The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 3

Steven gripped my chin with his other hand. His grip was firm and unyielding, preventing me from turning away. Following that, his lips pressed down on mine. "You'll enjoy it."

...

Zachary was in his final year of kindergarten. School started at 8:00 am sharp every day.

The kindergarten was a 20-minute drive from home. To make sure he wasn't late, we would leave by 7:30 am every morning, so I woke up at 6:30 am to prepare breakfast. That morning's breakfast was simple-ravioli I had prepared the night before.

What was a bit more work was the soup base. I had to make fresh chicken soup.

I laid some herbs at the bottom of the pot, placed a whole cleaned chicken inside, and added some vegetables on top. I covered the pot and let it boil on high heat.

Once it started boiling, I lifted the lid, and the rich aroma of chicken soup filled the kitchen. I added a bit of salt, then lowered the heat to let it simmer.

After finishing everything, I left the kitchen satisfied and went to the walk-in closet to pick out outfits for Zachary and Steven.

Steven, as the CEO of his company, dressed more formally. Zachary, being a child, mostly wore comfortable and practical clothes.

Once I laid out the outfits in their respective bedrooms, they were almost done getting ready.

I took that opportunity to ladle the chicken soup and cook the ravioli. The chicken soup was already hot, so it didn't take long to boil. I put enough ravioli for all three of us into the pot and waited quietly for it to cook. "Mommy!"

I turned around upon hearing Zachary's angry voice and saw him rushing toward me with his tablet.

He was furious. "Did you delete Ms. Jessie's contact and leave the group chat we were in?"

I looked at his flushed, angry face and shook my head. "No."

But I could understand Zachary's feelings. He was still too young to grasp right from wrong.

In his eyes, Jessica let him indulge in things. He could eat freely and play as he pleased. So, to him, Jessica was his favorite person.

Even if we adults cut off his connection with Jessica for his own good, he wouldn't be able to accept it.

I had prepared myself for his anger, but I hadn't expected his words to be so hurtful.

"Who else would do that other than you?" Zachary glared at me. "No wonder everyone says Daddy doesn't like you! Women like you, who want to control every detail of other people's lives, don't deserve to be loved!" Even though I had anticipated him losing control and saying extreme things, I still told myself that I should be understanding. I was his mother, after all.

His words were like a sharp arrow, effortlessly piercing through my tough facade and driving deep

I was really so

"Daddy doesn't like me? Then, who does he

of course! He

mind went blank. "How do you

course. Why else would he always take me to play

straightforward response only made

Steven didn't like Jessica, he wouldn't have kept in contact with her. Their recent interactions had been

that instant, a sharp pain shot through me. "Daddy must really like Ms. Jessie. The way he looks

yet because he doesn't want me to end up in a single-parent family like you, as it could

you'll cling

Zachary, who was only five years old, his voice still soft and innocent. But the things he said were far beyond what I could

he was only saying these things because he

ravioli was done. The aroma

bowl. Worried it might be too hot

Zachary took the bowl with both

crash, and the chicken ravioli

you can throw a fit. Have you forgotten all

Our eyes locked, neither of us willing to back

wanted, was visibly unhappy. After pushing me, he cried as he ran off. "I don't need you to teach me!

push me very hard, but I still stumbled

stared in disbelief at Zachary's retreating

his young age and undeveloped sense of judgment, he often said and

calmly afterward what was wrong.

you sad, did I? I'll remember that,

against the stove. My

Was it really because of my parenting

on

young and didn't understand

Jessica's unrestrained indulgence made him feel relaxed, so he slowly drifted

eased up on him, would it mend our

bowl

before, I didn't serve him his ravioli but instead placed the empty bowl on the table and sat

to admit that my mind was a jumble of