The aunt immediately stepped in front of Liberty, blocking the drunk from staring at her. She pretended to engage in conversation, asking Liberty, “Is the child’s father coming back soon?”
Liberty responded, “Soon.”
Hank would be discharged from the hospital after a little while longer. It was true he would return soon, but he would not be coming back to her. She and Hank had been divorced for a year now.
The aunt teased Sonny once more, “Do you miss your father?”
Sonny answered honestly, “I think so. My mother takes me to see him on weekends.”
The aunt smiled, “So you visit your father on weekends.”
Sonny nodded enthusiastically.
Liberty understood that the aunt was intentionally letting the drunk know there was a man in her life, but he was away on a business trip and would soon return, signaling that he should not disturb her.
Upon hearing this, the drunk man fell silent.
On the first floor, the elevator door opened, and the aunt hurriedly pulled Liberty and Sonny out.
The drunk man remained still, and as Liberty passed by him, he muttered, “I’ve been looking for you all night. I know you’re a divorced woman.”
Liberty’s expression changed significantly.
She realized she was being targeted by a drunk. Last night, Duncan’s bodyguard had escorted her upstairs, and due to the drunk, she had exited the elevator before reaching her floor.
She hadn’t expected him to search for her all night or to know that she lived alone.
As soon as Liberty stepped out of the elevator, she picked up her son and quickly left the building.
In fact, the Dinshasa Community was considered very safe.
In this community, residents had never experienced theft or robbery. The drunk man who approached Liberty was likely a decent person once, before he lost his loved one. He hadn’t harmed Liberty yet, possibly because he assumed she was a divorced and single woman, making her his target. Nevertheless, Liberty felt frightened.
As she drove Sonny to kindergarten, Liberty recalled Duncan’s words from the previous night. Should she accept the house Serenity and Zachary had offered her? Living in the Hoxmoor villas would surely prevent such incidents from happening again, wouldn’t it?
“Mom,” Sonny, who was secured in his child safety seat, suddenly asked. “That uncle said he was looking for you all night. Do you know him? He smells really strong of alcohol.” Sonny disliked the scent of wine. Unlike his Uncle Duncan or Uncle Josh, who always appeared clean and rarely smelled of alcohol or cigarettes, this man was different.
“Mom, he’s drunk. He looks at you the same way Uncle Duncan does,” Sonny remarked. Liberty was taken aback. Sonny was perceptive; even though he didn’t fully grasp what the drunk man said, he sensed the intensity with which the man was gazing at his mother, reminiscent of Uncle Duncan’s look.
“Sonny, would you like to move?” Liberty asked.
“Where? That’s my home. Mom, do you want to move?” Sonny replied.