CHAPTER 137: CHAPTER 137: PLANNING TO RESIGN

Lynch Foods.

Isn’t it the company run by Eugene Lynch and his spouse?

Sean Lynch should also be working in that company.

Poppy Hale took a bite of her meal and glanced at Amber’s phone.

The registrant and actual controlling shareholder were indeed listed as Eugene Lynch.

What a coincidence.

Poppy Hale went online to take a look.

There were numerous posts about school lunches containing raw meat; it wasn’t just an isolated case.

All the comments below were complaining about how unappetizing the lunches were.

Parents weren’t even allowed to send food, nor were children allowed to buy their own meals, not allowed to bring food to school.

And these raw meat lunches weren’t cheap either.

One meal would cost more than thirty yuan.

The school lunches did have subsidies, yet they were still sold at such prices, which was truly unacceptable.

Amber’s comment about it being heartless wasn’t an exaggeration.

Poppy Hale forwarded some of the posts to Sean Lynch.

She asked if he was aware of the situation.

Sean Lynch called in the afternoon, saying he had just accompanied Stella Hollis for a prenatal check-up and was unaware of the matter.

He was responsible for external bidding in the company.

He didn’t handle student meals or company finances.

Sean Lynch was unconcerned.

"Poppy, don’t worry. The meals the children eat every day are chosen by my parents. They supervise the kitchen to ensure what they’re serving is safe and sound before sending it out. Stella handles the finances, so there shouldn’t be any problems."

"These posts were definitely planted by the competition’s bots to discredit us. You know, the bids for the next school term are about to start."

Poppy Hale was suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness.

Sean Lynch was choosing to ignore the bigger picture.

There was nothing left for her to say.

Seeing that Poppy Hale was about to hang up, Sean Lynch added, "Oh, I inquired about the child support for Chloe. I genuinely didn’t know about those things. I’ve sent all the overdue support directly to Chloe over these years. From now on, I’ll personally handle it each month."

He initially had Stella take care of it.

He wanted Stella to know there was no connection with his ex-wife, to provide her with a sense of security.

He had no idea she wouldn’t just refuse to send the money but would also badmouth Chloe Archer in her remarks.

Did she not consider that Anya Archer is still his biological son?

Could he let the child go without food?

Poppy Hale nodded and hung up the phone.

She turned to Amber beside her and said, "Amber, let’s sue."

The purpose of forwarding those posts to Sean Lynch was to give them a heads up.

Amber was very upset and, together with a few parents from Jessica’s class, planned to sue Lynch Foods for their lunch supplies.

Sean Lynch didn’t take it seriously, and Poppy Hale felt she had done all she could.

Amber worked very efficiently.

By the end of the workday, the lawyer’s letter had been sent to Lynch Foods.

Afterwards, she left work angrily, intending to take Jessica out for a good meal.

Poppy Hale had just clocked out.

Morgan Sloan came hurrying over.

"Young Hale, are you really planning to resign?"

Morgan Sloan felt a great discomfort in his heart.

Firstly, he had been the one to promote Poppy Hale.

She was always kind and quiet, handled things systematically, capable, and proactively reported work progress.

She was the type of person any employer would love to have.

Secondly, Declan Hawthorne was not at work, and now she was leaving just like that.

When President Hawthorne returns, Morgan Sloan couldn’t believe whether his position as Chief Eunuch would still be secure.

Eunuch Sloan felt a bit weak at the knees.

And a bit sour in his heart.

If he could convince Poppy Hale to stay, he’d be willing to kneel for her.

Poppy Hale nodded.

"It’s my personal decision, irrelevant to the company. If it’s difficult for you, let Declan Hawthorne find me, and I’ll explain it to him."

Leaving was a decision she had agreed upon with Truth Hale long ago.

She needed to handle the matters of the Hale Corporation first before she could focus solely on revitalizing her parents’ hard work, rather than being torn between the Hawthorne Group and elsewhere.

She hadn’t told Amber and the others yet, only submitted her resignation to Morgan Sloan.

She spoke with clarity and openness.

The look she gave was like a resolute rose, unbeatable in its vigor.

Morgan Sloan gazed at her intently.

A few years ago, when Poppy Hale had just returned from the overseas branch, she was a quiet, reserved young woman.

Over time, she had developed a more vigorous spirit.

Morgan Sloan was indeed worried about Declan Hawthorne, but even more, he was concerned that once Poppy Hale left Hawthorne Group, she might not find something better.

He stood in the hallway, extended his hand peacefully, "If there’s no better place, the Hawthorne Group welcomes you back anytime."

"Since you’re leaving in a few days, it’s good to first inform the department."

"Yes, I understand."

Poppy Hale shook hands with him briefly.

Then turned and entered the elevator.

Composed, Secretary Sloan watched her leave, removed his glasses to wipe them, then frantically clutched his head in panic.

"Oh no, oh no, I’ve lost her! Will President Hawthorne fire me too?"

Morgan Sloan now regretted it.

He should’ve asked about Poppy Hale’s plans. Maybe he should’ve gone with her too.

After calling Declan Hawthorne to inform him of the matter, the man on the other side remained silent for a moment.

"Got it."

Then he hung up.

Not a hint of urgency or annoyance.

Declan Hawthorne stood in Mrs. Hawthorne’s hospital room, looking out at the two trees growing outside, lush and thriving, neither yielding to the other.

He knew Poppy Hale would leave and inevitably take over the Hale Group.

His Poppy was a vibrant tree, not a vine.

Before this tree fully matured...

He would give her all the nourishment she needed.

-

The next day, Poppy Hale informed Amber and Janine of her decision to resign.

Amber was the first to react.

"Why? Hawthorne Group offers great benefits already, is there another company offering you more?"

Poppy Hale shook her head with a smile.

"As of now, the new company I’m going to can’t offer me a dime; I’ll have to pour in all my savings, and it might even come to needing your charity for meals later."

Amber was wide-eyed.

"Are you starting a business?"

Poppy Hale didn’t seem like the type to make reckless decisions.

"It’s not a startup. I’m taking over my parents’ company. The company assets were previously frozen, but some have now been released, and someone is overseeing the production lines."

Poppy Hale had already submitted evidence to the courts.

After years of being stalled, the case was finally about to go to trial.

Next month, she would be able to vindicate her father.

The once dust-laden Hale Group would emerge once more.

This might be challenging, but Poppy Hale believed she could do it.

Amber and Janine were surprised by the reason.

It was hard to deter her as a result.

If Poppy Hale was irrationally venturing into business, they could try to talk her out of it.

But taking over the family business was a path she clearly had to take.

Mia Quinn, listening from her desk, suddenly spoke up.

"Did President Hawthorne agree to your resignation?"