CHAPTER 120: CHAPTER 120: FINDING A MATCH FOR GRANDPA

No one dared to speak at the dinner table for a moment.

The silence was only broken by the clinking of cups and utensils.

Old Master Hawthorne had three sons.

The eldest, Hugo Hawthorne, loved antiques and paintings, while the second, Miles Hawthorne, was passionate about martial arts and indie films.

The youngest, Adrian Hawthorne, lived a life of indulgence and was a notorious playboy. In his early years, he caused some trouble while playing around in Sterling, prompting Old Master Hawthorne to personally confront him and break both his legs in front of the aggrieved party, confining him to the manor.

Since then, he was completely incapacitated.

Originally, Old Master Hawthorne thought the Hawthorne Family was finished.

Until Declan Hawthorne was born.

As the saying goes, "the child is father to the man." Even as a child, Declan Hawthorne displayed exceptional poise and, at a young age, already showed shrewdness and skill.

At that time, all five of the Hawthorne grandchildren were being raised together, and Old Master Hawthorne tasked them with identifying the disloyal servants in the old mansion.

Old Master Hawthorne had lost a pocket watch back then.

Declan Hawthorne merely said, "Whoever told Grandpa the watch was lost is the one."

Old Master Hawthorne was surprised, "How did you know?"

Declan Hawthorne opened his hand, revealing a pocket watch lying in his palm.

"I took it. I told everyone not to tell Grandpa. They all agreed. So whoever told you, they’re not a good person."

Old Master Hawthorne was both amused and relieved at that moment.

He was comforted, knowing the Hawthorne Family finally had a successor.

His education of Declan Hawthorne was far stricter than that of his other grandchildren.

Now, in a moment of distraction, Old Master Hawthorne suddenly felt a bit flustered.

When did his grandson grow into someone beyond his control?

Old Master Hawthorne stared wide-eyed at Declan Hawthorne.

"Don’t you know the benefits of marrying into the Sutton Family?"

"If Grandpa marries into the Carrington Family, the Hawthorne Group can benefit just as well."

The Carrington Family and the Sutton Family are in the same field, indeed.

The eldest sons of the Carrington and Sutton families even work in the same government building office.

Declan Hawthorne, calm and collected, stood up and raised his glass to clink it with the elders at the table,

the rim of his glass clinking against the wine glass before Old Master Hawthorne.

Declan Hawthorne’s cold gaze met Old Master Hawthorne’s somewhat cloudy eyes.

"I’ve heard that Grandma Carrington and Grandpa are old acquaintances who went down to the countryside together as young intellectuals back in the day, so they might have some emotions for each other."

Old Master Hawthorne’s old face turned beet red.

"Emotions? Does that mean all young intellectuals from our brigade have feelings for each other?"

Tristan Hawthorne murmured softly,

"Didn’t you and Grandma become fond of each other as intellectuals too?"

Old Master Hawthorne roared, "Tristan Hawthorne! What did you say?"

Tristan Hawthorne shut his mouth.

Turned to peel shrimp for Iris Quill.

Declan Hawthorne felt a wave of exhaustion rise within him.

He stood up and looked at Old Master Hawthorne.

"If Miss Sutton ever enters the Hawthorne Family, that day will be when Grandpa is still sharp as ever and becomes the groom."

"Congratulations in advance. I won’t disturb everyone’s meal any longer, as there are other matters to attend to."

He placed the wine glass on the table.

Declan Hawthorne had already turned away from the dining table.

Behind him came Old Master Hawthorne’s infuriated shouting, and Hugo Hawthorne’s low voice with a hint of delight, attempting to soothe; Tristan Hawthorne and Justin Hawthorne playfully amused.

It turned into an utter mess.

Declan Hawthorne, the person involved, had left the dining room.

This farce had nothing to do with him.

-

Justin Hawthorne knocked on the study door.

Carrying an exquisite little cake.

Old Master Hawthorne did not allow the children in the family to celebrate with cake.

This cake was secretly bought by Justin Hawthorne, sneaked into the house while Old Master Hawthorne was sighing after being angered, with Tristan Hawthorne’s help to cover.

"Big brother, happy birthday."

Declan Hawthorne looked at the cake, palm-sized, with a little cream dog on top.

He wasn’t particularly interested in sweets.

Perhaps because he was unable to eat them as a child; one grows up either particularly liking them or not touching them at all.

Yet at this moment, he felt a bit interested.

"Do you think a little girl would like this cake?"

Justin Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, "A little girl in her twenties like me quite likes it; at two or three years old, they might like it even more."

"Give me the box."

Justin Hawthorne handed the entire cake box to Declan Hawthorne.

Carefully folding the box, Declan Hawthorne thought of something and looked at Justin Hawthorne.

"Who is the Sutton daughter Grandpa mentioned?"

"Serena Sutton. Grandpa seems to like her a lot and even said she should work for the Hawthorne Group to cultivate feelings with you... Uncle has already agreed."

Declan Hawthorne’s eyebrows slightly furrowed.

The phone rang; it was Zachary Hawthorne, the second grandson of the Hawthorne Family, calling.

Without waiting for him to say happy birthday, Declan Hawthorne interrupted.

"Zachary, gather information on families we’ve collaborated with that have single elderly ladies over sixty at home and gather personal information about the matriarchs."

Zachary, far across the ocean, had no idea what had happened at home.

Declan Hawthorne leisurely continued, "Introduce Grandpa to a partner. If there are suitable elderly foreigners, that’s fine too. Our family doesn’t care for status as long as she gets along with Grandpa."

Zachary: "..."

Is that right?

"Grandpa wants a partner? Uh, okay, I got it, I’ll organize it right away."

"Send it directly to Grandpa, and if he’s not satisfied, keep searching."

Zachary was completely bewildered.

But what Declan Hawthorne said was law, and once he gave a command, it was executed.

Justin Hawthorne was surprised, "Big brother, are you really going to find Grandpa... a partner?"

"Do you have any objections?"

"No, I wouldn’t dare."

Declan Hawthorne stood up, carrying the cake box, his gaze swept over Justin Hawthorne.

Suddenly, he spoke, "Next Monday, report to the Hawthorne Group, the same department as that ’Sutton something dish’."

Justin Hawthorne didn’t expect it.

Sitting at home, work fell from the sky.

"So, um, what about my salary?"

"Base salary one thousand two."

Justin Hawthorne gritted his teeth hard.

Facing Declan Hawthorne’s glance, he laughed awkwardly, "Don’t worry, big brother, I’ll definitely work hard, aim for an impressive performance, at the top level."

Aim for an impressive performance and top level is unnecessary.

Just don’t cause him any trouble, and that’s sufficient.

-

Carrying the small cake box, Declan Hawthorne returned to his city residence all the way.

The lights in the community were on, bright with thousands of lights, but none stopped for him.

After watching for a moment from downstairs,

Declan Hawthorne went upstairs and knocked on Poppy Hale’s door.

It was Florence Lynch who opened the door.

Standing on her tiptoes to open the door, she was visibly delighted to see Declan Hawthorne at the door.

"Uncle Hawthorne!"

"Florence, this is for you."

Handing the cake box to Florence Lynch, Declan Hawthorne crouched down, not missing the continuous joy on the little girl’s face.

"Wow!"

Hugging the cake box, Florence Lynch’s eyes seemed to sparkle.

"Uncle Hawthorne, you’re the best!"

Is this it? Just that?

Declan Hawthorne was surprised at how easily satisfied children could be.

He had carefully protected this cake to prevent it from collapsing along the way, which certainly wasn’t easy.

But fortunately, every bit was worth it.

Florence Lynch held Declan Hawthorne’s finger, leading him inside.

"Mom’s painting in the room, and grandma’s already asleep, so let’s keep our voices down."

"Alright."

Opening the cake box and placing it on the table, Declan Hawthorne used a lighter to ignite the heart-shaped candle.

Florence Lynch clasped her hands together, making a wish.

"Wishing Uncle Hawthorne a happy birthday, and hoping Mom, Grandma, and Uncle Hawthorne will always be happy."