Chapter 122: System Upgrade!

Ethan smiled and raised his hand in response. As Nora approached, he noticed Richard standing nearby waiting for Alexa, so he greeted him as well.

"Good afternoon, Richard."

Richard returned the greeting with a polite smile. "Good afternoon, Ethan. How have you been?"

"Pretty good. How about you?" Ethan tilted his head.

"Can’t complain." Richard glanced toward the car. "I suppose you’re taking Nora home?"

"Yes. Evelyn is waiting at the shop."

Alexa turned toward Nora and waved. "See you tomorrow!"

Nora smiled back before climbing into the car. "Bye, Alexa!"

Ethan exchanged a few more words with Richard before returning to the driver’s seat. Once Nora had fastened her seat belt, he started the car and pulled away from the school.

For a while, neither of them spoke. Nora gazed out of the window, watching the buildings pass by, before suddenly turning toward her father.

"Dad, did you and Mom buy the dresses?"

Ethan glanced at her through the rearview mirror, amused by how quickly she had remembered. "We did."

"Really? What do they look like?" She asked.

Shaking his head, he refocused on the road. "That’s a surprise. You’ll see when we get home."

Nora puffed her cheeks. "But that’s still a long time!"

Ethan laughed. "It’s not that long. Be patient."

She pouted but eventually settled back into her seat, looking out of the window again.

As the car moved through the streets of Arcane City, Nora’s expression gradually softened. She had been looking forward to seeing the dresses, but beneath that excitement was a feeling she couldn’t quite explain.

Her life had changed so much.

Not long ago, she had been a seventeen-year-old girl who spent her final moments alone, struggling to breathe as her asthma attack worsened. She remembered the fear, the helplessness, and the terrible realization that there was no one beside her to help.

She remembered hating Ethan Hale, the man she had once called her father, and wishing that her life could have been different.

Yet now, she was sitting in a car with that same man, excited about the dresses he had bought for her.

He cooked for her, took her to school, listened to her complaints, and treated her as though she were the most precious thing in the world. Evelyn was happier too, smiling more often than Nora could remember.

Sometimes, it all felt too good to be true.

’Could my past life have been nothing more than a nightmare?’

Nora lowered her gaze, her small hands resting on her lap.

She had spent so long believing that the pain she remembered was real that she had never seriously considered the possibility that it might have been a dream. The memories were too vivid, too painful, and too detailed to dismiss so easily.

But if they were real, then why was everything so different now?

Why was Ethan treating her so kindly? Why was her mother smiling again? Why could she finally experience the warmth of a family without constantly worrying about what would happen next?

She didn’t have an answer.

’Please... let it be a nightmare.’

Nora swallowed, her eyes stinging slightly. She didn’t want to return to the life she remembered. She didn’t want to lose this version of her family, and she certainly didn’t want to experience that loneliness again.

Even if her past life had been real, she hoped she could leave it behind.

For now, she wanted to enjoy the present.

She wanted to be a child who could look forward to new dresses, complain about boring classes, and spend time with her parents without wondering whether happiness would disappear the moment she relaxed.

And if this really was a second chance, she would cherish it.

Nora glanced toward Ethan, who was focused on driving. After a moment, she leaned back in her seat and smiled faintly.

’I’m happy now. That’s what matters.’

When they returned to Eve Refreshments, business had slowed slightly, but there were still customers coming in. Ethan parked the car while Nora hurried inside to greet her mother. Evelyn smiled when she saw her daughter, briefly asking about school before returning to the customer she was attending to.

Ethan joined Cassandra at the counter, helping her pack a few orders and rearrange the remaining fruits. The afternoon gradually turned into evening, and by the time they began closing, most of the day’s stock had been sold.

Cassandra finished counting the day’s sales before collecting her belongings. As usual, her bodyguards were waiting outside, and one of them opened the car door for her.

"See you tomorrow, Evelyn," Cassandra said with a smile.

Evelyn nodded. "See you tomorrow. Get home safely."

Cassandra waved before getting into the car, which soon drove away.

Nearby, Maya and Gilbert were also preparing to leave. Gilbert took Maya’s hand as they walked toward down the sidewalk, their fingers intertwined. They were chatting about something that made Maya laugh, and Ethan watched them for a moment before turning toward Evelyn.

’Young people really know how to enjoy themselves.’

He smiled faintly before helping Evelyn finish closing the shop. Once everything was settled, the family of three got into the car and headed home.

After arriving home, Nora immediately took the shopping bags and hurried into the bedroom to try on her new dresses. Evelyn watched her go with a fond smile before taking a watering can and heading toward the balcony.

"I’ll water the flowers before dinner," She told Ethan.

He nodded and settled onto the sofa. "All right. Don’t stay out there too long."

Evelyn smiled before stepping onto the balcony, leaving Ethan alone in the living room.

He leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the quiet. It had been a busy day, but not an unpleasant one. He had spent time with his family, helped at the shop, and even managed to reassure his father about the wedding.

Things were going well.

Then, a familiar holographic screen suddenly appeared before his eyes. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

[Congratulations! You have completed a Hidden Personal Mission—Curing A Family’s Infertility!]

Ethan’s eyes opened immediately. ’So Lucas’s wife has been cured?’

He sat upright, staring at the notification in surprise. He hadn’t expected the system to announce the mission’s completion so soon, especially since he had only given Lucas the pill recently.

Before he could think further, another message appeared.

[You have received a System Upgrade Reward! Claim reward?]

Ethan’s expression changed. A system upgrade?

He had received money, shares, and special items before, but this was something different. If the system itself was about to be upgraded, then he might finally gain access to new functions or opportunities that had previously been unavailable.

His heart stirred with anticipation. ’What exactly are you planning this time?’

He didn’t hesitate any longer. ’Claim reward.’

The screen flickered, and a new message appeared before his eyes.

[Patriarch System Updating • • •]