CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 194: AN ABSURD MARRIAGE CANDIDATE

After picking up Poppy Hale in the car.

Justin Hawthorne kept complaining in the car.

"Sister-in-law, what’s that master supposed to mean? Saying we’re all women so he won’t work with women, what’s the logic in that!"

Poppy Hale sat in the front seat.

"I looked it up, Master Forest has worked with some female-led jewelry brands before, so this time he probably just purely doesn’t want to work with us."

The more she looked, the colder Poppy Hale’s heart felt.

Yet it’s not surprising for someone in the arts to have their own pursuits.

It’s probably because he looks down on their brand just starting out, thinking there’s no future in collaborating with them.

It’s only to be expected.

Poppy Hale put down her phone, recalling the moment when Master Forest caught a glimpse of the stunning beauty in the Breaking the Cocoon series.

The drafts Poppy and her team provided were just initial drafts.

There were many sets of jewelry not sent along, and Master Forest was enough amazed by seeing just a few pieces.

But he still gritted his teeth and refused to collaborate.

Justin Hawthorne was puzzled.

"If he didn’t want to work with us, why contact us in the first place."

"Didn’t he say? At first, he didn’t know everyone on our side was a woman."

Poppy Hale’s company is currently run by an all-women team.

The designer is Justin Hawthorne, the marketing manager is Serena Sutton, and the boss and finance are Poppy Hale and Mia Quinn.

And none of them studied jewelry design.

Master Forest had a lot of critical opinions about this.

So he refused to collaborate with them.

Poppy Hale sorted through the materials by her side.

"Let’s visit the next master tomorrow."

"Okay."

The car stopped at an intersection.

Declan Hawthorne went out to buy a few cups of unsweetened hot milk tea and handed them to Poppy Hale upon returning.

"Have something warm."

Poppy Hale smiled and opened them, handing one cup each to Justin and Florence Lynch in the back seat.

Florence’s cup was hot milk.

Watching her sit beside them drinking milk, Justin suddenly looked forward to it as well.

When Florence grows up, she could go shopping with Poppy Hale and her.

Justin Hawthorne sighed, "Sister-in-law, thanks to you, I can still drink tea bought by my brother one day."

Poppy Hale glanced at Declan Hawthorne, who was driving next to her, and raised an eyebrow, "I hadn’t thought of that either."

A few years ago, Poppy Hale never thought that after getting married, Declan Hawthorne would turn into such a married man.

Careful and considerate, he loved her and Florence in detail.

No one is born knowing how to love.

But love is innate too.

Declan Hawthorne pursed his lips and said, "I suggest you look for higher-level masters. With Master Forest acting like this, it’s apparent someone instigated him to be biased against your brand."

"Higher-level, world-class masters wouldn’t be swayed by these rumors."

Poppy Hale frowned, "Are you saying Master Forest was approached?"

"A businessman’s instinct. Your drafts and conditions are good enough, yet he refused and found a vague excuse."

If Master Forest had a history of not working with female designers, it would be one thing.

Now finding such a reason is hard to believe.

Obviously, someone influenced him.

Poppy Hale’s heart sank.

Trying to calm herself, she quickly made a decision in her mind.

"Justin, let’s visit Master Sinclair this weekend."

"Master Simon Sinclair? But hasn’t Master Sinclair been retired for years? Even when Hawthorne Jewelry reached out, he didn’t come out of retirement. Even Zachary and Ronan went to see him personally."

The jewelry brand under Hawthorne Group is handled by the second branch.

Now it’s with Zachary Hawthorne and Ronan Hawthorne.

Even with the backing of the Hawthorne Group, they couldn’t get Master Simon Sinclair out of retirement. Can Breaking the Cocoon, as the brand’s debut work, attract Master Sinclair?

Poppy Hale was very composed.

"It’s worth a try. Master Sinclair is in Cinderfall. Master Webster also resides there. If Master Sinclair is unwilling, then we’ll approach Master Webster."

Originally, Master Webster was also on their list of contacts for this time.

But when it comes to Master Sinclair, his level is much higher than Master Webster’s.

Justin Hawthorne also got a bit excited.

"Okay, then let’s go find them! What if they all refuse?"

"I believe our jewelry will find the masters who truly understand them. If they all refuse, it proves they’re not the most suitable candidates."

Declan Hawthorne spoke, "I have Simon Sinclair’s contact information."

Poppy Hale and Justin Hawthorne both looked at him.

After a moment, Poppy Hale shook her head.

"I also have the contact information, but that’s not the point."

Declan Hawthorne laughed along.

Not mentioning that he and Simon Sinclair were friends despite the age difference.

Poppy Hale and Justin wanted to prove themselves and have their jewelry brand stand firmly.

He wouldn’t overemphasize it.

Let them soar freely for a while; he would quietly do some things in the background.

-

Back home.

Truth Hale stepped forward to take Poppy Hale’s coat and hang it up, "Poppy, Young Hawthorne, the house you mentioned last time, I think it’s great, but the price is a bit high."

Originally, Poppy Hale and Truth Hale had agreed to buy a house outright in Arvum.

But their budget for the whole payment was just enough today for the minimum down payment for the house Jackie Barrett took them to see.

Declan Hawthorne reassured her.

"Mom, no need to worry about the money, Poppy and I have agreed to put the house in Florence’s name."

Truth Hale, like Poppy Hale, was always clear-headed about things.

Even after getting married, Truth Hale didn’t want Poppy Hale to be thought of as marrying for the Hawthorne Family’s money.

Truth Hale breathed a sigh of relief, "In Florence’s name? That’s fine too, our Florence will be a little rich girl."

Hugo Hawthorne spoke up in the living room.

"She already is; this weekend it’s her birthday, and Jackie Barrett is going to give her the jewelry and store she has as a birthday present."

Hugo Hawthorne now followed Florence’s lead, calling Jackie Barrett "Big Bear" as well.

Truth Hale was startled.

"Isn’t that too much? Florence is still young, we can wait till she’s older."

Jackie Barrett waved it off.

"In the future, Poppy and Declan might have more children. They’ll need to prepare something for Florence’s siblings, and I don’t use these, so giving them to Florence is just right now."

The older couple’s faces were worn with fatigue.

Hugo Hawthorne called Declan Hawthorne into the study.

Poppy Hale took Florence to wash up.

Late at night, Declan Hawthorne returned to the room, and on the table, there was a slice of cheesecake.

"Your daughter insisted on keeping it for you, and another slice was sent to Dad."

Declan Hawthorne went forward and hugged Poppy Hale from behind.

"Poppy, I’m very happy today."

"I haven’t asked, how did the interview go?"

"Very well, the teacher said Florence is a little genius."

Poppy Hale raised her eyebrows, indifferent to the claim of genius.

Declan Hawthorne’s breath fell by Poppy Hale’s ear.

"Today she called me dad and even told me to drive more slowly, such a good girl."

Poppy Hale chuckled.

"That is indeed something to be happy about."

Declan Hawthorne gave a slight affirmative.

The matter Hugo Hawthorne mentioned just now was absurd, plunging him into deep fatigue.

Holding Poppy Hale now, that tiredness dispelled quite a bit.

"Poppy, my second uncle really plans to remarry, but there’s a problem with that little celebrity."

"What’s the problem?"

Declan Hawthorne closed his eyes briefly, trying to speak calmly, "Do you remember, I told you before that my second aunt had an affair and had two children?"

"In fact, they’re fraternal twins, and the daughter is my second uncle’s current girlfriend."