Chapter 145: Samuel Again

Maya tugged Gilbert toward the entrance, still laughing at his earlier reaction. Cassandra returned to the fruit displays, while Evelyn began attending to the remaining customers. Nora helped by collecting a few empty bottles and wrappers, earning a grateful smile from her mother.

The rest of the evening passed without much trouble. Ethan assisted with the final orders, helped Evelyn organize the remaining fruits, and checked that everything was properly arranged before closing. Next door, Gilbert and Maya finished cleaning the juice shop and putting away their equipment.

Once both shops were ready to close, everyone gathered near the entrance to say their goodbyes.

"See you tomorrow!" Cassandra called as she headed toward the road.

"Take care," Evelyn replied, waving at her.

Gilbert and Maya left together, still chatting about something that made Maya laugh. Ethan watched them go before turning toward Evelyn and Nora.

"All right, ladies. Let’s head home."

Nora hurried toward the car, while Evelyn locked the shop and joined him. After making sure everything was secured, Ethan drove them back to their apartment.

.......

When they arrived home, Nora went straight to the bedroom to relax. She had spent the day at school and the evening at the shop, and she was eager to enjoy some time with her iPad.

Evelyn, meanwhile, changed into more comfortable clothes and went downstairs to water the garden. The evening air was cool, and she wanted to check on the plants before settling in for the night.

Ethan remained in the living room, sitting back on the couch with his phone in hand. He had just begun browsing through his messages when an incoming call appeared on the screen.

Lucas Stark.

Ethan accepted the call and brought the phone to his ear. "Lucas. What’s up?"

"Brother Ethan, I’ve got some information for you," Lucas replied. His tone was more serious than usual.

Ethan straightened slightly. "About the man who bought all those fruits from Evelyn’s shop?"

"Yes. I’ve had my people look into him, and we managed to establish his identity and trace some of his recent activities."

Ethan’s fingers stopped moving across his phone. "Go on."

"The man’s name isn’t particularly important at this stage, but his connections are." Lucas paused briefly before continuing. "He’s linked to Samuel Wayne."

Ethan’s expression changed. The faint smile he’d been wearing disappeared, and his eyes narrowed as he leaned forward.

"Samuel Wayne?" he repeated.

"That’s right. We haven’t established the full extent of their relationship yet, but there’s enough to confirm that the connection isn’t something we should ignore. The man has been in contact with people associated with Wayne."

Ethan remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the floor.

So the suspicious purchase hadn’t been an isolated incident after all.

"How certain are you about this?" he asked.

"Certain enough that I wouldn’t dismiss it as a coincidence. I’m still looking into the details, but I wanted to inform you as soon as we found the connection."

Ethan tapped his fingers against his knee. "Good work. Keep investigating, but don’t let them realize they’re being watched. I want to know who sent him, what they were looking for, and whether anyone else was involved."

"Understood, Brother Ethan. I’ll keep you updated as soon as I learn anything new."

"All right. Thanks, Lucas."

After ending the call, Ethan lowered his phone and leaned back against the couch. His eyes drifted toward the balcony, where the evening breeze stirred the leaves of the potted plants.

Samuel Wayne.

The name had surfaced again, this time through a man who had taken an unusual interest in Evelyn’s business.

Ethan rubbed his chin, considering the possibilities. The large fruit purchase might have been intended to conceal another objective, or the buyer might have been testing the shop for a reason he hadn’t yet uncovered. Until Lucas finished his investigation, neither possibility could be ruled out.

He picked up his phone again and checked the time. A few minutes later, Evelyn returned from the garden, carrying the empty watering can.

"Is everything all right?" She asked when she noticed him sitting quietly.

Ethan looked up at her. For a moment, he considered telling her about Lucas’s discovery, but he decided against it for now. There was no reason to worry her before he understood the situation better.

"Everything’s fine," He replied, giving her a reassuring smile. "Just taking care of a few things."

Evelyn studied him briefly before setting the watering can aside. Then she walked over and sat beside him, leaning her head against his shoulder.

Ethan slipped an arm around her and glanced toward the hallway leading to their bedroom.

For now, he would let his family enjoy their peaceful evening.

But he wasn’t going to ignore Samuel Wayne’s involvement. The man was finally making his moves against them, and Ethan was ready to retaliate.

........

Ethan woke up early the following morning, completed his usual routine, and headed straight to the kitchen. He wanted to prepare breakfast before Evelyn and Nora woke up, giving them enough time to eat and get ready for the day without rushing.

He settled on something simple and began working. By the time he finished, the dining table was ready, and the aroma of freshly prepared food had spread through the apartment. Ethan wiped his hands, checked the time, and glanced toward the hallway.

A few minutes later, Evelyn emerged from the bedroom, followed by Nora. Both had freshened up, and Nora was still rubbing one eye as she walked toward the dining room.

"Good morning, Dad," She greeted him, pulling out a chair.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." Ethan smiled as she settled down. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes." Nora reached for her cutlery and glanced at the food. "You made breakfast again?"

"Is that a problem? Mn?" He smirked.

"No!" She quickly shook her head. "I like it when you make breakfast."

"Then eat before it gets cold."

Evelyn sat beside Nora, giving Ethan a small smile before serving herself. "You woke up early again. You could have woken me up, you know."

"And miss the chance to surprise my girls with breakfast?" Ethan shook his head. "Absolutely not."

Evelyn lowered her eyes to her plate, the corners of her lips curling upward. "You really don’t have to do everything yourself."

"I know. That’s why I keep asking you to let me help with the housework."

She glanced at him, then quietly returned to her food. Nora, meanwhile, was already busy eating, occasionally looking between her parents whenever they spoke.

For a few minutes, the three of them ate without discussing anything in particular. Ethan answered a question Nora had about her schoolwork, while Evelyn reminded her to make sure she packed everything she needed for the day. It was an ordinary morning, much like the others they had spent together recently.

Then Ethan put down his cutlery and turned toward his daughter.

"Nora, there’s something I need to tell you."

She looked up, a piece of food still in her mouth. After swallowing, she nodded. "What is it, Daddy?"

"Remember the incident involving Cassie?"

Nora’s hand paused above her plate. "Yes, I do."

"The court proceedings are scheduled for tomorrow morning. The police told me that you might be asked to speak about what happened."

Evelyn’s fingers tightened around her spoon. She glanced at Ethan before turning toward Nora, watching her face carefully.

Ethan leaned forward slightly. "You might have to answer a few questions about what happened that day. We don’t know exactly what they’ll ask, but I wanted you to know beforehand."