CHAPTER 26: CHAPTER 26: DO YOU KNOW YOUR HUSBAND IS CHEATING?

Poppy Hale’s emotions were in turmoil.

She forced a bitter smile and said, "Let’s see what the boss decides."

If Declan Hawthorne chose to side with Rachel Rivers,

she would lose this job.

Poppy Hale opened her phone, "I’ll send out a few resumes."

Amber Yates responded, "That’s not a bad idea. With your resume, you won’t have trouble finding another job."

Janine leaned in and said, "I’ll bet Poppy will be fine. President Hawthorne will definitely choose Poppy."

Amber Yates asked, "Why?"

Though Poppy Hale was highly capable,

what if President Hawthorne chose to protect the intern?

After all, she did keep calling him sweetly by his nickname, causing one to wonder.

Men, after all, can be swayed by such affection.

Poppy Hale was at a loss.

She had rushed out too quickly in the morning. Her mother had a headache, so she first went to the hospital to get medicine, then came back to take Florence Lynch to school before hurrying to work herself.

The entire morning she was busy, like a spinning top that wouldn’t stop.

It was only until just now that she remembered she hadn’t eaten.

Now she felt cold all over, her body breaking out in cold sweat, her palms going numb.

Just as she was thinking of finding something to nibble on, she saw Rachel Rivers crying as Morgan Sloan escorted her back.

Morgan Sloan glanced at Poppy Hale.

"Young Hale, come with me for a moment."

Following Morgan Sloan into the president’s office, the man was seated at the desk, twirling a fountain pen in his hand, head leaned on it as he watched the screen.

He had donned a new suit, deep blue base with crimson stripes, exuding an air of extravagance.

The tie must’ve been matched by someone; it bore a lively lily pattern, offering more elegance than plain colors or checks.

Declan Hawthorne didn’t lift his head, "Morgan, get out and close the door."

Morgan Sloan initially wanted to stay and say a few good words for Young Hale if necessary.

Now, he could only give Poppy Hale a look of "you’re on your own."

He turned, closed the door, and left quickly.

Declan Hawthorne finally raised his head.

Poppy Hale stood there, looking lonely, her figure slightly trembling, her face pale, without makeup, without lipstick, her lips also pale.

Did he really frighten her that much?

Declan Hawthorne mocked himself, "Do you think I’m going to eat you?"

Poppy Hale looked down at her shoes, "President Hawthorne, what do you need me for?"

And here it comes again.

That avoidant attitude once more.

"Come here. I can’t hear you from over there."

Declan Hawthorne tapped his desk with his knuckles, "Do you expect me to hand the document over to you?"

A document?

Did he plan to fire her?

Poppy Hale’s face turned even paler due to low blood sugar, her vision beginning to darken.

She walked around the desk to stand beside Declan Hawthorne.

Then her vision went black, and she felt herself falling to the ground.

Declan Hawthorne’s arm encircled her waist, and with a fluid motion, Poppy Hale collapsed onto his lap.

"You have low blood sugar?"

Poppy Hale, gritting her teeth, nodded.

When they were together, Poppy Hale had several times skipped meals to lose weight, cramming for finals week, resulting in bouts of low blood sugar.

At those times, Declan Hawthorne was always nearby.

He just knew she had this persistent problem.

Declan Hawthorne opened a drawer, found a box of chocolates he hadn’t yet given to Iris Quill, opened it, broke a piece, and placed it in Poppy Hale’s mouth.

"Open your mouth and swallow it."

The rich aroma of cocoa spread in her mouth, quickly alleviating her low blood sugar.

But Poppy Hale’s face visibly reddened.

She was allergic to high-concentration chocolate.

Seeing this, Declan Hawthorne fetched allergy medicine for Poppy Hale, bringing a glass of water to her lips, "Drink."

Poppy Hale was too weak.

So Declan Hawthorne took a sip of water and used the most straightforward method to feed it to her, helping her swallow the pill.

Her mouth was filled with the taste of chocolate and just a bit of dissolved pill coating.

Not unpleasant.

Declan Hawthorne’s hand lingered at Poppy Hale’s waist, unable to resist rubbing it slightly.

Poppy Hale, snapping back to her senses, tried to get off Declan Hawthorne’s lap, struggling in vain. She softly said, "President Hawthorne..."

Her voice, like a cat’s meow, held no threat.

Declan Hawthorne remarked disdainfully, "Why are you so troublesome?"

Claustrophobia, low blood sugar, even an allergy to chocolate, they were all minor ailments.

But any of them could be life-threatening if they worsened.

Was that man usually the one looking after her?

Quickly getting off Declan Hawthorne, Poppy Hale mumbled, "I’ll be careful... What did you need me for?"

"What do you think about Rachel Rivers’ situation?"

Poppy Hale met Declan Hawthorne’s calm gaze.

Forcing herself to remain composed.

In a businesslike tone, with a cool voice, she said, "Rachel Rivers does not meet our company’s standards for interns."

"I understand your stance. You may leave."

Just like that?

He called her in just to ask that single question?

Poppy Hale couldn’t help but softly say, "You could’ve asked me this via Telegram or sent a WeChat message."

No need to waste his time.

After all, Declan Hawthorne probably didn’t really want to see her.

Declan Hawthorne suddenly asked, "Do you know about your husband’s affair?"

Poppy Hale didn’t know.

Her husband?

Was Declan Hawthorne talking about Sean Lynch?

Once, Sean Lynch and Poppy Hale were out with Florence Lynch, and they ran into colleagues from another department, who happened to be the client for one of Sean Lynch’s projects. When they asked about Florence’s surname, they assumed Sean Lynch was Poppy Hale’s husband.

Later, Sean Lynch and Poppy Hale discussed and decided not to clarify the misunderstanding.

Poppy Hale realized that Declan Hawthorne must have seen Sean Lynch with Stella Hollis.

Seeing Poppy Hale’s lack of a reaction, Declan Hawthorne surmised she knew.

Knew and chose to tolerate it?

The previously suppressed anger in Declan Hawthorne reignited, and his gaze toward Poppy Hale was filled with hostility.

"Your husband’s mistress is your college roommate."

Stella Hollis, no wonder, she seemed somewhat familiar to Declan Hawthorne.

It was because of that time Stella Hollis falsely accused Poppy Hale of bullying others, and when Declan Hawthorne went to pick up Poppy Hale, he saw the crying girl at the administration office.

Seeing Declan Hawthorne look over, Stella Hollis raised her tearful eyes to him, looking pitifully aggrieved.

As if she’d suffered greatly.

Declan Hawthorne wasn’t buying it.

Poppy Hale moved her lips slightly.

With Declan Hawthorne watching her, after a moment, she sighed and said, "If he cheats, let him cheat. President Hawthorne, it’s fine, I’ll just leave now."

Her attitude of indifference.

Thoroughly angered Declan Hawthorne.

He grabbed Poppy Hale’s wrist, trapping her again in his firm embrace, looking intently at the woman before him, speaking each word slowly, "Poppy Hale, do you not care at all?"

Poppy Hale was unsure of what Declan Hawthorne meant.

But being looked at in that manner by him,

even though it was an inappropriate setting, his embrace was as familiar as ever.

Unable to hold back, tears fell from her eyes, though she stubbornly bit her lip, meeting Declan Hawthorne’s gaze.

"Then President Hawthorne, what do you want me to do? My child is still very young, and I... love my husband dearly, for my child’s sake, I can endure."

"Let’s forget the past, shall we? I just want to live a good life."

Declan Hawthorne, with a grim face, looked at her with a complex expression.

He recalled Allen Shaw’s words.

Simultaneously, he removed his glasses and placed them aside with a cold scoff.

Grinding his teeth, he muttered, "Forget?"

Wishful thinking.