Chapter 154: The Day Of Reckoning (1)

Ethan went straight to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Since they had an important appointment that morning, he decided against making anything elaborate. Bread, tea, and fried eggs would be sufficient.

He took out the ingredients and began preparing everything, occasionally glancing at the clock on the kitchen wall. He wanted them to have enough time to eat and get ready without rushing.

A little while later, he heard footsteps approaching.

Turning around, he found Evelyn standing at the kitchen entrance. Her white hair was slightly messy, and she looked as though she hadn’t completely woken up yet. She rubbed one eye before walking toward him.

"Good morning, husband." She greeted him in a quiet voice.

Ethan smiled. "Morning. You’re awake earlier than I expected."

Evelyn stopped briefly, looking at him before her cheeks gradually turned pink. She remembered exactly why he had gone to bed later than usual, and judging by the amused expression on his face, he hadn’t forgotten either.

"You’re really..." She shook her head, unable to finish her sentence.

Ethan chuckled and returned his attention to the frying pan. "What? I only said you woke up earlier than I expected."

"Just finish making breakfast," She muttered, turning away.

He watched her retreating figure with an amused smile. Evelyn quickly returned to the bedroom, intending to get Nora ready before breakfast was served.

A while later, she returned with their daughter.

Nora had changed into a neat outfit suitable for the day’s outing. Her white hair had been brushed properly, and she looked considerably more awake than she had when she first got out of bed.

"Good morning, Dad!" She greeted him as she entered the kitchen.

"Good morning, sweetheart." Ethan turned from the stove and smiled at her. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes!"

"That’s good. Come and sit down. Breakfast is almost ready."

Nora climbed onto a chair while Evelyn helped arrange the table. Ethan soon brought over the fried eggs, followed by a plate of bread and three cups of tea.

The family settled down to eat.

Nora picked up a slice of bread and began eating while occasionally dipping it into her tea. Ethan watched her for a moment before reminding her to eat properly. She nodded and continued, clearly more interested in her breakfast than anything else.

Evelyn, meanwhile, took a sip of her tea before turning toward her husband.

"Have you heard from Cole recently?" She asked.

Ethan looked up. "Cole? No, not recently."

"Oh." She placed her cup down. "I haven’t spoken to him in a while either."

"I’ll give him a call later," Ethan replied. "Maybe we can catch up."

Evelyn nodded, appearing satisfied with that answer. She didn’t press the matter further, and their conversation gradually returned to ordinary topics.

After finishing breakfast, they cleared the table and tidied up the kitchen. Ethan washed the dishes while Evelyn put away the remaining food. Nora helped by arranging a few things before returning to the living room to wait for her parents.

Once everything was in order, they gathered their belongings and prepared to leave.

Ethan checked that he had his phone and car keys before heading toward the door. Evelyn made sure Nora had everything she needed, and the three stepped out of the apartment.

They descended the stairs to the parking lot, where their BMW X5 was parked. Ethan unlocked the vehicle and got behind the steering wheel, while Evelyn opened the rear door and settled into the back seat beside Nora.

After making sure everyone was comfortable and wearing their seat belts, Ethan started the engine.

The vehicle rolled out of the compound and joined the morning traffic.

Arcane City was already bustling with activity. Cars moved along the main roads, pedestrians hurried toward their destinations, and businesses were gradually opening for the day. Ethan drove steadily, following the route toward the district where the courthouse was located.

The journey took a little while, but they eventually arrived at their destination.

The courthouse was situated in a government district, surrounded by several administrative buildings. Its exterior was imposing without being particularly extravagant, with a broad entrance and a series of steps leading toward the main doors. Several vehicles were parked nearby, while people moved in and out of the building.

Ethan found an available parking space and carefully brought the BMW to a stop.

"We’re here," He announced, turning off the engine.

He stepped out and walked around to open the rear door for Evelyn and Nora. Once they had gotten out, the family headed toward the courthouse entrance.

There were quite a number of people around. Some stood in small groups, discussing documents and exchanging information, while others walked toward the entrance with folders tucked beneath their arms. A few individuals wore formal suits and carried briefcases, making it easy to identify them as lawyers.

Two security personnel stood near the entrance, directing visitors and checking their belongings.

Ethan approached with his family, and they were asked to undergo a routine security check. He cooperated without complaint, placing his phone and keys in the designated tray before walking through the security scanner. Evelyn and Nora followed shortly afterward.

Once the checks were completed, they retrieved their belongings and entered the building.

The interior was considerably quieter than the entrance area. Several people occupied the waiting benches, while others stood near the corridors, speaking in low voices. There were notice boards displaying information about different courtrooms, and a few court staff members moved between the offices.

Ethan glanced around, looking for someone who could direct him to the appropriate place.

He eventually approached a counter marked for court enquiries, where a staff member was attending to some documents.

"Good morning," Ethan greeted politely.

The staff member looked up. "Good morning. How may I help you?"

"I’m here for a trial scheduled for this morning. It concerns a case involving a woman named Cassie." Ethan provided the relevant details he had received from the police. "I’d like to confirm whether the proceedings are still scheduled."

"Do you have the case reference or the names of the parties involved?" The staff member asked.

Ethan retrieved the information from his phone and provided the necessary details.

The staff member examined the information before turning toward a computer. She typed for a short while, scrolling through the records until she found the relevant entry.

"One moment, please."

Ethan waited patiently.

After another brief check, she looked up and nodded. "Yes, the case is on today’s schedule. The trial is listed for this morning."

"All right. Thank you."

"However, the courtroom is currently occupied with another matter. You’ll have to wait until that proceeding is concluded before this case can be called."

"How long do you estimate that will take?" Ethan asked.

"Approximately thirty minutes. It could be a little shorter or longer depending on how the current matter progresses."

Ethan nodded. "Understood. Thank you for the information."

"You’re welcome."

He stepped away from the counter and returned to where Evelyn and Nora were waiting.

"Is everything okay?" Evelyn asked when she noticed him approaching.

"Yes. The trial is still scheduled for this morning," Ethan replied. "The courtroom is occupied with another case at the moment, so we’ll have to wait approximately thirty minutes before ours is called."

Evelyn nodded, her eyes briefly moving toward the corridor. "I see."

"There should be a waiting area over there." Ethan gestured toward a row of benches near the wall. "Let’s sit down until it’s time."

The three walked over and found an available space. Ethan sat down first, with Evelyn settling beside him and Nora taking the remaining seat.

Nora looked around curiously. Unlike her parents, she seemed more interested in observing the unfamiliar environment. Her gaze wandered over the people passing through the corridor, the lawyers carrying documents, and the court staff occasionally emerging from nearby offices.

Evelyn noticed her daughter’s wandering eyes and gently adjusted the collar of her outfit. "Are you comfortable, sweetheart?"

Nora nodded. "Yes, Mom."

"Good."

Ethan leaned back against the bench and glanced at his watch. They had arrived with enough time to spare, so there was no reason to rush. He took out his phone, briefly checked the time, then put it away.

Thirty minutes.

That was all they had to wait before the proceedings began.