Chapter 138: Report

Ethan laughed again. He had already prepared enough food for her, but her shameless attempt at flattery was too amusing to ignore. He picked up the serving spoon and added a little more noodles to her plate.

"There. Since you worked so hard praising me, I’ll reward you for your effort."

Nora’s eyes practically sparkled. "Thank you, Dad! I knew you were the best!"

She immediately carried her plate toward the dining table, looking as though she had just won a major victory.

Ethan watched her leave with an amused smile before turning toward Evelyn, who had approached the counter to inspect the remaining food.

"That was quite a performance," Evelyn remarked, glancing toward the dining room. "I think she would praise you for an entire hour if you promised her another serving."

"An hour? You’re underestimating her. She might write me a book."

Evelyn laughed softly before looking at the food again. "But honestly, this smells wonderful. You’ve become quite good at preparing meals."

Ethan tilted his head and studied her face. "Are you praising my cooking because you genuinely like it, or are you also hoping to receive a little extra?"

Evelyn’s cheeks coloured slightly as she playfully nudged his arm. "I was being sincere!"

"Of course, sweetheart. I believe you."

He picked up her plate and served her a generous portion, but when she glanced toward Nora’s plate and then back at him, he deliberately withheld the extra helping she seemed to be considering.

Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "What about mine?"

"What about yours?" He asked, amused.

"You gave Nora extra."

"She delivered an excellent speech about my virtues. You simply called my cooking wonderful."

"Are you seriously making me compete with our daughter for food?"

Ethan chuckled at her expression before setting the spoon down. "Not at all. You have other privileges."

Before Evelyn could ask what he meant, he leaned forward and gave her a quick peck on the lips.

Her eyes widened, and she instinctively glanced toward the dining room to see whether Nora had witnessed the exchange. Fortunately, their daughter was too occupied with her breakfast to pay attention to what was happening in the kitchen.

"Ethan!" Evelyn whispered, her face turning pink as she gave him a light push. "What are you doing?"

"Rewarding my beautiful wife for praising my cooking," he replied with a shameless smile.

"You’re really... ugh," She muttered, though the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement.

Ethan picked up the remaining plates and gestured toward the dining room. "Come on, sweetheart. Let’s eat before Nora finishes everything."

Evelyn shook her head as she followed him, wondering how she had ended up married to such an incorrigible man. Still, she couldn’t deny that these little moments had become some of her favourite parts of the day.

.....

By the time Ethan and Evelyn joined her at the dining table, Nora had already made considerable progress with her meal. She looked up when her parents sat down, briefly pausing to smile at them before returning to her noodles.

Ethan watched her for several seconds, his expression growing increasingly amused. "Nora, do you intend to finish that plate before your mother and I even begin eating?"

Nora swallowed her food before answering, "I’m hungry, Dad."

"Yes, I’ve heard that several times this morning. At this point, I think I should start keeping a record."

Evelyn gave him a warning look as she picked up her fork. "Leave her alone, Ethan. Let the girl enjoy her breakfast."

"I’m letting her enjoy it. I’m simply concerned that she might swallow the plate along with the food."

Nora glared at him, then deliberately took a smaller bite to demonstrate that she could eat slowly if she wanted to. Ethan nodded approvingly, although the amusement in his eyes suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced.

"Much better. Now, remember that tomorrow is Monday, and you have school. Don’t forget about your studies just because you’ve enjoyed yourself over the weekend."

Nora nodded, chewing more carefully before swallowing. "I know, Dad. I have school tomorrow."

"Good. We’ll be studying together this evening, so make sure you finish any assignments you have and get everything ready for tomorrow."

Her expression brightened immediately. "Really? We’re going to study together again?"

Ethan nodded. "Of course. Did you think I was joking?"

"No!" Nora shook her head enthusiastically. "I want to study with you. You’re good at explaining things, and I understand some topics better when you teach me."

Ethan smiled at her response. He had been meaning to establish a more consistent routine with her, especially since he wanted to help her improve academically without making her feel that studying was a punishment.

"Then it’s settled," He said, taking another bite of his breakfast. "After dinner, we’ll go through your schoolwork. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me."

Nora nodded eagerly before returning to her food. Evelyn watched the exchange with a warm expression, pleased that Ethan was taking such an active interest in their daughter’s education. The original Ethan had rarely bothered with Nora’s schoolwork, often leaving Evelyn to handle everything herself. Seeing him willingly make time for their daughter still felt like a small miracle.

"Ethan, don’t make her study for too long," Evelyn reminded him gently. "She still needs time to relax."

"I know. I’m not planning to turn our living room into a classroom for the entire evening." He smiled at Nora. "We’ll study until she’s comfortable with the material, then she can do whatever she likes."

"Can I watch a movie afterward?" Nora asked hopefully.

"That depends on how well you behave during our study session."

"Dad, I always behave!" She retorted, pursing her lips.

Ethan and Evelyn exchanged a look before laughing together. Nora immediately protested that they were both being unfair, but she was smiling too, and the conversation soon moved to other things.

They finished breakfast at a leisurely pace, with Ethan occasionally reminding Nora not to eat too quickly. Once they were done, Evelyn helped clear the table while Ethan took care of the remaining dishes. Their morning routine continued without any particular rush, and by the time the kitchen was tidy, Nora had already chosen a movie she wanted to watch.

She hurried into the living room and settled onto the sofa, leaving Evelyn to follow with a light blanket. The two of them soon became absorbed in the movie, occasionally commenting on a scene or laughing at something one of the characters did.

Ethan remained in the dining area, where he had left his phone. He was just about to check a message when the device began to ring.

Seeing the unfamiliar number, he answered after a brief glance at the screen.

"Hello, Ethan Hale speaking."

"Good morning, Mr. Hale. I’m calling from the police department regarding the case involving Cassie," A male officer introduced himself. "I’m contacting you to inform you that the court proceedings have been scheduled for Wednesday morning. You and your daughter should be prepared to attend, as your testimony may be required."

Ethan’s expression changed almost immediately. He straightened in his seat and listened carefully, making sure he understood the date and the details the officer provided.

"Wednesday morning, huh?" He repeated, confirming the information. "Understood. I’ll make the necessary arrangements and ensure that my daughter is available."

The officer explained that further instructions would be provided if their attendance was formally required for a particular stage of the proceedings. Ethan listened without interrupting, asked a brief question about the expected time, and thanked him for the notification.

After exchanging a few more words, they ended the call.

Ethan lowered his phone and remained seated for a moment, his expression thoughtful. The relaxed atmosphere of the morning had faded from his mind, replaced by the memory of what Cassie had done to Nora.

He remembered how vulnerable his daughter had been, how serious an asthma attack could become, and how deliberately endangering her had crossed a line that no decent person should ever approach. Whatever Cassie’s reasons had been, they could not erase the consequences of her actions.

His gaze shifted toward the living room, where Evelyn and Nora were still watching their movie. Nora laughed at something on the screen, completely unaware that the phone call had changed the direction of Ethan’s thoughts.

He watched her for a few seconds, and his expression softened briefly. Then he recalled the reason for the upcoming court proceedings, and a cold smile slowly appeared on his face.

’You’ll finally understand what it means to harm someone dear to me.’