CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 96: MET A HEARTBREAKER

The past fragments always replay in Poppy Hale’s dreams.

She often thought she had completely let go.

But when she hears him say "I like you" in her ear, her heart can’t help but feel a pang of bitterness.

Her eyes well up, and large tears fall from her eyes.

She used to be a carefree little princess.

She would chase whatever she liked without any concerns, caring for nothing else.

Being with Declan Hawthorne was the same way.

All she wanted was merely a word of affection from Declan Hawthorne.

If she had heard him say those words a few years ago, she would have been overjoyed and at a loss for what to do.

But now, it’s not a few years ago.

She is no longer the old Poppy Hale.

Her father is gone, and so is her grandmother.

Poppy Hale once thought her life would remain unchanged forever.

She even had plans to marry Declan Hawthorne after graduation.

She thought her father would surely not disagree, as Declan Hawthorne was so hardworking and outstanding.

Even though his family wasn’t well-off, her father wouldn’t disdain her choice.

But everything changed.

It all started on his birthday.

The world seemed to turn upside down, overturning all of Poppy Hale’s past cognitions into the dirt.

Her father was also ill, diagnosed with a terminal disease.

It was found long ago, but her parents were constantly seeking doctors and never told Poppy Hale.

When Poppy Hale closed her eyes, she would think back to Declan Hawthorne’s birthday.

Mr. Hale personally cooked a meal at home and asked her if she wanted to stay and have dinner with him.

She refused.

She went to attend Declan Hawthorne’s birthday party and heard him say that they would break up sooner or later.

When she returned home, her father was no longer there; he had been sent to the ICU.

Poppy Hale rushed to the hospital, only to find out her father had been ill for a long time and the company was going bankrupt.

When she got back home, the meal had already gone cold.

She cried and ate a few bites, sobbing uncontrollably at the dining table.

How could she forgive herself?

She couldn’t forgive.

Perhaps what happened that day had nothing to do with Declan Hawthorne; it was just that all her innocence held in a jar was shattered, and the candies her parents put inside turned sour.

From that day on, Poppy Hale grew up.

But whenever she thought of her father, she couldn’t stop her tears.

She remembered that afternoon when her father said to her, "Remember to come home for dinner, baby."

She came home, but the one who didn’t come home was her father.

Whenever she closed her eyes, it was like watching her father’s illness unfold in a flash.

Wasting away, unable to eat, yet he held on till her birthday to have one last meal with her.

That meal was mixed with countless of Poppy Hale’s tears.

Noticing she was crying, Declan Hawthorne leaned in to kiss her face, wet tears sticking to her face, and strands of hair stuck there too.

Declan Hawthorne’s kiss moved from her eyes to the corner of her lips and finally covered her mouth.

This kiss was mixed with a lot of salty liquid.

Declan Hawthorne let go of her, "Don’t cry."

Why were there so many tears?

It was like a faucet that couldn’t be turned off.

Declan Hawthorne was a bit flustered.

He worried if he had said something wrong.

Poppy Hale wiped the tears from her face.

When she looked up, Declan Hawthorne was staring at her, with deep, tender eyes mixed with a kind of softness she had never seen before.

He could look at her with such eyes too.

Perhaps it was because he drank too much tonight.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have said those words, let alone console her.

Drunk men, compared to when they’re sober, seem more human.

Poppy Hale slightly raised her head and kissed Declan Hawthorne’s Adam’s apple.

"I want to go back to my room."

After kissing, she felt a bit regretful.

In this atmosphere, she did something dangerous.

In the past, whenever she kissed Declan Hawthorne’s ear and Adam’s apple in bed, he would become more passionate, insisting that Poppy Hale endure more.

Sure enough, the kiss that followed was even more intense than before, completely overwhelming Poppy Hale.

Poppy Hale thought perhaps she was intoxicated by the smell of alcohol from him.

Or perhaps, she wanted to yield to him once.

After this time, he wouldn’t entangle her anymore.

Men are always creatures who discard things once they obtain them.

Poppy Hale heard her own voice, and Declan Hawthorne heard it too.

Like a wild beast given permission, those kisses came one after another, making Poppy Hale feel suffocated.

The drawer was opened.

The hotel was well-prepared, with several sizes available, and the man’s fingers held a plastic box.

In a low voice, he asked her.

"Strawberry flavor, is that okay?"

The size that fit him didn’t come in her preferred flavor.

Her favorite flavor was in a larger size, which was uncomfortable for him.

Poppy Hale turned her head and mumbled an acknowledgment.

At this moment, she had no mind to answer such questions.

Anything would do, even if it wasn’t used; she was fine with it.

When she gave birth to Florence, the child was premature, and her own health was poor. The doctor said it would be difficult to have another pregnancy.

Coincidentally, Poppy Hale didn’t want to have more children.

Having Florence was already enough for her.

She hadn’t told Declan Hawthorne these things.

At times like this, Declan Hawthorne had always been patient; if Poppy Hale showed even slight discomfort, he would stop.

Waiting for her to fully adapt to him.

Poppy Hale bit her lip, "Aren’t you sick?"

"It doesn’t affect anything."

Poppy Hale had nothing more to say.

Indeed.

Recently, he had been pestering her, merely for such things.

Of course, nothing would affect him.

The man’s hand rested on Poppy Hale’s lower abdomen.

There was a red, shallow scar.

Left from giving birth, now healed, leaving only a faint scar.

Outside, the bright moon shifted, and sunlight peeked through the gaps in the blackout curtains, only then did the activity inside cease.

Poppy Hale got up to dress.

Looking at the things on the floor made her face flush red.

Hearing the movement, Declan Hawthorne sat up and hugged her from behind.

His tone was one of satisfaction.

"Where are you going?"

"To the branch office, the person in charge said we could have a meeting today."

In the evening, she could finish work early, return to Arvum, and pick up Florence to bring her home.

Declan Hawthorne embraced her and chuckled.

"I, as the boss, am not even as enthusiastic as you. Sleep a bit more, let me tell the people at the branch to wait."

When he spoke, he was more persuasive than anyone.

Poppy Hale endured the ache in her waist and abdomen.

"No need, I want to go home early."

She pushed his hands away, got dressed, and left.

She didn’t give Declan Hawthorne an extra glance.

It was as if what happened last night was just Declan Hawthorne’s drunken, absurd dream.

Watching her leave without a backward glance.

Declan Hawthorne felt a bit of a toothache.

Why did it feel like he was the one caught by a heartbreaker?

The one left behind after being slept with was him.

-

Arvum.

After finishing work early, Poppy Hale returned to pick up the child at the Hawthorne Family.

When Florence Lynch saw Poppy Hale come in, she ran over and jumped into Poppy Hale’s arms.

"Mommy! I missed you so much!"

"Mommy missed you too."

Upon entering, Heather Underwood glanced behind Poppy Hale.

"Hey, didn’t Declan also go to Cinderfall on a business trip? Didn’t you two run into each other?"

Poppy Hale shook her head, "No."

Heather Underwood secretly cursed Declan Hawthorne for his incompetence.

Going on a business trip together, and they didn’t even see each other?

Staying behind, Heather Underwood let Poppy Hale and Florence Lynch have a meal, and she sent Declan Hawthorne several messages, yet received no reply.

What the heck is this kid up to?

If he doesn’t return soon, she won’t be able to keep them here!