CHAPTER 130: CHAPTER 130: WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO BE YOUR LOVER?

Poppy Hale’s heart was filled with warmth.

She was too lazy to bother Morgan Sloan about changing rooms.

Once Declan Hawthorne made a decision, not even Chief Eunuch Morgan could change it.

No need to make things difficult for him.

Florence Lynch was a bit tired from playing.

Poppy Hale fed her a little, tidied her up, and then let her go to sleep.

She set an alarm to wake her up later.

Checking her phone, she saw that Hawthorne Group had sent a commission request through Finn Young’s platform, with a significantly increased price from her quote.

It was already quite high for a commercial commission.

Poppy Hale didn’t refuse this time and accepted the order, sending over the link to the commission platform to sign the contract there.

Generally, the platform would take a portion as a service fee.

Many artists opt for offline deals or professional commercial contracts.

But Poppy Hale didn’t want to expose her identity.

To avoid any future trouble, she simply used the platform’s commission link.

Fortunately, Hawthorne Group only wanted the commission and didn’t care about the procedure. Seeing her agree, they quickly placed the order.

Poppy Hale breathed a sigh of relief.

She confirmed the delivery time and style with the contact person and put away her phone.

After a few days of rest, her wrist would be fine.

It wouldn’t affect her sketching.

Once the bandages were removed, she could start drafting, and there was plenty of time.

Footsteps were heard in the room next door.

Poppy Hale had a small window open on her side, and Declan Hawthorne took off his coat and tossed it in the living room, standing by the small window.

The man placed his long hands on the palace-style window frame, bending slightly, just barely sticking out half of his body.

The hotel had many flower pots as decoration.

Looking at it like this, it strangely resembled a painting.

Declan Hawthorne seemed like a medieval court noble, looking at Poppy Hale through a low, small window.

He gestured to Poppy Hale.

"Come here."

Seeing Poppy Hale not move, he added, "My hand hurts."

A painful hand, almost directly implying it was from fighting someone for Poppy Hale.

Poppy Hale stood up, meeting Declan Hawthorne’s gaze through the window frame.

Her wrist was grabbed by Declan Hawthorne, and she stumbled a step towards his direction.

"That person earlier, I warned him. He won’t bother you anymore."

Poppy Hale nodded.

"Thank you."

She needed to inform Truth Hale about this when she got back.

After all, the person’s father was an old classmate of Truth Hale.

Declan Hawthorne persisted, "Just a thank you?"

His hand was a bit cold, and where he held Poppy Hale’s wrist, it felt cold too.

Poppy Hale tried to pull her hand back, but it wouldn’t budge.

"What else do you want to do?"

"I want a reward. After all, fighting is tiring."

Such words.

It was as if Poppy Hale had asked him to fight that rude, sleazy man!

But since he helped, removing her concerns.

Poppy Hale bit her lip, whispering, "What reward do you want?"

Her face showed a hint of intoxicating blush.

Declan Hawthorne’s fingers pinched Poppy Hale’s chin, looking into her eyes.

Their breaths mingled, seemingly about to kiss at any moment.

The room was filled with some unknown scent, spreading subtly, as if the whole room was shrouded in a hazy mist.

Poppy Hale wanted to push him away, but it was as if she was also rooted in place.

Her steps were heavy.

When Declan Hawthorne moved to kiss her, Poppy Hale dodged, and he kissed the corner of her mouth.

But he didn’t leave, his breath dancing around the corner of Poppy Hale’s mouth.

Poppy Hale murmured, "Let go of me. I... I’m planning to find a boyfriend."

Declan Hawthorne gave a slight sound.

"What kind? Not like the one just now, not like the one in the hospital room, and definitely not like Mason Rivers."

While he spoke, he intermittently kissed the corner of Poppy Hale’s mouth.

The overwhelming scent made Poppy Hale’s head spin.

"None of your business. Who I find doesn’t have anything to do with you?"

Declan Hawthorne chuckled softly.

His deep, magnetic voice resonated in one’s eardrums.

He turned Poppy Hale’s face to him, his intense masculine presence invading between lips and teeth, teeth clicking together.

And an unmistakable wet sound, their breaths entwining.

Lowering his voice, Declan Hawthorne whispered, "How is it not related to me? If I don’t know who you’re dating, how can I be your lover?"

Outside the hotel, a piano was set up on the beach.

It seemed someone was playing, one note striking heavily, echoing with a tremor in Poppy Hale’s heart.

She suddenly snapped awake, her eyes wide at Declan Hawthorne.

Her emotions clearly conveyed.

Asking Declan Hawthorne what on earth he was talking about, if he was insane.

What was he saying?

To be her lover?

Poppy Hale looked at Declan Hawthorne as if she had just met him for the first time, her surprise and shock plain as day.

She pushed him away, wanting to check his forehead for fever, only to be interrupted by Declan Hawthorne.

"I haven’t finished kissing, are you planning to pay in installments? You haven’t answered me, is it okay if I be your lover?"

No matter his temperature.

This was truly insane.

Poppy Hale shoved Declan Hawthorne away, closing the window angrily.

Unaware she had just been kissed.

Her face blushing, her lips looking like freshly washed strawberries, dewy pink, with a hint of moisture in her eyes.

She glared at him furiously before shutting the window.

All while making Declan Hawthorne feel a surge of joy.

He touched his lips, still lingering with her presence.

Just then, Allen Shaw walked in, seeing Declan Hawthorne touching his lips with a silly grin.

Suddenly, he halted his steps.

"Declan, why are you touching your lips? Did you just kiss someone?"

His voice wasn’t low, and Poppy Hale heard it from the other side.

Wishing she could bury her head under the covers.

Declan Hawthorne responded, "Florence is sleeping next door, keep your voice down."

Allen Shaw: "..."

He had questioned why Declan Hawthorne booked a suite and kept a room for him.

With Florence asleep and that look of reminiscence on Declan Hawthorne’s face just now.

Allen Shaw couldn’t help but think he had guessed right?

Allen Shaw wanted to slap himself.

"Did you call me over to let me eat your dog food?"

Declan Hawthorne pointed to the sofa, "Sit. There’s something else I need from you."

Allen Shaw nodded, "I knew you weren’t that heartless."

He took a bottle of mineral water, opened it, and took a sip.

Then he heard Declan Hawthorne calmly say, "I called you over to seduce Serena Sutton."

"Pfft—!"

Allen Shaw spewed out all the water he just drank.

"Speak human language."

Declan Hawthorne nonchalantly said, "I’m serious. Serena doesn’t like me, but she lacks any fight. Since neither of us wants this, the engagement won’t happen."

Allen Shaw gnashed his teeth.

"It wasn’t going to happen even initially! You don’t want it, are Sutton and Hawthorne families going to drug you and carry you off to Miss Sutton’s bed?"

Was there a need to be so ruthless?

Declan Hawthorne remained calmly composed.

"Anyway, since you don’t mind arranged marriages either, it’s settled. Serena’s room is next to yours."

Allen Shaw felt like a thousand wild horses were stampeding across the grasslands in his heart.

He trembled, looking at Declan Hawthorne.

"Are you even human?"

"Go on, and don’t disturb my daughter’s sleep."

Allen Shaw: "..."