CHAPTER 129: CHAPTER 129: I’M PURSUING HER

Surprisingly, the other party kept pursuing relentlessly.

Not only did he suggest adding each other on WeChat, but he also wanted to go swimming together.

Poppy Hale stepped back half a step.

"I didn’t bring a swimsuit, so I won’t go. My phone is out of battery and turned off, so I can’t add you temporarily."

Any adult could tell Poppy Hale’s words were a refusal.

Yet the other person was unwilling to leave.

When he got back, he also heard from his dad that Poppy Hale already had a child.

To be honest.

As a man, of course, it felt unsettling.

Who wouldn’t want their future wife to be pure, having had a child with another man always leaves a gap in between.

But Poppy Hale was truly captivating.

She wasn’t one of those stunningly beautiful top-tier beauties, but her figure was too good, her skin was pale, and her cool temperament drew people in just right, the more you looked, the prettier she seemed.

The man was unwilling to give up, surprisingly went to scan a code intending to borrow a power bank for Poppy Hale.

The man in front of the booth frowned.

He took a long stride, walking towards Poppy Hale.

Declan Hawthorne approached, his presence too distinct, which instead made Poppy Hale breathe a sigh of relief.

Instinctively, she moved half a step towards where Declan Hawthorne was.

The man lowered his eyes watching her, that subtle movement melted the frosty smile at the corner of his mouth.

"Don’t know how to refuse?"

Her face already looked so unpleasant.

Still trying to maintain a bit of dignity.

Didn’t she know that in this world, those with dignity suffer the most losses?

"Haven’t you read the news about girls being harmed for rejecting advances?"

She was just afraid.

If maintaining dignity could reduce the risk of getting hurt, then suffering a bit on the surface wouldn’t be a big deal.

This was Poppy Hale’s way of protecting herself.

The man borrowed the power bank, walking towards Poppy Hale with big strides.

The smile on his face froze when he saw Declan Hawthorne standing beside Poppy Hale.

Declan Hawthorne reached out, grabbing Poppy Hale’s wrist, and asked with a low voice: "Changed the bandage?"

"Changed it."

"Go get me a cup of coffee."

Poppy Hale nodded hurriedly and quickly headed towards the front desk.

The man saw her leaving and wanted to catch up, but was blocked by Declan Hawthorne’s extended arm.

"President Hawthorne, what are you..."

Declan Hawthorne was straightforward.

"I’m pursuing her. Stay away from her, got it?"

The man was stunned.

Although Poppy Hale was pretty, with an unbelievably good figure, her family background was just so-so, and she had a child.

After selling the house, she probably had some money in hand, enough to serve as her dowry.

It was for that sum of money that the man was so interested in Poppy Hale.

But that amount of money shouldn’t be enough to attract someone like Declan Hawthorne, right?

The man’s Adam’s apple moved, feeling somewhat guilty: "Does President Hawthorne also know that their family sold the house?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, a few days ago Poppy’s mom sold a house to our family, saying that the money would be saved as her dowry."

He said it like this.

Trying to make Declan Hawthorne misunderstand that their families were already discussing things.

Already at the point of discussing dowries.

Declan Hawthorne’s face visibly darkened.

Poppy Hale was holding a coffee, and before she could get closer, she heard a few screams coming from the hall.

"Someone was hit!"

"President Hawthorne, calm down!"

Poppy Hale’s heart skipped a beat, almost spilling the coffee in her hand.

Did Declan Hawthorne hit someone?

She quickened her pace towards the commotion.

Morgan Sloan was already there with people, handling the situation.

The man held his face, being led away by a few colleagues.

Declan Hawthorne stood dark-faced in place, veins pulsing on his arms.

He stared at the man’s swollen face, his expression grave, warning: "Don’t let me hear you talk nonsense."

Inside, the man felt unwilling.

But dared not say anything further.

Even being punched by Declan Hawthorne, he could only swallow this silent loss.

As he was led away by his colleagues, he still felt some resentment, thinking that Declan Hawthorne and Poppy Hale might just be fooling around.

Maybe after sleeping together, he’d get tired of her.

What ’high and mighty’.

With these thoughts, he turned back for one last look.

Declan Hawthorne took the coffee from Poppy Hale, drinking a sip.

Poppy Hale lowered her head, looking at the scratches on his hand, frowning as if scolding him. Declan seemed to sense something, drawing Poppy Hale to the side with an arm around her shoulders.

The man’s heart was racing fast.

He didn’t expect Declan Hawthorne to genuinely have feelings for Poppy Hale.

Realized he had spoken out of turn earlier.

Poppy Hale asked, "What happened just now? Why did you suddenly use force?"

Declan Hawthorne pursed his lips, saying nothing.

Florence Lynch popped out from the side, "The uncle who looks like a pumpkin said he wanted mommy’s dowry."

Poppy Hale was taken aback.

Squatting down to look at her daughter.

"What else did he say?"

"I don’t know, didn’t hear it."

Florence shook her head, hugging her building blocks, "Mom, Uncle Hawthorne was helping you, you should say thank you to Uncle."

Though she didn’t fully understand what had happened.

But a child is most sensitive to the emotions in an adult’s words.

When that man offended Poppy Hale, Declan Hawthorne made a move, Florence knew.

So she urged Poppy Hale to thank Declan Hawthorne.

Poppy Hale, under Declan Hawthorne’s gaze, stiffly said, "Thank you."

Florence was unimpressed.

"Mom, you taught me, when saying thank you also specify who, thank whom?"

Poppy Hale: "..."

A child in their orderly phase is truly something you can’t argue with.

"Thank you, President Hawthorne."

Florence was still dissatisfied.

"This isn’t the office, it’s not ’President Hawthorne’.

The eyes of Declan Hawthorne were nearly brimming with amusement.

Poppy Hale originally intended to say, Thank you, Declan Hawthorne, but worried Florence might find her words too inexpressive, not polite enough.

Biting her lip, she said, "Thank you... Declan?"

Just like Serena Sutton had seemingly called Declan Hawthorne before.

Now Florence was satisfied, contentedly going back to play with her blocks.

Before leaving, she even showed a worried look, "Mom, you guys have to get along well, be good friends, okay?"

This time Declan Hawthorne couldn’t bring himself to smile.

It was the first time Poppy Hale called him that.

But most likely, it was because Serena Sutton had called him that just now.

She remembered it.

He didn’t care for that so-called engagement that didn’t have a shadow yet.

But truly, he should first clear things up.

Poppy Hale was now like a hedgehog, pushing him away at any minor issue.

Finally making half a step forward, Declan Hawthorne didn’t want it all to be undone because of irrelevant people.

In the past, he never dealt with these matters.

Now it was different.

Declan Hawthorne looked towards Morgan Sloan.

"Give Allen Shaw a call, ask him to come here."

"Okay, President Hawthorne."

-

The Hawthorne Group booked a room for each employee.

Amber Yates came with her husband and kids, so their family lived together.

Janine brought her child and shared a room with another female employee who also had a boy.

Poppy Hale thought she would also share a room with a colleague who had a little girl.

Unexpectedly, when she carried Florence into the room, she found it was a suite.

Such a big room, It was obvious who she would be staying with.

Florence was amazed, "What a big room!"

It was her first time seeing such a large room, decorated like a castle, what little girl wouldn’t like it.

Poppy Hale whispered, "Florence, do you like big houses?"

Florence earnestly shook her head.

"I like where I live with mom and grandma."

"If grandma could be here too, that’d be great."