The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 591

Sure enough, Leilani was still the same Leilani. A smile unconsciously surfaced in Ethan's eyes.

Of course, expressing his gratitude was only secondary. Ethan hadn't forgotten the other purpose of inviting her to this dinner. After giving her a brief rundown of the work she might need to coordinate with the police department in the future, the two old childhood friends naturally fell into catching up on life.

"The spicy pepper steak here is fantastic. I remember you used to love spicy food," Ethan said, sliding the menu across the table to Leilani.

Leilani looked at him in pleasant surprise. "You still remember?"

Ethan poured her a cup of coffee, the corners of his lips curling upward. "You used to crash family dinners at my grandmother's house all the time when we were kids, and you'd always pile hot sauce onto every dish. With such an obvious preference, of course I remember."

Leilani couldn't help but laugh. "That's only because Nancy's cooking was always so bland."

Speaking of their childhood, a nostalgic expression unconsciously washed over both of their faces.

"I remember my grandmother always saying that eating such spicy food wasn't good for a little girl, and she could never figure out how you developed such a taste for it."

Ethan looked at Leilani with a gentle gaze. "Looking back on it now, it must be genetics."

"Ever since you were reunited with your biological family, my grandmother kept talking about you. A sweet old lady who never touched a single chili pepper in her life actually learned how to pickle jalapeños just for you. I don't know if you still enjoy them, but I'll bring you a jar sometime."

Thinking back to the kind, gentle-faced old lady from her memories, Leilani felt a swell of warmth in her chest. She lowered her head to take a sip of her coffee. "By the way, why did you choose to become a cop? With your family's background, I'm surprised you didn't go into business."

In truth, she had wanted to ask him this question the very first time they reunited. From what she remembered, the Jenkins family was always quite wealthy. They were practically considered local elites in their neighborhood. Why hadn't he inherited the family business, choosing such a grueling profession instead?

Leilani's fingers tightened slightly around her cup. She couldn't even begin to imagine how devastated Ethan must have been back then.

Leilani remembered Maggie fondly. In her memories, Maggie was an incredibly gentle and kind soul. Growing up, Leilani had been the recipient of so much goodwill from both Nancy and Maggie.

So, even as an outsider, hearing about Maggie's passing filled Leilani with profound regret. Not to mention what it must have done to her son, Ethan.

"I'm so sorry, I had no idea..." she murmured.

Ethan shook his head. "It's been a long time."

His tone was eerily calm, as if he were recounting someone else’s story. "After my mother passed, my father remarried very quickly, and my stepmother had a son. Now, the family business is pretty much entirely in his hands."