CHAPTER 170: CHAPTER 170: A PAIR OF WEDDING RINGS

Amber Yates posted a bunch of messages in the small group chat.

She also shared all the photos taken by the media of Declan Hawthorne holding up his hand for them to capture a close-up of the wedding ring.

Amber Yates: "President Hawthorne is really getting married!"

"The bride isn’t me."

Janine: "If it were you, then President Hawthorne would be at a big loss."

By the time Poppy Hale picked up her phone, they had already said a bunch of things.

Poppy Hale clicked open those few pictures.

She suspected that the media outlets taking pictures of Declan Hawthorne were professional gossip reporters.

The photos were getting better and better one after another.

Declan Hawthorne looked like he walked straight out of a magazine, born to be a star, even the company’s lights and greenery seemed to favor him.

But seeing Morgan Sloan’s distorted face behind Declan Hawthorne, Poppy Hale couldn’t help but laugh.

She suspected that Declan Hawthorne did it on purpose.

Just to make sure the reporters clearly captured the ring on his hand.

Just then, a message from Declan Hawthorne arrived on her phone.

He asked where she was, so he could pick her up to see Elder Chambers.

After replying, Poppy Hale set the phone aside.

Mia Quinn knocked and entered, "President Hale, we’ve contacted several material factories, but for the main part of the jewelry, we haven’t decided which master craftsman to hire."

Poppy Hale nodded, tapping her fingers on the desk.

"Gather some information on available craftsmen, and we’ll review and select later. Also, notify the workers to return. Have the dormitory arrangements been made?"

"All arranged, but we’re still collecting information on workers needing accommodation. Victor Walden has been coming every day lately, following a few big trucks, seems pretty good."

Since meeting Poppy Hale, Victor Walden almost came by the Hale Group every day.

The factory had just moved back.

When a batch of pearls had just been delivered, someone attempted a break-in at night but was caught by Victor Walden on night watch in the corner.

He was brought in front of Poppy Hale, only then did she know Victor Walden was worried she was overwhelmed after just taking over the factory.

Noticing no security at the warehouse, he brought his own bedding to act as security.

No personnel for big truck convoys, so he went along himself.

Poppy Hale hesitated for a moment.

"Arrange meals for him every day, charge to the company canteen."

"Not giving him a position?"

Poppy Hale shook her head lightly, "Not for now, let’s see how it goes. He’s not a bad person, but very single-minded and stubborn."

About the previous car accident issue, Mason Rivers didn’t hold Victor Walden accountable.

Said they were pitiable people too.

But Poppy Hale felt pity and impulsiveness aren’t mutually exclusive.

Victor Walden’s character needs some polishing before he can be of use.

-

In the afternoon, Poppy Hale went with Declan Hawthorne to the medical school where Elder Chambers often resided.

Upon entering, Elder Chambers was knocking his forehead.

Looking at the papers in front of him, he felt overwhelmed.

These students, why hasn’t a single one shown any talent?

Seeing Poppy Hale and Declan Hawthorne come in, Elder Chambers immediately stood up and handed them two prescriptions.

"Take this prescription, consume it for six months, and spend half an hour in outdoor exercise daily, go for a health check-up."

"If there’s improvement in health, take the next one for another six months, if not, come back to me."

Elder Chambers was quite confident in his medicinal food prescriptions.

But because Florence Lynch’s body was too weak, many medicinal ingredients were best unused, fearing she couldn’t handle them; he took a long time considering them.

After writing out the prescription, Elder Chambers cheerfully said, "When do you two plan to have the wedding?"

Declan Hawthorne took the prescription, glanced at Poppy Hale beside him, and smiled, "Depends on her, I’m up for anything."

Elder Chambers turned to Poppy Hale.

Poppy Hale smiled and said, "I’ll ask my parents when we get back, picking a date isn’t something we’re good at, once it’s set, you must come."

"Oh, I will, for sure. Declan, your grandpa said he’s been feeling unwell these past few days? What’s going on?"

Declan Hawthorne calmly replied, "I upset him."

Elder Chambers groaned, leaned back tactically, his old face trembling, looking at Declan Hawthorne for a moment.

He sat back down, put on his reading glasses, and continued reading those frustrating graduate papers on the computer.

"Your grandpa called me to check on him, but I couldn’t, so Old Man Silver went, turns out it was just a cold."

"You’d think Old Man Hawthorne, with Old Man Silver as a cardiovascular specialist and me in pediatrics, wouldn’t call us in for a cold."

Recalling what Old Master Hawthorne said over the phone, Elder Chambers rolled his eyes.

He also mentioned not liking Declan Hawthorne’s current wife.

Ugh.

What nerve.

It’s only because Declan Hawthorne is promising and the Hawthorne Family’s future looks hopeful; if it were any of the mischievous ones in his family, Old Man Hawthorne wouldn’t have the spirit to fuss.

Elder Chambers had met many people, including Serena Sutton, the Sutton Family daughter favored by Old Master Hawthorne, he had seen her too.

Whose child in this area hasn’t been to him when sick as a kid?

Serena Sutton, gentle and obedient, but too much like a docile doll, someone Declan Hawthorne could never like.

Poppy Hale seemed like someone with her own ideas.

With a gentle and lovely demeanor, beautiful looks, eyes that showcased her personality and ambition, most importantly, she could handle Declan Hawthorne.

That was more crucial than anything else.

Elder Chambers chuckled, "If your grandpa contacts you, just ignore him. Young Hale, I’ve read your notes, planning to include a thanks to you in my new paper."

Papers written by someone of Elder Chambers’ status were destined to win awards.

Having her name in an academician’s paper as a thank you, Poppy Hale felt unworthy.

"It’s just a few notebooks; you don’t have to be so formal."

"It’s just a thanks, not making you a co-author, what are you afraid of!"

With Elder Chambers’ words, Poppy Hale couldn’t refuse, agreeing with a smile.

Leaving Elder Chambers’ office.

The school’s parking lot was at some distance from the educational buildings, so Poppy Hale and Declan Hawthorne walked together.

Winter on campus was desolate, cold, snowflakes melting into water before reaching the ground, leaving no accumulation.

Declan Hawthorne rubbed her hands, blowing warm air onto them.

"Cold? If so, let’s head quickly to the parking lot."

Poppy Hale shook her head.

Looking at the ring on Declan Hawthorne’s finger, "Did you deliberately let the media catch it?"

"Yes."

He was candid.

Declan Hawthorne took out a small box from his pocket, opening it for Poppy Hale to see.

It was a diamond ring, not particularly large, but exceptionally dazzling.

Poppy Hale’s eyelashes fluttered, the misty rain fell on her lashes, and shook off.

"How...how did you find it?"

Poppy Hale picked it up for a closer look.

She wasn’t mistaken.

This was the ring she had sold.

Years had passed, how did Declan Hawthorne, like finding a needle in a haystack, retrieve this ring?

"Visited several vintage shops, got lucky, it was always in the cabinet, unsold, the shopkeeper said it was engraved, couldn’t sell it."

Back when she sold it, Poppy Hale had to offer a discount due to the engraving.

Unexpectedly, for the same reason, the ring returned to her hands.

"I even bought a bigger ring, but this one, since you bought it, holds a different meaning."

This one, along with the one on his finger, made a perfect pair.