Katherine felt like sheâd been struck by lightning, her body trembling slightly.
She stood frozen in place, her long-standing goal to put Salvatore behind bars had suddenly vanished, leaving her feeling lost.
âWant to see him?â Ethan spoke up, âItâs not his request, just a personal suggestion from me. The clues youâre looking for are probably all there.â
Katherine remained silent after hearing this, lost in thought.
It was like a tangled mess of yarn, impossible to sort out.
She pondered the significance of meeting her father and weighed the potential consequences.
This struggle and silence were her ways of self-protection when facing major decisions, as well as her fear and unease about the unknown future.
Ethan walked up to her and gently patted her shoulder, âDonât worry, Iâm here for you. Youâve got nothing to fear, Iâm pretty strong.â
âOkay,â Katherine nodded, then paused, looking surprised.
She was unexpectedly trusting this kid so much.
Ethanâs gaze was clear and resolute, as if he could see right through her hesitation and struggle.
âLetâs go,â Katherine said, lowering her gaze. She worried her trust might be too blind, after all, he was still just a kid.
What followed went surprisingly smoothly.
Salvatore was prepared for her visit.
Ethan didnât interrupt the father-daughter duo, quietly leaving to give them space.
Two hours later, Katherine emerged from the room and left with Ethan in the car.
Instead of going home, Katherine drove to the coast and stopped the car.
She stepped out and walked over to the railing by the seaside.
Ethan followed, watching as Katherine leaned gently against the railing, her gaze calm, looking out to the sea.
The sea breeze played with her long hair, making it dance in the air like a ballet dancer.
In her eyes, Ethan saw a sense of relief and peace.
âI donât know if I should hate him,â Katherineâs profile softened in the sunlight, far from the stern coldness of the prosecutor she usually was.
âHe provided all the criminal evidence I needed. Congressman Clements has no chance of overturning the case. Itâs kind of like he turned himself in, which might reduce his sentence. But given his health, it probably wonât be carried out, and the Crimson Cartel will be no more.â
âHe said he plans to spend his last days in the house he shared with my mom, a place heâs kept all these years.â
âItâs ridiculous, saying all this now, whatâs the point?â
âKatherine, your eyes look a bit red,â Ethan pointed to her cheek.
ââ¦â Katherineâs lips twitched, and then her eyes quickly reddened.
She didnât make a sound but suddenly threw herself into Ethanâs arms.
Her body trembled slightly as she cried hard, trying to suppress her emotions.
Ethan, sensing Katherineâs distress, found it odd. This prosecutor was Jessicaâs sister, about the same age as Ethanâs aunt, at least twelve years his senior, yet she chose to throw herself into his arms.
Of course, Ethan wouldnât push her away at this moment,he held her tightly.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
He knew that now wasnât the time for many comforting words. What this prosecutor needed most was a reliable shoulder and a warm embrace.
Holding her, he was surprised by her figure.
Ethan gently wrapped his arms around her waist, allowing her to fully lean on him.
Katherineâs tears soaked through his shirt, dampening his skin.
The sea breeze continued to blow, and the waves kept crashing, making it seem like they were the only two people left on this vast coastline.
Katherineâs soft body gradually calmed down in Ethanâs embrace.
In moments of excitement, people can act irrationally.
When reason takes over again, one realizes their lapse.
Katherine now became aware of the age gap between them.
This sudden awkwardness made her somewhat at a loss. She held back her embarrassment and gently pulled away from Ethanâs embrace.
She turned her head away, gathering her long hair in her hand, feigning calmness, avoiding eye contact.
She was afraid of seeing any unusual emotion in the depths of this kidâs eyes.
Katherine took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions.
She knew she couldnât make irrational decisions just because of a momentary impulse.
She looked up at Ethan, managing a faint smile, and said softly, âThank you, Ethan. Iâm feeling much better now.â
Ethan noticed Katherineâs somewhat stiff smile and understood her embarrassment.
Although the prosecutor was beautiful and had a great figure, his heart was only set on his aunt.
He smiled gently and said softly, âIâm glad to hear that. Remember, you can always come to me, no matter what troubles you face.â
His words were filled with warmth and care, bringing a comforting warmth to Katherineâs heart.
Then came the awkwardness.
She couldnât believe she was getting flustered over a kid twelve years her junior.
âLetâs go,â Katherine said, not daring to stay any longer, and turned to walk towards the sedan.
She needed some time to calm her emotions and think about her future.
Ethan silently watched her retreating figure, the mature and beautiful stern prosecutor had shown a side of vulnerability in front of him.
Though she quickly recovered.
Itâs a pity, he thought, if things could go further, he could unlock more of her shy and awkward sides.
The car drove through the city streets.
The two of them remained silent, the atmosphere inside the car was eerily quiet.
âIâve already submitted the evidence directly, my work on this case is done,â Katherine said, her hands gripping the steering wheel.
âOkay, just drop me off at the hospital then,â Ethan understood Katherineâs intention, she didnât want any more contact with him.
He glanced at the system panel in front of him.
âDying wish: Salvatore hopes his daughter Katherine will complete her revenge and start a new life.â
âMission reward: 1000 points, random skill +1.â
From Katherineâs behavior, it was clear she no longer harbored hatred towards him.
Next would be the court session, and the evidence was enough to convict Salvatore.
When the verdict came, Katherine would have completed her revenge.
And the mission would be completed.
Ethan now had no reason to stay by Katherineâs side.
âOkay,â Katherine nodded, followed by another dreadful silence.
The car stopped in front of the hospital.
âGoodbye, Katherine,â Ethan unbuckled his seatbelt, got out of the car, and waved back at her.
âOkay,â Katherineâs head dipped even lower, the drive over had been tough, her emotions from earlier falling away, leaving her feeling more embarrassed and awkward.
She had actually developed feelings for a boy twelve years her junior.
At this moment, all she wanted was to escape.
The car sped away from the hospital entrance as if fleeing.
âOuch,â Ethan shrugged as he watched the car disappear.
âQuite a beautiful lady,â a playful voice came from beside him, Scarlett in uniform, her gaze teasing.