Today coincided with the Shaman Festival in Aurora, a celebration of a shaman woman and a commoner man who overcame obstacles to fall in love and bless their community.

The festival had turned into a local version of Valentine's Day, attracting both single and married individuals out for romantic evenings.

Stefan had chosen this day for their outing, hoping the unique festival activities would cheer Raegan up.

The festive decorations along the streets briefly distracted Raegan from her concerns.

As they navigated the bustling crowds, Stefan was vigilant. He held Raegan's hand tightly and used his other hand to shield her from bumping into people.

At one moment, Raegan thought she spotted a familiar figure on a shop's staircase. Upon a closer inspection, though, the man shared only a resemblance in height with Mitchel.

Raegan dismissed it as a mistake. Mitchel was still in rehabilitation, far from able to come here. Logically, he still needed a month more of recovery, and would need to avoid strenuous activities for several more months.

"What were you looking at?" Stefan inquired, noticing her fixed gaze.

Raegan shook her head. "Nothing," she replied. She couldn't explain why she had mistaken someone else for Mitchel, nor did she want to linger on the thought.

With recent troubles concerning her mother, Raegan realized it had been a while since she last thought about Mitchel. Perhaps that was a good sign.

She was experiencing the subtle sensation of slowly forgetting someone. This gradual disappearance wasn't painful but caused an occasional twinge in her heart, like when she glimpsed a figure on the street that reminded her of him.

By the time they reached the restaurant, Raegan had begun to sweat slightly.

Stefan considerately offered her a napkin to dab her forehead before they sat down at a table overflowing with seafood dishes.

Stefan knew Raegan adored seafood, and Aurora offered a plethora of choices. However, due to her pregnancy, Raegan had become more selective with her diet.

The evening's menu featured safe, nutritious seafood options suitable for pregnant women to enjoy in moderation, all carefully chosen by Stefan after extensive reading.

Hearing this, Raegan eagerly began eating.

Some dishes, particularly those with shells, were difficult to handle, so Stefan assisted her by peeling several shrimp and promptly heaped more onto her plate.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Raegan protested, "Stefan, focus on your own meal. I have plenty here."

Yet, Stefan continued to serve her, saying, “Eat as much as you wish today. You won't have this luxury during your confinement."

Raegan's due date was just two weeks away.