CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22: SAVE YOURSELF IF YOU WANT TO LIVE

It’s different from last time.

After Poppy Hale was trapped last time, she consciously wanted to change this problem.

Every day she would deliberately lock herself in for a few minutes, and if she couldn’t take it, she would let Mrs. Hale open the door.

She could only stay by herself in a confined space for half a minute.

But it was already much better than before.

Plus, this time she was in the elevator with Declan Hawthorne, so Poppy originally had a racing heart and was extremely tense.

But the space in the elevator was smaller and more confined than the storage room, and the cold sweat on Poppy’s head dripped, all staining Declan Hawthorne’s suit.

Declan Hawthorne said in a low voice, "Don’t be afraid, I’ve contacted the rescue team, they’ll be here soon."

"Poppy Hale, talk to me! Are you okay?"

Poppy Hale gasped for air, but when she opened her mouth, there wasn’t much air she could take in.

Her hands and feet were going numb.

But her reason was still there.

Seeing Declan holding her face, seeming like he was about to lean down to kiss her, Poppy turned her head, letting what was supposed to be a mouth-to-mouth breath land on her cheek.

The woman turned her face away, resisting, "President Hawthorne, there’s no need for this."

"I’m fine. If you do this, my husband will misunderstand me."

She felt very wronged.

"President Hawthorne, I really love my husband, please don’t ruin my marriage, I’m begging you."

Whether it was from suffocation or fear, Poppy Hale’s tears fell on Declan Hawthorne’s fingers, warm, yet like broken pearls, continuously.

Her almond-like eyes turned red around the edges, stubborn yet aggrieved, looking at Declan Hawthorne.

Like a bullied flower bud covered with morning dew, waiting to bloom.

Compared to the past, Poppy Hale had gained some charm and lost a bit of innocence.

But it was just that touch of allure that gripped Declan Hawthorne.

He couldn’t help but smile mockingly and closed his eyes.

"Poppy Hale, you really think highly of yourself. If it wasn’t for you clinging to me to save you last time, would I care about you?"

"An incident in the elevator counts as an industrial accident, and I don’t want the company to suffer additional losses, understand?"

In the pitch-black environment, Poppy Hale’s face was as pale as paper, and she could barely stand.

"Don’t want to be misunderstood? Fine."

Declan Hawthorne’s hand gripped her waist, his lips just on Poppy Hale’s forehead, his lips pressed against her, "If you want to live, save yourself."

The rescue team was probably still a few minutes away.

Poppy Hale could already feel the suffocating sensation in her abdomen, as if someone was pulling at her throat, making it impossible for her to breathe.

The warm breath patted against the top of Poppy Hale’s head, even and strong.

It was the oxygen she needed.

Her body started to go numb, the lack of oxygen and fear causing her heart to ache sharply.

Declan Hawthorne slightly lowered his head, sending his oxygen to a place closer to her.

Poppy Hale bit her lip and turned her head away.

Her stubbornness ignited a fire in Declan Hawthorne’s heart.

Just for that useless man, she didn’t even want her life?

When did Poppy Hale ever love a man to such an extent!

Her chin was pinned by the man’s pincer-like hand, the kiss dropped down, oxygen passing into Poppy Hale’s lungs.

Seeing her regain her senses, the kiss changed its nature.

Like a beast gnawing at her lips and teeth, the aggression and predation came crashing down, the man trapping her petite body, confining Poppy Hale to the narrow space in front of him, bearing his assertive and domineering kiss.

Footsteps came from outside.

The rescue team had arrived.

Declan Hawthorne let go of Poppy Hale, wiping the marks off her lips in the dark, speaking hoarsely to the people outside.

His hand never left Poppy Hale’s waist.

If her body showed any discomfort, he would know.

Holding Poppy Hale’s waist, Declan Hawthorne realized she had lost a lot of weight, her originally slightly rounded waist was just right, now not even as wide as his hand.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Poppy Hale left.

Without looking back.

As if there were floods and beasts chasing her from behind.

Declan Hawthorne stood in place, communicating with the rescue team, speaking with the building manager who just arrived.

Watching as Poppy Hale got into a car by the roadside.

Retracted his gaze.

With such an incident, the building manager was terrified, almost kneeling on the spot to apologize to Declan Hawthorne.

"Our elevator is inspected daily, it shouldn’t happen, don’t worry President Hawthorne, we’ll investigate this thoroughly."

"Hmm, do it quickly."

This boss who parachuted in didn’t seem as unpredictable as the rumors suggested.

After a series of explanations, the manager looked at Declan Hawthorne’s mouth, "President Hawthorne, did the elevator door clip you?"

Declan Hawthorne touched his lips.

Probably, it was the lipstick marks from her lips.

"It’s nothing."

"Oh, oh, that’s good then."

Declan Hawthorne felt something unusual inside, hooked by an inexplicable emotion.

He knew it was wrong.

She was married, had a child, and their past was just that, the past.

But Declan Hawthorne couldn’t help it.

Why?

Clearly, Poppy Hale was the one who provoked him, wanting to withdraw, leave unscathed, choosing everyone but him?

Where was such a good thing to be found?

-

Weekend.

Poppy Hale took Florence Lynch out.

Mrs. Hale had arranged to meet some friends for a walk in the nearby park, saying she didn’t like the mall environment, and didn’t come along.

In the mall, Mason Rivers waved at Poppy Hale from afar.

"Poppy! Over here!"

As they approached, Poppy Hale got Florence to greet him, "Call him Uncle Rivers."

Florence, who was only two years old, spoke with a slightly muddled baby voice, "Susie Rivers, hello."

This was also the first time Mason Rivers met Florence.

His heart immediately melted.

Those big eyes, round little face, rosy little mouth, looked as beautiful as a little koi, her hair tied into two buns, with lacy ribbons.

Before seeing Florence, Mason Rivers couldn’t believe what Poppy Hale said, that she already had a child.

Now seeing her, Mason Rivers’s voice could even kill a mosquito.

"Oh my! Little Florence, right? So cute! Whose baby is this adorable? It’s Uncle Rivers’!"

Poppy Hale raised her leg and unceremoniously kicked him, "Speak properly, she’s mine."

"Same thing, can I hold her?"

Mason Rivers was itching.

After asking Florence’s opinion, Poppy Hale handed the child to him, feeling reassured as she watched Mason handle her carefully, not hurting the little girl.

She glanced around, "Where’s the person you mentioned?"

"Upstairs in a private room for tea, we’re just playing by ourselves down here, let the auntie know I like women, and the alarm is lifted."

"There’s a children’s playground upfront, shall we go there?"

Poppy Hale nodded in agreement.

Once at the children’s playground, Florence was obviously very happy.

She was still young and needed a parent’s company in whatever she played, so Poppy Hale stayed by her side the entire time, protecting Florence.

Seeing Florence play happily, Mason Rivers went ahead and got a card, loading six thousand dollars on it.

Enough for the child to play sixty times.

Standing by, Mason Rivers took a photo and sent it to Declan Hawthorne.

"Declan, look, today even I am a person with a partner and a child!"

Declan Hawthorne originally didn’t plan to reply to him.

He opened the picture.

A familiar figure.

Poppy Hale was wearing a red off-the-shoulder top and denim shorts today, her skin even whiter, in the surrounding ocean of balls, she looked like a misplaced sprite.

Her face was filled with a bright smile.

Looking at the small child, full of love.

Once, that gaze used to look at him like that.

Now, it looked at the child she had with another man.

Even though, that man was a nobody.