Chapter 88 They look identical

Chapter 88 They look identical
The street suddenly fell silent. River, who had been laughing mockingly just a moment ago, was instantly struck dumb. His laughter died the second he saw the scene unfolding before him. Meanwhile, Ethan the man dubbed "The Devil" for his ruthlessness in the business world simply stared blankly at the squashed, melted chocolate bar in that tiny hand.

"Is this enough, Uncle?" Louei asked again, his voice a tiny squeak.

Ethan slowly stepped closer. The crushing pressure of his intimidation made Louei duck his head even further, until his chin touched his chest.

That little brat really has a death wish, River muttered to himself. He stood ready to intervene, worried his boss would explode in rage at being insulted with a cheap, nearly ruined candy bar.

But then, something extraordinary happened. Ethan dropped to one knee in front of Louei, bringing them eye to eye. With a slow, deliberate movement, he took the chocolate. His long, cold fingers brushed against Louei’s warm skin.

"Are you sure you want to pay me with this chocolate bar?" Ethan asked.

"Yes, Uncle ... it's all I have. Will ... will you please be my mommy's bodyguard?" Louei answered, his eyes brimming with tears.

Ethan went silent for a moment. He peeled back a bit of the silver foil and took a bite of the melted end. His face remained an expressionless mask, but his eyes flashed sharply toward River, who was standing there with his mouth agape.

"My fees are very expensive," Ethan said coldly. "But fine. I accept your offer. I consider your mother's protection debt paid in full with this."

River gasped so hard he nearly choked on his own spit. "Boss?! Are you kidding me? You’re going to be a bodyguard for this kid's mom? For God's sake, it’s just cheap chocolate."

Ethan stood up straight, returning to his towering, intimidating self. "The Devil" persona enveloped him once more. "I never joke about a transaction. So, where do I start working, kiddo?"

River snorted in frustration, unable to wrap his head around it. Ethan had just tossed away a multi million dollar business deal for a few cents' worth of melted chocolate.

Louei looked up, his large eyes sparkling with relief even as leftover tears clung to his lashes. "Thank you, Uncle! Wait a second, let me grab my school bag! I'll take you to meet Mama!"

As he watched the boy run off, Ethan wiped a smudge of chocolate from the corner of his lip.

"You certainly know how to soften a Devil," Ethan murmured softly. "And that is a very rare skill in this world."

River watched Louei’s small back disappear behind the classroom door, his face a mask of disbelief. As soon as the boy was out of sight, he turned to Ethan, looking completely frustrated.

"Boss, come on. Stop the joke," River urged, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a serious whisper. "We have a meeting with the Russian delegation in thirty minutes. That contract is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and you’re going to throw it away for some kid’s game and a cheap chocolate bar?"

Ethan didn't budge. He remained standing in front of the quiet school, his fingers slowly folding the empty chocolate wrapper and tucking it into the pocket of his expensive suit jacket.

"Let’s go now, before the kid comes back. I'll handle the rest I'll send some men to make sure the kid’s mother is safe if that’s what you’re worried about," River continued, trying to snap Ethan out of his apparent daze.

Instead, Ethan turned to him with a look that froze River in his tracks. It was cold, sharp, and absolute the same look he used when crushing business rivals without mercy.

"Since when do you have the right to cancel my deals, River?" Ethan asked calmly, though his tone was threatening.

"It’s not that, Boss, but this ... this doesn't make sense! You are Ethan Limson. The world trembles at your name. And now you want to play 'bodyguard'? This is ridiculous."

"I just ate my payment," Ethan replied flatly, glancing toward Louei’s classroom. "And in my world, once a deal is struck, there is no going back. If I break a contract over a chocolate bar, how am I any different from the street rats who have no honor?"

River was about to protest again when the sound of hurried footsteps echoed. Louei ran out with a backpack that looked far too large for his small frame, his face flushed with excitement.

"Uncle! I'm ready!" Louei shouted breathlessly, grabbing the hem of Ethan’s suit jacket with his tiny hand, completely fearless.

Ethan looked down at the small hand, then glanced at River, who could only slap his own forehead in resignation.

"Get in the car," Ethan ordered Louei curtly.

"Yes, Uncle Bodyguard!" Louei chirped happily.

Ignoring River, who was still standing there frozen, Ethan began to follow the boy’s lead toward the car as if the child were the one in charge.

"This makes absolutely no sense!" River snapped under his breath.

The luxury car glided silently through the streets. In the backseat, an atmosphere that was usually tense and filled with intimidation had shifted into a scene that would seem impossible to anyone who knew Ethan.

Louei, his energy completely spent after the school drama, was fast asleep. His head rested comfortably in Ethan’s lap, while his small hand still gripped the edge of the man’s expensive jacket.

Ethan sat in silence, staring out the window. But instinctively, his fingers moved. With a movement so gentle it was as if he were afraid of breaking something fragile, he stroked the top of Louei’s head. The boy’s hair was soft, and for some reason, the touch sent a strange sensation through Ethan’s chest.

"Why am I so drawn to you?" Ethan whispered almost inaudibly.

In the driver’s seat, River couldn't fully focus on the road. His eyes kept darting to the rearview mirror, watching the bizarre interaction. However, it wasn't just Ethan’s uncharacteristic gentleness that shocked him.

River frowned, squinting as he studied the details of Louei’s sleeping face. He looked at Ethan, then back at Louei.

That jawline, the shape of the nose, even the way their eyebrows knit together slightly in their sleep.

River swallowed hard. This strangeness was starting to mess with his head. Louei wasn't just some random kid he looked like a miniature version of the man they called The Devil.

"Boss ..." River dared to speak, breaking the silence.

"Quiet, River. You'll wake my Little Boss," Ethan cut him off coldly, without taking his eyes off Louei.

River went silent, but his mind was screaming. "Boss? He’s calling the cheap chocolate kid his boss? And for God's sake, they're the spitting image of each other!"