This was a huge case that was enough to gain some form of meritorious credit. Kevan did Jack a favor by passing this case to him before seeking a news outlet to expose this company's abhorrent practices. Of course, his uncles' pictures also "accidentally" ended up in the news.The exploitation of minors was a serious crime anywhere. To get the media in on this would mean that everyone would know. The netizens were so enraged by this that the government—in order to reassure the public—naturally treated this case seriously.With Bernard and Felix being on the news and having their identities exposed by some other person, they became the most obvious people to target. The Rogers were a big family with several large businesses, so they had connections in many domains. But this time, no matter how many connections they tried to reach out to, no matter how many multi-million-dollar gifts they sent, no one dared to stand up for them.The government had already given the order: these two me
Aster was taller than the last time Kevan saw him, and he was a little stronger too. When he slammed into Kevan, the man was knocked back a few steps. But luckily, he was able to catch Aster while remaining on his feet."Daddy!" Aster's arms were wrapped firmly around Kevan's neck, his little face beaming with joy.Kevan hummed lightly in response, turning around to leave with the kid in his arms. "Hungry?" Kevan asked, and Aster nodded, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "I want to eat Daddy's cooking!"This was what Kevan promised him before he came here. "Sure!" Kevan agreed gladly.…There was no pantry in the hotel suite, so Kevan followed Aster home.The three-bedroom apartment was jointly purchased by Larissa and Wendy, and they were both paying the monthly mortgage together. The location of the apartment was not bad, and it was just a few hundred yards away from Aster's kindergarten. There was an abundance of commercial streets nearby too. Although it was crowded, one
Kevan looked up and saw the deep blue ceiling. It was covered in star-shaped lights. A sparkling silver galaxy surrounded the lights. Gold dust shimmered around it."These were all painted by Mommy! Godma told me that whenever Mommy had time, she would come here to paint stars for me, even when she was really busy!" Aster boasted proudly.A scene of a slender and delicate woman standing alone on a ladder appeared in Kevan's mind. She held a palette in one hand and a brush in the other. She was focused on painting the ceiling. How did she feel at that time? Probably happy, just like how he felt right now, looking at her "masterpiece."However, compared to her, he also felt a hint of inexplicable bitterness."Does Mommy like ... I mean, the stars in the sky?" Kevan struggled to speak. His voice was hushed and hoarse. Larissa must have liked stars a lot. He couldn't think of any other reasons she would name her son "Aster" and put so much effort into decorating the room.Aster lo
Kevan had always been a good cook. But due to his busy schedule, he didn't get many chances to cook. Kevan unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his forearms. He also took off his wristwatch and placed it on the coffee table in the living room.Wendy was always concerned about the hygiene of outside food. So, she would make dinner for Aster every day, no matter how busy or tired she was. As a result, Kevan found the ingredients she had yet to use up from the fridge.Yet, when Kevan took out the steak and large prawns from the freezer, Aster immediately showed a disappointed face."I don't want steak or prawns for dinner," he expressed his opinion. Wendy's home-cooked meals were limited. She would usually fry the steak and prawns in butter and sprinkle some black pepper on them. This would be their usual dinner whenever she returned home late."I'm tired of them." Aster wrinkled his face. He glanced at the steak and prawns before turning away.He understood
What's wrong? Tell Daddy. I promise I'll help you out," Kevan assured Aster.When Aster heard the word "Daddy," his heartache intensified, and tears started flowing down his cheeks. His tears soaked Kevan's shirt. Kevan grew even more concerned, comforting Aster with one hand on his back while gently wiping away the tears from his face."If you really don't want steak and prawns, I'll go out right now and get you something else. Please, don't cry anymore, alright?" Kevan spoke softly and tenderly. He lifted Aster in his arms and walked to the living room in big strides."No ..." Aster stammered. Kevan's heart clenched at the sight of his son's teary, pitiful expression. "I ... it's not … because of that..." Aster's breath was unsteady, and his words came out in fragments."What's it about then?" Kevan remained extremely patient, showing no hint of annoyance.Aster fell silent again. There was a mix of hesitation, conflict, and fear in his eyes. Kevan remained quiet; he did not urg
Kevan fried the marinated beef. He also cooked the prawns that had been cleaned. Then, he coated the prawns with a sauce made from Greek yogurt and lemon juice. He also prepared the sweet potatoes and quickly whipped up some scrambled eggs.The spaghetti was ready by then, so he served two helpings and brought them to Aster. Aster was already eagerly waiting in the dining room."Whoa!" Aster couldn't help but drool, but he refrained from picking up his utensils until Kevan sat down."Daddy, you should go ahead and eat first!" Although he was speaking to Kevan, his eyes were locked on the mouthwatering skewered meat.Kevan smiled and picked up a piece of skewered meat, placing it on Aster's plate. "Give it a try and tell me how it tastes."The meat had cooled down by then. Aster grabbed the skewer and took a big bite. The seasoning smeared all over his mouth. However, he seemed oblivious to it. With a big thumbs up, he exclaimed, "This is the most delicious thing I've ever eaten!"
Wendy had seen photos of Kevan on Aster's phone. Also, Aster had already informed her that Kevan would be coming to cook for him today. So, she rushed back from work as soon as possible. Fortunately, she caught him just in time."Mr. Rogers, I've heard so much about you." She showed no sign of hesitation as she confidently approached him and extended her hand.He stared at her hand. He hesitated for a moment before finally shaking it.Of course, she didn't miss this small detail. She had heard about how much of a clean freak Kevan was. That was why she took the initiative to shake hands with him, just to see how he would react.She had anticipated a refusal, but whatever happened only deepened her smile."I heard from Aster that you're going to cook for him today?" She glanced at the dining table, which was empty. She continued, "Is the dinner not ready yet?"Aster chimed in, "We've already eaten! Daddy's cooking is super delicious! Even better than ... I mean, the food at rest
Kevan couldn't figure out what had angered Larissa. After he replied to her, she didn't respond to him anymore.On the other hand, Wendy was exceptionally polite to him. She even brought out her best vodka as a "thank you" gesture.They sat on the couch, sipping vodka and chatting, while Aster nestled in Kevan's arms, quietly playing with his toys.Wendy shifted the topic to Aster, saying, "He really likes you."Kevan smiled softly as he gently patted Aster's head. "I know.""What's your plan? About your future with Larissa, I mean," she asked directly, her eyes locked onto his.Kevan, for a rare moment, avoided her gaze, his fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of the vodka glass. What did he think? Of course, he would love to have a future with Larissa. But the crucial question was, what did Larissa think?He had hurt Larissa deeply in the past. Although she hadn't shown any aversion to him now, he still feared that she would push him away once more if he proposed getting bac