Ethan stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around his neck. To his surprise, Evelyn was already awake and had just come out of the room.
"Good morning," She said first.
"Morning," He replied. "Did you rest well?"
She nodded, walking towards him with a smile. Before Ethan could react, she hugged him and whispered, "I love you, Ethan."
For a moment, Ethan’s body froze, and he couldn’t reply.
’This...’
He found it a bit difficult to say those words to her, especially when she was another man’s wife.
[No, she is now your wife and would remain so. You are now Ethan Hale.]
’So there’s really no going back, huh?’
He thought with a sigh. He had considered his transmigration temporary. However, it seemed he was wrong.
"Ethan?" Evelyn shifted in his embrace, wondering why he hadn’t responded.
Did he not love her?
Smiling, he raised his arms and hugged her back.
"Yes, dear. I... love you too."
’I will devote myself to loving you, then.’
He could feel Evelyn tremble slightly, and a satisfied smile spread across her face.
[Family Happiness: 12%]
Seeing the sudden increase, Ethan was surprised. He pulled back and looked at her. She had a beautiful face, charming grey eyes, and snowy-white hair cascading down her shoulders.
For a moment, Ethan allowed himself to let go of his obsession with Cynthia, and he felt his heart skip a beat. Not for the phantom woman in his mind, but for the woman standing before him.
"Um... Ethan?"
She called out to him while avoiding his gaze with a blush. Something about the way he looked at her made her shy.
Ethan gently planted his lips on her forehead, then pulled back.
"You should go wake Nora up. I’ll prepare something before we leave."
Evelyn nodded and returned to the room with him. While she gently patted Nora’s arms to wake her, Ethan put on comfortable clothes and went to the kitchen.
Knowing that they would be heading to the shop immediately after breakfast, he didn’t prepare a heavy meal.
He only cooked a moderate amount of pasta, ensuring that it was going to be a memorable meal just like every other one he had made for them.
In less than an hour, the family of three gathered at the dining table and began to eat.
"Good morning, Dad," Nora greeted him as she took her seat.
Ethan smiled and ruffled her hair. "Good morning, dear. Did you sleep well?"
Nora nodded, a faint smile on her lips. Satisfied, Ethan returned to eating quietly.
Meanwhile, Nora was increasingly astonished by how good the food was. ’Dad isn’t always this good. What changed?’
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t let it show in her expression.
"Honey, this is really good. Won’t you teach me?" Evelyn asked, pausing her meal and looking at him with puppy eyes.
Both father and daughter froze, looking at her in surprise.
Nora smiled and shook her head. ’Mom is still too trusting...’
Meanwhile, Ethan felt a flicker of something he couldn’t recognize when she called him with such an endearing title.
He smiled and answered, "Of course, I can teach you. But what would you teach me in return?"
Evelyn blinked, caught off guard. "Um... is there something you want to learn that I can teach you?"
"Perhaps? We’ll find out eventually." He chuckled and returned to eating.
Evelyn did the same, and they ate quietly.
After a ten-minute rest to let their food settle, they finally left the house.
Ethan handed the keys to Evelyn and said, "I’ll be heading to Cole’s office after dealing with my own business. So, I might be back a little late. Take care of yourself, alright?"
Evelyn nodded with a smile.
"Alright, see you later. Call me if you need anything." He turned to Nora and crouched before her. "Is there something you want me to buy for you?"
Nora’s eyes narrowed, and she demanded, "I want a teddy bear!"
Ethan nodded and ruffled her hair. "Alright, dear. A teddy bear, it is."
He stood up and began to walk away under their gazes.
Raising her head to look at her mother, Nora tugged her hand.
"Mommy, why do you love daddy so much?"
Evelyn froze, then looked at her with a smile. "It doesn’t really have a reason. I chose to love him with all my heart, and I’m happy with it."
"I see..." Nora nodded. ’As long as mom is happy...’
The two of them headed to the market and quickly arrived at their shop. Evelyn greeted the other sellers around her, and they replied perfunctorily.
After all, Evelyn’s shop had been gaining popularity lately, far surpassing theirs.
The young woman didn’t care. She quietly opened the shop and waited for the delivery bus to arrive. Once the delivery arrived, she bought different fruits using Ethan’s recommendations, then arranged them just as Ethan had taught her. Just as she placed the last fruit basket beside the display area, she spotted Cassie approaching her shop.
"Hey, Cassie! Good morning!"
She greeted with a happy smile.
The young woman also smiled back and immediately hugged her once they were close enough.
"You’re surprisingly radiant this morning. Did you finally divorce that Ethan guy?"
Evelyn froze, looking at her friend in disbelief. "What...? No. We didn’t get a divorce. Why would you say that?"
Cassie’s eyes narrowed. "Have you forgotten what we talked about yesterday? Where is he anyway?"
Evelyn sighed and explained, "He went to deal with some troublemakers at the bar..."
"Hah? Deal with troublemakers?" Cassie smacked her own forehead. "Eve, can you open your eyes for once? That guy obviously went to drink and probably play with some other women again."
Evelyn frowned, and she shook her head. "It’s not what you’re thinking, Cass. Ethan wouldn’t lie to me."
"Wouldn’t lie to you?" Cassie repeated with a sigh. "Eve, do you realize how ridiculous that sounds right now? It’s like you’re trusting the devil!"
"Daddy isn’t a devil!" Nora retorted, having appeared beside them at some point.
Glaring at Cassie fiercely, she said it again. "Daddy isn’t a devil!"
’At least not yet.’
Cassie looked at her in surprise, then smiled. "Little Nora, why would I call your dad a devil? I was just joking. Sorry, okay?"
Nora snorted but didn’t reply.
Not wanting to continue the conversation, Evelyn immediately switched the topic.
"Hey, Cassie. How’s your boyfriend? Has he finally proposed?"
Masking her displeasure behind a smile, Cassie answered.
...
Meanwhile, Ethan finally arrived before a familiar building that stood out in a dark alley. Two thugs stood at the door, smoking.
’This place sure brings the unpleasant memories...’
Ethan smiled and walked towards the building.