Chapter 153: The D-Day

In her previous life, she had often wished for someone who would stand beside her when things became difficult. Now, she had a father who didn’t simply tell her to be brave but took the time to explain what she needed to know.

She didn’t intend to waste that opportunity.

Ethan noticed the way she had fallen quiet and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You don’t need to spend the entire evening thinking about tomorrow, all right? We’ll go there, handle what needs to be handled, and come back home afterward. You can leave the worrying to the adults."

Nora raised her head. "Can I still play with my iPad tonight?"

Ethan stared at her for a moment before laughing. "You were just listening to me talk about something serious, and that’s the first thing you ask?"

"Well, you said I shouldn’t worry about tomorrow." Nora blinked innocently. "So I shouldn’t worry, right?"

Ethan shook his head, unable to suppress his smile. "You certainly know how to interpret things in your favor."

"Did I misunderstand you?" She smiled mischievously.

"No, you didn’t." He rose from the couch and held out his hand. "Come on. Let’s see what your mother is cooking."

Nora happily took his hand, and he led her into the kitchen.

Evelyn was already preparing dinner, with several ingredients arranged neatly on the counter. She glanced over when they entered and smiled at the sight of them.

"Have you finished talking?" She asked.

"Yes," Ethan replied. "I was just reminding her not to worry too much about tomorrow."

"That’s good." Evelyn turned toward Nora. "Come and sit here, sweetheart. Dinner will be ready soon."

Nora climbed onto a kitchen chair and settled at the table, watching her parents prepare the meal. Every now and then, she asked what they were making or tried to guess which ingredients Evelyn had used. Ethan occasionally answered her questions, while Evelyn continued cooking with a relaxed smile.

The atmosphere remained peaceful, and the conversation gradually shifted away from the court case. They talked about school, the shop, and a few ordinary things that had happened during the day. By the time dinner was ready at seven, Nora seemed to have forgotten her earlier concerns entirely.

The family sat down together, and Nora ate with her usual enthusiasm. Ethan made sure she had enough food while Evelyn reminded her not to rush. Their conversation wandered from one topic to another until the meal was finished.

After dinner, Nora surprised them by declining her usual iPad time.

"I’m going to sleep," She announced, rubbing her eyes. "I’m tired."

Evelyn looked at her with mild surprise. "Are you sure? You usually want to play for a while after dinner."

"Not today." Nora yawned. "I’ll play tomorrow."

Ethan glanced at her. "That’s fine. Get some good sleep. We have to leave early in the morning."

Nora nodded, said goodnight to both of them, and went to the bedroom. Evelyn followed her briefly to make sure she was comfortable, then returned to the living room where Ethan was waiting.

She settled beside him on the couch, her expression thoughtful.

"Something happened today?" Ethan asked, noticing her silence.

Evelyn turned toward him. "My father called while we were at the shop."

Ethan raised his eyebrows slightly. "James? What did he say?"

"He asked how I was doing and how the business was going. He also wanted to know whether Nora had started school." She paused, looking down at her hands. "Then he asked when we would visit. He said Sophie has been missing me."

Ethan leaned back against the couch, considering her words. He hadn’t expected James to call, although the request itself wasn’t unreasonable. Evelyn had a family beyond the little household they had built together, and he understood that she might want to see them.

"What did you tell him?"

"I said I’d discuss it with you before deciding." She looked up at him. "I wasn’t sure when we’d be free, and I didn’t want to promise something without talking to you first."

"That’s fair." Ethan nodded. "If you want to visit them, then we can arrange it. Just choose a date that works for you, and we’ll make the necessary preparations."

Evelyn blinked. "You’re okay with that?"

"Why wouldn’t I be?" Ethan asked, turning toward her. "They’re your family. There’s no reason we can’t visit them."

A smile slowly spread across her face. Before he could say anything else, she moved closer and wrapped her arms around him, clinging to him like a koala.

Ethan laughed softly at her sudden affection before returning the embrace. He rested one hand against her back and gently rubbed it while she buried her face against his chest.

"Thank you," She murmured.

"You don’t need to thank me for something like this." He gave her a gentle squeeze. "Just tell me when you want to go."

Evelyn nodded against him, remaining in his arms for a while longer. Ethan didn’t rush her. He simply held her, enjoying the quiet moment after a long day.

Eventually, he glanced toward the bedroom. With Nora asleep and the household finally settled, there was little reason to remain on the couch all night.

He slipped one arm beneath Evelyn’s knees and the other around her back, lifting her effortlessly.

Evelyn let out a small gasp and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. "Ethan!"

He chuckled as he carried her toward the other room. Leaning closer, he whispered into her ear, "It’s been a while since I knew you. Shall we know each other tonight?"

Evelyn’s cheeks warmed, and she lightly tapped his shoulder, though the smile on her face betrayed her embarrassment.

"Ethan, you really..." she murmured, trailing off as he carried her through the doorway.

His laughter followed them into the room, and the door closed quietly behind them.

..........

Ethan slowly opened his eyes as the morning light filtered through the curtains. For a few seconds, he remained still, staring at the ceiling while his mind gradually caught up with the new day. He yawned, then turned his head to look at the two people sleeping beside him.

Evelyn was lying on her side, her white hair scattered across the pillow. One of her hands rested close to Nora, who was curled up comfortably between her parents. The little girl seemed completely oblivious to the world, her breathing soft and steady.

Ethan smiled as he recalled the previous night. He had initially intended to sleep early, especially considering the proceedings scheduled for that morning. Unfortunately, his wife had other plans.

’That woman was indeed hungry for it.’

Suppressing a chuckle, he carefully lifted the blanket and slipped out of bed. He didn’t want to disturb either of them, particularly Nora, who had finally gotten a good night’s rest.

After putting on his exercise clothes, he headed to the living room and began his morning routine.

He started with a few stretches before moving on to push-ups, squats, and several other exercises. His movements were steady, and he gradually increased the intensity as his body warmed up. He wasn’t particularly interested in pushing himself beyond his limits, but he wanted to maintain the physical condition he had worked hard to build.

By the time he finished, his muscles were beginning to complain.

Ethan straightened his back and rolled his shoulders before taking a deep breath. "That should be enough."

He wiped the sweat from his forehead and headed to the bathroom. A warm shower helped loosen his tired muscles, and he spent a few extra minutes under the water before finally stepping out.

After drying himself, he returned to the bedroom and got dressed. Evelyn and Nora were still asleep, although his wife had shifted positions and was now facing the empty space he had left behind.

Ethan glanced at them with a faint smile before leaving the room.