Poppy was caught off guard, surprised by the question.
A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes as she lowered her gaze. "What café... I... I've already forgotten."
"Oh?" Serena looked skeptical.
That day, she had been so eager to tell her something.
Later, when they ran into her at Vernon Hospital with Xavier, she had loudly insisted that Clint's father, Gaius, was killed by her own father, Bram.
It's only been a few days, and now she won't even admit it?
Could it be that she really got scared off by a few words from Xavier?
"I didn't expect Miss Castano to be such a coward."
"What do you mean?! You're the coward!"
"Weren't you all high and mighty that day? What now, just a few words from the young master of the Blaze family, and you're too scared to speak?"
"You're the one scared by him!"
"Oh really? Then why won't you speak?" Serena sipped her coffee calmly. "Unless... everything you said was fake. Just nonsense you made up to smear my family's name."
"Bullshit!" Poppy, flustered, swore without thinking.
Serena chuckled softly, "Oh my, if your beloved Clint heard you cursing like this, I wonder if he'd still see you as his delicate, sweet Poppy?"
"Serena, don't you dare!"
"I'm not known for keeping my mouth shut," Serena said with mock seriousness, raising a finger to her lips.
Poppy glared at her, furious. "Go ahead and tell him! He won't believe you anyway! We've been together for more than ten years-he'll never believe a word from a fox like you!"
"Oh really?" Serena raised her handbag and shook it. "How do you know I didn't come prepared? Maybe I recorded our conversation?"
"You-!" Poppy's expression turned even worse, a flash of worry in her eyes.
"Alright, enough nonsense," Serena said with a mock impatience. "If you won't talk, I'm leaving. I'll find a good time to send that recording to Clint."
With that, she stood up, ready to leave.
"Wait!"
Poppy's face turned cold. "Fine, I'll tell you. But you must promise not to let Clint know it came from me!"
Clint had warned her many times that the past must never be revealed to Serena. Otherwise, he'd never forgive her.
"Alright," Serena sat back down. "Go ahead."
Poppy frowned, thinking for a moment before she began to speak in a soft voice, recounting events from long ago.
"Back then, the Becketts ran a machinery factory in the suburbs. Uncle Beckett was an honest and upright man, well-respected and trusted by many. The business was doing great. Clint grew up with no worries-he was a rich kid."
"My father and Uncle Beckett started off as business partners, but over time, they became close friends. Our families often had meals together, and naturally, Clint and I became acquainted."
"When I was in the third year of middle school and Clint was in his second year of high school, the factory was named a model enterprise in the city. Uncle Beckett was overjoyed and even treated our family to dinner to celebrate."
"But strangely, not long after, the authorities suddenly issued an order demanding the factory to shut down for rectification."
At that point, Serena couldn't help but interrupt. "Shutdown for rectification? Why?"
"Heh! You dare ask why? Go ask your hypocrite father, Bram!" Poppy snapped.
Serena remained calm. "Let's finish the story first. We'll talk about right and wrong afterward."
Rolling her eyes, Poppy continued.
"Everyone was shocked. No one knew what went wrong with the Beckett factory. My father called Uncle Beckett, but even he didn't know. The notice just said to rectify within a deadline or face forced closure, without specifying the reason."
"Uncle Beckett rushed to the city government to get an explanation but was stopped at the gate. He waited outside for two whole days."
"After two days, he got a phone call at the government gate. No one knows who called or what was said. But after that call, he went home."
"After that, he seemed disheartened and stopped caring about the factory."
"A little while later, word came that the city planned to redevelop the suburbs, and the Beckett factory was right in the designated area. The government demanded the Becketts surrender ownership of the factory."
"Uncle Beckett refused at first. He didn't want his workers to lose their livelihoods."
"At that time, Bram Knowles-who was then the head of the municipal office-personally approached Uncle Beckett. He promised that all the workers would be properly taken care of, but Uncle Beckett was skeptical."
"Bram then invited him into a private room for a talk. No one knows what was said, but when they came out, Uncle Beckett reluctantly agreed to give up the factory."
"A few days later, just before the demolition began, Uncle Beckett found out the government had no intention of helping the workers. Some of them even got detained for protesting."
"Uncle Beckett was heartbroken and went to confront Bram, trying to retract his agreement. But Bram turned on him, pulling out the signed contract and threatening him. He said if Uncle Beckett caused trouble, he'd have him arrested too."
"Cornered, Uncle Beckett climbed to the roof of the factory on the day of the demolition."
Serena felt her chest tightening with every word. At this point, she had to interrupt, "So Gaius jumped because of this?"
Poppy let out a mocking laugh. "It's not that simple. Let me finish."
"Uncle Beckett just wanted to scare the demolition crew-to win back some rights for the workers. But Bram didn't even flinch. He ordered the demolition to proceed."
"Uncle Beckett panicked and shouted down at him, saying if he didn't stop, he'd jump!"
"But Bram didn't care at all. In fact... he said something really strange."
"When Uncle Beckett heard it, his face changed drastically. And then... he jumped..."
Serena's heart was in her throat. "Strange words? What did my father say to Gaius?!"
***