Chapter 25 - Jane Nua...The Police Chief

"Hi, Chief. But this time, I swear I didn't do anything wrong. These thieves tried to steal my aunt's bracelet," Ethan said, voicing his innocence.

Jane let out a frustrated sigh as she looked at the three thieves lying on the ground and instructed her subordinate, "What are you waiting for? Throw these three into the car and get the paperwork running. I will deal with this boy here."

"Uh…yes, Chief!" The officer awkwardly nodded as he quickly took out his cuffs and lifted up the thieves, who were still groaning in pain before dragging them into the police car.

"You took these three out all on your own?" Jane asked with a narrowed gaze and continued, "Feels like dejavu thinking about the first time I met you."

Ethan caressed his hair as he gave a modest smile and said, "Well…I just did what I had to get back the bracelet. And these guys weren't exactly playing nice."

"Haa…If I didn't know about your mother, I wouldn't have thought that someone like you could get bullied by a bunch of punks. Still, are they bothering you anymore?" Jane asked as her eyebrows drew together.

Ethan shook his head and said casually, "I appreciate your concern but don't worry. Those things are all in the past. You don't see me trying to buy any alcohol sneakily, right?"

Jane looked at him with squinted eyes before nodding slowly, "Good. I was anyway going to—"

"Chief, I have loaded them up. Can we go?" The male officer called out from behind.

Jane turned her neck around and waved her hand as she said, "You can leave. I will walk this boy back to the station."

"Okay, Chief," The male officer nodded as he drove away.

"The station? Why are you going to bring me there?" Ethan asked doubtfully.

Jane rolled her eyes and looked at him, "Do you have any idea how much of a fuss your aunt caused? Hearing the way she spoke about what happened, we literally thought as if you were going to die or something. So we rushed out quickly by tracking your phone and even took my gun with me," Jane said as she tapped on her gun holster.

She then looked at him as she continued with a squint, "Anyways, she is lucky that she has got a nephew like you who is willing to go so far to get back just a bracelet."

Ethan awkwardly chuckled, not feeling surprised hearing Jane talk about his aunt. He knew she gets easily worked up about these things out of concern, but at the same time, he was happy that she cared so much about him.

"Oh no! I have to get back to her," Ethan remembered that his aunt was probably still at the train station, feeling worried about him.

"Don't worry. She is at the station as I asked one of my subordinates to bring her there and calm her down. That is why I am walking you to the station. Come on," Jane said as she gestured to him to walk with her.

"Alright, Jane," Ethan said with a smile as he walked beside her.

Even though Jane was the chief police officer in this town, she was also Ethan's friend, especially after the two met from time to time due to various incidents.

In fact, Ethan met her two years ago, right when she was new to this town, and was the one who helped her nab a burglar who stole some money from the ATM and was running away right in front of their eyes.

Jane was the one who spooked him before he began to run while Ethan, who knew his way around the streets, quickly helped her catch him.

This was how the two got acquainted, and not long after, she demanded Ethan to be her city guide to show her around the place so that she could not only learn the layout of the city but also learn the shady streets and places thugs often hanged around.

He liked to help her out like this since he got to learn so many things from her, especially learning how to think from others' perspectives. At the same time catching bad guys made him feel good.

And the more he hung out with her, the more he couldn't help but feel amazed by her skills and perceptive mind, quickly being able to see through things. She was more like a mentor figure to him even though she wasn't pretending to be one.

He wished he had cool and badass teachers like her in his college. Then all his classes wouldn't seem so boring anymore.

But since the beginning of his college life, Ethan hadn't talked to Jane much, especially since he was going through a hard time and pretty much was isolating himself. And so the two were catching up as they walked.

The two talked about various things while walking, including even their daily lives, especially hers, where she talked about how she still hunts down bad guys while at times indulging herself in a certain hobby of hers.

The two soon reached the police station before they knew it, and Ethan let out a sigh of relief seeing his aunt impatiently waiting for him by sitting on the chair right inside the entrance.

"Ethan! You are back!" Alina jumped right towards Ethan as she hugged him tightly and inspected his face and body for possible injuries as she said in a chiding tone, "Next time, don't worry your aunt by running off like that. Do you know how worried I was when I saw you chasing those bad guys? Did they hurt you or—"

"Aunt, calm down," Ethan felt a bit embarrassed seeing his aunt getting emotional right before everyone in the police station.

Some of the male officers inside the station had their eyes burn with envy seeing this mature beauty hugging this young man, "Sigh…that kid is really lucky to have such a bombshell of an aunt."

"Calm your dirty mind, bro. You really see too many of those kinds of videos. If the Chief knew about it, she would have your ass handed to you on a platter."

"Shh, don't you dare betray me!"

"Aunt, I am perfectly okay, and here is your bracelet. I just can't let you lose it like that," Ethan gently pulled his aunt back and put the silver bracelet onto her wrist.

He saw how his aunt's fair skin was reddened, especially around her nose and cheeks, making him realize that she must have really felt anxious and worried about him.

However, he was happy to see her pure radiant smile when he helped her put on the bracelet onto her wrist. It was as if her smile brightened the surroundings around them and anyone who saw it.

"Ma'am, there is no need to overreact like this. Ethan is more than capable of taking on some petty thieves," Jane suddenly said firmly as she stood before the two while Ethan was a bit surprised seeing Jane intervene.

He wanted to say it was fine, but Alina grabbed onto his wrist and said in a low yet determined voice, "I know, but...that doesn't mean I cannot worry about him, especially since I am his aunt," As she said this Alina slowly lifted her gaze to look at Jane.

"Oh?" Jane said as she crossed her arms.

Ethan knew his aunt was overprotective of him, yet he didn't know why he felt there was some kind of tension building up in the air.

So in an attempt to lessen this tension, he subtly and smoothly made his aunt sit down on one of the chairs as he said, "Aunt, everything is fine now. Just relax, and I will come right back after I have a word with the chief."

Alina looked at him for a few moments before softly nodding with firmly pressed lips, "Of course. Aunt will wait here for you."

Ethan smiled and then immediately turned around and asked Jane, "Chief, can we?"

Jane let out a sigh as she shook her head and walked towards her office with Ethan following her behind.

Jane opened the door to her office, and as Ethan entered and closed the door behind, she said with a head shake, "Your aunt is quite the crybaby. Isn't she?"

Ethan dryly chuckled as he said, "She is just a bit sensitive. But that is what makes her cute."

"Cute?" Jane asked with raised brows as she looked at a slightly flustered Ethan, who quickly said with a smile, "Yeah, I mean, that is how she is usually like."

Jane shrugged as she sighed, "Alright. Let it be. Now, what did you want—"

"Oh my god…" Ethan suddenly mumbled before Jane could complete her sentence as he looked at the paper on the table and read what was written on it.