon, Dad will find someone even better for you later," Kevin Bell quietly consoled his daughter.
Mina Bell's lips turned pale from biting, she nodded silently.
"You and Brandon might have had a chance, but..." Vivi Lange, watching her daughter in distress, full of sympathy, "The Stone Family wants to please William Hale, to enter the Circle of Capital City through him, they must maintain a good image in front of him."
"So whether Brandon wants to or not, since the engagement is set, they can't leave William Hale with the impression of a man who abandons commitments."
Mina Bell froze, looking toward her mother, "So... Brother Brandon didn't want to propose?"
Vivi Lange patted her daughter's shoulder, "In the face of family interests, his wishes don't matter."
Mina Bell bit her lip, saying no more.
Meanwhile, Brandon Stone, holding the flowers, slowly walked toward Zoe Bell, the melodious music filling the air.
Drawing closer, kneeling on one knee, he took out a red box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a diamond ring that sparkled brilliantly under the light.
"Zoe, a lot has happened recently, I know you're disappointed in me, but I truly like you. From the moment I first saw you, I fell deeply in love with you..."
The music stopped, and Zoe Bell lowered her head to look at the person in front of her, her heart a mix of emotions.
Thinking about all his previous kindness, all founded on destroying her life, she felt like she was submerged in cold water.
A chill to the bone!
"I promise, from now on, I will wholeheartedly protect you, cherish you, and never let you suffer the slightest harm."
"Zoe..." Brandon Stone, unaware of her apprehension, continued earnestly.
"Marry me!"
At this moment, the entire private room was extraordinarily quiet, with everyone waiting for Zoe Bell's answer.
She stood there quietly, silent for a long time.
She gazed steadily at the man kneeling before her.
Remembering the times in the hospital, his solicitous inquiries and attentive care that had once moved her, now seemed like countless venomous snakes gnawing at her.
The poison seeped into her bones, chilling her to the core!
As the seconds ticked by, Brandon Stone's heart threatened to leap into his throat, while the surrounding friends and relatives grew impatient, whispering to each other.
"What's going on?" someone quietly asked.
"Zoe, what are you absent-minded for? Are you too overjoyed and can't react in time?" Vivi Lange laughed, playing peacemaker and continuously signaling Zoe Bell with her eyes.
Mina Bell wrung her hands, her lips whitened from biting.
Suddenly, someone started heckling, "Marry him, marry him——"
Subsequently, most people in the private room chanted, urging Zoe Bell to accept him.
Even someone pushed her, urging her to accept quickly.
Brandon Stone too became aware that something was amiss, as Zoe Bell's gaze was too unfamiliar.
At that moment, he suddenly had a feeling:
Previously, she said, it was over between them.
It might not have been a joke.
A wave of panic washed over him and without waiting for Zoe Bell to speak, he grabbed the ring with one hand, and her hand with the other, attempting to slide the ring onto her finger, but unexpectedly—
She suddenly raised her hand!
The ring fell to the ground.
Immediately, the room fell silent as a grave.
"Brandon Stone, I have told you, between us... it's already over," Zoe Bell said in a soft voice, yet with firm determination.
"Zoe, with so many people here, don't joke with me," he said.
Brandon Stone had always thought that she had proposed breaking off their engagement that night only because she had seen him being intimate with Mina Bell, assuming it was a spur-of-the-moment outburst of anger.
He had secretly congratulated himself, thinking it meant that Zoe Bell still cared about him.
In her current situation, she should be grateful to marry him!
But Zoe Bell's expression was serious, "I'm not joking."
"Zoe..." Brandon Stone approached her, lowering his voice, "At least give me some face tonight, don't throw a tantrum. We can talk about anything in private, I'll agree to whatever you say."
"Dowry, house, car, I definitely won't shortchange you."
"Our parents, your family, and all these relatives and friends are here, don't embarrass me," he pleaded.
Zoe Bell chuckled softly and glanced at a man not far away.
"You didn't mention the most crucial person."
"Because..." he started.
"Mr. Hale is here!" she interjected.
Zoe Bell wasn't foolish; ever since Mina Bell returned, the Stone Family wanted the legitimate heiress, that's why they tolerated Brandon Stone's closeness with Mina Bell.
This sudden marriage proposal was nothing but an attempt to leave a good impression on William Hale.
Being entangled with another woman, causing his rightful fiancée to break off the engagement, would certainly tarnish the reputation of the Stone Family.
A negative impression on William Hale meant no chance of support for him.
"Zoe, it's not because of that, you should know that I truly care about you!" Brandon Stone pressed in a low voice.
He took a deep breath, "I know I've neglected you recently, that was my fault, I apologize. I did speak too harshly last time, but that was also because I cared too much about you."
"You're always so indifferent to me, I really can't see through you."
Zoe Bell's lips curled into a slight arc, "So your intimacy with Mina Bell is my fault?"
"You saw it last time too, she kissed me on her own initiative."
"Her transgression was a result of your indulgence," she said.
"Alright, knock it off, it's my fault. There are so many people here, at least give me some face. I've booked the banquet already, please stop being mad at me."
Their tugging and pulling had already made it clear to the surrounding people that something was amiss.
Someone stepped forward to mediate, "Maybe it's too sudden for Miss Bell; she's not prepared. Anyway, you're both young; you can spend more time together."
"Exactly, there's no rush." The crowd said, chuckling and trying to defuse the situation.
Brandon Stone's face grew increasingly embarrassing. He had prepared for so long, only to be refused, which was a severe blow to his pride. He felt utterly humiliated.
He indeed liked Zoe Bell — smart and beautiful, she was impressive to take out.
To chase her, he had gone to great lengths.
Usually, she wouldn't let him touch or hold her; she acted all high and mighty, but he was willing to wait.
But that didn't mean she could slap him in public.
Brandon Stone seldom stooped so low. He reached out to put his arm around her shoulder, but he hadn't expected Zoe Bell to lift her hand...
"Slap—" A powerful slap!
It landed hard on Brandon Stone's face, the crisp sound of the slap stunned everyone present.
Even Kevin Bell and his wife and Mina Bell were bewildered!
What on earth was going on?
Brandon Stone felt as though his face was on fire; it was the first time in his life he had been slapped.
He said through gritted teeth, "Zoe Bell, have I spoiled you too much?"
"I've given you enough face, and I've apologized. Don't go too far."
"I'm telling you, I don't need you; you're not irreplaceable!"
Zoe Bell laughed softly, "I'm going too far? You know very well what you did to chase me."
They conspired...
And took away her life!
Brandon Stone was stunned by her words, then, realizing what she implied, retorted stubbornly, "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
"You do understand!"
"You know about it? Who told you?"
"There's no wall in the world that can keep the wind out."
"Daring to hit me, you've got some nerve. I'm telling you, it was your parents who instigated the matter back then. If you dare, go home and confront them just as fiercely. When the Bell family kicks you out and you have nowhere to go, don't come crying back to me."
Zoe Bell sneered, but Brandon Stone turned and left!
"Brandon, Brandon Stone—" His father, Ethan Stone, called out from behind. He ignored him, causing the crowd to buzz with conversation.
He glanced at William Hale not far away, "Mr. Hale, I apologize for my son's disgraceful behavior."
"No worries." He stood up, his expression unreadable, "I have some matters to take care of; I'll be leaving now."
After William Hale left, Kevin Bell hurriedly apologized to Brandon's parents, promising to talk to Zoe Bell when they got home. This scene had brought shame on both families in front of the proposal gathering.
"I really like Zoe; Mina is your biological daughter, and I understand you're eager to make amends for her, but you can't do it at the cost of another daughter's happiness, can you?" Ethan Stone said with a smile.
He believed Zoe Bell's refusal of the proposal was due to Kevin Bell and his wife pressuring her not to marry his son.
Ethan Stone's implication was clear:
The Stone family didn't want Mina Bell!
Kevin Bell smiled awkwardly, made some polite remarks, then approached Zoe Bell and said through clenched teeth, "Come home with me!"
——
The night sky was enveloped in a layer of haziness, with dark clouds stretching out, making the air stuffy and oppressive.
"Sir, it looks like it might rain again tonight." Zac Cruz, driving the car, glanced at the person in the back seat while stopped at a red light. His phone vibrated, he glanced at it and said, "After leaving the hotel, Brandon Stone went to Nightless."
William Hale raised his eyebrows slightly, and Zac Cruz hurriedly explained, "That's Greenland City's most famous nightclub, they say there are beautiful women available as well."
"Release the news." Hale tapped his finger lightly on his knee, "The bigger the commotion, the better."
Zac Cruz nodded.
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