CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 72: THE DEMON WHO INDUCES CHILDREN

In an instant.

Declan Hawthorne realized he was actually a bit nervous.

After hearing the girl’s response, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and after a moment, he said, "I know him, but I didn’t know he was Florence’s uncle."

"Then do you know whose last name you share?"

Declan Hawthorne felt like a devil luring a child to reveal secrets.

He didn’t feel at all that what he was doing was unethical.

If morality really worked.

He wouldn’t be here right now.

In the home of a single woman with a daughter.

Declan Hawthorne guided her gently.

"If you answer correctly, Uncle will take you to an amusement park to play."

Florence had never been to an amusement park.

She didn’t know that at her age, there wouldn’t be many fun rides.

She only knew that the princess lived in the amusement park, and she wanted to see the princess.

Florence’s voice was soft and milky, and she was a little sleepy.

"I know, I share my grandpa’s last name, my grandpa is my mom’s dad."

The child couldn’t distinguish so many people.

She only knew they were her elders.

Declan Hawthorne asked again, "Then with whom does mom share her last name?"

"Grandma, mom said she misses grandpa, so I share his last name."

Declan Hawthorne remembered.

He had investigated Mr. Hale’s company.

The legal person of the company was listed as Connor Lynch.

The shareholders were Truth Hale and Poppy Hale.

When contacting Elder Silver, Declan Hawthorne had seen Mrs. Hale’s medical records and knew her name was Truth Hale.

Florence took her father’s last name.

Poppy Hale’s father.

Sean Lynch was Florence’s uncle, not Poppy Hale’s husband.

No wonder every time Sean Lynch was mentioned, Poppy Hale’s unnatural and indifferent expression wasn’t feigned.

Florence said she hadn’t seen her father.

Was it that man who abandoned them after Florence was born?

This possibility made Declan Hawthorne’s back teeth clench with some bitterness.

Florence sweetly said, "Uncle, what’s wrong?"

Uncle Hawthorne seemed somewhat unhappy.

Florence’s hand reached out from under the blanket and held Declan Hawthorne’s hand.

The man’s hand was big, the child’s hand could only hold one of his fingers.

"Cheer up."

Declan Hawthorne’s heart softened.

What was originally just a seed of desire, deeply buried in the soil, was now out of control, breaking through the soil and growing into a towering tree in his heart.

He heard himself say.

"Florence, how about Uncle being your dad?"

He felt a bit nervous.

He didn’t know what the child would say.

Florence thought for a moment and then agreed crisply.

"Okay!"

After agreeing, she was a bit troubled.

"What if Mom disagrees? Mom said whatever it is, it must have her consent."

"Then we won’t tell her for now."

Children this age love having secrets with others the most.

Florence was very happy.

When Poppy Hale came back, Florence was lying in Declan Hawthorne’s arms, listening to the man telling stories in a low voice.

Declan Hawthorne had picked an English picture book.

His spoken English was very fluent when he read.

Florence was already asleep.

Poppy Hale stood there, "Did Florence just wake up?"

She heard them seemingly talking in the room.

She didn’t expect Florence to fall asleep so easily.

Normally, if she woke up in the middle of the night, it would be hard for her to fall back asleep, tossing and turning all night.

Poppy Hale was very afraid of waking Florence up.

Declan Hawthorne raised an eyebrow and put the picture book aside.

"She said she gets sleepy when she reads, has no idea who she got that from."

Listening to the man’s teasing tone.

Poppy Hale blushed.

Thinking anyway Declan Hawthorne didn’t know who Florence’s dad was.

She confidently deflected, "Takes after her dad, I guess."

With an attitude that clearly didn’t want to discuss the child’s father.

Declan Hawthorne got up and went to shower.

There were no spare clothes for him here.

Simply put, he came out wearing Poppy Hale’s bathrobe.

His clothes were thrown into the washing machine, cleaned, and hung to dry.

By morning, they would be wearable again.

Poppy Hale’s bathrobe was bought in a large size, but Declan Hawthorne still looked a bit constrained wearing it.

When he walked, the slit showed tantalizing glimpses of his muscular thighs.

A fit body, with well-defined muscles, exuding strong testosterone.

And it seemed as if the man intentionally didn’t fasten the top of the robe.

His toned abs and pecs were visible to Poppy Hale’s eyes.

She watched him as he hung up the clothes and walked back to the bedroom.

Poppy Hale quickly closed her eyes and turned off the light.

Once her eyes adjusted to the dark, everything in front of her began to take on a hazy outline.

There was a sleeping child between Declan Hawthorne and Poppy Hale.

But it seemed more intimate and amorous than if there were nothing between them.

Poppy Hale closed her eyes, forcing herself to sleep.

Probably too tired, she soon fell asleep.

Moments later.

The man beside her heard her breathing beside him.

He got up and went to the balcony.

Standing on the balcony, a cigarette light flickered at his fingertips, a glow in the night,

His phone screen lit up.

"Declan, it’s been found out, this guy is a thug, just got out. Tonight, before coming to Miss Hale’s place, a thousand dollars was transferred to his account."

A thousand dollars.

To have a bottom-ranking scoundrel with a criminal record knock on the door of a single woman.

It’s practically risk-free profit.

Even without paying, this person might have come.

Declan Hawthorne took a puff of the cigarette.

Allen Shaw shared his unease.

"Good thing you were with Miss Hale, otherwise who knows what would have happened. Should I investigate the source of his funds?"

"No need."

Things wouldn’t be so coincidental.

On usual days, Poppy Hale would probably be more alert.

But tonight, her landlord had mentioned someone coming to view the house.

So, she’d have more likelihood of opening the door to a stranger.

Nolan Zane had said he was checking out the house for his boss’s daughter, eager to buy it.

Apex Technologies.

It’s the Rivers Family’s company, with Mason Rivers’ father as chairman.

Rage brewed in Declan Hawthorne’s chest, threatening to consume him.

He coldly declared, "For the next three months, all of Apex Technologies’ collaborations must fail."

"You mean...?"

"If the Rivers Family can’t control their daughter, I can step in."

But his methods would certainly not be gentle.

By day, Morgan Sloan had sent a file.

Previously locking Poppy Hale in a storage room, later writing insults on her mirror, spreading rumors about her when she wasn’t around.

Saying she was married with children, yet shamelessly flirting with Declan Hawthorne.

All those rumors, Declan Hawthorne had Morgan Sloan handle them.

Intending to find time to clarify things with Mason Rivers.

But tonight, her actions had crossed Declan Hawthorne’s bottom line.

Allen Shaw chuckled slightly.

"Seems you’re serious about this, willing to make such a fuss over a beauty."

Though it’s unsure if the beauty would appreciate it.

Declan Hawthorne was taken aback.

Then a bitterness rose in his heart.

Like biting into a piece of high-purity chocolate, the bitterness spread in his mouth, impossible to swallow or spit out.

In that instant, he seemed to understand something.

Before, he had never stood up for Poppy Hale in such situations.

He thought he could stand idly by, indifferent to her little dramas.

In reality, it was absurdly wrong.