CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 97: EVEN IF IT’S NOT MINE, I’LL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

Poppy Hale stood up with Florence Lynch to say their goodbyes.

Florence had been glued to Mrs. Hawthorne these past two days, delightedly so.

Seeing that Florence was about to leave, Mrs. Hawthorne was filled with reluctance.

Her hair wasn’t completely gray yet, speckled with white, and meticulously combed.

She usually wore a pearl necklace, dressing with elegance and grace.

At the moment, her hair was adorned with colorful little butterfly clips.

Her arms were also covered with children’s stickers.

It wasn’t just Mrs. Hawthorne; Mr. Hawthorne wasn’t spared either.

It looked somewhat comical.

They both indulged Florence, letting her do as she pleased.

Looking at Poppy Hale, Mrs. Hawthorne blinked and pouted her lips, "Florence, when will you come back to see Grandma?"

Florence climbed down from Poppy Hale.

She threw herself onto Mrs. Hawthorne’s knees, patting her face with her little hand.

"Grandma Big Bear, you can come with Grandma Little Bear to find me and play!"

Mrs. Hawthorne’s last name is Bear, and to distinguish her from Ms. Valerie Barrett, who stayed with her, Florence called her Grandma Big Bear and the other one Grandma Little Bear.

This was something the two children had agreed upon.

Originally, Iris Quill suggested they could follow him and call them Aunt Grandma and Grandma.

Florence insisted she already had a Grandma and couldn’t randomly call someone else’s grandma.

Iris then decided that since they both had the last name Bear, they’d call them Big Bear and Little Bear.

Watching Mr. Hawthorne with his bald hairstyle, Heather Underwood stifled her laughter.

If they continued calling them that, the Hawthorne Family would have to change their name to Bear Ridge.

After much persuasion, the two children finally changed the names.

Mrs. Hawthorne promised Florence she would come visit her.

Then she looked toward Poppy Hale.

"I hope it’s not too much trouble?"

Poppy Hale shook her head.

Mrs. Hawthorne’s fondness for Florence was something she hadn’t expected.

Blood ties, indeed, are quite remarkable.

Florence also liked being close to Mrs. Hawthorne.

Poppy Hale carried Florence out of the Hawthorne home, declining Heather Underwood’s offer to give them a ride, "I’ve called for a car, it’s waiting at the door, see you next time."

Watching Poppy Hale’s graceful figure disappear from the Hawthorne home.

Heather Underwood went into the bathroom and packed away the toothbrush Florence had used over the last few days, as well as a towel with some hair on it, into a sealed bag.

Outside, Mrs. Hawthorne’s voice sounded.

"Declan, why are you back now? If you’d arrived earlier, you could have sent Florence and her mother off."

The man paused for a moment, "They’ve left?"

"They have! They took a car."

Declan Hawthorne responded, continuing to change his shoes.

Mrs. Hawthorne asked a few more questions, and as Declan Hawthorne seemed about to go upstairs to his study.

Heather Underwood stood at the bathroom door, gesturing with a hand, "Declan, come over here."

Walking to the bathroom, Heather Underwood handed the sealed bag to Declan Hawthorne.

Seeing the man’s brow furrow, Heather Underwood spoke unkindly, "Don’t tell me you can’t see how much Florence looks like your aunt."

"After breaking up with you, Poppy quickly gave birth to a child who looks just like your aunt, and you don’t suspect at all? I really wonder if you’re a jerk."

Without further ado, Heather Underwood stuffed the sealed bag directly into Declan Hawthorne’s arms.

"If I were a man, under such circumstances, I would definitely get it tested."

Declan Hawthorne’s fingers clutched the sealed bag, gripping it so hard that his knuckles turned white.

"Get it tested, and then what?"

Heather Underwood widened her eyes.

In disbelief, "What the heck? Declan, are you really planning to be a jerk? If she’s your child, you still don’t plan to take responsibility?"

She hadn’t seen it before, but Declan Hawthorne turned out to be this kind of person?

It’s just a child, and the Hawthorne Family certainly can afford to raise one.

It’s not so bad that they would simply deny it.

Mrs. Hawthorne didn’t know Poppy Hale and Declan Hawthorne had a past.

She hadn’t thought in that direction at all.

If she knew, she’d probably be rushing to take the child for a DNA test now, without delay.

Declan Hawthorne held the sealed bag, leaning against the door frame, with a lighter in his hand.

At home, he never smoked.

"Even if she’s not mine, I still plan to take responsibility."

The matter of the child, he had suspected.

He just hadn’t received a clear response from his investigation yet.

Heather Underwood was taken aback.

"Then what are you..."

Declan Hawthorne clicked the lighter.

The flame flared up and down, illuminating his expression.

He didn’t care whose child Florence was.

He wanted to know one answer.

After their breakup, had she loved someone else?

Last night, he really didn’t remember everything he said, but he clearly remembered what he did.

She was the one who had lit the fire, yet after it was over, she left directly, showing no sentiment whatsoever.

As if Declan Hawthorne was just someone she called upon in a moment of loneliness, a mere one-night stand.

Afterward, not even a word needed to be said.

Declan wondered, did he really have no pride?

His tone carried a bit more impatience.

"She doesn’t want me to take responsibility. How can I? Am I supposed to snatch her child away?"

Heather Underwood was speechless.

Honestly, if her ex-husband tried to take Iris away from her, she’d fight to the end.

"That’s different. If Florence is really your child, at the very least you should provide child support, right?"

Heather Underwood was aware that Poppy Hale and her daughter lived in some difficulty.

But if she were a Hawthorne child, her quality of life and educational resources would be different.

Surely, Poppy Hale wouldn’t turn all that down?

Declan Hawthorne looked down at Heather Underwood.

"Even if she’s not my child, I’ll care for her."

The important thing wasn’t whether Florence was his child or not.

But if she was.

That might become a bargaining chip, something to make her look back at him once more.

Declan Hawthorne recognized within himself, this wish that could be described as pitiful.

Clutching the sealed bag tightly, he took long strides upstairs.

Without turning back, he waved the sealed bag in Heather Underwood’s direction.

"I’ll take care of this. You don’t need to worry about anything else."

-

Mrs. Hale had been hospitalized for half a month and was recovering well.

Watching Poppy Hale peeling an apple beside her, "Poppy, your father’s memorial day is coming up, isn’t it? Remember to visit him."

Mrs. Hale also wanted to go, but her health wasn’t suitable for traveling, and she knew Poppy wouldn’t agree.

"Remember to bring some food for Hannah too, did you get the teething treats she likes?"

Mrs. Hale was concerned about Mr. Hale and Hannah Lynch.

They were all part of the family and shouldn’t be forgotten.

Poppy Hale responded with several affirmations.

The hospital room filled up with a few unexpected guests.

Eugene Lynch and his wife Diane Dixon entered with fruit in hand.

"Truth, you didn’t let us know you were ill, I only found out because Sean told me."

Sean Lynch followed behind.

He rubbed his nose, glancing sheepishly at Poppy Hale.

Wanting to visit Mrs. Hale, he had inadvertently let it slip while ordering fruit, and Eugene Lynch and Diane Dixon insisted on coming along too.

Poppy Hale’s expression visibly turned colder.

Mrs. Hale, however, had a gentle demeanor.

Thinking that, after all, they were family.

"Big Brother, Sister-in-law, please have a seat."

Eugene Lynch put down the fruit and asked some questions.

Questions like whether the surgery was successful and if the medical expenses were sufficient.

Upon mentioning the surgery costs, Eugene Lynch’s surprise was barely concealed.

"How did you manage to get so much money? Did you sell Mom’s house to cover the medical expenses?"

The little smile on Mrs. Hale’s face faded.

Eugene Lynch’s visit was indeed about that old townhouse in the city center.

Truthfully, neither Mrs. Hale nor Poppy Hale planned to sell that house.

It’s better to keep it, whether for future government acquisition or otherwise, the house carried years of Lynch Family memories and shouldn’t be sold lightly.

Eugene Lynch didn’t believe any of this.

His visit this time was to persuade Mrs. Hale to agree to sell the house.

And then divide most of the money from the sale with them.