Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 515: Chapter 515

"Laurel, why don't you come out and have some oatmeal? Dorothy cooked it for two hours. Are you okay?" Sophina's face was full of concern as her eyes fixed on me, sensing the rare trace of fear in my expression.
I shook my head and rubbed my drowsy eyes, feeling disoriented. I hadn't realized that I'd only closed my eyes for a moment, yet two full hours had passed.
"I'll be out in a minute," I said, my voice still rough and tinged with the laziness of just waking up.
Sophina nodded slightly at my words, then turned and left the room quietly, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.
I quickly gathered myself and stepped out of the room. Standing by the window, the sunlight streamed through the glass, warming my skin, but it did nothing to ease the anxiety that weighed heavily on my mind.
I picked up my phone and sent Harold a message, agreeing to work with him. No matter his intentions, Alex's leg injury was the priority right now, and Harold promised to send someone to treat him immediately.
As soon as I sent the message, my phone rang abruptly. It was Marvin calling.
"Laurel, are you okay? I was in a meeting and didn't have my phone," Marvin's voice came through, tinged with urgency. It was clear he was a bit frustrated.
The case with Wilhelm was still unsolved, and Liesel's suicide case had no leads. Now, they had another woman's body found by the river.
'Looks like their task force has their hands full.'
"I'm fine. I just wanted to ask if you've identified the woman found by the river yet."
'I plan to mention Harold, but as the words almost slip out, I hesitate. It's better to keep the collaboration to myself for now. If Marvin finds out, he'll try to stop me. Honestly, I'm not ready to fully trust Harold yet.'
"After the woman's body was discovered, the family came to the station looking for her," Marvin said, pausing before asking with concern, "Alex didn't give you any trouble, did he?"
"No," I replied.
"Good. When you have some free time, come by the station and make a statement," Marvin said, switching back to his professional tone. But then, as if remembering something, he quickly changed his mind. "Never mind, I'll have Ethan come pick you up to save you the hassle."
'I know he's not worried about the hassle—he's concerned I might run into danger again.'
About half an hour after the call ended, the doorbell rang with a sharp chime. I opened the door to find Ethan standing there, dressed neatly with his signature grin on his face, radiating energy and vitality.
"Laurel, Marvin sent me to pick you up," he said, his voice bright.
Ethan, standing in front of me, was in his mid-twenties and had been working with Marvin ever since graduating from the police academy.
I got into the car and absentmindedly noticed a small protective charm on the dashboard. I reached out and ran my fingers over it, then casually asked, "Ethan, have you found any new leads about the Light Beacon Clinic?"
Ethan's hand jerked, the steering wheel shaking in response. For a split second, his eyes betrayed a flash of panic.
After a brief hesitation, he pressed his lip and spoke in a low voice. "Laurel, you should stop asking about Wilhelm's case. Marvin said it was too dangerous. You shouldn't be looking into it. The leads we have are barely enough, and with the current circumstances, Arianna will likely only get three years. And, with her depression, her sentence might even be shorter."
As he spoke, he carefully glanced at me from the corner of his eye, his expression filled with worry. He was clearly afraid I would press him for more details.
Seeing his unease, I decided not to press him any further about the case. My gaze shifted to his hand, where a shiny new watch gleamed in the sunlight, catching my eye.
"Is that a new watch?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Ethan blinked in surprise, then broke into a bashful smile, running a hand through his hair. A faint blush spread across his cheeks, giving him the air of a shy young man. "Oh, it's a birthday gift from my girlfriend. I've been wearing it for over six months now."
At the mention of his girlfriend, a soft sweetness flickered in his eyes.
"Do you know Wilhelm?" I tossed the question at him without warning, my voice steady but my gaze sharp and unyielding.
Ethan's smile froze instantly, and the car jolted sharply, veering dangerously close to the edge of the lane.
He gripped the wheel in a panic, his eyes darting away, but his face remained unnervingly calm. "I don't know him," he said, his voice rising a fraction as if trying to make his lie sound more convincing.
"So, what about your girlfriend?" I turned slowly, locking my gaze on him, not missing a single flicker of emotion across his face. "It's Arianna, right? You two share the same tattoo. And Brady—he's the one taking the fall for you, isn't he?"
My voice was soft, but there was an undeniable certainty in my tone.
Ethan's face drained of color in an instant, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and his hand trembled slightly on the steering wheel.
He opened his mouth to argue, but his throat tightened, leaving him silent and unsure where to begin.
The car sped up without him realizing, but I kept my eyes fixed on him, unwavering.
I took a deep breath, my expression calm as I spoke again. "We always believed the one who could make Wilhelm let his guard down would be someone close to him. But we overlooked another possibility—that it could be someone's profession that gives him a sense of security."
I exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the words settle.
If the person was a police and someone Wilhelm knew, it would be only natural for him to let his guard down.
Ethan's Adam's apple bobbed as he struggled to swallow, his eyes wide with shock and confusion. It took him a long moment before he finally spoke, his voice trembling. "Laurel... how could you think that?"
"Ethan, stop hiding it," I said, my gaze soft with a hint of regret. "The tattoo with Arianna, your avoidance of this case—it's all too obvious. Brady is loyal, but he shouldn't be paying for a mistake that isn't his fault."
Ethan's eyes flickered with panic, but he quickly denied it. "Laurel, you're mistaken. There are plenty of people with the same tattoo. I just thought it was fun, and I don't know Arianna that well."
As he spoke, he glanced at me out of the corner of his eye.
I ignored his defense and continued, "Mr. Martin never mentioned your name before he died. But what about you? You knew how much he cared about Henry, and you used Henry's life to threaten him."
Anger and disappointment laced my voice as I held his gaze.
Only those closest to a person truly know their weaknesses, and no one understood Brady better than Ethan. After all, Brady had always treated him like a brother, ever since Ethan had lost his parents.
Ethan's body stiffened, his grip on the steering wheel tightening, his knuckles turning white.
He remained silent for a long moment. Then, a smirk tugged at his lips. "Laurel, do you have evidence? A matching tattoo doesn't prove anything. And Brady's death has nothing to do with me. I suggest you take care of yourself first."