Chapter 89 Familiar Eyes

Chapter 89 Familiar Eyes
As Louei fell into a deep sleep, River clicked his tongue in frustration. He had turned the steering wheel countless times, circling the same streets just to find the boy’s address.

"Sir, are you sure we’re just going to keep driving in circles?" River asked, glancing at the rearview mirror with his patience wearing thin.

Ethan nodded slowly, his gaze still locked on the small face beside him. "The child is sleeping. Would you have the heart to wake a sleeping kitten?"

River snorted inwardly but didn't dare to argue. He continued driving listlessly until he finally pulled up right in front of a flashy nightclub.

Slowly, Louei blinked his eyes open. "Uncle, are we there yet?" he asked in a voice raspy from sleep.

Ethan gently brushed Louei’s hair a gesture highly unusual for a man as cold as he was. "It seems not. You were sleeping so soundly that I didn't know where your house was."

Louei looked left and right, observing his surroundings before his small index finger pointed toward the club's large gate. "That’s where I live, Uncle."

"A club?" Ethan and River muttered in unison, exchanging glances with furrowed brows.

"So, you live here?" Ethan asked to make sure.

"Yes, Good Uncle. Mommy and I live here," he answered innocently, as if living in the middle of the nightlife's hustle and bustle was the most natural thing in the world.

A gentle tug on his hand snapped Ethan out of his thoughts. He looked down to find Louei staring at him expectantly.

"Uncle, let's go inside?" the boy invited.

Ethan gave a small start, then cleared his throat. "Ah, alright. Let’s go."

The two of them got out of the car. However, in a quiet corner of the yard, a woman stood frozen. Emily covered her mouth with trembling hands. Her heart seemed to stop beating as she took in the scene before her.

The two figures, looking so much alike, stood side by side in front of the club.

"Louei ... Ethan?" she whispered, her eyes welling up as the meeting she had dreaded most unfolded right before her eyes.

The sound of Louei’s knocking and shouting at the door immediately broke Emily’s trance.

"Mommy, open the door! Louei brought Good Uncle!" the boy shouted enthusiastically.

However, as Louei knocked again, a woman suddenly appeared from the side yard.

"Louei?" the woman called out.

Ethan turned, his brows knitting sharply as he stared at the strange woman who had just arrived. "Louei, is that your mother?" he asked suspiciously.

Before Louei could answer, the woman moved quickly, grabbing Louei’s hand and roughly covering his mouth. She appeared out of breath, forcing a smile in front of Ethan.

"I’m sorry, Sir ... has my son been a bother to you?" she asked in a forced tone, trying to hide her nervousness.

Louei began to struggle violently in the woman’s grip. His eyes widened in anger, sending a clear signal that the woman holding him was not Emily not his mother.

"Miss, is it true that Louei is your son?" Ethan asked, his eyes narrowing, intimidating the woman with his cold stare.

"Yes, Sir. He is my son," the woman answered quickly, her voice trembling slightly though she tried to sound convincing.

"Please forgive Louei he’s very naughty. I don't know how many men he’s brought here with all sorts of stories. Again, I apologize he is indeed difficult to manage."

Louei shook his head wildly. His eyes grew misty, pleading for help because the reality was nothing like what she said.

"If you'll excuse us, I’ll take him inside now, Sir. Thank you very much for bringing my son home," the woman continued hurriedly.

Without waiting for a response, she forcibly dragged Louei inside. Ethan remained rooted to the spot, staring at their retreating backs as they disappeared behind the door with an uneasy feeling in his gut.

River, who had been watching from a distance, approached with a flushed face.

"That brat! How could he play us like that!" River grumbled harshly. "Turns out he’s just a naughty kid who likes to trick people."

Ethan’s instincts rejected River’s words outright. As a man who grew up in a world full of deceit, he knew which eyes were lying and which were crying out for help. And Louei’s eyes earlier were clearly a silent scream.

"Shall we go, Sir? We still have time to meet the client," River suggested, glancing at his watch, trying to steer Ethan’s attention away from the family drama he considered trivial.

Ethan didn't budge. Instead of following River to the car, he slowly turned his head toward a corner of the building. His gaze, sharp as an eagle’s, scanned the shadows.

He was certain that someone had been watching them from the darkness. Someone holding their breath, hiding in silence, and perhaps holding the key to all this strangeness.

River looked on in confusion as Ethan remained motionless. "Sir?"

"Shhh!" Ethan hissed sharply. He raised his hand, signaling River to stay quiet. With slow steps, Ethan approached the shadow at the corner of the building.

In one swift motion, Ethan managed to grab a small wrist. A woman gasped, her face hidden behind a mask that added an air of mystery.

"You?" Ethan hissed in surprise.

The masked woman struggled, trying to pull away from Ethan’s grip. However, instead of speaking, she only stared at him with a look that was hard to read.

Her fingers moved rapidly, forming lithe hand signals. \[What are you doing here?\] she asked in silent sign language.

Ethan narrowed his eyes, his jaw tightening as he felt toyed with. "I should be the one asking you," Ethan replied coldly. "What are you doing lurking here like a thief?"

The woman paused for a moment, then calmly moved her fingers again. \[I was just picking flowers in the yard.\]

Ethan snorted cynically, not believing a word of such a nonsensical excuse. He stepped forward, pinning her against the wall.

As the distance between them closed, Ethan froze. In the clear eyes behind the mask, there was a familiar glint as if he were looking into Emily’s eyes. Ethan’s heart suddenly began to race uncontrollably.

\[What do you want?\] the woman’s fingers moved right in front of Ethan’s chest, maintaining a sliver of space between them as her back hit the wall.