Sweet Subterfuge novel by Trina Duo
Chapter 404

Aster held the bottle of water with both hands. As he was about to drink from the opening, he froze on the spot when he heard Dylan's question. The sparkle in his eyes disappeared for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.

"I don't have a dad," he said calmly with a nonchalant expression. There was no hint of sadness or regret in his voice. "Instead, I have two moms. I have a very happy family."

He intentionally emphasized the last sentence.

Dylan couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in his heart when he heard this.

"I see." Dylan patted Aster's hair affectionately and discreetly plucked a strand from his head.

While Aster was distracted, he put the strand of hair into a small sealed bag and carefully tucked it into the hidden pocket of his suit.

The two of them played together for the entire morning.

As lunchtime approached, Dylan knew Larissa would soon come looking for Aster, so he quickly bid farewell.

"I have to leave now, but we'll definitely have the chance to play again in the future. When you meet your mom later, do not tell her I came."

Aster asked in confusion, "Why?"

"Because I haven't made up with your mom yet." Dylan cooked up a cock and bull story to explain his actions. "If she found out that I secretly spent time playing with you, she would be furious!" Puzzled, Aster nodded. He even made a pinky promise with Dylan to keep this a secret from Larissa.

Once Dylan got into his car, he took out his phone and made a call, "I managed to get the child's hair. I'm going to deliver the sample to the research lab right now."

Larissa brought Aster to the hotel for work the next few days.

As Wendy had predicted, Aster quickly grew tired of the hotel's play area and began to miss his friends from kindergarten.

However, whenever Larissa suggested sending him back to Westonia, he kicked up a fuss and refused vehemently.

"If he really doesn't want to go back to Westonia, I'll have to find a suitable kindergarten for him here as soon as possible." Larissa expressed her dilemma to Wendy during a video call. "Honestly, I don't want him to stay here in Bartham."

She knew it would take at least three to five years for her to be transferred back to the headquarters.

By that time, Aster would already be in elementary school.

The primary education between schools in Caldor and overseas was significantly different.

Larissa was worried that Aster wouldn't be able to adapt to a new environment by then.

More importantly, it was inevitable that children from single-parent families would face more discrimination in Caldor, regardless of whether their parent was a successful career woman or not. While Aster was growing up, Larissa and Wendy protected him from the cruel reality and showered him with love so that he wouldn't feel the absence of a father.

She didn't want Aster to feel hurt because of his background.

"But if you force him to return to Westonia, neither he nor you will be happy, right?" Wendy understood her well.

"Yes." Larissa sighed. "I'll observe him a little longer. Hopefully, he will come to terms with it."

Larissa took a day off from work and brought Aster to the largest amusement park in the city.

From the moment they left home, Aster was unusually excited and couldn't sit still in the car.

His eyes shining brightly, Aster pressed himself against the car window and asked Larissa, "Mommy, how much longer until we get there?"

She patiently answered his question each time.

Meanwhile, Larissa felt a little guilty. This was the first time she had taken Aster for an outing since he was born.

The amusement park was located on the outskirts of the city, about a two-hour drive away.

Larissa couldn't help feeling drowsy, but Aster remained as energetic as ever.

As soon as the car pulled to a stop, he unbuckled his seatbelt eagerly and got out of the car.

He ran over to the driver's side and waited impatiently for Larissa.

"Mommy, hurry up!" Aster urged, stomping his feet.

Aster ran around like a wild horse inside the amusement park, dragging Larissa after him.