The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 10

I stared at Steven in disbelief.

He quickly handed me the test results. He was clearly looking forward to the arrival of this new life. "You suddenly fainted last night. I was so scared. The doctor ran some tests and found out you're pregnant.

"But with all the stress you've been under lately, your emotions have been unstable, and the baby is at risk. You'll need to stay in the hospital for a while to stabilize the pregnancy."

I took the paper from him. The moment I saw the image of the tiny, unformed life, I couldn't look away. The sight of it brought a small sense of comfort to my shattered heart. Gently, I placed a hand over my abdomen, my mind swirling with thoughts.

Growing up in a single-parent household after my father passed away, I didn't want my child to go through the same.

"Steven," I said, breaking the silence.

He looked at me, confused. "Yes?"

I lifted my gaze and felt a new resolve. "I'm willing to move past everything that's happened. For the sake of this child, let's try to be the way we were before. Can we do that?" Steven met my eyes, then nodded. "Yes."

He then took out a small velvet box. "Honey." His expression was slightly nervous as he opened it to reveal a pair of lily-shaped earrings.

I was surprised. He rarely gave me gifts since we got married. "What's this?"

"It's a present for you," he replied, his voice a bit tense.

"Thank you." I accepted it.

Despite everything that had happened over the past few days, the little life growing inside me gave me a glimmer of happiness.

Just then, Steven's phone rang, and he said he had to leave for work. After a quick kiss, he left the room.

I gently touched my stomach, feeling a sense of tenderness.

At this moment, my phone pinged with a notification. I opened it absentmindedly. It was a message from Zachary-an image of Jessica's Instagram post.

I tapped on it and saw the caption read, "Thank you, Mr. Pelham, for the diamond ring this morning. By the way, the jewelry store has terrible taste. They threw in these ugly lily-shaped earrings as a freebie. They looked so cheap, so I told Mr. Pelham to toss them." The photo was a selfie of Jessica. What caught the eye most was her hand resting against her cheek, with a massive diamond ring on her ring finger.

a flawless cut, and

seeing that, I gripped my phone tightly. The spot where Steven had kissed me felt like it was burning.

unconscious, my husband wasn't worried about me. Instead, he was buying an expensive

tried to placate

think so

easy to appease and that I would be grateful for

despair crashed over me, threatening to drown

me like this and then use

I felt the

my phone rang, snapping me out

I answered, "Hello?"

Mommy. Can you come see me?" Zachary's

yesterday. Worried that his emotions might spiral and he'd do something foolish again, I immediately got up and said, "I'll come right

and soon, I spotted him standing on the stairs. The sunlight from the window highlighted his pale face, making

many things to hurt me before, seeing him look so vulnerable still made me instinctively

front

me. "Ms. Jessie told me that you're pregnant. Even if Daddy doesn't love you, he'll stay with you for the baby. Is that

was Jessica telling

did. And when you have another baby, you'll shift your attention to them

with problems,

his shoulders and said sincerely, "No, Zachary. You're my son. No matter what, I will always love

Jessie also said if the baby was gone, Daddy would only love me, and he'd listen to me and divorce you so he

words sent a chill

things had Jessica been telling

and have a proper talk. He shouldn't be dragged into adult issues like

step,

"I'm sorry, Mommy. Mommy Jessie poured oil on the stairs. She told me to bring you here." Warm blood seeped

body, making it nearly unbearable, while my heart felt as if it was

recently, I understood he was just a

even at his young age, he should still have some compassion. Yet, he seemed so indifferent to the fact that I-his mother-was being schemed against

struggled to open my eyes to see Zachary. Through the haze, I