CHAPTER 209: CHAPTER 209: REPUTATION, NOT WORTH MENTIONING

If it weren’t for the cramped driver’s seat.

Declan Hawthorne’s foot would have already kicked over.

What does it mean to accompany him to pick up his wife?

Any discerning person could see that Allen Shaw had ulterior motives.

The lights in the Hale Group’s office building were out.

It had also snowed in Arvum. Overnight, it piled up, and several cleaning ladies from the company were rubbing their hands while salting the road.

If the road freezes, delivery trucks will have a hard time getting in.

Downstairs, under the streetlamp, the snowflakes fell like petals, swirling down.

At a glance, you could see Poppy Hale standing under the lamp.

Even if she wasn’t standing there, she was still dazzling.

Today she wore a loose pink sweater and a pair of gray knitted pants, not knowing to put on a down jacket before coming downstairs, standing there talking while getting dressed.

The cold wind blew right in.

Declan Hawthorne stared at Poppy Hale’s neck, red from the cold, and ignoring whatever Allen Shaw was saying, he opened the car door and got out.

He strode up to her and zipped her coat to the top, even putting her hood on in one swift motion.

Poppy Hale was a bit surprised to see him.

In fact, Declan Hawthorne had been quite busy these days as well.

They hadn’t seen each other for days, each being engrossed in their work.

This feeling was actually quite nice.

"I have some things to arrange, wait for me here."

Poppy Hale turned back to coordinate with the warehouse about the night shift.

This shipment was expensive, and any loss would be unacceptable; nearly all of their personal assets were tied up in it.

Victor Walden came out from the security booth, "Don’t worry, President Hale, I won’t be going home tonight, I’ll keep watch here."

"Will your mother be alright being home alone?"

Victor Walden was taken aback.

He didn’t expect Poppy Hale to not criticize his work or mention the time he nearly harmed her.

Instead, she was concerned about his mother being alone at home.

"It’s alright. My mom is happy knowing I’m here to help."

"Okay, I’ll be here early in the morning, don’t freeze yourselves."

"Eh, alright then."

Victor Walden watched Poppy Hale walk into the snowstorm, holding hands with a tall man.

The man held her hand up in front of him and blew on it to warm her up.

Victor Walden had a somber expression, with droopy eyes and a scar on his face, making him seem hard to get along with.

He only glanced at Poppy Hale and then sensibly withdrew his gaze, returning to the security booth.

After getting back in the car.

Allen Shaw had already moved to the back seat.

"Mrs. Hawthorne, are you all off work?"

Poppy Hale noticed his gaze still fixed on the office building, showing no signs of moving.

She chuckled.

"Serena Sutton went to Sterling; customs there seized a batch of our goods. Justin went to the Southwest; who are you looking for?"

Allen Shaw gave a knowing "Oh," and said, "Oh, Sterling, she’d have to switch SIM cards, that’s why her phone was off."

Poppy Hale suddenly spoke up.

"Serena is going to Sterling for a blind date, taking advantage of this trip."

Allen Shaw’s pupils widened instantly.

"A blind date! What is she doing going to Sterling for a blind date?"

"I don’t know."

Poppy Hale only learned from Serena Sutton about her schedule in Sterling because of a conversation; she wasn’t one to pry.

But seeing Allen Shaw’s eager expression, she mentioned it.

What happens after has nothing to do with her.

Allen Shaw remained silent, sitting in the back seat, wiping his face with his hand.

He seemed a bit dejected.

Poppy Hale could somewhat understand.

People like him, just like Declan Hawthorne, had been surrounded by good things since childhood and were used to being loved.

There seemed to be few things beyond their control.

Allen Shaw spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse, "Declan, if you encountered such a thing, what would you do?"

Declan Hawthorne remained expressionless.

He glanced sideways at Poppy Hale beside him.

As if remembering the time Poppy Hale was about to go on a blind date with another man.

"I said, if you’re going on a blind date, why not with me? Since it’s a blind date, I had my mother step in for a little chat."

Poppy Hale couldn’t help but laugh.

"You have the nerve to talk."

At that time, she was terribly awkward.

Always feeling out of place; Declan Hawthorne was peculiar, too.

Allen Shaw was shocked.

He didn’t expect Declan Hawthorne to be so shameless in pursuing someone!

He couldn’t help but ask.

"Aren’t you afraid you’ll regret being so shameless?"

Declan Hawthorne showed no shame, calmly answering, "Face is the least significant thing."

"I only regret being too concerned about face in the past."

Otherwise, he might have had the chance to witness his daughter being conceived and born.

He could have had the opportunity to be by Poppy Hale’s side as a family member, accompanying her through her toughest times.

Also, he might have had the chance to express all his feelings from back then.

He could still say it now, but the circumstances have changed; his mindset is different.

At the intersection, the car stopped, and Declan Hawthorne coldly said, "Get out, your house is here."

Allen Shaw lingered, "How about you drive me to the airport?"

Declan Hawthorne turned to look at him as if looking at a lunatic.

"Do you have your ID and Sterling travel permit with you?"

The car fell into silence.

The ticket was just purchased for the next available flight.

The ID card was indeed in the wallet, but the Sterling travel permit wasn’t.

If not for Declan Hawthorne’s reminder, he would’ve found out his documents weren’t complete only after reaching the airport.

Allen Shaw quickly opened the car door and re-entered the snowstorm without looking back.

Poppy Hale laughed and said, "Do you want to set them up?"

"Six himself has the idea, plus I was the one who let him get close to Serena Sutton; there should be a proper conclusion."

Declan Hawthorne started talking about high school events.

Poppy Hale found it interesting.

She asked, "Which high school did you attend?"

"Arvum University’s High School."

Poppy Hale said "Oh," and sighed, "I went to Narin. If I had known, I would have gone to your high school; if we had met in high school, maybe we would have started dating then!"

Narin is a well-known international school in Arvum, expensive in tuition but the academic pressure isn’t as high, most students attend in preparation to go abroad.

Declan Hawthorne asked, "Why didn’t you go abroad?"

Poppy Hale aimed at his heart.

"I did, didn’t I leave after we broke up?"

Declan Hawthorne’s lips pressed together.

Every time that period came up, his mood darkened.

Like a balloon being deflated.

Poppy Hale found it amusing, restraining her laughter she said, "Originally, I was going to take the IELTS and go directly abroad, but my dad didn’t expect I’d get into Arvum University; of course I went, it’s close enough to come home every week."

"If you got into Arvum University, you should’ve also gotten into the high school."

Poppy Hale nodded, "I did, but my dad heard the high school’s lunches were terrible, just boxed meals, so he didn’t want me to go. So I went to Narin."

Declan Hawthorne smirked.

"I wouldn’t want you at that high school either."

"Huh? Why wouldn’t you? You didn’t want to start dating in high school?"

Declan Hawthorne glanced at her, parked the car, and got out to go home.

Only upon reaching the front door did he slowly speak.

"You were just turning legal in your first year of college."

Poppy Hale started school at an early age, half a year younger than her classmates.

Declan Hawthorne was almost a year older than her.

He became an adult in his senior year, while Poppy Hale only turned eighteen after her first year of college.

If Poppy Hale had entered his life earlier, he would have surely been drawn to her.

And he definitely would have wanted to have all of her as soon as possible.