CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47: LATE NIGHT, A MAN AND A WOMAN ALONE

After Mr. Hale’s company went bankrupt, the assets were frozen.

Some factory production projects had already been signed off, resulting in some debts. Poppy Hale and Mrs. Hale, after discussing, sold their RV and barely managed to pay them off.

Online, there are often short videos about what life is like for the rich kids after going bankrupt.

Poppy Hale originally thought she would collapse.

But both she and Mrs. Hale were very strong.

Calmly handling the aftermath, first sending off their grandmother, then rushing back to Mr. Hale’s side to bid farewell to their father on his final journey.

Coolly discussing family matters with Mrs. Hale, looking for jobs, and signing repayment agreements with creditors.

Poppy Hale has gotten through these years this way.

She has never complained.

She just believes that as long as she works a bit harder, she can definitely provide a better life for Mrs. Hale and Florence Lynch.

After replying to the creditor’s message, Poppy Hale opened an app to check her savings.

Tight.

Then a message came in backstage from a client.

Very politely inquiring: "Hello, Teacher Finn Young, I think this sketch’s composition could be changed a bit, somehow it lacks flavor."

"I don’t mean to question you, Teacher."

Finn Young is a big name in the circle, and the client was also worried Finn might be unhappy, speaking very tactfully.

Finn replied: "Okay, I’ll change it as soon as possible."

The previous sketch, found online by Poppy Hale, was a kneeling portrait in formal wear.

The overall taste was indeed a bit off from what the client wanted for the appointment.

It lacked a bit of testosterone.

Art requires reference.

In Poppy Hale’s mind, she thought of the picture Declan Hawthorne had sent earlier that day.

He sent it by mistake, but he agreed she could use it for reference.

She opened the picture to save it.

Pasted it in the background, used it as a reference, and drew a new sketch to send to the client.

The client quickly replied.

"A miracle! Teacher Finn Young is like a god descending to earth! This is exactly the feeling I wanted, drooling!"

"I still want the kneeling pose."

After replying to the message, Poppy Hale subconsciously bit on her stylus pen.

Lying on the bed browsing her phone’s contacts.

Men whose figures matched the client’s description were rare.

Although still young, the men in her social circle didn’t have big bellies at best, even well-exercised ones didn’t have such great physiques.

Poppy Hale’s fingers swiped across the screen.

Stopped at that entirely black profile picture.

If it was Declan Hawthorne.

He indeed fit the client’s requirements well.

But Poppy Hale couldn’t say it aloud.

She decided to search online again, to see if there were any suitable reference images.

Putting down her phone and picking up her equipment, Poppy Hale didn’t notice that she accidentally tapped on that black profile picture.

A moment later, before she finished sketching the lines, Poppy Hale’s phone rang.

An unfamiliar number.

She picked it up but didn’t speak, thinking it might be a sales or scam call, then hung up.

A deep male voice sounded, "What’s up?"

Hearing Declan Hawthorne’s voice, Poppy Hale subconsciously responded with a sound, "Hmm?"

Looking at her phone, she realized she had accidentally tapped on Declan Hawthorne’s WeChat profile picture!

Just as she was about to explain it was an accidental touch, Declan Hawthorne, slightly out of breath, said: "What picture do you want? I just finished working out."

The voice was faintly breathless.

This kind of voice was very familiar to Poppy Hale.

Most of the time, it was when he looked at her, in a moment of passion, whispering in her ear with a low breath.

Poppy Hale’s ears turned red, cursing herself inwardly for thinking about that.

Declan Hawthorne continued: "If you don’t want it, then forget it."

The deadline for confirming the sketch was tonight.

And she needed money now.

Poppy Hale hurriedly said: "Can you send me two pictures of your workout? Also, I’d like one in formal wear."

Declan Hawthorne’s lips curved up slightly into a graceful arc.

He gave a small hum and hung up the phone.

In front of the mirror, he took two photos of his workout. He had just finished running and was about to shower, not wearing a shirt.

The muscle contours were clearly visible, sweat glistened down the muscles, leaving a trace on the workout pants.

After sending them.

Allen Shaw’s call came in.

Opened with, "Declan, that guy’s marital status you asked me to check, he’s divorced, what’s up with that?"

Divorced.

"Can you find out who his ex-wife is?"

"It’s a bit difficult, as it involves privacy. The divorce was something he posted on social media himself."

For content involving privacy, Declan Hawthorne believed Allen Shaw could investigate it.

"But he is indeed single now. Why, is his girlfriend your ex-girlfriend?"

"No."

Declan Hawthorne wiped off the sweat from his head with a towel.

Outside the window, the lights were dazzling in the city, and he was the only one in the gym.

Sean Lynch was divorced.

That means Poppy Hale and he were already divorced.

At Poppy Hale’s home, no wonder her mother tacitly allowed a strange adult man in her room.

When advising her to endure, she said she wanted to find someone who loved her.

Declan Hawthorne felt a fire brewing within him.

After hanging up Allen Shaw’s call, he went to the kitchen, took out a can of iced water from the fridge.

After drinking it, he finally extinguished that bit of irritation.

At this moment.

Poppy Hale sent a picture of a kneeling in formal wear, asking him if he could take such a picture for her as a reference.

Declan Hawthorne clicked open.

Replied: "If you want it, come and take it yourself."

Below was a location address at his apartment.

Poppy Hale received Declan Hawthorne’s reply, nearly throwing her phone out!

He sent another message.

Declan Hawthorne: "This angle can’t be taken by oneself."

The picture Poppy Hale sent was of a woman’s hand gripping a man’s chin, the man in formal wear kneeling on the carpet, looking up at the woman.

Overhead perspective.

Indeed can’t be done with a selfie.

Declan Hawthorne: "Or should I just find some random woman to take such a picture for you?"

Poppy Hale didn’t dare.

Originally, she thought there might be a woman at his place to take a picture.

Who knew Declan Hawthorne blocked her path.

Poppy Hale definitely didn’t dare to go, late at night, alone with him in his house.

Like walking into the lion’s den.

While Declan Hawthorne wasn’t a lion, Poppy just felt on edge.

Declan Hawthorne: "If you don’t come, there won’t be a next time."

Poppy Hale gritted her teeth.

Checking the backend, there were still fifteen hours left to confirm the sketch.

Now it was nine in the evening.

Declan Hawthorne’s apartment was an hour’s subway ride from her place.

If she went, took the pictures, and left, she could barely make the deadline.

In the end, under the temptation of a five-figure commission, Poppy Hale gave in.

She needed money for too many places this month.

-

The doorbell rang.

A moment later, a man wrapped in just a towel opened the door.

Seeing Poppy Hale at the door, he said casually, "Come in."

It was obvious he had just finished showering.

Poppy Hale felt a bit uneasy, standing at the door, "Do you have slippers?"

"I don’t have women’s stuff at my place, you can wear my slippers."

Never mind then.

His shoe size would be like wearing two boats for Poppy Hale.

She simply walked in barefoot.

Declan Hawthorne’s place was carpeted, so there was no worry about slipping.

There were still water droplets from the shower on the man’s body, and the thin towel couldn’t fully cover his intoxicating physique.

Poppy Hale turned her face away, not looking.

He noticed her action.

Chuckled softly.