CHAPTER 164: CHAPTER 164: WHAT IF I’M THE ONE WHO MARRIES DECLAN HAWTHORNE?

Everyone watched as Declan Hawthorne naturally put on the ring.

Janine whispered to Amber Yates beside her.

"Is President Hawthorne married?"

"I haven’t heard, but he’s probably in love. Didn’t you see his smile when the ring arrived? He couldn’t hide it."

Janine clicked her tongue and glanced at Wendy Archer.

This woman, I wonder if she’s eaten gunpowder or something.

She took the initiative to speak, "President Hawthorne, I propose that since there are such online rumors, we should also investigate our internal employees and conduct self-examinations thoroughly. All former employees who participated in the projects should be included in the investigation as well."

Janine’s expression was all about righteousness, with the sternness of a woman who had served in the military, always exuding an intimidating sharpness.

She looked at Wendy Archer, raising her eyebrows with determination, "After all, once innocence is smeared, it’s not easy to clear one’s name."

Wendy Archer gritted her teeth in anger.

Yet she couldn’t say anything.

After all, Janine’s proposal had no real issue.

Declan Hawthorne pondered slightly and nodded in agreement.

"Let’s do it that way, meeting adjourned."

As they sorted their materials and left, before Declan Hawthorne exited the conference room, Janine suddenly spoke to Amber Yates beside her, "I wonder if Wendy Archer has eaten bullets. Everyone knows what Poppy’s personality is like. Do you think targeting our Poppy benefits her in some way?"

Declan Hawthorne paused in his steps outside the conference room.

He glanced sideways at Wendy Archer, a shadow crossing his eyes, then quickly left.

Amber Yates covered her mouth, "You did that on purpose?"

"Yeah, whether or not President Hawthorne cares about this matter, we can’t really let him misunderstand Poppy, right? What if the leadership really thinks Poppy is not doing well and says something to other company leaders? How would Poppy survive?"

In Janine’s view.

The world is just that big, not to mention Poppy Hale is now running her own business.

The Hawthorne Group’s industry is vast enough.

Who knows, one day, Poppy Hale’s cooperating company might be familiar with the Hawthorne Group, or even collaborate with the Hawthorne Group.

We can’t cause Poppy Hale unnecessary trouble.

Amber Yates nodded, glancing around to make sure no one was nearby before whispering to Janine.

"You’re really thoughtful, but I think Wendy Archer isn’t very innocent. When you mentioned self-examination, she didn’t dare to look at President Hawthorne."

The two exchanged glances, both slightly speechless.

They quickly chose to stay silent and not discuss it.

-

After getting off work in the afternoon, Amber Yates and Janine had agreed to meet Poppy Hale for dinner together.

Poppy Hale brought along Mia Quinn.

The restaurant was one of their favorite small stir-fry places from the past. Mia drove there, and when they arrived, Amber Yates had already ordered the dishes.

Upon seeing Mia, Amber Yates and Janine were both surprised.

"Have you resigned to work for Poppy? You’ve really kept it hidden well!"

"President Hale, that’s not fair. Did you offer such a high salary to attract Mia over?"

Poppy Hale hung her coat on the chair, tying up her hair for convenience while eating, and laughed, "She insisted on joining, so I had no choice."

Mia, who used to love dining with them, was also welcomed by Amber Yates and Janine.

After a few bites, Amber Yates brought up the company’s issues.

It was intended to give Poppy Hale a heads-up.

"Did Secretary Sloan reach out to you?"

Poppy Hale shook her head, "No, I’m aware of the company’s matters. You don’t need to worry about me. I have a way to clear things up."

But knowing that Amber Yates and Janine thought of her and spoke well of her in the Hawthorne Group touched Poppy Hale.

Amber Yates sighed.

"It seems like President Hawthorne is getting married. If you weren’t there, you wouldn’t know how President Hawthorne smiled after receiving that ring. It made me feel like I was a pig waiting to be slaughtered for the holidays, and he was the butcher. Creepy, huh."

This description, only Amber Yates could come up with.

Poppy Hale took a sip of tea, her mouth still numb from accidentally eating a Sichuan pepper while eating.

After drinking the water, it finally felt a bit better.

"What if President Hawthorne really got married?"

"That’s unlikely; I haven’t heard anything about it."

Poppy Hale propped her head up, dragging her voice, "What if he married me?"

Amber Yates and Janine were momentarily speechless.

A moment later, Amber Yates waved her hand, swallowing a big sip of wine.

"Impossible! I’ve never seen you interacting with President Hawthorne. Every time you saw President Hawthorne, you wouldn’t even look at him, unlike Wendy Archer who clearly likes him!"

"Previously, when I asked you how you felt about President Hawthorne at the company, what did you say?"

Poppy Hale supplemented, "A despicable capitalist, the modern Scrooge, only good at exploiting others—Hawthorne the Skinflint."

"Yeah, yeah, exactly that!"

Janine nodded in agreement.

"Poppy’s now joking around to scare us, it seems the company business is going pretty well."

They didn’t believe it, and Poppy Hale didn’t say much else, just smiling as she looked at them.

Only Mia Quinn gave Poppy Hale a surprised look.

Then quickly shifted her gaze back.

In the intervals of the meal, she quietly reached over and served a big shrimp to Poppy Hale.

Whispering, "Congratulations, Poppy."

Poppy Hale nodded gently, "Later, have your brother-in-law give you a red envelope."

Mia giggled along, feeling genuinely happy for Poppy Hale.

Amber Yates grabbed Mia, "What are you two whispering? Didn’t you say you were in a relationship before, Mia?"

"We broke up. It was supposed to be a fair split, and I didn’t mind, but he said we’d still split things after marriage, so I broke up."

The relationship wasn’t long, and frankly, Mia wasn’t deeply invested in him.

Her heart was still caught up in the past, but now she’s moved on, determined to make bold strides forward by staying by Poppy Hale’s side.

Amber Yates scoffed, "Splitting things? Then will you split having kids too? You carry five months, and he carries five months, you feed milk on odd days, and he on even? The child takes your last name today and his tomorrow? Such a man is a no-go!"

Amber Yates and Janine, both having been married for years, have strong opinions on marriage and partner selection.

Janine chimed in, "Do you think, if President Hawthorne gets married, he’d be the same kind of man?"

"Hard to say, President Hawthorne is so wealthy, he’d surely sign prenups with his partner, right? In case the other party is only after the Hawthorne Family’s money, he’d need to be cautious."

Amber Yates didn’t notice Mia wildly fluttering her eyes.

"But President Hawthorne probably isn’t stingy about daily expenses. You can tell from our salary bonuses."

Poppy Hale listened, laughing lightly.

Amber Yates squinted, pointing at a tall figure from afar approaching them, "Have I had too much to drink? Why do I see President Hawthorne coming to a place like this?"

Poppy Hale teased, "Maybe it’s because you spoke badly of him, and he overheard it."

Amber Yates shivered, suddenly sobered up more than halfway.

Luckily, Declan Hawthorne didn’t head their way, just nodded from a distance as a greeting, and then left.

When paying the bill after dinner, the server looked at Poppy Hale.

"Your husband said the bill’s already covered, and you can all leave now."

Poppy Hale burst into a laugh.

This man, going out of his way just for a moment of attention.

Was it just to pay the bill?