CHAPTER 136: CHAPTER 136: BLOOD TIES

Mrs. Hawthorne really didn’t have much energy.

The medication the doctor gave her included quite a few sedative components.

Soon, she couldn’t hold on, and her eyelids were heavy.

Seeing this, Poppy Hale pulled aside the two kids who were crying softly by the bed.

The patient should have a good rest.

With them here, Mrs. Hawthorne was trying to muster her strength to see them a bit longer.

She couldn’t bear to fall asleep.

Florence Lynch patted Mrs. Hawthorne’s blanket gently.

"Grandma Big Bear, be good and sleep, okay? Iris and I will come to see you next time."

Iris Quill nodded vigorously, "Yes! Auntie Grandma, you have to be good!"

Mrs. Hawthorne nodded, glancing at Declan Hawthorne and Poppy Hale, as if wanting to say something.

But she couldn’t utter a word.

She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

When the other members of the Hawthorne Family arrived, Mrs. Hawthorne’s hospital room door was already closed. Besides Hugo Hawthorne who went inside, the others could only stand at the doorway.

Fortunately, the doctor said it wasn’t a very serious accident.

On the contrary, the car accident led to a very thorough examination, where they discovered she had a small fibroid.

Surgery has already been scheduled.

Finding it early could even be considered a blessing in disguise.

In the hospital corridor, Poppy Hale held Florence Lynch and looked at Declan Hawthorne.

"Florence and I will head back first. We will visit Mrs. Hawthorne when she feels a bit better."

Declan Hawthorne nodded.

He looked somewhat comical at the moment.

Wearing a black turtleneck sweater, he held a white Maltese in his arms, with a bow on its head. As Poppy Hale looked over, it stuck out its tongue and smiled at her.

Florence Lynch tugged at Poppy Hale.

"Mom, let’s take the puppy home too."

This was the puppy Grandma Big Bear bought for her.

Upon seeing the puppy, Florence Lynch thought of Grandma Big Bear lying in bed.

She felt extremely sad.

Poppy Hale looked at the puppy, its quality was evident, and its coat and appearance indicated the puppy wasn’t cheap.

Plus, it was carefully chosen by Mrs. Hawthorne, so it wouldn’t be lacking.

Seeing the puppy also reminded Poppy Hale of her childhood dog, Hannah Lynch.

Her heart immediately softened.

"All right, let’s take it home first."

It’s not convenient to leave the puppy in the hospital.

Declan Hawthorne placed the puppy in Florence’s arms, reaching out to gently stroke its head.

The little girl held the puppy cautiously, afraid of hurting it.

Her actions were gentle, and her eyes glistened with tears.

Her mouth was pouting.

"I shouldn’t have wanted a puppy."

She thought it was because she wanted a puppy that Grandma Big Bear had the accident.

At this thought, Florence’s tears fell, dripping onto the puppy’s soft fur.

Poppy Hale embraced Florence, speaking softly, "We’ll visit grandma again when she’s feeling better, okay?"

She referred to her as grandma.

Declan Hawthorne’s gaze flickered, the emotions in his deep-set eyes were complex.

He could probably guess what Poppy Hale and Mrs. Hawthorne had just talked about.

This was how Poppy Hale was.

Unhesitant to show others the light when necessary.

Declan Hawthorne knew how important Florence was to Poppy Hale.

To say that she was her everything right now wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

She had always been afraid that the Hawthorne Family would try to take the child from her.

Declan Hawthorne stepped forward.

He bent down and held both Poppy Hale and Florence.

Poppy Hale was taken aback, instinctively trying to push him away, but found her hands too occupied.

Declan Hawthorne rested his chin on Poppy Hale’s shoulder, holding Florence’s back.

"Thank you, Poppy."

"Wait for me at home."

His voice was low, sounding as if reciting poetry.

Poppy Hale’s eyelashes trembled lightly.

She turned around with her daughter and the puppy, taking a taxi home.

On the way back, Poppy Hale gazed at the scenery outside the window.

She would tell Mrs. Hawthorne that Florence was actually Declan Hawthorne’s child, but seeing Mrs. Hawthorne lying weak in bed and the puppy just now,

It struck a chord in Poppy Hale’s heart.

She thought of Connor Lynch.

If her father were still here, he would probably love her and her child unconditionally as well.

Blood ties are indeed a mystifying thing.

Even though Mrs. Hawthorne didn’t know Florence was her granddaughter, just seeing their resemblance made her treat Florence with undeniable care and even a bit of spoiling.

Even Iris Quill mentioned that Mrs. Hawthorne adored Florence more than him.

Poppy Hale thought.

She wouldn’t give up custody of Florence, but if Florence could have one more grandmother who loved her,

That would be completeness for Florence.

The puppy was very well-behaved, knowing it was still in the car, lying quietly on Poppy Hale’s lap.

Florence and the puppy locked eyes.

"Mom, let’s give it a name."

"What would you like to call it?"

This Maltese was entirely white, with fur trimmed round, and its eyes were like two small, shiny black grapes.

Florence thought for a moment, "Let’s call it Barrett, because Grandma Big Bear gave it to me."

Barrett was very cute.

Florence was pleased with the name.

Poppy Hale gently patted Florence’s back, softly saying, "Florence, don’t call her Grandma Big Bear anymore, just call her grandma."

Florence tilted her head, thinking for a moment.

She refused her mother’s suggestion.

"All grannies we meet are grandma, the janitor at our kindergarten, the granny who sells pancakes at the community gate, they are all good grandmas. If we call Grandma Big Bear just grandma, she would be the same as them."

She felt that Grandma Big Bear was a special grandma.

She didn’t want her to be like the other grandmas.

In a child’s world, there are always their own rules.

Poppy Hale smiled.

"Then it’s up to you."

The mother and daughter took Barrett home.

The puppy supplies Poppy ordered online had just arrived.

Truth Hale saw them bringing a dog home and just laughed without saying anything.

Poppy Hale liked dogs, and so did Florence, truly like mother, like daughter.

Truth Hale also liked dogs.

The three of them together set up a new home for Barrett.

-

Hawthorne Group.

On a workday morning, the break room was crowded with employees making coffee.

Amber Yates yawned several times.

The seat beside Janine was empty.

Mia Quinn didn’t come to work; she took the day off, saying she had some personal matters to handle.

Poppy Hale opened a new account with the money from selling the house and gave it to Chloe Archer, saying it was for Anya Archer’s future education fund.

Chloe Archer was caught off guard, refusing to take it.

Poppy Hale said that if Chloe Archer didn’t take it, she would give it to Stella Hollis’s child, making Chloe Archer take the card immediately.

When she looked at Poppy Hale, her eyes were filled with tears.

With the remaining money, after clearing all debts, Poppy Hale planned to buy a small house first.

She initially wanted to leave Arvum City.

But after thinking it through, Truth Hale was a local of Arvum City, and so was she.

Leaving here, there wasn’t any other city that felt more like home.

Might as well buy a house here.

During lunch break, Amber Yates complained.

"Jessica’s school makes them eat lunch boxes at school—what kind of food is that! She said today’s lunch box had raw meat in it!"

Janine nodded in agreement since her son was also in elementary school.

"My son also said it was awful."

Janine’s son was known for not being picky with food, having an appetite comparable to Iris Quill, and even he said it was bad, indicating just how inedible it was.

Amber Yates checked her phone.

"The company supplying the lunches is called Lynch Foods."

Poppy Hale paused eating.