CHAPTER 207: CHAPTER 207: YOU WOULDN’T UNDERSTAND WITHOUT A GRANDDAUGHTER

Back in school, Poppy Hale loved reading gossip posts.

She read so much that she saw all sorts of things.

There was even a post claiming Declan Hawthorne’s wife was someone the Hawthorne Family reluctantly agreed to let in.

The Hawthorne Family disdained her, but to make up for Declan, they couldn’t find anyone among the socialites who would marry in and be willing to be a mother.

So they had to settle.

Poppy Hale clicked her tongue.

What a chaotic mess.

She scrolled through the posts below.

One post suddenly got bumped to the top, gaining a lot of attention.

It featured a front-facing photo of Florence Lynch being held by Jackie Barrett.

Poppy Hale couldn’t sit still.

She jumped up from her chair, her palms breaking out in cold sweat.

The comments below were all urging the poster to delete the child’s photo.

Even though netizens love gossip, they’re unanimous when it comes to protecting children.

The poster never replied and didn’t blur Florence Lynch’s face.

Poppy Hale was a bit worried.

Florence is still young, if someone with ill intentions memorizes her appearance, it could be disastrous.

Upon clicking further, it showed the post had been reported and deleted.

A message notification popped up on her phone.

It was from Declan Hawthorne.

"Don’t worry about the online info, it’s being handled."

"Florence is still very young, kids change every day and won’t be remembered."

"I’ll investigate the source of the rumors."

Message after message came in on the screen.

He considered every detail, knowing how protective Poppy Hale is, and those posts would undoubtedly make her anxious and angry.

Poppy Hale saw his message, and her first reaction was like she knew all along.

Once Declan sees those posts, he would surely handle them immediately.

Poppy Hale hugged her phone and replied with a simple "Okay."

She then put the phone aside.

She still had to rush back to Cinderfall today.

Justin Hawthorne and Serena Sutton were over there dealing with Simon Sinclair, and she couldn’t let them fight alone.

-

The temperature in Cinderfall is five or six degrees colder than in Arvum.

As soon as she got off the car, Poppy Hale tightened her scarf and down jacket.

She found the hotel where Justin Hawthorne and Serena Sutton were staying.

Justin Hawthorne was surprised.

"Sis-in-law, how did you get back so quickly? Wasn’t Florence just having her birthday?"

"They don’t really need me over there."

Just for the birthday party setup, Jackie Barrett hired three teams.

During the birthday party, Declan Hawthorne never left Florence’s side.

So Poppy Hale was confused too.

It seemed obvious yesterday just how much Declan adored Florence.

Who would spread such rumors?

It could be someone took information from those social media posts and maliciously spread rumors.

Justin Hawthorne also saw the messages.

With the wisdom of someone who’s been there, he comforted Poppy Hale.

"Sis-in-law, don’t worry, even if it’s clarified, many will believe Florence is my aunt’s child, but what they think doesn’t matter."

Many things aren’t resolved just by clarifying them.

People will only choose to believe exciting and odd things.

Serena Sutton, unaware of these things, looked at her phone and covered her mouth, "Mrs. Hawthorne posted a clarification."

The two leaned over.

Only to find Jackie Barrett had posted a clarification using his personal account.

"Who told you my granddaughter doesn’t resemble me? Oh, it’s a minor issue, but my granddaughter is truly beautiful, sensible, and charming. She looks like me but is also as radiant as her mom. Those without a granddaughter wouldn’t understand! Yesterday was my darling granddaughter’s birthday, also the anniversary month of my son and daughter-in-law’s six-year love, thank you all for your blessings."

Beneath it was a photo of Poppy Hale and Declan Hawthorne with their backs to the camera, watching Florence play with blocks.

It was unclear when it had been taken.

Jackie Barrett also replied in the comments section.

"It’s just an ordinary happy day for their family of three, media shouldn’t spread rumors about an old man who has already gone through menopause, I can’t possibly father my daughter’s kids anymore, wishful thinking."

"Rumor-makers might never have daughters or granddaughters, may you have ten sons and twenty grandsons!"

It was a perfect mix of tough and tender.

The Hawthorne Group directly issued a lawyer’s letter.

The Hawthorne Family’s reputation directly impacts the group’s stock price.

The speed of issuing a lawyer’s letter has always been remarkably swift.

Poppy Hale read it and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Serena Sutton was astonished, "Mrs. Hawthorne is so funny?"

Justin Hawthorne, "That’s my aunt being angry yet avoiding saying harsh words directly. If the media bears a grudge, they might smear sis-in-law and Florence whenever they find a chance."

However, the clarification was effective.

Not to mention Declan also bought hot search spots for Jackie Barrett’s update.

The gossipers finally realized that the couple had been in love for years and had a three-year-old child, perfectly logical.

Seeing Jackie Barrett’s attitude, satisfaction was written all over.

And he wished the rumor spreaders to have ten sons and twenty grandsons.

Poppy Hale watched and couldn’t help but laugh.

Especially since Jackie Barrett’s eyesight isn’t good, seldom using phones, it was probably dictated using speech input.

It was Serena Sutton’s first time seeing such a rapid yet meaningful clarification.

"Are all the Hawthorne Family members like this?"

Justin Hawthorne responded directly, "What are you thinking? Definitely not, compared to my parents, it’s really annoying. If someone marries my brother later, they’ll receive the world’s most annoying mother-in-law."

Serena Sutton: "..."

How does she even respond to that?

Fortunately, Justin Hawthorne didn’t mind, waving his hand, "But my parents are always staying at the manor and can’t come back. When I was young, my dream was for my aunt to be my mom, she was so beautiful and formidable."

Serena Sutton, "Mrs. Hawthorne is a great mother-in-law."

"That’s because my aunt is a very good person."

Justin Hawthorne spoke sincerely.

Poppy Hale agreed.

Seeing how Jackie Barrett worried Ronan might overthink shows this.

Whenever they return to the main building, no matter how late, Jackie Barrett would get up to ask if they wanted to eat a midnight snack before sleeping.

Always caring and considerate towards Florence and Truth Hale.

Justin Hawthorne changed the subject.

"But Shaw’s mom is also great and she’s close friends with my aunt. Whoever marries Shaw will be lucky."

Speaking of Allen Shaw.

Poppy Hale couldn’t help recalling the time Allen Shaw was rejected by Serena Sutton, drank too much, and wailed late at night.

When looking at Serena Sutton, she was already bowing her head to look at her phone, as if not hearing what Justin Hawthorne said.

Justin Hawthorne, "Sis-in-law, Ronan seems to be getting engaged to Hailey Hayes, they say the engagement is next month."

"So soon? But they’ve just met?"

"Grandfather says to engage before the year’s end, spend time together afterward, and then discuss the wedding details."

It’s really too rushed.

Poppy Hale hasn’t even met them, it’s rare even for blind dates to get engaged within a month.

Then again, it might be that Ronan Hawthorne and Hailey Hayes took a liking to each other, still unknown.

"Did both parties agree?"

"Yes, Ronan says grandfather can handle it, the Hayes Family merely looks at dates, specifying next month."