CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: WHERE’S YOUR HUSBAND?

At that time, she was very sad.

She cried secretly in the dorm and didn’t dare let Declan Hawthorne know.

She really liked Declan Hawthorne.

But Declan Hawthorne was always aloof, treating everyone the same way.

When Stella Hollis returned, she saw Poppy Hale lying on the bed, wiping her tears, her eyes red, holding an ugly bear that she got while trying to catch toys with Declan.

Poppy Hale was radiantly beautiful, and even when she cried in secret, the tears that slipped down her porcelain-like face stirred emotions in people.

A beauty that incited jealousy.

Stella asked, with a hint of schadenfreude in her voice, "What happened? Did you have a fight with Declan Hawthorne?"

At that time, Stella and Poppy hadn’t yet fallen out, and their relationship was still decent.

But Poppy was in a bad mood and didn’t feel like chatting.

"Nothing’s wrong, I’m just going to sleep for a bit, don’t mind me."

Stella responded with an "Oh."

And indeed, she didn’t mind Poppy.

Soon she put on headphones and started gaming, then took them off after a while and said, "Poppy, my headphones are out of battery, I’m playing games now."

The game sound was loud, making it impossible for Poppy to fall asleep.

She lifted the bed curtain, wanting to see what game Stella was playing.

Through the gap, she saw Stella’s computer loudly playing a game video, while she was sitting at Poppy’s desk, applying Poppy’s skincare products on her face.

She opened the drawer and casually took a few pieces of jewelry that Poppy had just bought.

On her head was Poppy’s long-lost hairpin from a year ago, shining brightly.

Poppy saw Stella taking some of Poppy’s printed photos, which were meant to be made into an album to give to Declan Hawthorne, selecting a few and taking them.

Among them were solo photos of Declan as well as ones of Poppy and Declan together.

Stella took scissors, cut out Poppy from beside Declan, and pasted her own headshot there.

Poppy was wide awake now.

All she felt was a cold chill and a roiling nausea.

-

Her thoughts drifted, and she thought of those times in university.

Poppy shook her head.

Taking the opportunity, she fished out her phone, and after unlocking it, received a voice message from Amber Yates.

"Poppy? You’re stuck at the subway station? I told you I should have seen you off earlier!"

"Get your husband to pick you up, can’t have him lying at home on a rainy day like this!"

Poppy’s hand trembled.

She hurriedly closed the voice message and typed a reply to Amber.

"I got a cab, thank you, Amber, see you tomorrow."

Amber: "OK."

No one responded to the message that Poppy had just posted on her Moments.

She never expected Declan Hawthorne would show up here; wasn’t he just kissing Rachel Rivers?

She didn’t want to think about these things.

Every time she thought about it, a sharp pain would tug at her heart.

But sometimes, the things you don’t want to think about spread like weeds and vines, growing wildly in your mind.

Poppy deleted her post from Moments.

She whispered, "Um, President Hawthorne, can I reimburse you for the fare later?"

Declan Hawthorne maintained a cold face, saying nothing. Despite the heavy rain, the SUV performed excellently, and its speed wasn’t affected.

But with the rain making visibility poor, Poppy dared not say much while Declan drove.

Declan stole a glance, pretending to check the rearview mirror, seeing Poppy’s slender shoulders, her neck like a piece of white porcelain, flawless.

Her lines were elegant, delicate, with her collarbones finely chiseled, leading downward to a figure just as captivating as before.

Drenched by rain, her dress clung to her body, every curve infused with a breathtaking allure.

Poppy’s appearance wasn’t the kind that dazzled at first glance, but her delicate features, when combined, were unforgettable.

The more you looked, the more charming she was.

After a moment, he said hoarsely, "Where’s your husband? Not coming to pick you up?"

Poppy’s fingers tightened, her nails almost digging into her skin, trying to remain calm.

"He... has been busy lately."

How busy must he be, not to come and pick her up in such heavy rain?

Especially since Poppy had been drinking.

That man truly trusted Poppy.

Declan snorted, turning the car into another street. With the heavy rain, there were fewer cars on the road.

"Your taste is quite ordinary."

"...Hmm?"

Before Poppy could react, she heard Declan speaking in a somewhat odd tone, a mix of probing, contempt, and skepticism.

Perhaps it was purely a superior’s desire to control a subordinate.

"What attracted you to your daughter’s father?"

Poppy lowered her head, clutching her soaked dress hem, initially wanting to stay silent, but Declan’s stance suggested he wouldn’t back down.

Poppy had to vaguely say, "Well, he’s good-looking."

Declan seemed to regard this reason as ridiculous.

He pressed his tongue against his molars, his jawbone clicking in response.

Declan: "Really? For the sake of looks, you would forgo your child’s health?"

Poppy’s face turned pale.

Florence Lynch’s bad health had nothing to do with the child’s father.

It was because during pregnancy, Poppy experienced extreme emotional highs and lows, went through too much, and was perpetually exhausted, sometimes sleeping only three hours a day.

The cycle of life and death came full circle for Poppy that year.

If she hadn’t fainted in Mr. Hale’s hospital room, she wouldn’t have known she was pregnant.

After that, she laughed and cried, but almost immediately, she made a decision.

She wanted to keep the child.

Despite taking great care of her health afterward, the baby was still born frail and sickly.

Poppy felt she owed Florence.

She lowered her gaze, "No, it’s all my fault."

A heavy breath was stuck in Declan’s chest, neither rising nor falling.

She was fiercely protective of the man.

An inexplicable anger surrounded Declan, and as he hit the gas, the car shot into the dark, rainy night like an arrow, causing Poppy’s face to turn even paler in fear.

Declan didn’t speak again.

The car arrived at the entrance of the community, the rain having let up somewhat, as Declan glanced around. "Is there anything to eat?"

It was raining, but there were still a few small shops at the entrance. Poppy instinctively said, "There’s a Jianbing Guozi stall."

"Buy one."

Declan added after a moment, "Consider it the fare, today was on my way."

Poppy hadn’t expected it, didn’t he eat enough at the gathering?

She got out of the car to buy a Jianbing Guozi, and when the vendor asked, Poppy instinctively said, "No scallions, extra cilantro, no pickled vegetables."

Knowing they lived in the same community, the vendor recognized Poppy and smiled.

"Oh, don’t you not eat cilantro?"

"It’s for a colleague."

Declan loved cilantro but didn’t eat scallions or pickled vegetables.

Nobody probably knew his life preferences better than she did, and these things, even though not mentioned for years, were like barbs ingrained in her, impossible to pull out, embedded deep within.

Whenever related topics came up, the barb would ache repeatedly, endlessly, pricking Poppy’s heart.

Returning to the car with the Jianbing Guozi, Poppy handed it to Declan, instinctively saying, "No scallions."

She regretted speaking the moment she finished.

Declan looked up at her, those deep, dark eyes like an abyss, observing as if he could see through her, or like flames ready to incinerate her into ash in the rain.

Declan took the Jianbing Guozi and said indifferently, "Okay. You should head up."

"Okay, thank you, President Hawthorne, for the trouble today."

Polite and composed.

Yet distant and cold, with a clear separation.

It seemed as if she was keen to avoid getting involved with him.

Declan took a bite of the Jianbing Guozi, heavily stuffed with fillings by Poppy, the varied flavors altering the taste.

Declan sat in the car.

His fingers held a phone, showing a message from an account long unused, but then it was quickly withdrawn.

There was no need to guess, it was an accidental send.

But he had seen it nonetheless.