The grocery store
At the beginning of the novel, we are told that Ethan works as a clerk at a grocery store. Later, we discover that Ethan's ancestors once owned the grocery store in an ironic twist of fate.
Like father, like son
After Ethan's family celebrate their reclaimed fortune, Ethan discovers that his son has won an essay competition for a plagiarized essay. Ethan's son does not feel remorse for his actions, which ironically reflects Ethan's own lack of guilt for his actions.
The owner of the grocery store
Ethan reports the current owner of the grocery store to the authorities for being an illegal immigrant. The owner trusts Ethan, and therefore ironically gives him the shop as a gift despite the betrayal.
