The sun was barely visible through the dense fog that cloaked the village that morning. Estella sat by the hearth, staring into the flickering flames, her mind miles away. The note Ariston left sat crumpled in her hand. He had been debating how to tell Devon that the man who had grown so close to him had disappeared into the night without a word. The thought of breaking her son’s heart weighed heavily on her.
Devon’s small footsteps echoed down the hall, interrupting her thoughts. His bright eyes, still clouded with sleep, met hers as he padded into the room.
“Mom?” he asked, rubbing his eyes. “Where’s Ariston? He promised we’d explore the forest again today.”
Estella’s heart twisted painfully. She forced a smile, gesturing for him to come closer. “Devon… sweetheart, I need to tell you
