The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 592

After his father remarried, things between them were never the same. Compared to Ethan, his father clearly preferred having his younger son inherit the Jenkins family empire.

A tremor ran through Leilani's heart. She had never expected the Jenkins family to go through such massive upheaval after she left. "So that's why you became a cop?"

Ethan offered a small smile, a hint of relief mingling in his expression. "I had to find something to do. Besides..." He paused for a moment. "When you're investigating cases, you get to see the true nature of humanity. You also get to help a lot of people. I find it pretty meaningful."

Leilani looked at him, suddenly at a loss for words. "And Nancy?" she asked softly.

At the mention of his grandmother, Ethan's tone softened. "She passed away last year. It was very peaceful. She even brought you up right before she left, wondering if you were living a good life now."

Leilani felt a lump rise in her throat and quickly lowered her head to hide her emotions.

Ethan watched her for a moment before suddenly asking, "What about you? Back with your biological parents... have you been doing well?"

Leilani lifted her gaze, meeting his eyes filled with concern, and offered a soft smile. "I've been doing well."

Leilani had never been the type to air her grievances. Instead of bringing up the years of hardships and heartaches, she simply glossed over them.

Ethan looked as if he wanted to pry further but ultimately just nodded. "That's good."

As the two of them chatted, neither noticed the figure lurking in the diagonal shadows across from the small diner. A man wearing a baseball cap leaned against the brick wall, toying with a smartphone in his hand. His gaze pierced through the crowd, locking dead onto their window-side table.

Inside, Leilani leaned forward slightly, resting her fingers gently on Ethan's arm as if offering comfort.

Ethan had his head bowed, his expression obscured by the dim lighting, but his tense shoulders noticeably relaxed. It was clear her words had successfully eased his mood.

Outside, the man raised an intrigued eyebrow. A silent smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he raised his phone and snapped a clear photo of the scene.

"Maggie and Nancy were both wonderful people," she said, her voice gentle. "If they could see you now, they'd be incredibly proud."

A flicker of emotion passed through Ethan's eyes, but he merely smiled. "If they knew I'd found you again, they'd be thrilled too."

Leilani slid into her car, watching through the rearview mirror as Ethan's figure gradually faded into the distance.

Leilani returned to the apartment right around dinnertime. Having just eaten with Ethan, she wasn't the least bit hungry. Still, she had promised Callahan she would spend the evening with him, and she wasn't about to stand him up. At the very least, she needed to head upstairs and keep him company for a chat.

When Leilani pushed open the door to Callahan's place, the living room was dimly lit by a single, warm-hued floor lamp.

Callahan was sitting on the sofa, a document in his hands. Hearing the commotion, he looked up. "You're back?"

"Yeah," Leilani replied. She swapped her shoes for slippers and walked over, taking a seat beside him. That was when she noticed the table completely covered with a full, untouched meal.