Chapter 82
The shadowy figure was none other than Ethan.
Elisa, who had tensed up thinking another intruder had come, finally let out a breath of relief—only to stiffen again when she realized he was empty-handed and alone.
There were three assailants, all armed.
Ethan couldn’t possibly handle them by himself.
The intruders, startled for a moment by Ethan’s sudden appearance, quickly regained their confidence when they saw he carried no weapon.
“Well, look who came walking into his own grave! The guts on this bastard!”
The man who had kicked Elisa in the stomach drew a dagger from his belt and charged at Ethan.
The air thickened with danger, but Ethan didn’t flinch. Instead, he watched the man closely. When the distance between them narrowed, he kicked a splintered piece of wood from the floor.
“Urgh!”
The shard struck the assailant squarely in the shin.
He screamed in pain, stumbling back. Ethan didn’t miss his chance—he darted forward and twisted the man’s wrist sharply.
“Aagh!”
The sound of bone cracking filled the air as the man dropped his dagger.
Ethan kicked it away and delivered a hard punch to the man’s abdomen.
The attacker flew backward and didn’t move again.
It had been less than five minutes since Ethan entered the warehouse.
Elisa could only stare, mouth agape.
Once upon a time, this man hadn’t been able to kill a chicken—yet here he was, effortlessly subduing armed men.
Then a thought struck her—Noah!
She turned quickly toward her son, worried the violent sight might terrify him. Noah usually cried and curled up whenever he saw people fighting.
But not this time.
His eyes sparkled brighter than the night stars as he watched his father.
“You bastard!”
“You’re dead meat!”
The remaining two assailants, finally snapping out of their daze, charged at Ethan together.
Ethan ducked swiftly, dodging their swinging clubs, and snatched the fallen dagger off the floor. Then he plunged it deep into the thigh of the nearest man.
“Aaaagh!”
The man’s scream echoed through the warehouse as blood poured from his leg. Ethan kicked him down and turned to face the last attacker.
Only one remained.
“Damn it…”
Realizing Ethan wasn’t an ordinary opponent, the final man cursed under his breath and suddenly lunged—not at Ethan, but at Elisa and Noah.
Ethan sensed his intent and rushed after him, but the man was faster.
He grabbed Noah, pressing the dagger to the boy’s delicate throat.
“Don’t move! One more step and the kid dies!”
Noah’s bright eyes filled instantly with terror.
Ethan froze, his fists trembling. He wanted nothing more than to rush in and save his son—but one wrong move could be fatal.
What should I do?
Then, suddenly—
“…!”
Elisa, her hands and feet still bound, summoned every ounce of strength and threw herself against the man.
The attacker staggered off balance, and in that instant Ethan dashed forward. In a blur, he pulled Noah from the man’s grasp and slammed the attacker to the ground.
Ethan didn’t stop there. Rage burning in his eyes, he punched the man’s face again and again—punishment for daring to use his son as a hostage.
The dull, heavy thuds echoed until the man’s face was unrecognizable.
Eventually, the attacker went limp, unconscious.
Only then did Ethan stop. He wiped his bloody hand on the man’s clothes, then went to free Noah.
“You okay?”
Noah nodded vigorously, tears trembling at the corners of his eyes.
There were small scratches on his cheek and neck—the cheek from being kidnapped, the neck from just moments ago.
Ethan’s chest ached. If only I’d been more careful… he wouldn’t have gotten hurt.
Freed from the ropes, Noah scurried over to Elisa, trying with his little hands to undo her gag and bindings.
“I’ll do it,” Ethan said softly.
His hands moved deftly, untying the ropes in seconds. Noah’s eyes shone in awe.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Ethan’s voice hardened when he noticed blood on her clothes.
“It’s just a stitch that came loose. I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
She forced a brave smile, though the pain made her want to groan.
“How did you even find us?”
“I saw Noah’s wolf doll nearby,” Ethan replied, scanning her for injuries. “I searched the area, and then I heard him crying.”
Once certain she was all right, Ethan gathered up the ropes that had bound them and stood.
“Where are you going?” Elisa asked.
“Just a second.”
He spotted one of the attackers crawling toward the door. Ethan struck him on the back of the head with a wooden pole, knocking him out, and tied him to a pillar.
He did the same with the others, then opened the warehouse door wide. In the distance, beyond the shadowed buildings, the Ronfei Station lights flickered.
Ethan propped the pole upright and hung a torn piece of cloth over it.
“What are you doing?” Elisa asked, following him outside.
“Letting Sir Rector and the others know where we are. They’ll find us faster this way.”
When they arrive, you and Noah should go straight back to the inn. Call for a physician immediately.”
“What about you?”
“I’m going to interrogate them—and find out who’s behind this.”
Elisa hesitated, then grabbed his arm.
“From what they said, I think the one who ordered this kidnapping was Derek Grenville.”
The fact that they knew Noah couldn’t speak—and were told not to harm him—made it obvious.
“I know,” Ethan said.
“You know? How?” she asked, eyes wide.
He gave a faint smirk and brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.
“Who else would pull something like this?”
“Well… true,” Elisa admitted with a bitter laugh. The name still left a bad taste in her mouth. She regretted ever taking Derek Grenville’s hand three years ago.
“That’s why I need to make them confess. We need solid proof.”
He draped his coat over her shoulders, the fabric far too large for her small frame.
“You won’t find it easily,” she murmured, clutching the coat tightly. “He’s too meticulous to leave evidence behind.”
The thugs had even joked earlier—“How much money must that man have to spend this much on something so petty?”
They hadn’t seen Derek’s face, perhaps not even heard his name. There would be no proof tying him to the crime.
“Maybe. But we have to try. If he’s really that careful, then proof is all the more important.”
He wasn’t wrong. Normally, Elisa would have agreed without hesitation—but this was Derek Grenville.
Still, giving up wasn’t an option. If they left him alone, he’d keep reaching for them again and again. This time, they had to cut him off completely.
What should I do?
As she pondered, her eyes fell on a crumpled play poster lying on the dusty floor.
It was for a play about a boy reenacting a crime scene to find his parents’ murderer.
Elisa remembered reading the original mystery novel—it had been one of her favorites.
Wait… maybe that’s it.
Her eyes lit up with sudden inspiration.
“If we want undeniable proof, the best way is to catch him in the act, right?”
Ethan gave her a puzzled look.
Elisa grinned confidently.
“Let’s put on a little play of our own.”
Done
