CHAPTER 163: CHAPTER 163: THE RING BOUGHT THREE YEARS AGO

The mark from the cane on Declan Hawthorne’s calf was very obvious.

It’s unavoidable; by tomorrow morning it might bruise.

Just moments ago, he was acting as if nothing had happened, carrying her up and down, teasing her while walking.

Poppy Hale said irritably, "Didn’t you know to dodge?"

"I knew, but there’s no need to dodge. Let grandpa vent; after all, he is the elder."

Declan Hawthorne pulled Poppy Hale down to lie with him, not concerned about the injury on his calf.

He held Poppy Hale from behind, his body almost completely wrapping her in his embrace.

This still seemed insufficient; he wished she could become a part of him, inseparable from each other.

"I have a way to deal with Grandpa, but you might have to endure a bit of grievance."

With a family like the Hawthorne Family, the slightest commotion naturally becomes a hot topic for the media.

Back then, the scandals involving Miles Hawthorne and Adrian Hawthorne occupied the headlines for several months.

A search now would still bring up many images captured by the media of Adrian Hawthorne flaunting around Sterling with Miss Kensington, kissing in the busy downtown.

Over the years, Old Master Hawthorne, not to mention anything else, really had poor judgment in choosing daughters-in-law.

Poppy Hale’s fingers rested on the arm Declan Hawthorne had around her neck, poking it.

"I can’t endure grievance, don’t worry; as long as no one disturbs Florence. What’s up with your uncle?"

Declan Hawthorne smiled slightly, buried in the back of Poppy Hale’s neck.

He couldn’t forget that his wife was a rose with thorns.

He was unwilling to speak about the chaotic past of the Hawthorne Family, but since she asked, Declan Hawthorne did not hide it.

"My uncle was in poor health from childhood, raised delicately by my grandmother; because of this, Grandpa always believed women couldn’t teach children well."

But actually, Hugo Hawthorne and Miles Hawthorne didn’t really do anything wrong either.

Adrian Hawthorne’s outrageous and domineering behavior over the years has always been blamed on Old Mrs. Hawthorne by Old Master Hawthorne.

Until Old Mrs. Hawthorne passed away, Old Master Hawthorne was unwilling to reconcile with her.

He didn’t even allow the Hawthorne Family to pay respects to Old Mrs. Hawthorne.

No one in the family was permitted to visit Adrian Hawthorne and the third Mrs. Hawthorne at the estate.

There was a subtle suggestion of exile and imprisonment for the family.

Even care for Tristan Hawthorne and Justin Hawthorne was lacking.

Poppy Hale turned slightly, her cheek brushing against Declan Hawthorne’s face.

"I remember your grandmother’s background was very good too, right?"

"Yes, very good. My grandmother’s family came from the Southern Isles. She spoiled my uncle because, at that time, my grandpa had an affair. My great-grandfather’s family wouldn’t allow them to divorce; my grandmother was disheartened and happened to be pregnant and gave birth to my uncle. Grandpa hardly came home. These things, my dad told me."

Declan Hawthorne’s fingers touched Poppy Hale’s face.

Feeling her slightly trembling cheek as she spoke.

"You’re quite talkative now."

Before, she didn’t even know how many members there were in Declan Hawthorne’s family.

Now he could recount everything, even using Old Master Hawthorne’s affair as a casual anecdote.

Declan Hawthorne chuckled along.

"If I don’t tell you, you will encounter it later. They will all come when we have our wedding. My father means that I, as a younger generation, can’t really anger Old Master to death."

But how could there be no resentment?

The resentment, like fallen autumn leaves, remained forever even if it fell to the ground.

Some preserve the fallen leaves, some sweep away the traces, while others choose to endure and hibernate.

Hugo Hawthorne’s resentment, for his mother, his wife, his young children being taken away.

Miles Hawthorne and Adrian Hawthorne, the same.

Ordinary people only know of the glamorous appearances of the Hawthorne descendants, few realize that under the Hawthorne Patriarch’s authoritarian rule, they lost almost everything of their souls.

Old Master Hawthorne wanted absolute obedience and loyalty to the family from his descendants.

Poppy Hale raised her chin slightly.

"So, what do you plan to do?"

Declan Hawthorne’s fingers brushed past Poppy Hale’s eyes, her eyelashes gently trembling in his palm, like a butterfly spreading its wings.

The suppressed desire in his heart was also summoned by that butterfly.

"I plan to go again."

Poppy Hale widened her eyes.

She was already extremely tired, summoning her last bit of energy to talk to Declan Hawthorne about the Hawthorne Family.

She feared he would harbor resentment, yet he was contemplating going again.

"No, I have no energy left."

"It’s fine, you can sleep; it’s not you who’ll be tired."

In this situation, how could she sleep?

Poppy Hale found him utterly unreasonable.

Her protests were swallowed completely by Declan Hawthorne, the night was still long.

-

Hawthorne Group.

With the launch of a new game that’s very similar to the one Hawthorne Group plans to release, it’s a huge blow to Hawthorne’s game.

Declan Hawthorne sat in the conference room chair, exuding an extremely low pressure, with a stern and cold demeanor.

None of the people reporting below dared to take a deep breath.

Morgan Sloan reported several public relations schemes, and Declan Hawthorne nodded to each.

"Hmm, modify the existing content of our game, delay the launch by a month, and also pursue accountability."

No matter who stole the game data, they’re undoubtedly related to the newly launched game.

Following the trail, surely the one who stole the game data can be caught.

Someone suddenly spoke below.

"President Hawthorne, online a user exposed that the previous game data was all leaked by Poppy Hale."

Morgan Sloan’s heart tightened.

Declan Hawthorne lifted his eyelids, icy cold eyes glancing over, meeting the speaking employee.

Wendy Archer.

The pressure from Declan Hawthorne’s body was even lower than before, his molars biting as he coldly said, "Then pursue accountability for the one who spoke up. I’m also very interested in knowing who is so familiar with our Hawthorne Group’s internal employees."

Wendy Archer exclaimed in surprise, "Why pursue accountability for the one who spoke up? Shouldn’t we investigate Poppy Hale? Before resigning, Poppy Hale was indeed involved in the core content of the game. She has a great possibility of leaking the game data!"

Inside the conference room, for a moment, only Wendy Archer’s indignant voice remained.

Declan Hawthorne calmly said, "You mean, everyone involved in the game’s production has possibly leaked the data. Then you might have as well."

Wendy Archer’s eyes widened.

Meeting Declan Hawthorne’s gaze felt nothing less than shocking and terrifying.

She couldn’t understand.

Where did her suggestion go wrong, why was President Hawthorne so angry?

Declan Hawthorne’s brows were full of hostility.

Luo from the secretarial team knocked and entered the meeting room, placing a small exquisite box beside Declan Hawthorne.

"President Hawthorne, someone just sent this, saying it’s for you."

Declan Hawthorne looked at the simple drawing on the box, and a hint of a smile appeared at his eyes.

The ink for the drawing had faded somewhat, presumably something prepared a long time ago.

The clouds cleared, and his earlier anger seemed non-existent.

Opening the box, inside was a men’s wedding ring, with an invoice for the ring left inside, perhaps intentionally or unintentionally.

Only the purchase date was left, three years ago.

It was something she bought for him three years ago.

Declan Hawthorne took it out and wore it on his ring finger.

Looking up at everyone again, the coldness around him had lessened a lot.

"Continue the meeting."