CHAPTER 159: CHAPTER 159: NO NEED TO CHANGE FLORENCE LYNCH’S SURNAME

"Last night, Shaw and Miss Sutton went to a bar together."

"I happened to be there too, so I saw them. They were playing games, and it was totally normal for them to end up kissing while playing."

Justin Hawthorne shrugged.

Tristan Hawthorne was stunned.

Allen Shaw was famously rebellious among the kids in the estate.

As a child, it was common to see Grandpa Shaw holding a cane, ready to whip him.

Throughout the estate, it was often chaotic.

When the Hawthorne children were required to eat in silence and sit straight, getting scolded for any small mistake, Allen Shaw was like a free-spirited hawk.

Flying wildly everywhere.

He flew over the Hawthorne Family, and all the children admired him, but no one dared to look at him directly.

Allen Shaw was the rebellious maverick, the Nezha of the estate.

Though Old Master Hawthorne wanted to discipline him, after all, Shaw didn’t share the Hawthorne surname, so he wasn’t subject to the same constraints.

Occasionally living with the Hawthorne children made Allen Shaw feel incredibly uncomfortable, as if itchy all over.

As a child, Tristan Hawthorne couldn’t understand how Allen Shaw could be so close to Declan Hawthorne.

Their bond was so strong, it surpassed even the relationship among the Hawthorne siblings.

At first, when Tristan Hawthorne heard that Declan Hawthorne had asked Allen Shaw to get close to Serena Sutton, he was a bit shocked.

Would his elder brother really be so ruthless to his friends too?

Now, hearing that Serena Sutton and Allen Shaw were together, Tristan Hawthorne felt a bit dazed.

Could it be that Miss Sutton was also attracted by Shaw’s rebellious nature?

In the courtyard.

The lights turned on one by one, illuminating the climbing roses that covered the iron trellis, blooming in clusters. Not a single wilted flower could be found on the floral wall.

It was just this afternoon that Hugo Hawthorne himself had people meticulously remove each withered flower.

Initially, he laughed at Jackie Barrett for being overly dramatic.

Eventually, he found himself being even more dramatic than Jackie Barrett.

Originally, Hugo Hawthorne also wanted Declan Hawthorne to find a well-matched socialite from a prominent family.

But then he thought, whoever Declan Hawthorne chose as a partner was his personal decision and out of his control.

No matter who came in, as long as Declan Hawthorne brought them, they would be the daughter-in-law of the Hawthorne Family.

The treatment had to be of the highest standard.

Walking into the living room.

Declan Hawthorne held Poppy Hale’s hand, feeling her slight nervousness, and consoled her, "No need to be nervous, it’s not your first time here."

"It’s different now."

Previously, when she’d visited the Hawthorne Family, it was just to pick up Florence and bring her home.

This time was different.

Declan Hawthorne followed her smile with his own.

"This time, we’re coming home together."

"My parents are very easygoing, and you’ve met my younger siblings. Zachary and Ronan are both abroad; Tristan and Justin both like you a lot."

"The most troublesome person in our family is my grandpa."

Mentioning Old Master Hawthorne didn’t cause much of an emotional stir in Declan Hawthorne.

Poppy Hale lightly squeezed his palm.

The man turned back and smiled at her gently.

"I’m not afraid of your grandpa, but if he doesn’t like me when we meet, can I throw a tantrum?"

Declan Hawthorne understood what Poppy Hale meant by throwing a tantrum.

When facing Eugene Lynch and Diane Dixon, she was like an angry porcupine.

Not very polite, let alone respectful of generational hierarchy, they couldn’t handle Poppy Hale.

Declan Hawthorne nodded.

In his eyes, there was a hint of grievance.

"You can also throw a tantrum at me."

Poppy Hale raised an eyebrow.

In the twilight, light fell on her porcelain-like skin, casting a shallow shadow on her nose bridge, with a bright curve at the corner of her lips.

She probably didn’t even realize how captivating she looked at that moment.

"If I lose my temper at you, you might not be able to handle it."

Declan Hawthorne swallowed hard, the emotions in his eyes darker than ink.

Suppressing the urge to pull Poppy Hale back home immediately, his voice was hoarse.

"I really can’t handle it. I’m kind of regretting bringing you back for dinner."

He said it so seriously.

"On such a wonderful day, you should be appearing in my bed instead of here."

Poppy Hale was taken aback.

Did this man have no shame when saying such things?

He said it so naturally, a stranger might think he was discussing work with Poppy Hale.

Poppy Hale blushed.

She lifted a foot and gave Declan Hawthorne’s leg a light, playful kick.

Who knew he’d clutch his leg and just sit down on the steps.

"Pull me up, or I won’t get up."

Inside the house, Jackie Barrett’s voice could be heard.

"Poppy? Why aren’t you two coming in?"

Poppy Hale looked at Declan Hawthorne’s outstretched hand in front of her, feeling helpless.

She couldn’t let Jackie Barrett see Declan Hawthorne sitting stubbornly on the doorstep, could she?

So she had to reach out and pull Declan Hawthorne up.

Once inside, Poppy Hale couldn’t avoid getting a face full of ribbons sprayed by Heather Underwood, who had been hiding behind the door.

The colorful ribbons fell, and Declan Hawthorne shielded Poppy Hale’s eyes, his suit now covered in the multi-colored strips as well.

Heather Underwood laughed, "It’s the last one from Iris’s birthday last time. Whipped it up fast, just for the fun of it."

Infected by Heather Underwood’s cheer, Poppy Hale laughed along.

"It’s okay, just one is enough."

Declan Hawthorne ignored the ribbons on him and lowered his head to carefully wipe Poppy Hale’s face.

Jackie Barrett and Truth Hale exchanged a smile.

Once they were all seated.

Truth Hale pondered for a moment before speaking up, "I’ve been thinking about something and wanted to discuss it with you all."

She looked at the Florence beside her, her eyes showing reluctance.

"Should we consider changing Florence’s last name?"

She was reluctant to have Florence change her surname.

But she knew that in a family like the Hawthornes, they cared about the last name for their descendants, and without it, Florence wouldn’t be considered Declan Hawthorne’s child.

Changing the surname would ensure Florence a better life.

Unexpectedly, Jackie Barrett waved her hand.

"Old sister, I thought you were going to talk about when they’re getting married. There’s no need to change Florence’s surname. I know what you want to say, but our Hawthorne Family isn’t full of old fuddy-duddies. Just a paternity test would suffice, considering the real old fuddy-duddies in the family are still alive."

Jackie Barrett spoke with some regret.

"Otherwise, just wait until those old folks are gone, and no one would dare question what my granddaughter’s name is."

"Whatever is due to Florence, not a penny less, it’s what we owe Poppy and Florence."

Jackie Barrett knew Florence was named after Connor Lynch.

Poppy Hale was able to take her mother’s surname, so her granddaughter taking her grandfather’s surname wasn’t an issue.

Jackie Barrett nodded, smiling, "In the future, if Poppy has more kids with the Hawthorne surname, one is enough, two is good too!"

Even more, the Hawthorne Family could afford to raise them.

She only had Declan Hawthorne.

Declan Hawthorne also only had Florence as a daughter now.

Jackie Barrett certainly wished Declan Hawthorne to have many children, but she couldn’t impose her hardships on another woman.

Truth Hale felt touched, wiping the moisture from the corners of her eyes.

"Then when Florence grows up, let her choose which surname she wants."

Florence blinked.

"Can I have Grandma Big Bear’s surname today, Grandma’s tomorrow, Grandpa’s the day after tomorrow? And Uncle Hawthorne’s too, can I?"

"Of course, Florence can choose any surname she wants in the future."

Iris Quill raised her hand from the side.

"Me, me! I want to change too! I want to have the surname Ultraman!"