CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: HINTING AT SOMETHING

It’s raining heavily outside, so there are more people in the mall than usual.

To take shelter from the rain and have dinner.

Iris Quill chose a famous family-friendly restaurant on the fifth floor.

The whole theme is a space capsule, meals are delivered via conveyor belts, and there’s even a cool little car light show.

Last time, Heather Underwood brought Iris Quill here once, and he instantly fell in love with it.

This time, coming with Poppy Hale and Florence Lynch, Iris Quill made sure to recommend his beloved restaurant.

They sat down in the restaurant.

Poppy Hale glanced at the menu, noticing that a single burger costs in the three digits and starts with a two.

After a meal, it would cost at least a thousand dollars.

Usually, she wouldn’t bring Florence to eat here; it’s too extravagant.

But seeing her daughter’s joyful and ecstatic look, leaning against Iris Quill, watching those toy cars run past in front of them.

Poppy Hale felt an infinite sense of healing in her heart.

As long as it made Florence happy, it was enough.

Declan Hawthorne had finished ordering and asked, "Would you like to add anything?"

All the ordered foods were child-friendly, mostly sweet dishes, and two pizzas.

One of them, a potato wedge and bacon pizza, made Poppy Hale pause for a moment.

In the past, this was her favorite flavor.

Later, when she took Mr. Hale abroad for medical treatment, she ate so much western food that she couldn’t stand it anymore. Once, after eating pizza, she experienced morning sickness and vomited almost everything she had eaten, and she never ate pizza again after that.

Did Declan Hawthorne order it, thinking she still liked it?

Or maybe he just ordered it randomly, and perhaps Iris Quill liked this flavor.

"No, nothing more."

Declan Hawthorne nodded and placed the order.

He had a few international meetings today, so he was in a formal suit with a burgundy tie underneath.

The man’s skin was naturally pale and cool-toned.

Under the light, his expression was cool and sharp, with deep-set features, exuding a graceful demeanor akin to a medieval European nobleman.

The woman at the next table glanced over several times, blushing and turning away.

Yet couldn’t help but sneak another look.

After a while, the woman came over, blushing as she asked for Declan Hawthorne’s contact information.

Declan Hawthorne chuckled lightly and raised his eyebrows, looking towards Poppy Hale.

"Sorry."

Poppy Hale and Florence Lynch were sitting across from Declan Hawthorne, and now the two kids were leaning over to watch the toy car show together, obscured by a huge green plant.

The woman then saw Poppy Hale and apologized, "I’m sorry, I didn’t know this gentleman had a wife. I didn’t mean to intrude."

The woman left with an apologetic look.

Poppy Hale felt a bit uncomfortable.

But seeing Declan Hawthorne’s usual demeanor, she felt that making a fuss over clarifying this might be blowing things out of proportion.

He didn’t care much about it.

The food was brought over on the conveyor belt, one after another.

The two kids were very happy.

Florence’s eyes were sparkling.

"Mom, this is our first time in such a restaurant."

Poppy Hale gently said, "If you like it, we can come again next time."

"Sure! Let’s bring Iris Quill too, and Uncle and Sean!"

Florence loved to share.

She also enjoyed playing with Iris Quill.

Iris Quill was bold and would sneak off to play games with Florence when the adults and teachers weren’t paying attention.

Poppy Hale wiped the sauce from her daughter’s corner of the mouth.

Facing the gaze of Iris Quill and Declan Hawthorne, she nervously responded, "Okay, sure."

She heard the man chuckle softly.

Sweat formed on her back.

Even though it was nothing, somehow she made it seem somewhat guilty.

The pizza was soon served.

Iris Quill looked at the slice of potato wedge and bacon pizza and grumbled, "Uncle, why did you order this? I dislike this flavor the most."

Declan Hawthorne’s voice was unwavering.

"Because someone likes it."

Poppy Hale nearly lost hold of her knife and fork; they shook a bit in her hands.

Was Declan Hawthorne referring to her?

Iris Quill looked over, "Aunt Poppy, do you like this one? Here, it’s for you!"

Saying this, he forked a slice of pizza onto Poppy Hale’s plate.

Poppy Hale thanked him, but she didn’t eat a single bite.

Once she loved this flavor, but now just looking at it makes her feel nauseous and unappetizing.

Just one glance and Poppy Hale recollected that period.

Running back and forth between the hospital and home.

Mrs. Hale was also ill, and the doctor advised her to rest.

Just as they found a suitable doctor for Mr. Hale, Sean called to say that Grandma only had a few days left.

She wanted to see Poppy Hale one last time.

To avoid affecting Mr. Hale’s treatment, Poppy Hale had to hide Mr. Hale’s illness and Grandma’s failing health from each other.

She hired a caregiver to take care of Mr. and Mrs. Hale and returned to see Grandma.

After more than ten hours of flying without eating, she was starving.

She bought a pizza, potato wedge, and bacon flavor.

After eating, the morning sickness hit, and she vomited like crazy.

Later, she cried until she fainted at Grandma’s funeral, and when she went to the hospital, the doctor said she couldn’t take medication.

That’s when she found out she was pregnant.

Giving birth and raising a child on her own was tough.

But Poppy Hale had no regrets.

Florence was the best child in the world.

Before having children, Poppy always thought she didn’t like them.

After Florence was born, seeing her smile made Poppy Hale feel completely fulfilled.

She loves Florence.

The two kids didn’t eat much and were quickly full.

Iris Quill asked Poppy Hale, "Aunt Poppy, can I go play over there with Florence?"

Across from their seats was a small play area for children, within sight.

Several staff members were there watching as well.

Poppy Hale nodded, watching the two kids hold hands to play.

Kids are just kids; after some fuss, they were playing together again after a few days.

At the dinner table, only Poppy Hale and Declan Hawthorne were left.

Poppy Hale bit into a piece of chicken wing.

It was what Florence hadn’t finished.

She thought it was a bit too sweet, the marinade inside a little too salty.

After finishing one chicken wing, she drank two glasses of water to wash down the lingering taste.

After drinking the water, she felt full.

From the whole meal, she only ate a chicken wing and drank two glasses of plain water.

The slice of pizza Iris Quill gave her remained untouched on her plate.

Declan Hawthorne frowned, "Not eating the pizza?"

"I’m full."

"Didn’t you used to love that flavor?"

Poppy Hale smiled lightly, casually tucking her hair behind her ear, resting her chin on her hand as she watched Florence and Iris Quill play with the ocean balls.

"Not anymore."

Declan Hawthorne sat opposite her.

His deep eyes gazed at her.

His eyes seemed meaningful.

The man’s gaze turned outside the window.

Following his gaze, Poppy Hale saw through the restaurant’s glass window, a couple standing there.

The woman was hugging the man’s waist, acting coy.

It was Sean Lynch and Stella Hollis.

Poppy Hale frowned slightly.

Declan Hawthorne nonchalantly placed the pasta by his hand near Poppy Hale, took her plate of potato wedge and bacon pizza.

He started eating it.

Meeting Poppy Hale’s gaze, he casually said, "Don’t waste food."

After eating a slice of pizza, the man elegantly wiped his mouth.

He threw the napkin into the nearby trash bin.

His words carried a hint of a hidden meaning.

"But if something has already become garbage, it’s best to throw it away."