CHAPTER 197: CHAPTER 197: WHAT MAKES SOMEONE EXCEPTIONAL

The car accelerated.

Morgan Sloan quickly maneuvered around the vehicle in front.

At the corner, the driver of the car behind glanced forward.

The woman inside the car lowered her eyes, her face illuminated by the glow of her phone screen.

Her profile was refined, with her hair elegantly tied at the back of her head, and strands of dark hair gently brushing her snow-white neck.

The faint streetlight cast a bright glow on Poppy Hale’s profile.

There seemed to be some message on the phone, and when Poppy Hale saw it, she smiled slightly, allowing Ronan Hawthorne to catch a glimpse of the shallow dimple on her cheek.

Just for a moment.

The car quickly moved past.

Her gaze didn’t linger on the car behind her for even a moment.

It seemed like just an insignificant interlude.

Ronan Hawthorne pulled the car over to the roadside, pressed the lighter, and the flame ignited the end of a cigarette, filling the car with smoke.

While passing by the CEO’s office, he saw Declan Hawthorne working late.

As he looked at the screen in front of him, he was also contacting Poppy Hale.

His tone was unbelievably tender.

"Honey, I have to work late tonight, so I’ll have Morgan pick you up. Don’t wait for me tonight. Remember to take the medicine in the mini-fridge before bed; the fish oil and calcium pills are in there, pre-packaged by me."

Nothing was too trivial.

He even arranged how much water to drink before bed.

And then there was the child.

After calling Poppy Hale, Declan Hawthorne called Florence Lynch’s smartwatch.

Patiently and gently, he reminded her to make sure her mom took her medicine.

Declan Hawthorne didn’t speak loudly, and there were only a few members of the secretary team in the office.

Everyone quietly and skillfully focused on their tasks.

It was as if they were long accustomed to everything.

Ronan Hawthorne was merely passing by the CEO’s office.

From the occasional sounds leaking from Declan’s voice, he glimpsed a happy and harmonious family of three.

Something Ronan Hawthorne had never experienced from childhood to adulthood.

His position was awkward, with only Zachary Hawthorne showing concern for him.

Why could Florence Lynch, who came from the same background as him, get so much of what he couldn’t?

In the office, Declan Hawthorne noticed Ronan Hawthorne, offering him a slight nod.

Expressionless.

He also had the office door closed, shutting out Ronan’s prying eyes.

Sitting in the car, Ronan Hawthorne didn’t turn on the lights.

The car behind urged him, and only then did he nonchalantly press down on the gas pedal.

The cigarette burned out at the corners of his mouth, leaving a slight heat, prompting Ronan to toss the cigarette butt away.

Poppy Hale.

Perhaps there was something about her that had captivated his arrogant older brother.

-

Poppy Hale returned home.

Jackie Barrett was instructing the household staff to clean up the nearby small building for Ronan Hawthorne to move in.

Seeing Poppy Hale return, Jackie Barrett quickly greeted her.

"Poppy, I specifically had the kitchen make you some soup. Have some."

Poppy Hale agreed obediently, sitting at the dining table, untying her scarf and opening the soup tureen cover.

Jackie Barrett scrutinized her for a moment.

Always feeling that Poppy Hale seemed to be in much better spirits lately, her face more rosy, though no matter how much nourishment she took, she didn’t seem to gain any weight.

Jackie Barrett hesitated several times.

Poppy Hale noticed that she seemed to have something to say, as the busy servants bustled around, likely due to preparations related to cleaning the neighboring building.

Poppy Hale casually struck up a conversation.

"Mom, is the house next door the one with the garden full of roses?"

"Yes, that house, and the one on the little hill opposite, and the one at the gate under the osmanthus tree, they’re all our family’s properties. Originally, these buildings were bought by your grandfather for different branches of the family to live in."

Jackie Barrett opened up.

"In the future, the house on the little hill will be for you and Declan. The main building was originally for the old man, but after he moved back to the old residence, it was just us living here."

The main building was reserved for the future head of the Hawthorne family.

This rule had been set from the beginning.

Hugo Hawthorne was the eldest son, Declan Hawthorne was the eldest grandson, and therefore it’s only natural that he took over the group and lived in the main building.

Jackie Barrett sighed.

"There are many rooms in the main building. Even if we all live here, it doesn’t matter, but as the children grow up, it’s better for them to be separate. I’m just worried, though, that Ronan, this sensitive child, will overthink."

Jackie Barrett’s concern was that after moving, Ronan Hawthorne might have too many thoughts.

Why did everyone initially live in the main building?

And now that he’s back, they all have to separate?

The distance is close, but after all, it’s about closing the door and living separately.

It has little to do with family separation.

"I checked the furniture over there; some need replacing, but whether to replace them or not is a dilemma."

Poppy Hale was somewhat surprised.

She had interacted with the Hawthorne children to varying degrees.

Justin Hawthorne and Tristan Hawthorne, needless to say.

Every time Declan was on a video call and Zachary Hawthorne saw Poppy Hale outside the frame, he was always polite and courteous.

Except for Ronan Hawthorne.

Sensitive and fragile, a slight misstep might lead him to overthink.

Jackie Barrett sighed deeply.

"If we replace them, I’m worried Ronan might feel disrespected, after all, the things in the house were used by his parents before."

"If we don’t replace them, they haven’t been lived in for years, and while they’ve been maintained, they’re not as good as they were before. Living there wouldn’t be comfortable."

Jackie Barrett considered these issues because she was worried Ronan Hawthorne might overthink.

Poppy Hale sipped her soup calmly, "Mom, is the house under the osmanthus tree Justin’s home?"

"Yes, it is."

"Then let’s clean them all up, and let Justin and Tristan move out as well. As for the furniture, let them decide for themselves. If necessary, you can also prepare the building on the lawn opposite for us, and Declan and I can move there."

Originally, Poppy Hale and Declan Hawthorne had planned to move out with Florence Lynch and Truth Hale.

They had already bought a house, and moving out was a recent decision.

Poppy Hale planned to move when Florence had her birthday.

During this period, moving to the small building was still bearable.

Poppy Hale spoke leisurely, "Treat all the houses the same, clean and move them equally, isn’t that great?"

Jackie Barrett’s eyes lit up.

At first, she only considered Ronan Hawthorne.

With many children in the family, and not being her biological children, no matter how well they got along, it never felt perfect.

Biological children, well, blood is always thicker than water.

Jackie Barrett’s attention then focused entirely on Florence Lynch.

Whenever possible, she pondered what to add for Poppy Hale.

Even Declan Hawthorne received little of her attention.

Interacting with people gave her a headache.

With Poppy Hale’s suggestion, Jackie Barrett found it much more agreeable.

"That’s nice, that’s nice, even if you move, it’s just a few steps away. I’ll get someone to build a corridor later, so when Florence grows older, she won’t have to be exposed to the sun coming over from that side during the summer."

Poppy Hale felt a bit embarrassed.

Walking from that building to this one wouldn’t even take two minutes.

Yet Jackie Barrett wanted to build a corridor for this.

As if afraid that Florence Lynch would get tired in the slightest.

After discussing with Poppy Hale, Jackie Barrett’s earlier dilemma disappeared, and she joyfully called people to tidy up a few buildings.

Early the next morning, she announced at the dining table the decision to make them move.

Jackie Barrett, "You’ve all grown up, and I’ve ordered people to tidy up the three buildings. Whatever the household needs, you arrange yourselves."

Justin Hawthorne and Tristan Hawthorne both nodded and agreed.

Moving to their own homes brought a sense of freedom.

Living in the main building, there was even a curfew.

Ronan Hawthorne’s eyes flickered.

"Three buildings? Are Big Brother and Sister-in-law moving out too?"