Sweet Subterfuge novel by Trina Duo
Chapter 453

Larissa found it a little difficult to carry him in her arms.

Kevan hurriedly got up from the sofa and took the child from her.

"Aster ..." He looked down at the boy, his heart aching greatly for him, and his voice unconsciously became hoarse too.

"Uncle Kevan." Aster greeted him politely, like the good boy he was, though the nasal twang in his voice was rather noticeable.

Kevan gritted his teeth, doing everything he could to conceal the harsh anger in his eyes. How dare Ruby touch his son? She must have been having it too good these few years.

Sitting down again, Kevan got Aster to sit on his lap.

"Does it still hurt?" He wiped Aster's tears away as he asked gently.

Dylan pursed his lips discreetly as he thought to himself, "Jeez, father and son have great rapport for sure." Only Aster could get Kevan to get over his extreme clean freakishness by making him willingly touch something that was absolutely disgusting in his eyes.

Aster nodded once.

Because of this simple act, the three adults in the room clenched their fists in repressed anger. Kevan breathed deeply thrice before he managed to push down his boiling anger again.

"Can I ... see your injuries?" he asked Aster carefully, who nodded again while worrying at his lip. Trembling, Kevan slowly lifted the hem of his pajamas.

The side of Aster's waist as well as his back were full of alarming green and purplish bruises.

The air seemed to freeze at this moment.

Kevan's heart shuddered in his chest, and his normally calm eyes were now raging with emotion. Even Dylan's face became flat as he exuded coldness from how mad he was.

Kevan reached out with his hand. He really wanted to touch those bruises, but he was afraid of hurting Aster. In the end, he pulled his hand back and let go of the pajamas, tightening his hug on Aster. "I'm sorry." His voice was shaking.

Sorry that Daddy had not protected you.

He hated Ruby, but he hated himself more.

Larissa could sense Kevan's grief and rage, but she did not know what was the cause of such emotions. He had only met Aster a few times. Even if they hit it off instantly, it was unlikely for things to have reached such an extent.

"Have you finished making dinner?" Dylan turned to ask her upon sensing her gaze. "Do you need my help?"

With that reminder from him, Larissa only remembered the half-cooked food she had left in the pan.

"No need. You just need to entertain Aster for a bit." She hurried back into the kitchen.

Once Larissa had left, Kevan only dared to allow himself to kiss Aster's forehead. Gazing at him tearfully, Aster mumbled, "You're just like my daddy, Uncle Kevan."

Kevan jolted as all the walls he had built around his heart shattered. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Dylan's emotions were likewise stirred up. But as the emotional impact on him was smaller compared to Kevan's, he was able to regain rationality on time.

"Kevan." He shook his head at his friend, reminding him with his eyes that Kevan should not lose it yet.

Kevan was aware of what he should be doing too. But at this moment, he only wanted the simplest thing, which was the warmth that could be found in a little family that included having a wife and child. Forget his empire and his business-he could give them up.

"You may be willing to let them go, but they are not willing to spare you." Dylan's words dragged him back to reality. "If you don't deal with those people, Larissa and Aster will never be safe."