Hong Wei dropped his act immediately, hands fumbling with the locks as the door swung open.
Ethan motioned for Lin and her father to enter quickly. "Inside, now."
They nodded, slipping through the doorway without hesitation.
Ethan cast one final sweeping glance down the darkened street, probing for any watchers. Satisfied they hadn't been followed, he stepped inside and secured the door behind them.
Inside the dimly lit restaurant, Hong Wei and Tiana locked eyes for the first time in what felt like forever. The boy froze mid-step, sudden emotion washing across his young face.
"Older sister," he said, his voice small and unexpectedly vulnerable.
"Hong Wei," Tiana replied, a genuine smile breaking through her exhaustion. Something glistened in her eyes as she took in the boy who'd grown so much in such a short time.
