CHAPTER 139: CHAPTER 139: HEAVEN’S MERCY

Jackie only felt.

It seemed like her heart was filled with a thousand words.

But when she finally laid eyes on Poppy Hale standing at the door, she didn’t know how to begin speaking.

It felt as if there was a lump in her throat.

Those words just wouldn’t come out.

It wasn’t the first time Hugo Hawthorne had seen Poppy Hale.

He knew she was the parent of Iris Quill’s classmate, and his wife was strangely enamored with the little girl from their family.

Admittedly, Florence was indeed very lovable.

But even so, Hugo Hawthorne didn’t quite understand it.

No matter how adorable, she’s someone else’s child after all.

It’s not like Jackie could become attached to her and have her become part of their family.

Hugo was murmuring to himself.

Florence put down the apple, ran over to pour two glasses of water, and handed one to Jackie and one to Hugo.

Hugo’s elderly face immediately broke into a smile.

"For me?"

"Yes, yes! Grandpa Hawthorne, thank you for taking care of Grandma Big Bear. It’s warm water!"

After so many years, this was the first time Hugo Hawthorne had drunk water poured by such a little child.

The way he looked at Florence was truly full of fondness.

The more he looked, the more Florence seemed to resemble Declan Hawthorne, especially when she lowered her head, the curve at the corner of her eyes was exactly like Declan’s when he was a child.

Facial features might be coincidental, but expressions are ingrained in the bones.

Hugo’s heart skipped a beat.

He noticed Jackie gazing eagerly at Poppy Hale, not saying a word.

Poppy Hale knew she probably had something to say to her.

She patted the young girl’s hair, "Florence, why don’t you go play outside with Iris for a bit."

Jackie’s hospital room was a suite.

There was a living room outside as well.

Florence nodded, making sure to adjust Jackie’s blanket before leaving.

Just from watching, Hugo Hawthorne’s eyes were shining brightly.

His eyes were sparkling.

This little thing, how is she so endearing?

Jackie thought carefully about her words.

"The matters between you and Declan, as elders, we won’t interfere. When I was young, I hated how my parents-in-law would meddle, and if they hadn’t, many things would have been solved earlier."

She mentioned the past without any hesitation.

"Declan likes you, I’m not afraid to speak bluntly in front of you. The Hawthorne family’s affairs are a mess, but rest assured, I am not like Declan’s grandmother."

"But Declan, just like his father, no matter how many faults, they never outweigh a single virtue."

Jackie smiled gently.

Her gaze was like water, glancing at Hugo Hawthorne.

They had spent many years together, facing both major and minor incidents.

Once, a fortune teller predicted that she would face a bloody disaster this year, but if she could get through it, good news would follow.

Jackie was now grateful for the car accident.

Heaven showed mercy to the Hawthorne family.

Perhaps, it also showed mercy to Declan Hawthorne.

Jackie looked earnestly at Poppy Hale, her gaze sincere, "Back then, when I jumped off the bridge, Declan’s father also jumped after me."

"In the water, he held me and said that if I didn’t want to live, we would sink together. He couldn’t let me leave alone."

The past was like smoke.

When brought up, it was just fragments and pieces, and the hatred once thought deeply buried transformed into wisps of smoke.

"I thought of Declan, of my parents. And so I went up with Hugo."

Jackie gestured in front of her.

"The water just gurgled around me, my nasal cavity, oral cavity, was all filled with water. So was Hugo’s, but he continued talking to me."

"At that moment, I woke up; I had to live."

"To live, to continue life with such a wonderful man."

Hugo’s face held an imperceptible blush.

He grumbled, "Why bring this up, it’s pointless."

It had been so many years, bringing it up in front of the young ones.

Hugo couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed.

Jackie chuckled a few times, her eyes visibly filled with happiness and contentment.

"Declan has this same trait as his father. In all these years, I’ve never heard Hugo say he loves me, like he’s mute."

"Talking about love at such an age! Seems like you got hit by the car in the head, need to schedule a brain CT."

Hugo said as he stood up and felt Jackie’s forehead.

It wasn’t hot.

How did she start reminiscing about the past?

These things Jackie never said, and as a man, Hugo wasn’t one to nitpick over them.

Jackie batted away his hand.

Poppy Hale stood there.

Feeling slightly shaken inside.

She had thought Jackie might say something to her.

About Declan Hawthorne, Florence, or perhaps her own family.

But she never expected Jackie to talk about herself.

Poppy Hale had heard about the suicide from Declan Hawthorne.

As an outsider, she could grasp faint traces from the edges of events.

Even just a glimpse of the iceberg was enough to startle Poppy Hale.

Jackie must have gone through the harshest and coldest times of her life to consider ending it all.

But Hugo Hawthorne pulled her back.

Poppy Hale spoke softly, "Thank you for telling me this."

"I didn’t tell you this to burden you, child, make your own choice."

"Florence is your daughter, on this, rest assured."

Her child had been taken from her, Jackie’s heart had endured countless wounds, and she knew the hurricane pain of losing a child.

Having suffered such hardship, how could she become the perpetrator?

She could never take another woman’s child.

Especially a child born under those circumstances.

Poppy Hale having decided to give birth to Florence was already a great kindness; whether she returns to the Hawthornes or bears their name, Jackie has no right to interfere.

She spoke softly, calmly yet powerfully.

"If you’re willing to give Declan another chance, this Auntie will do her utmost to support you."

"If you’re unwilling... What’s owed to Florence will not be lacking, either."

Jackie and Jordan Barrett, the two sisters, had names that sounded like men.

From childhood to adulthood, they were decisive, straightforward, loving and hating with courage.

At this moment, the way she looked at Poppy Hale was filled with love and peace, with wrinkles at the corners of her eyes as gentle as ripples in moonlight.

Her words were firm, without a trace of blame, only heartache for Poppy Hale.

Poppy Hale felt a tightness in her nose.

Her eyes welled up with an unfamiliar sting.

She looked down to hide her strangeness, speaking softly, "I... I will think it over carefully."

Jackie nodded contentedly.

After saying all this, she felt a bit tired.

Not noticing the puzzled look on Hugo’s face, she waved her hand, signaling him to help her adjust her position before closing her eyes to sleep.

Poppy Hale got up to bid farewell.

Just as she and Florence stepped out of the hospital, they saw the Jeep parked there.

A man stepped out of the car and walked briskly towards Poppy Hale and Florence.

Tall and graceful, his every move exuding an indescribable aristocracy, frequently drawing attention.

As Declan Hawthorne walked over, Poppy Hale reached out to tug at his sleeve.

"Mrs. Hawthorne just fell asleep."

Declan Hawthorne looked down, at the white fingers placed on his sleeve.

For a long time, she hadn’t voluntarily touched him.