In the afternoon.
Declan Hawthorne called, wanting to pick up Poppy Hale for an interview at the affiliated elentary school.
Mia Quinn had an appointnt with a master jeweler, and since Poppy was busy taking people to et the master, she asked Declan to pick up Florence Lynch from school himself.
At the sa ti, Heather Underwood was also picking up Iris Quill to go together.
Last ti, when they planned to take Iris Quill to change her na, they found out that having a divorce certificate wasn’t enough; the child’s father had to also sign and agree for the na change.
Heather was too lazy to contact him.
She decided it might be easier to wait until Iris turned eighteen to change it herself.
There were many parents and children coming for interviews at the affiliated elentary school. When they got their number called, Declan was a bit nervous.
He carried Florence in, placing her on a chair.
Iris and Heather also went in, both groups being interviewed together.
As soon as they entered, Iris acted like a noodle, leaning onto Heather.
Heather put on a stern face, "Look at your sister, how well-behaved she is, sitting properly."
Iris pouted, looking at Florence sitting up straight in front.
She mumbled, "She’s not my sister."
He didn’t want Florence to be his sister.
He wanted a sister like Florence.
The interviewing teacher had already reviewed the family backgrounds and kindly asked, "Child, what’s your na, and how old are you?"
"Florence, I’ll be three years old this weekend."
"Can you write your na down for the teacher to see?"
Declan was just about to say she couldn’t write yet.
Then he saw Florence pick up a pen and write her na on the paper.
The way she held the pen seed very familiar.
The teacher continued to ask, "Florence, who taught you to write?"
"Mom."
"Why didn’t your mom co today?"
Florence looked up at Declan, then turned to the teacher, "Mom’s working."
"Is this your dad?"
Florence hesitated for a mont, then nodded.
The teacher asked a series of questions, and Florence answered them all smoothly.
"What would you do if soone bullied you at school?"
"Fight back."
The teacher: "..."
Florence, "Grandpa told if soone bullies and I didn’t start it, I should fight back. Is that not right?"
The teacher was just about to deny it when Declan discreetly coughed into his hand.
"Florence is right, so to protect ourselves, we should get stronger by exercising well."
"Mm!"
Looking up, Declan nodded to the teacher, signaling her to continue asking questions.
The teacher had never seen this education thod from the Hawthorne Family.
But she thought that the details ntioned Florence’s health wasn’t great.
She looked fragile and delicate; perhaps they had taught her to be tougher because of that.
The teacher nodded in understanding.
Florence passed all the subsequent questions without issue.
Then it was Declan’s turn.
"Mr. Hawthorne, why did you choose our school?"
"It’s close to ho. In terms of comprehensive educational resources, I care a lot about my daughter being exposed to subjects like history and geography, and your school’s curriculum ets my expectations."
"How is your relationship with your wife?"
When this question was asked, a rare smile appeared on Declan’s face.
He usually seed quite serious.
He seldom showed his emotions and rarely smiled conspicuously; such monts of tenderness were reserved for Poppy Hale and Florence Lynch.
Just the ntion of Poppy Hale made Declan’s lips curve into a faint smile.
"Very good."
Though his words were few, they conveyed his feelings well enough.
Florence whispered, "Mom says she wants to eat cake from outside the school."
"Is it the cheesecake from that shop in front of the street? Dad will take you to buy it for mom, and then we’ll pick her up from work."
Florence nodded, "Okay."
After finishing all the questions in the interview booklet, the teacher stood up and shook hands with Declan.
"Your daughter is very impressive, mastering knowledge beyond her age. How do you usually educate her?"
"It’s all thanks to my wife."
For more than two years, he hadn’t been a part of Florence’s life.
He hadn’t been a responsible father and missed out on significant monts.
It was Poppy who was willing to let him be part of their lives.
Iris Quill’s interview was a bit bumpy but ultimately without major issues.
She answered similar questions to Florence, though she couldn’t write her na and knew little about scientific topics, she still managed to pass.
After all, she’s just over two years old and being able to answer so many first-grade questions was already quite an accomplishnt.
The teacher glanced several tis at Florence and Declan.
"Mr. Hawthorne, our school may not be your final choice, but we would love to have Florence as a student."
Declan noticed too.
Compared to many children of the sa age, Florence was not just a bit smarter but had better reaction skills and concentration; her personality was quiet yet determined.
Declan held Florence, "I’ll have a good discussion with my wife."
After Heather’s and Iris’s interviews ended, they walked out of the school.
Heather said, "Declan, I have another school interview lined up, so I’ll take Iris with for now."
"Mm, okay."
Heather had contacted several international schools, planning to have them all interviewed in one go.
The spot on the street ahead wasn’t far, so Declan simply walked there with Florence in his arms.
The wind against his face was a bit chilly, so Declan unwrapped his scarf, tucking it around Florence’s small face, letting her lean against his broad shoulder.
Florence’s arms wrapped around Declan’s neck.
Not far away, a photographer was taking scenic shots, and they happened to capture this scene. The lighting and atmosphere were perfect, portraying a deep emotional bond between the father and daughter.
The photographer uploaded the picture online.
The father and daughter were blissfully unaware.
Declan carried his daughter to buy cake, and the cakes in the display window looked all cute and round.
The store attendant used special tools to create unique designs on the cake’s surface.
Declan asked the child in his arms, "Florence, which one do you want?"
"Daddy, can I have the one with the kitten design?"
Declan felt a tightness in his throat.
But he acted as if it was nothing out of the ordinary, like it was a regular occurrence.
"Of course, you can. Let’s buy it, and you can share it with Mommy, okay?"
Poppy limited Florence’s intake of sweets, and if Declan bought the whole cake for her, Poppy would certainly disapprove.
Luckily, Florence was very obedient, "Yes, I’ll share it with Daddy and Grandma and Grandpa."
"Can Barrett have so?"
Declan paid via QR code and carried the cake in one hand, "No, dogs can’t have cheesecake. But when it’s Barrett’s birthday, we can buy a cake for dogs."
"Okay."
The winter sun shone warmly on them, and the cold wind couldn’t dispel the warmth in Declan’s heart at that mont.
At the roadside, sanitation workers rubbed their hands, cursing the weather and wages.
Even the fallen leaves beca unwitting culprits.
No one knew that as they walked past, there was a man in the crowd whose heart swelled with joy simply because of being called "Daddy."
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