CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 79: IT WOULDN’T HURT FOR THE CHILD TO HAVE THE HUO SURNAME

This matter had long been cast aside by Poppy Hale.

Sean Lynch saw Poppy Hale and thought she had come specifically to attend the wedding.

His face was full of smiles, eyebrows lifted with joy.

"Poppy, you came without saying a word. I would have arranged for someone to pick you up. Come on, let’s go upstairs."

The wedding venue was in the upstairs banquet hall.

The Lynch Family had booked an entire floor.

Stella Hollis had no family in Arvum and no property, so she arranged to be next door at the hotel, saving the effort of fetching the bride.

At this moment, the bride had just been brought over.

Stella wore a white gown, strapless style, mermaid skirt, slender and charming.

The hem of the skirt was being held by Sean Lynch.

Through a thin veil, Stella originally did not see Poppy Hale.

Even if she had seen her, she wouldn’t have recognized her.

At that time, it was the enthusiastic Eldest Miss Hale, who said on the first day of entering the dormitory that it was her first time staying at a dorm and she was afraid of not getting along with her roommates.

She gave everyone a gift.

It was a bottle of designer perfume that Stella had never seen before.

Stella had just been admitted from the countryside, all her luggage packed in a bag labeled with "urea."

Uneasy and anxious, starkly different from Poppy Hale.

I heard the Hale Family went bankrupt.

Stella had always wanted to see Poppy Hale.

She had pent-up feelings inside.

Wanting to see if the once high-and-mighty Eldest Miss Hale, cast down from her pedestal, was still the same as before.

It was a relative from Stella’s side who bumped into Poppy Hale.

Also the flower child that Stella’s parents insisted on arranging, knew nothing and only ran wildly in the hotel.

The child bumped into Poppy Hale and, remembering what the family taught him, reached out for money.

"Give me a red envelope, you must give me a big red envelope!"

Sean Lynch hurriedly pulled the child over.

No flower child ever asks the groom’s family for a red envelope.

Who would have thought the child would be unhappy about being pulled away and sat on the ground wailing loudly.

Insisting that Poppy Hale give him a red envelope.

Declan Hawthorne held Poppy Hale, not having turned around first, now swept a cold gaze and spoke with an innate authority.

"Who taught you to ask people for money the moment you see them?"

Declan Hawthorne looked fierce when not smiling, plus his naturally high brow made his eyes shadowed when looking down.

Like those fierce deity sculptures gazing down in temples.

The child was startled, and his crying abruptly stopped, instinctively saying: "My parents taught me, saying that all the guests at my sister’s wedding are rich and they should give me lots of red envelopes."

As soon as he finished speaking.

The surrounding Lynch Family glanced at Stella’s family with a hint of disdain.

How could a family teach a child like this?

Sean Lynch attempted to smooth things over.

"Leo, go to your parents. Sorry about this, Poppy, this is Stella’s brother, Leo Hollis, he bumped into you, let me apologize on his behalf. You and your... friend? Come up for a meal."

Declan Hawthorne’s hand still rested on Poppy Hale’s waist.

The watch he wore and the ring he was fiddling with like art pieces were both very valuable.

Sean didn’t know the ring but recognized the watch.

A Patek Philippe Nautilus.

In the million-range.

Seeing his intimate gestures with Poppy Hale and chastising the child on her behalf.

Sean couldn’t help but be puzzled.

All those people the Hale Family used to associate with scattered after their bankruptcy, now strangers.

Where did Poppy Hale meet someone so wealthy?

Declan Hawthorne’s demeanor was undeniably extraordinary at first glance.

Stella widened her eyes upon seeing his face.

"Declan Hawthorne?"

Sean turned, "Stella, you know him?"

Stella wore an awkward and stiff smile, "Yes, yes, we were classmates."

Sean suddenly understood.

"So you were all classmates, then perhaps this gentleman should also join us upstairs?"

Declan Hawthorne’s gaze swept over the newlyweds, and as he passed by Stella, she appeared somewhat nervous.

His gaze did not linger.

"No, Poppy and I have some things to tend to, we’re just passing by today."

Poppy Hale quietly let out a sigh of relief.

Whether there was business elsewhere or Declan Hawthorne sensed she didn’t want to stay long.

His refusal filled Poppy Hale with gratitude.

Stella bit her lower lip, feeling aggrieved, "Poppy, you came without telling me, and now you won’t come in even for a minute?"

"It was wrong for Leo to bump into you, but you are, after all, the aunt of the child in my womb; not giving a red envelope seems amiss."

Implying her brother did no wrong.

Poppy Hale looked at Stella.

The bride today was elegant and graceful, her makeup flawless.

Poppy Hale had come from the office and ran over from the factory, bedraggled, without a touch of makeup.

In contrast, Poppy Hale curved her lips, letting out a small laugh.

"I don’t want to. As for cash gifts, our family’s rule is only for first marriages."

Last time Sean Lynch married, Mr. Hale had given an 88,000 red envelope.

This time, not a single penny.

Even if Mr. Hale were alive, knowing Stella bullied Poppy Hale, he wouldn’t attend this wedding.

Poppy Hale didn’t want to embarrass Sean.

"Sean, congratulations on your wedding. I have some work to handle, so I won’t be going up for dinner."

Stella’s face turned sour.

Today was her wedding day, and marrying Sean Lynch, yet Poppy Hale wouldn’t even show her a bit of face.

Those Lynch relatives, hearing about her and Poppy Hale’s friction, even criticized her.

Moreover.

Poppy Hale, in such a situation, was still entangled with Declan Hawthorne!

Why!

She, trying so hard to marry Sean Lynch, yet was being disliked by the Lynch Family.

How could someone like Poppy Hale, sly and dirty, attract Declan Hawthorne!

Staring at Declan Hawthorne, Stella’s voice sounded distant to her own ears—strange yet satisfying.

"Declan Hawthorne, Poppy Hale even has kids, and you’re with her? Her private life is a mess, she doesn’t even know whose child it is, no man would want her."

Poppy Hale’s face paled gradually.

Instinctively, she wanted to push away Declan Hawthorne beside her.

As she did, he pulled her hand, sliding his ring from his finger onto hers.

The ring he wore on his index finger was loose on her, cool to the touch.

The row of diamonds on it sparkled brightly under the light, each one outshining the lone diamond on Stella’s ring.

"If she’s willing, what’s wrong with the child taking the Hawthorne name?"

Stella, angry and jealous, was twisted.

"Are you crazy? Declan Hawthorne! Don’t let her deceive you!"

Her mind was occupied with Declan Hawthorne and Poppy Hale.

Completely ignoring the simmering changes in Sean Lynch’s expression.

Declan Hawthorne chuckled, "She’s willing to deceive me."

Any sensible person would understand the implicit second half of the sentence.

Why haven’t you seen her deceive anyone else?

Stella found it unbelievable.

Just as she was about to say more, Sean Lynch laughed, "So it’s brother-in-law! That ring of yours is very expensive, costs as much as my yearly salary does."

Originally a compliment, Sean could see Declan Hawthorne’s extraordinary wealth.

From the way he looked at Poppy Hale, any man would understand his interest, a very clear interest.

The man chuckled lightly, playing with Poppy Hale’s hand.

"In a year, you couldn’t afford it."