Larissa had the exact same thought. She assumed Dylan had returned to Covenford.

"I'm in Bartham for a business trip, so I will be leaving in a few days," Larissa said with a polite smile as she discreetly pulled her hand out of his grasp.

The hope that ignited a flame in Dylan's eyes faded quickly. "I see …"

Trailing off, he shifted his gaze onto Aster, who was sitting in the shopping cart.

Although he was still little and not yet fully grown, his facial features strongly resembled Laris