Chapter 565 Reminder

Dorian let out a heavy sigh, feeling like he’d picked the wrong crowd to hang with. Sure, his bond with Ethan was rocky, but at least they’d gotten to know each other through some good old-fashioned beef.

"Alright, spill it. Why'd you come to me outta the blue? Can't just be for a chat, right?" Dorian cut to the chase.

"You said it yourself, last night’s mess seems like someone’s out to get me. You’ve got some pull in Everglow, so you gotta help me figure this out, right?" Ethan locked eyes with Dorian, laying it on thick.

"You got some nerve, man. You don’t even know what’s up, and you expect me to play detective? What makes you think I can pull that off?" Dorian rolled his eyes, feeling the urge to call Ethan out for his audacity. But he held back. Ethan’s connections were no joke, and even Ethan himself was becoming a bit of a mystery.

"Who else am I gonna turn to in Everglow? I got no other friends here. Unless you’re saying we’re not friends?" Ethan shot back, raising an eyebrow.

Dorian cursed Ethan in his head for being so shameless. He knew Ethan had way more clout in Everglow than he did.

There were the Millers, the Harrises, and even the Wilsons, not to mention backers from the Martinez and Walker families. Ethan just didn’t want his own crew getting mixed up in this mess.

Despite his inner grumbling, Dorian played it cool, acting like he didn’t know the extent of Ethan’s influence. He nodded and said, "Alright, what do you need from me?"

"Find the missing Giuseppe for me," Ethan snapped his fingers, finally laying out his request.

Dorian’s face fell, and his mouth twitched. Finding Giuseppe was basically solving the whole case.

"Can I be real with you?" After a long pause, Dorian looked at Ethan, a bitter smile on his face.

"Of course." Ethan nodded seriously.

"I can’t do that." Dorian decided to play it straight, throwing up his hands in defeat.

"Wow, you’re blunt. So, no room for negotiation?" Ethan’s fingers drummed lightly on the table, his thoughts a mystery.

"Look, I can’t find Giuseppe, but I can point you in the right direction," Dorian shifted gears.

"Alright, I’m listening." Ethan perked up, eyes locked on Dorian with a grin.

"Did you get your hands on some Sacred wood recently?" Dorian asked after a moment of silence.

Ethan’s grin widened. It seemed the mystery enemy had a motive.

"Why are you grinning like an idiot? Don’t tell me you’re clueless." Dorian was exasperated by Ethan’s reaction.

"I owe you one. If something else comes up, I’ll hit you up." Ethan suddenly stood, dragging the still-surprised Angela with him as he turned to leave.

"The coffee hasn’t even come yet. You’re not gonna stick around for it?" Dorian called after him.

"You drink it; I’m not paying anyway." Ethan’s voice floated back from outside.

"What kinda riddles are you two playing at? What did he say you got that’s tied to all this?" Outside the teahouse, Angela finally grabbed Ethan and demanded.

"It’s not clear yet, but Dorian jogged my memory." Ethan shook his head, still surprised that his random actions had set the stage for today’s mess. He didn’t expect even Dorian to be in the loop. It seemed like, whether abroad or at home, a lot of folks had their eyes on him.

"So, what’s the plan now?" Angela asked, frowning.

"If they’re after something I’ve got, it makes things simpler." Ethan grinned.

Seeing he wasn’t gonna spill more, Angela let it go. They flagged a cab and headed straight home.

When they walked in, Cynthia, who was watching TV in the living room, jumped up and asked, "Why are you just getting home now? You were out all night!"

"Something came up, so we swung by Norman’s place." Angela shot a glance at Ethan before explaining. No need to freak Cynthia out with all the details.

"I heard something big went down last night. Matteo’s dead, and Giuseppe’s missing. Does this have anything to do with you?" Cynthia, clearly in the know, asked nervously.

"We’re looking into it, so don’t stress. It’s got nothing to do with you," Angela tried to reassure her.

"I knew it had something to do with you. This kind of thing can be serious. Be careful and don’t make me worry," Cynthia said, still looking anxious.

If she knew what really went down at the RD Club last night, including Ethan and Angela being suspects, she’d be even more freaked out.

"Don’t worry, as long as I’m around, nothing’s gonna happen to Angela," Ethan said, glancing at Angela and flashing a reassuring smile.

"With you saying that, I feel better. I know you’re capable, and I trust you with Angela." Cynthia’s face relaxed a bit, showing more relief than worry.

"Mom, I feel like I’m not even your real daughter. Why does my word mean nothing, but his does?" Angela said, feeling a bit miffed at Cynthia’s unwavering trust in Ethan.

"Don’t be silly. If you were as capable as Ethan, I’d trust you too," Cynthia snorted seriously.

"I’m starving. Can we get lunch going? Dad should be back soon, right?" Angela changed the subject to distract Cynthia.

"Lunch is ready; we’re just waiting for your dad." As soon as Cynthia finished speaking, they heard a car pull up outside. Lorenzo was home.

When Lorenzo walked in, he saw Ethan and Angela and frowned.

"You’re finally back. Sit down and eat," Cynthia called out, not noticing Lorenzo’s odd expression.

Lorenzo opened his mouth but decided against saying anything.

During lunch, Ethan and Angela kept chatting with Cynthia to keep her from noticing anything off.

"I’m done. If you two are finished, come to my study. I’ve got something to ask you," Lorenzo said, putting down his utensils and heading upstairs.

"He’s still putting on airs at home," Cynthia grumbled, watching Lorenzo’s back.

Ethan and Angela exchanged a knowing look. It was clear Lorenzo wanted to talk about last night’s events.

Billionaire After Divorce
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