CHAPTER 180: CHAPTER 180: FATHER AND SON ON THE BATTLEFIELD

While they were talking, a young woman approached Jackie Barrett from the front.

"Aunt Barrett, long time no see."

"Is that Riley? It’s been a long time indeed. I heard from your mom that you’re at The Exchange this year, doing quite well?"

Hailey nodded, but her gaze couldn’t help but drift behind Jackie Barrett.

Her eyelashes fluttered, her eyes full of shy affection.

Jackie Barrett said generously, "Declan, this is your Uncle Hayes’s daughter, Riley. You went to kindergarten together."

"Riley, this is your Declan and sister-in-law."

The expression on Hailey’s face froze for a moment.

She looked at Poppy Hale with some uncertainty.

Her gaze swept back and forth several times.

As if trying to discern with her eyes what extraordinary qualities Poppy Hale might possess.

She was indeed very beautiful, but there were many beautiful women in the world.

Hailey suppressed her doubts and greeted warmly, "Sister-in-law, where is your family from? You see, I just returned to the country and don’t recognize anyone."

Poppy Hale smiled.

"The family does a little business."

Jackie Barrett pulled Hailey, abruptly cutting off her line of questioning.

"Riley, how has your mom been these days? Last time I saw her, she didn’t look too well."

"Thank you, Aunt Barrett, for your concern. My mom is doing okay."

Hailey wanted to ask more questions, but Jackie Barrett had already led her into the old mansion.

The remaining questions were all suppressed.

Turning back, she just happened to see Declan Hawthorne talking to Poppy Hale.

Declan Hawthorne reached out to hold Poppy Hale’s waist and whispered, "The air conditioner is set high inside, do you want to take off your coat?"

"No, let’s talk about it inside."

Poppy Hale was wearing a thin cashmere coat, with a fitted cheongsam underneath.

The coat revealed a hint of the cheongsam hem, swaying beautifully as she walked, elegant and appropriate.

This attire seemed appropriate and not warm, as she just went from the door to the car, with no need for additional warmth on the road.

Declan Hawthorne wore a black cashmere undershirt and suit jacket, handed the coat to the servant, and wrapped his arm around Poppy Hale to approach Old Master Hawthorne.

Today’s birthday star, surrounded by stars.

Old Master Hawthorne had been eyeing the entrance, and when he saw Declan Hawthorne arrive, though he said nothing, his gaze never left them.

Hugo Hawthorne and Jackie Barrett went to greet him, but the old master merely acknowledged them with a lukewarm "hmm".

"Once you’re back, sit down yourself. You come back home and act like a guest?"

Hugo Hawthorne nodded, "You’re right."

The old master glanced sideways and saw Declan Hawthorne leading a woman over, leaning closer in.

The old master snorted through his nostrils.

Declan Hawthorne spoke, "Grandfather, happy birthday. May you have prosperity as boundless as the East Sea, and longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountain."

Poppy Hale stood beside him, without speaking.

That face was indeed pretty, and her gaze was also clean.

Just like a mute, not knowing how to speak up and greet people, only knowing how to smile.

Old Master Hawthorne acknowledged with a hum and locked eyes with Poppy Hale.

"Are you the wife Declan found?"

"Yes, it’s me, Master Hawthorne. Hello."

Her attitude was neither arrogant nor self-abasing, with no intention to curry favor with the old master.

Yet she also didn’t call him "grandfather".

Old Master Hawthorne looked at Declan Hawthorne, a displeasure clouding his murky eyes.

"Is this what you taught her? Now that she’s with you, she doesn’t even know how to speak or address people!"

After all, she had registered for marriage with Declan Hawthorne, a legitimate couple.

Even if Old Master Hawthorne was displeased, he shouldn’t dishonor him like this.

Poppy Hale stayed silent, smilingly looking at Old Master Hawthorne.

Declan Hawthorne calmly stated, "Since you don’t offer conversion money, calling you Old Master is already a sign of respect."

Old Master Hawthorne widened his eyes.

Conversion money? How dare he wait for him to offer conversion money!

Turning to Hugo Hawthorne, he asked, "Is this what you taught your son?"

Hugo Hawthorne quickly soothed the old master, his words deftly shifting responsibility, "How could that be? Declan was brought up by you. These temperaments of his, he learned them all from you."

"You..."

Before Old Master Hawthorne could make trouble, Hugo Hawthorne pulled out a red envelope from his bag and handed it to Poppy Hale.

"Here, from your grandfather."

Poppy Hale accepted it, "Thank you, grandfather."

The anger in Old Master Hawthorne’s heart dissipated quite a bit, and he didn’t respond to the addressing as "grandfather".

Hugo Hawthorne winked at Poppy Hale, indicating that the old master had this kind of stubborn personality.

Old Master Hawthorne looked at Poppy Hale, internally filled with countless dislikes, yet did not express them.

It was his birthday, and he couldn’t allow outsiders to make a joke out of it.

Initially, Old Master Hawthorne did intend to give her a hard time.

But after seeing her in person, he realized Poppy Hale really harbored no malicious intent.

One could tell just by looking into her eyes.

What’s more, in terms of deep affection, his grandson Declan Hawthorne might value her more.

His gaze hadn’t left Poppy Hale.

Old Master Hawthorne cursed silently, feeling a bit unworthy.

The butler bent over to inquire, "Master, the banquet is ready."

"Hmm, let’s go. Declan, take your wife around to meet people."

Declan Hawthorne had brought her, sincerely intending to publicly disclose his woman in the elite circles.

Declan Hawthorne nodded, "Alright."

Leading her away, without stopping.

Hugo Hawthorne stood by, offering a smile, "I thought you didn’t like Poppy."

"I don’t like her. Looks too clean, no family background. Declan gains nothing from this marriage!"

Hugo Hawthorne chuckled, pointing above, "If you could get in touch with the daughter of that person, there’d indeed be benefits. But you couldn’t contact them, could you?"

Bluntly speaking, why didn’t you introduce Declan to the president’s daughter?

Perhaps lacking the ability or the connections.

Old Master Hawthorne chuckled, turned around intending to thump Hugo Hawthorne with his cane, but held back, seeing his cheeky smile.

"Leaving aside my dislikes, with so many people here today, I couldn’t make Declan lose face! Even if they separate later, it’s their own business. It’s a private family matter of the Hawthorne Family, not something to laugh at in public!"

Hugo Hawthorne and Declan Hawthorne had pinned down this point from the start.

Knowing the old master valued face greatly.

Publicly, Hugo Hawthorne flattered him.

"Dad, you’re as considerate as always. As the saying goes, an old man at home is like a treasure. Our family truly hit the jackpot."

Jackie Barrett had long gone off to chat with familiar old friends.

Otherwise, upon hearing this, she might’ve been unable to refrain from rolling her eyes.

Old Master Hawthorne liked hearing this.

Declan Hawthorne held Poppy Hale as they greeted the rounds.

Hailey followed along, intending to inquire about Poppy Hale’s family background, but Elder Chambers and Elder Silver, flanking her, interrupted her questions.

"Young Hale, why didn’t you bring your child?"

Poppy Hale politely replied, "Florence had a school event today, so she didn’t come along."

"Did you take the medicine prescription? How is it?"

"I did, and Florence wants to thank Elder Chambers."

Elder Chambers beamed, his face filled with laughter lines.

"Your daughter is really well-raised."

Hailey’s eyebrow twitched.

She had liked Declan Hawthorne for many years.

Before, even the Hayes Family didn’t favor Declan Hawthorne, considering so many Hawthorne children, it was uncertain who would rise to prominence.

Hailey was different.

She had liked Declan Hawthorne since middle school.

Confident that he would have his day.

But her family didn’t allow it, so she could only wait.

She never expected that upon her return from abroad, Declan Hawthorne was already married.

And to a woman of mere looks, without background, even with a child!