CHAPTER 157: CHAPTER 157: GOOD DEEDS ARE REWARDED

Mia Quinn’s visit came as a surprise to Poppy Hale.

However, her presence here indicated that she wasn’t held accountable.

After all, Stella Hollis was fine.

They wanted to hold Mia accountable, but were currently overwhelmed with their own issues.

"Why are you here?"

"Let’s go inside first. President Hale wouldn’t mind me coming, would she?"

Poppy Hale and Mia Quinn were never really close.

In the past, there were misunderstandings between them.

Plus, Mia’s reserved nature kept her from interacting with Poppy even after realizing the bully wasn’t Poppy.

In her world, Poppy and she were never on the same level.

Seeing the pretty girl in front of her, Poppy smiled.

"Come in. Aren’t you working today?"

Mia placed a cup of milk tea on Poppy’s desk.

"I resigned. Poppy, I wanted to ask, are you hiring? I’d like to work here."

Poppy was genuinely surprised by this statement.

Mia Quinn, a top graduate from Arvum University, had proven her capabilities during her time at the Hawthorne Group.

When Poppy resigned, she even recommended Mia as her replacement to Justin Hawthorne.

But then Justin said if Poppy was leaving, Mia would too.

Mia only joined the Hawthorne Group because of Declan Hawthorne’s whimsical idea to keep watch over Serena Sutton and away from Poppy.

Poppy asked, "Did something happen at the Hawthorne Group?"

"No, Secretary Sloan even mentioned that if needed, I could seek the group’s legal assistance. I heard from Janine that you’re taking over your family’s business, so I wanted to join you."

Mia stood across from Poppy.

With her delicate features, her skin slightly dark, and reddish eyelids due to her high-altitude birthplace.

"Poppy, coming out of the mountains and standing before you is already quite a feat for me."

"I know clearly what I want to do, Poppy. I can learn, I hope you won’t think I’m foolish."

Her sincerity was moving.

Poppy shook her head lightly.

"Since it’s not easy coming here, you should cherish every path you take. Honestly, I’m not even sure if the company will succeed. I can’t let you gamble with me. Your resume has a promising future anywhere; our company truly isn’t suitable for you."

The issues piled up in the Hale Group were already a burden for Poppy Hale.

After going through all the files these past days, Poppy felt an overwhelming headache at her temples.

It’s too difficult.

If Mia could join the company, it would indeed be a great help to Poppy.

But she couldn’t gamble on a young girl’s future.

For Mia, this was the first time someone spoke to her so candidly.

Their words carried genuine concern for her.

"I’ve thought it through. After working overtime last time, I saw Stella when I got off work and followed her. I’m quite vindictive, you see."

"I always did well in school. My family didn’t want me to study; I was afraid, so I studied hard, skipped three grades, and got the chance to leave. Otherwise, I might have had to marry."

"The husband my family chose was over fifty, sick, with only one tooth left."

Talking about her past, Mia smiled as if she were not recounting her own life.

She had let go.

"Stella said, I’m just like her, not worthy... not worthy of liking President Hawthorne."

Talking comfortably about past youthful heartaches before Poppy felt somewhat liberating for Mia.

"The reason I stand before you is because a kind person helped me during my schooling."

"My teacher said poverty is also a privacy matter, so to avoid troubling the benefactor, information on both sides was kept confidential."

Mia’s eyes looked intently at Poppy.

It stirred something within Poppy’s heart.

The sunlight of early winter poured warmly through the office window, illuminating the floor. Mia’s eyes sparkled like a lamb on a hillside.

Mia smiled, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes.

"After leaving the police station, I went home to help the teacher organize records, and that’s when I saw the benefactor’s information."

Poppy’s heart fluttered suddenly.

Mia’s lips curved, producing an unsigned letter.

"This is a letter I once wrote to the benefactor, but never sent."

"Now I have the chance to hand it to you."

"Thank you, Poppy."

A tear dropped onto the paper.

Blurring some of the ink, smudging the writing.

Poppy heard herself whisper, "Are you a child from The Gristlebone Mountains?"

Mia nodded.

"Yes, I’m from The Gristlebone Mountains."

When Poppy was in high school, she traveled The Serpent’s Pass with Connor Lynch.

Passing by The Gristlebone Mountains, she saw children having to climb cliffs to attend school and told Connor she wanted to support them.

Connor agreed, smiling but insisted Poppy use her own pocket money.

Back then, for Poppy, it wasn’t much money.

It meant buying one less bag, or skipping a fancy meal, or forgoing some makeup she might never use.

She never intended to change someone’s life.

But seeing Mia now, it was as though the deeds she and Connor had done left a mark.

Seeing Mia today, Poppy felt happy for her.

"You’re better at studying than me, that’s impressive. I can accept the letter, but not you working here."

Mia was persistent.

"What if I work here and you give me a position where I can support myself while preparing for exams? I plan to apply for a law master’s at Arvum University."

"At the Hawthorne Group, there’s no energy left for studying."

As she spoke, Mia blinked at Poppy.

"Please? Just a year, and if I get admitted, I’ll go to school! If not, what if our company grows? Who knows, I might have better prospects than staying at the Hawthorne Group!"

Better than the Hawthorne Group?

Listening to her, Poppy couldn’t help but think, youth is truly wonderful.

She didn’t have ambitions like that.

She knew Mia was saying this to persuade her to stay.

Poppy couldn’t resist her.

"Alright, your salary will match your Hawthorne Group rate, but just for a year, after December exams next year, you’ll go to school."

"Alright, President Hale!"

For a mind like Mia’s to come out of the mountains, pursuing grad school seemed easy.

Poppy didn’t doubt her success in getting accepted.

Mia followed Riley Thorne to the workstations, as Poppy looked at the aged, yellowing letter in her hand.

It had clearly been preserved for a long time.

The letter mentioned receiving the items Poppy sent, thanking her.

The final line was a wish to also become like the benefactor someday.

She would forever cherish this kindness as a guiding light.

There was warmth in Poppy’s eyes.

She safely tucked the letter into a drawer.

Looking at the photo on her desk with Connor Lynch and Truth Hale, she softly said, "Dad, it’s all your deeds repaying us."