CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: MAKE HIM KNEEL IN A SUIT?

Declan Hawthorne: "If you want the lid, come to the break room to get it yourself."

Poppy Hale breathed a sigh of relief.

It’s fine to leave it in the break room.

After replying, Poppy noticed that Declan hadn’t retracted the picture he sent.

She had no choice but to brace herself and say, "President Hawthorne, you sent the wrong message."

"Mhm. It was sent by mistake."

Poppy’s heart gradually settled down.

Her once lively heartbeat slowly returned to calmness.

He must be reporting his itinerary to someone.

When they were dating, Declan never told Poppy what he was doing every day.

Most of the time, he would only reach out to her after finishing his day.

She used to think that Declan simply preferred getting his work done before reaching out.

He didn’t like to be disturbed.

And naturally, he didn’t like her interfering too much in his life.

Turns out, loving someone means making excuses for them involuntarily.

Now, all those excuses shattered in the face of reality.

Once a whole piece of glass, now broken into fragments, with each piece embedding past memories, pricking Poppy’s heart with both sourness and bitterness.

She smiled silently and put away her phone.

After working for some time and handling several procedures.

Poppy thought Declan might not be in the break room anymore.

Only then did she get up to retrieve her lid from the break room.

But as soon as she entered, she saw Declan standing by the window, gazing at the scenery outside.

Has he been here all along?

Poppy had no choice, so she braced herself and said, "Hello, President Hawthorne."

Declan nodded and handed her the lid in his hand.

The ceramic lid had already been warmed by the man’s touch.

It was all from the warmth of his palm.

Poppy took it in her hand, and her heart was also burnt by that warmth.

She looked at the man, "Um, President Hawthorne, can I use the picture you sent me just now as a reference?"

Intending to use the picture, Poppy thought it was better to inform Declan.

Declan’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

"Is one picture enough?"

A low chuckle echoed in the break room.

One picture wasn’t really enough; it would be better if there were more poses.

Especially since the pose she drew was a formal kneeling posture.

Having a life-sized accurate depiction would be ideal.

To ask Declan to kneel in formal attire...

Just the thought of the scene made Poppy’s cheeks feel a bit warm.

She wouldn’t dare to ask Declan for that in any case.

Poppy held the lid, "It’s enough, thank you, President Hawthorne."

After speaking, she quickly fled the scene.

Moving awkwardly.

Behind her, she heard the man’s suppressed laughter.

-

Mason Rivers’ Office.

Rachel Rivers left in tears after being scolded by Morgan Sloan, and went to Mason’s place.

Mason was in a meeting with no time to comfort her, so he let her play games in his office.

On the computer, Mason’s WeChat was still logged in.

Out of boredom, Rachel clicked open Mason’s WeChat.

First, she viewed Mason’s chat with Declan, which was mostly about work exchanges and occasional drinking or dining arrangements.

Most of the time, it was Declan declining.

Scrolling further up, there was nothing synced.

At that moment, Mason received a message from a subordinate.

It mentioned that Poppy’s mother needed surgery, and recently some creditors were also looking for Poppy.

Rachel’s heart rate quickened.

Is Mason investigating Poppy?

Could he also suspect that Poppy still has some connection with Declan and wants to keep an eye on her?

After carefully reviewing the message sent from the other side.

Rachel’s heartbeat quickened, and her palms were slightly sweaty.

She picked up her bag and left Mason’s office early.

She contacted a professional team to have them go and collect the debt from Poppy.

Rachel wanted to see, if Poppy was already in trouble, what courage she had to look down on her.

-

In the evening, Mrs. Hale made a pot of chicken soup.

The soup, simmered overnight, had a golden layer of oil floating on top, making one’s mouth water.

Mrs. Hale insisted, "You don’t have to worry about the surgery; I’m not going."

Elderly people can be stubborn.

Poppy sighed.

With a stern face, "I’ve already scheduled the surgical team; if you don’t go, I’ve already paid."

Mrs. Hale was simply worried about Poppy, thinking she had no money.

She had to work and take on part-time jobs to support two patients at home and the debts.

Originally, the debts didn’t exist; they were just some company accounting issues that Mrs. Hale thought she could sort out on her own.

As long as the company’s matters were arranged, she wouldn’t need the surgery.

The most important thing in life is not to trouble your children.

But before she could sort things out, the surgery schedule arrived first.

Mrs. Hale took a sip of the soup.

Calmly, "You don’t have to treat me like an ignorant old woman. Without the surgery, no hospital would accept the money. If I don’t do the surgery, stop worrying about it."

She fundamentally remained that stubborn businesswoman.

Poppy felt a bit weary.

She put down the soup bowl, her face showing anger.

"Truth Hale, do you think you’re so powerful and impressive? I’m telling you, if you don’t do the surgery, I’ll move out with Florence tomorrow, leaving you alone here!"

Mrs. Hale’s hand trembled as she held the soup bowl, looking up at Poppy in disbelief.

The mother and daughter faced off.

In a trembling voice, Mrs. Hale said, "Are you going to abandon me?"

"If you don’t want to live, don’t want to stay with us, don’t want to see Florence grow up, don’t want to see Florence get married and have children, then we don’t need you."

Poppy’s voice had already taken on a sobbing tone.

Mrs. Hale’s heart softened little by little.

She knew, what she was doing was unfair to Poppy.

But she also knew that the surgery would cost thirty thousand.

Poppy had been living frugally, not buying suitable clothes for herself for years, and even Florence often had to wear hand-me-downs.

She was the one burdening them.

Mrs. Hale gritted her teeth, "I’ll go, but you have to promise me one thing."

"Name it."

As long as the elderly woman was willing to undergo the surgery, even ten requests would be acceptable.

Mrs. Hale looked at Poppy, gentle yet firm, "I want to know who Florence’s father is."

Poppy was taken aback.

She looked down at Florence, who was having soup beside her.

Mother and daughter locked eyes.

Mrs. Hale continued, "She’s little and doesn’t know what a biological father is, but I’m different. I want to know this."

Even as Florence grows, one day, she might ask Poppy this question too.

Poppy sighed.

"Alright, I’ll tell you."

Mrs. Hale’s face relaxed with a relieved smile.

Poppy was filial; Mrs. Hale should be glad.

She just didn’t want to add to Poppy’s burdens.

Fortunately, the issues with the Hale family’s company were progressing; once Mrs. Hale recovered from the surgery, new developments would be underway.

By then, neither Poppy nor Florence would have to suffer anymore.

Poppy returned to her room and continued drawing.

At that moment, she received messages from several creditors.

Why were so many payments due this month?

And the debts demanded were several times higher than before.