Chapter 507: 505 Grand Finale (2)

At this moment, the wedding ceremony had reached the exchange of rings.

Zoe Payne was initially worried that her daughter might make a mistake, but to her surprise, she and Ivy Shea appeared in a small car, a black convertible, remotely controlled by Assistant Law.

The two little ones only needed to scatter flower petals.

To protect the two children, both families were usually very careful about photos being released, so many people present were seeing them for the first time.

“Is that Mr. Hale’s daughter?” someone marveled, “It’s hard to imagine the decisive and ruthless Mr. Hale in the business world having such an adorable daughter. What to do? I want to steal her and take her home.”

“Steal her home? Believe it or not, the Hale Family will show up at your house that very night and leave no stone unturned!”

“True, after all the trouble the Hale Family went through to have such a precious child, she’s definitely pampered. I wonder if Mr. Hale will have a boy or a girl this time?”

Sussie Lopez’s belly was already starting to show.

She had a good appetite and slept well. Except for throwing up once or twice during the third month of pregnancy, she felt no discomfort the rest of the time.

She continued to go to work and draw design sketches as usual.

She just avoided attending the construction site due to potential formaldehyde exposure, but she didn’t slack off in other work areas. Finn Hale, having seen Vera Hale, was longing for a daughter himself.

He had already picked a nickname:

They already had the Moon in their family, so his daughter’s name would be Star.

…

At this moment, the ring had been handed to Tim Payne.

He slipped it onto Cressida Jones’ finger, making a lifetime commitment in front of all their friends and family:

Never forsake each other, stay together until old age.

After the ceremony, they took a group photo.

Kids are always restless, and as the photographer arranged everyone, Zoe Payne noticed her daughter had run to Young Master Carter’s side, seemingly very fond of him. Michael Shaw was nearby, wanting to hold her, but the little girl twisted her body, refusing to let him touch her no matter what.

“Why on earth?” Michael Shaw was baffled.

Young Master Carter looked him up and down, “Maybe… because you’re a stinky man.”

“Look at how you’re talking, as if you’re not a man.”

“I…”

“What about you? Besides, you’re not as upright as I am. Let me tell you, purity is a man’s best dowry. Don’t blame your brother for not reminding you, don’t mess around. When you meet a good girl someday, and she despises you, what will you do then?”

“From the way you’re talking, are you still pure?”

Michael Shaw was caught off guard, “I… well, not really, at my age, I’ve had a few relationships.”

He was just being stubborn.

Old Shaw had a strong and ruthless hand in his younger years. Unlike the Hale Family, where inheritors could be chosen, Michael Shaw was the only successor, and he had no filter. The old man was strict with him to prevent him from saying the wrong things and bringing trouble upon himself.

Over the years, many tried to use relationships to climb up through him.

But Michael Shaw wasn’t foolish. Some people he even cursed away.

So…

He really hadn’t been intimate with a woman.

After all, women were like a flood and a fierce beast, and once you got involved, you couldn’t shake them off.

Young Master Carter wasn’t foolish either. From his expression, one could deduce a thing or two:

He didn’t expect that Michael Shaw, who publicly defied everything, was actually such a pure person.

It has to be said, in Tim Payne’s circle, everyone maintained their purity well.

“Hey!” Michael Shaw spoke up, nudging Young Master Carter’s arm, “I heard your company has a project looking for partners, we’ve known each other for so long, how about giving me a chance?”

“Give me a chance?”

He looked at Michael Shaw, not as quick to refuse as before, and instead said, “I have to go back and discuss it in a meeting.”

“That’s all I needed to hear.” Michael Shaw said, patting him on the shoulder. Looking at the Payne Family Members taking a group photo on stage, he suddenly had an idea, “Young Master Carter, how about a photo of the two of us?”

He didn’t say anything, just brushed off Michael Shaw’s hand from his shoulder.

The refusal was evident.

“Don’t worry, I’m good at taking pictures, I definitely won’t make you look bad.”

“I think you’re the one who’s ugly.”

“…”

Turned and left without a word, leaving Michael Shaw stunned for quite some time.

He didn’t say it, but anyone could tell by his expression that he was cursing hard inside.

**

The wedding ceremony ended in the daytime, and there was a party in the evening. Tim Payne and Cressida Jones opened the dance floor, while Zoe Payne, amid everyone’s encouragement, performed an ancient dance.

Long gowns and water sleeves, as graceful as a startled swan.

Vera Hale watched from the side, extremely excited, hopping up and down as if she was dancing alongside her mother.

Finally, Zoe Payne held her little girl’s hand, bowing to thank everyone. Vera followed suit, wearing a beautiful puffy dress, even lifting a bit of the skirt and curtsying just like her mother.

As everyone applauded, the little girl seemed a bit shy, quickly running to her father’s side.

When William Hale picked her up, she threw her arms around his neck, burying her head into him.

This segment of the dance was recorded and posted online, quickly rising to be trending.

[Haven’t seen Mrs. Hale since the jewelry exhibition two years ago, and now their daughter is this big.]

[Too cute! Makes me want to have a daughter.]

[Boss Payne’s figure is a waste if she doesn’t return to dancing, she should make a comeback.]

[My daughter used to learn dance from her, she was so professional and serious, she was my daughter’s first good teacher, having a good teacher is really important.]

[Mr. Hale is living the dream; you can tell his wife is very happy just by her glow and expression.]

…

Night fell, and the manor was still lively, but the little girl was tired. After William Hale comforted her to sleep, leaving her with the nanny, he brought a cup of warm milk for Zoe Payne.

Hugging his wife from behind, he asked, “Do you still want to get back into dancing?”

“My legs won’t allow it.” Although they appeared normal, only she knew it was impossible for her to return to the professional stage.

“How do you know if you don’t try?”

Zoe Payne just smiled and took a sip of the milk, “Don’t you think I know my own body? But… if I could, I’d still like to be a dance teacher.”

It would be a way to make up for regrets and to lift others up.

“I’ll support whatever you want to do,” William Hale said with a smile.

“Can you help me with the zipper at the back? I’ve been in this dress all day and want to take a shower,” Zoe Payne said as she walked to the mirror, naturally dressed up since it was her brother’s wedding.

An old married couple, there wasn’t much need for modesty.

When the zipper at the back was undone, Zoe Payne felt a small chill run through her, but she didn’t expect…

In the next second,

She could see clearly in the mirror, William Hale bent down, planting hot kisses on her back.

His breath was burning,

The heat spread across her skin in an instant, making Zoe Payne’s body slightly rigid. Her fingers trembled, spilling the milk onto her dress, the white trails staining the fabric.

“You spilled the milk,” Zoe Payne frowned.

“So careless,” William Hale took the milk, placed it to the side, and held her hand, bringing it to his lips for a kiss.

Kissing off the milk…

The scene was so beautiful it made one’s heart tremble.

“Actually, the first time I saw you, you had just finished crying, your eyes were red, and it was very captivating, making one not want to let go, wanting to bully…”

William Hale’s breath lingered near her lips.

“To bully fiercely,”

“Unrelentingly so.”