Chapter 005: Taken into Custody

At the entrance of the police station, a figure dressed in white hurried inside.
She wore a white embroidered blouse paired with a knee-length plaid skirt. Standing at about 5'6", her well-proportioned figure complemented her simple yet elegant attire, presenting a pleasing sight.
However, on her nearly flawless face, there was little sign of emotional fluctuation. At first glance, one could sense her cold demeanor, but beneath that coldness lay a hint of anxiety.
"Miss Lyson, you're here," two male officers approached, eagerly greeting the icy beauty.
"Where is my daughter?" Monica Lyson glanced at the two officers, her voice filled with urgency.
"Miss Lyson, there's no need to worry. Your daughter is perfectly fine and hasn't suffered any harm," Quinn Zorn said calmly as she walked over from the interrogation room area.
"Officer Zorn, please, take me to see my daughter right now," Monica said swiftly, looking at Quinn.
Noting Monica's evident anxiety, Quinn nodded. "Your daughter is in the lounge. Please follow me."
The sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. Inside the interrogation room, Ethan Thubron sat on a chair, listening to the voices outside. Gradually, his emotions settled.
He had weathered countless storms and witnessed too many joys and sorrows. His heart rarely stirred anymore, and even when it did, it was fleeting.
Since Monica was safe and sound, they would meet again eventually; there was no rush.
In the lounge, as soon as Monica saw her daughter, she abandoned her usual composure and coldness. Rushing forward, she embraced the little girl tightly, unwilling to let go.
To her, this child was everything—her life and her sole pillar of strength in this world.
Tears silently streamed down her cheeks. No matter how strong she appeared before others, she was, after all, a woman—a single mother.
Behind Monica stood a long-haired woman in a denim outfit. This woman, in her early twenties, had remained silent since entering the police station, almost blending into the background.
"Monica, Juliet must be tired. We should take her home to rest," the long-haired woman suggested after a long pause.
Monica discreetly wiped the tears from her face and stood up.
"Mommy, what about the uncle?" The little girl looked up at her mother, her tender voice filled with concern.
Hearing her daughter's words, Monica lowered her head.
"I want the uncle who saved me to come home with us," the little girl continued, gazing at her mother with her big eyes.
Monica smiled faintly. Though she didn't yet know the full story, from her daughter's few words, she had already pieced together much of it.
Despite rarely showing emotion, her smile was like the blossoming of spring flowers—indescribably beautiful.
"Anya, please look after Juliet for me," Monica said to the long-haired woman.
Anya nodded, stepping forward to take the little girl's hand.
"Officer Zorn, what's the situation? Did someone rescue Juliet before you arrived?" Monica asked Quinn politely as they left the lounge.
At Monica's inquiry, Quinn forced a bitter smile but nodded nonetheless.
"Where is he now? I'd like to meet and thank him," Monica said.
Quinn hesitated. To be honest, the man named Ethan Thubron unsettled her. She didn't know why, but she felt he was dangerous, like a beast ready to strike.
"Officer Zorn, is there a problem?" Monica asked again, noticing Quinn's hesitation.
"No, not at all. Please, follow me," Quinn finally said, forcing a smile before leading Monica toward the interrogation room.
When they reached the door, Monica paused, looking at Quinn in confusion.
"Officer Zorn, if he saved my daughter, why are you interrogating him? Has he committed a crime?"
"Miss Lyson, when he rescued your daughter, he injured and disabled nine kidnappers. Additionally, his personal information is incomplete, with a six-year gap," Quinn explained.
Monica's eyebrows arched slightly upon hearing this. She couldn't help but feel a growing curiosity about the man who had saved her daughter.
"Since he saved my daughter, I trust he's not a bad person. Please, let me see him," Monica said without further thought.
Quinn hesitated but eventually nodded and opened the interrogation room door.
Accompanied by Quinn, Monica stepped inside. The moment she entered, she froze in place.
Ethan Thubron sat there, a gentle smile on his face, quietly watching her.
Countless times in the dead of night, this face had appeared in her dreams. Through innumerable battles across the starry realms, it was his memory that had helped him endure.
Now, he finally saw the woman who had haunted his dreams once more.
However, upon reuniting, the once youthful and vibrant girl had lost her youthful glow. In its place was a cold beauty, much like that of the Celestial Maiden—a thought that sent a chill down Ethan's spine. He recalled how, years ago, he had accidentally stumbled upon the Celestial Maiden bathing in the Celestial Lake. Ever since, she had pursued him relentlessly. He evaded her for five hundred years, and she chased him just as long—a persistent shadow he couldn't shake.
Monica stood there, her eyes locked onto Ethan's. A myriad of emotions played across her stunning face.
The interrogation room was engulfed in a heavy silence.
Standing by the door, Quinn observed Monica's strange expression and Ethan's gentle smile, her heart filled with questions.
Her instincts told her that these two knew each other—and not just casually.
But she couldn't fathom how this seemingly ordinary man could be acquainted with Monica Lyson, the esteemed eldest daughter of the Lyson family, hailed as Yorkey's most talented and beautiful woman.
"Ethan?" Monica whispered softly.
The sound of his name snapped Monica out of her daze. Her exquisite face grew increasingly cold, her eyes reflecting an icy glare.
Seeing that familiar face felt like a bolt of lightning striking her. Her slender body swayed, nearly collapsing.
Once, she had given up everything for this man, even severing ties with her family. She had left the bustling city of Yorkey for the harshness of Westford, all because of him.
And what was the outcome?
When she became pregnant, this man vanished without a trace. Later, her mother told her that he had taken money from her father and left her.
Reality had dealt her a harsh blow, teaching her that sincere devotion doesn't always yield returns. Love, as it turned out, often couldn't withstand the tests of money and reality.
Recalling the difficult days when she was pregnant and alone in Westford, and the challenging years of building her career while raising her daughter, her heart filled with resentment toward the man who had abandoned her.
"So, they were all right. You are truly alive," Monica said, tilting her head back to gaze at the ceiling. A sorrowful smile formed on her lips as tears involuntarily streamed down her face.