Sweet Subterfuge novel by Trina Duo
Chapter 832

Larissa was decorating the cake when she heard Freddy's offer.

She froze in place and stared at the tarts in his hands.

Larissa didn't know how to respond.

Aster had a strawberry in his hand and placed it on the cake.

He ignored Freddy.

Freddy's face fell.

Larissa realized that his feelings might have been hurt, so she quickly took the tarts. She stuffed one into Aster's hand.

"Thank you." She bent down and ruffled Freddy's hair affectionately.

Only then did Freddy show a shy smile.

Aster turned away with pursed lips.

He gripped the tart in his hand, but he didn't eat it nor throw it away.

The competition ended. As expected, Larissa's strawberry cake didn't win any prizes.

However, it received unanimous praise from Aster's classmates.

Larissa suspected that most of the credit was because of Kevan's and Aster's good looks.

Allen cleared up his table and came over to ask Larissa, "We're going out for dinner. Do you want to join us?"

Larissa declined his offer. "Sorry, we already made plans with other friends."

Allen didn't seem disappointed and replied with a smile, "Let's make plans for another time. Freddy hasn't hung out with Aster for a long time, he has been pestering me about it recently." With that, he gave Freddy's hand a squeeze. "Right, Freddy?"

Freddy, who had been silent all along, nodded and looked up at Larissa with an innocent expression.

"That's right! Larissa, when will you bring me and Aster out to play?"

Larissa could reject Allen without any guilt, but she was easily persuaded when it came to children.

"Well, let me discuss it with Aster first."

She had no right to make decisions on Aster's behalf, so she could only try to convince him later at home.

"Okay."

Fortunately, Freddy didn't press for a definite answer.

Larissa breathed a sigh of relief.

Kevan's car was parked a street away.

"You two wait for me here, I will bring the car over," he instructed Larissa and Aster.

Allen brought Freddy and caught up to them.

"Larissa, can you watch Freddy for me? I need to get the car."

Without waiting for Larissa's response, he pushed Freddy to her side and left in a hurry.

Freddy stood at Larissa's side in silence, fidgeting with his hands.

He did not utter a single word.

Larissa initiated a conversation with him, "Freddy, wait with us here for a while. Your dad will be here soon." "Okay," Freddy replied in a low tone.

He kept his gaze ahead and avoided looking at Larissa.

Larissa could feel that Freddy seemed different from before.

She had interacted with Freddy quite a bit, so she understood his personality.

Under usual circumstances, he was livelier than Aster and had more to say.

However, he seemed listless the last two times they met.

She wasn't sure if it was due to the unpleasant interactions they had previously or something else.

Suddenly, some children came running toward them, engrossed in play.

Seeing that they were about to collide with Freddy, Larissa grabbed his arm and moved him out of their way.

The children realized their mistake and apologized before running away out of fear.

Larissa bent down and asked Freddy, "Are you okay?"

Freddy's face was pale and he had a distressed look on his face.

Larissa grew worried. "Are you hurt somewhere?"

Freddy bit his lower lip and replied after half a minute, "No."

Larissa didn't believe him.

That group of children didn't bump into him, yet he seemed to be in serious pain.

"Did I hurt you when I pulled you away?"