CHAPTER 189: CHAPTER 189: NOW HE’S ACTING INNOCENT

Serena Sutton was very quiet during the meal.

The only sounds were the crisp clashes of cutlery and glasses.

After the meal, Serena wiped her mouth.

She said, "I’ve resigned and already found a new job. Thank you for taking care of me when I was at Hawthorne Group."

While Serena was at Hawthorne Group, Allen Shaw often reached out to Morgan Sloan.

He even paid out of his own pocket for a few afternoon teas.

Serena only found out about this when she resigned this morning, as Morgan mentioned it.

Morgan said, "Maybe Young Mr. Shaw doesn’t think much of his goodwill, but since he acted, he should let the person concerned know, otherwise it’s all in vain."

It was then Serena realized that Allen, worried she was isolated at Hawthorne Group, had reached out to Morgan many times behind the scenes.

She opened her purse, took out a delicate velvet box, and pushed it in front of Allen.

"This is my gift to you, it may not be very valuable, but it cost me several months of my salary."

Allen reached for it, opened it, and took a look.

It was a ruby brooch shaped like an eagle’s eye, luxurious and noble, with every feather of the falcon vividly detailed.

It represented Horus, the Eagle God from Khemris.

Allen raised an eyebrow, somewhat pleasantly surprised.

"Young lady, how did you know I like this?"

"Your pinned post on your social media was your trip to Khemris with a photo with Horus, so I tailored my gift to your liking."

Allen indeed liked it.

He turned it over and looked at it multiple times, unable to put it down.

"A change of company might be good, so where are you now?"

"At President Hale’s company."

Allen paused, mumbled to himself, "You’re really sticking it out with that couple. If I had known you were leaving, I’d have invited you to my company instead."

Serena blinked her eyelashes.

After hesitating for a moment, she handed over her phone and pressed play.

The volume was low, and Allen had to lean closer to hear, smiling as he picked up Serena’s phone to increase the volume and put it to his ear.

The more he listened, the more his smile faded.

After listening, he frowned at Serena.

"Did you record this?"

"Yes."

Serena looked at Allen awkwardly, "I didn’t know how to tell Fifth Miss Hawthorne, you two are close, so I told you. I’m afraid Fifth Miss Hawthorne wouldn’t believe me, after all, I am part of the Sutton Family too."

She tried to take her phone back, but Allen raised his arm to block her.

He played a recording at the top, moving it to his ear.

Serena tried to stop him, but it was too late.

The recording was something Serena intended to use against Ethan Sutton if necessary.

Unexpectedly, Allen played it.

The fragmented sounds leaking from the speakers made Serena feel exposed, as if completely stripped bare and helpless.

Ethan and Matthew Sutton’s schemes against her were almost blatant.

With no regard or consideration for her feelings.

Serena’s body involuntarily trembled, shoulders shaking, grasping the hem of her skirt tightly.

He put the phone in front of her.

Allen’s expression was a bit grim.

"This is the real reason you left, isn’t it?"

"Sort of. As you can see, this is my situation." Serena gave a bitter laugh, picking up Allen’s wine glass in a reckless abandon, taking a sip.

The burning wine seared downwards, scorching her rationality.

"Do you think I’m despicable too? Using recordings in my own household, but I really don’t know what else to do."

"In the past, I thought if I was obedient, they would love me. Clearly, I’m also part of the Sutton Family, both daughters, why are Fifth Miss and I so completely different?"

Confusion lingered in Serena’s eyes.

"My brother wants me to go on blind dates. Even if I’m dissatisfied, I don’t dare to express it directly like she does."

"Also President Hale, I used to think President Hawthorne would marry someone similar to me, and that as long as marriage was just a formality, it would suffice. I could even ignore his personal life after marriage."

Serena rubbed her face with her hands, paused for a moment, and finished the wine in Allen’s glass.

"But I was wrong, incredibly wrong. Both President Hale and Fifth Miss are far superior to me in every way."

Allen knew she drank too much.

He wanted to comfort her but didn’t know where to start.

Serena covered her face, sobbing, "My biggest mistake is being unwilling to settle."

Unwilling to accept receiving so little, unwilling to be marginalized by the Sutton Family, unwilling to be merely a tool for family alliances.

Unwillingness too holds a glimmer of hope.

Allen sighed deeply with her.

He stood up, patting Serena on the shoulder.

It was strange.

Usually, he was eloquent, quick with witty banter.

But now, he was at a loss.

Perhaps it was because he saw a girl’s true heart, trampled by her family, and what it looked like.

A shattered heart lay before him, and he didn’t know how to piece it together.

Declan Hawthorne and Poppy Hale finished their meal and approached Allen’s table to greet them.

Allen gave a pleading look to Poppy.

"Mrs. Hawthorne, Little Miss Sutton seems to have had a bit too much to drink. The alcohol content in my glass was a bit high."

Declan pulled Poppy aside, blocking Allen’s view.

"This is your problem. It wasn’t my wife who got her drunk, so why are you asking my wife for help?"

"It’s just... I’m in an awkward position. It’s just the two of us!"

Declan sneered, "It’s just a meal, not like you’re getting a room, so how is it just the two of you?"

"If it’s inconvenient for you, would it be convenient for my wife? Deal with it yourself."

Declan held Poppy’s arm and left the restaurant without looking back.

He had no intention of helping Allen.

This was Allen’s own business, unrelated to Declan.

For anything else, Declan wouldn’t stand idly by, but in matters of emotion, even as a friend, he could only watch from the sidelines.

Nothing he could do to help.

As they left, Declan parted the leaves that blocked his view, glancing in Allen’s direction.

"Last time, Sixth Master Shaw got drunk because someone rejected him, now he seems all innocent."

"Is it alright for us to just leave?"

"Were you planning to go back and care for them?"

Declan raised an eyebrow, giving Poppy a look charged with a dark, dangerous glint in his eyes.

Poppy immediately changed her tune, "No, not going back. Isn’t it that Serena is now my employee too, I should care a bit, right? How about we go home tonight? I feel like painting."

Declan smirked.

"Sure, no matter where we are, you won’t escape tonight."

Poppy felt a shiver run through her scalp.

This man, where did he get all this energy, working intensely during the day and still wanting to keep going at night, she was exhausted.

Poppy hurriedly got in the car.

As soon as they were home, she rushed to Florence Lynch’s room, holding the little girl and showering her with kisses.

"Florence, how about Mommy sleeps with you tonight?"

"Okay."

The past few days had been busy with work and dates, so she hadn’t seen Florence for two days. Poppy bathed her, then spent half the day crafting together.

Florence sat on the carpet, Barrett lying beside her, and whenever a block fell, it would pick it up and wag its tail before handing it back to Florence.

The pair worked in perfect harmony.

Florence told Poppy, "Mommy, Aunt said she’s taking Brother Anya abroad and will never come back."