Chapter 4: Ms. Police Officer

Words : 1754 Updated : Oct 9th, 2024

Ethan didn't resist as the policewoman fastened the metal cuffs onto his wrists. He looked down at them with disdain; even with his Nascent Soul and powers depleted, his physical body alone was beyond what the mortal world's tools could restrain. If he wanted, just a slight exertion of force would be enough to shatter the cuffs. But to avoid unnecessary trouble, he chose not to make a scene. So, Ethan, the little girl who shared his bloodline, and the street thugs he'd left incapacitated were all brought to the police station. In the cramped interrogation room, Ethan sat in handcuffs, with Quinn sitting across from him, studying a case file with a stern expression. Ethan glanced around, finding the situation somewhat amusing. For a thousand years, he had reigned in the starry realm as Lord Stellar. He was a force commanding respect. Now, upon his return to Earth, he found himself in a cell as a suspect, handcuffed and guarded. If those in the starry realm ever heard of this, it would surely be the joke of the century. "Your name is Ethan?" Quinn set the file on the table and looked directly at him. Ethan remained silent, his cold gaze fixed on the officer in front of him, uninterested in her questioning. This indifference irritated Quinn. She'd dealt with countless people before, yet she'd never met anyone with such arrogance. His demeanor wasn't an act; it felt like an unshakable detachment shaped over ages, as though none of this—including her—was worth his time. And indeed, during Ethan's rule, mere mortals like Quinn would not have registered on his radar. "Ma'am, I believe you're wasting time. If I haven't committed any crime, please release me—I have more pressing matters to attend to," Ethan said coolly. "The records show that you went on an expedition to Mount Fulcrum with a group of hikers six years ago. Then, you fell into a cliff and disappeared, with no trace left for years. Can you explain where you've been all this time?" Quinn leaned forward. Ethan had no answer for her. The modern world's networks were simply too far-reaching; for now, explaining his six-year absence was impossible. So he chose silence. Quinn felt her temper flare again. This man had a way of pushing her buttons, drawing out emotions she rarely let slip. "Don't think you can just stay silent and walk free. I could throw you in jail just for breaking those thugs' limbs," she said, her fists clenched. A frostiness appeared in Nathan's eyes as he lifted his head to look at Quinn. Under his intense stare, Quinn felt as though a beast had its sights on her. A cold chill ran down her spine as an unfamiliar fear gnawed at her. The interrogation room fell into an icy silence. Moments later, Quinn snapped back, glanced at Ethan, then hurriedly left the room, feeling like she needed air. Outside, she took a deep breath and glanced back at the door, her mind still on the man within. "Quinn, here's some coffee." a young officer handed her a cup. Quinn took a sip. "That guy hit the jackpot, saving Monica's daughter. I'm sure she'll reward him handsomely," the officer remarked. The nearby officers perked up when they heard the woman's name. "Monica is famous in Southsea for her cold and aloof demeanor. Not a single man had attracted her attention. Do you think that little girl is really her daughter?" one of the older officers stated. "The girl's father's identity is probably known only to Monica. She's the eldest daughter of Yorkey's Lyson family, so an unwed pregnancy was a huge scandal for them. The father is likely… gone," another speculated. Quinn, overhearing their gossip, glared at the young officer. "Watch your words; this is the police station, and we're professionals." The officer shrank back, grinning awkwardly. "Monica's affairs are none of our business. You'd do well not to gossip. If word of this gets to her or her family, we'll be in trouble," Quinn warned. Ethan listened to the chatter from the other side of the interrogation room's wall, his thoughts drifting back to six years ago. He remembered setting off with his group for that ill-fated expedition up Mount Fulcrum. As they scaled the cliff, the rope he'd double-checked beforehand snapped, making him suspect now that it had been tampered with. Learning of Monica's prestigious background explained much. He'd never known that his talented girlfriend belonged to a powerful family in Yorkey. No wonder she'd been reticent about her family whenever he'd asked. The "ice queen" moniker was something Ethan couldn't reconcile with the lively, warm woman he remembered. Monica was never aloof or cold; she was intelligent and gentle, and in their time together, she'd always been affectionate with him. Ethan wondered what had happened in these intervening years to change her, to turn her into someone so distant. "Quinn, Ms. Lyson is here." Hearing this, Ethan's head snapped up, his heart—long subdued by the passage of time—stirring. A thousand years of waiting, endless days of longing, a perilous journey through the stars, all for this chance to see her once again.

Chapter 4: Ms. Police Officer

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