The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Steven shot up. "No way!"

"So much has happened these past few days." I held his gaze. "First, Zachary is adamant about being with Jessica."

Steven, usually so calm and composed, now spoke with a tremor of fear in his voice, "He's just being foolish, honey. I've never crossed any lines. You can hate Zachary, and you can blame me, but you can't leave me."

His voice became almost pleading at the end.

Yet he was still shifting the responsibility onto Zachary, completely oblivious to the fact that my pain stemmed from his complicity and indulgence. He couldn't tell that the love I had for him over the years vanished at that moment when I fell down the stairs.

I continued, "And then I realized that even after you promised me you wouldn't contact her anymore, you two were still in close contact."

Steven opened his mouth, then closed it again. He was clearly caught off guard by the fact that I already knew done in secret.

His fists were clenched, and his expression was filled with pain.

the things

maybe I should just get a divorce to make

problems have worsened, and now, he's even learned to hurt himself. If I give in and let Jessica be his mother, his

nodded eagerly. "Yeah, honey, so we can't get

belly. "And then I found out I was pregnant. To give this baby a complete home, I've been desperately convincing myself to forgive everything

spilled over when I

Steven suddenly fell silent.

was oil on the stairs

Zachary had known everything from the start but had

was the child I had raised

what about Steven? Was

was one

baby is gone, and I've lost all hope for Zachary. There's nothing left in this home that I want

had tried to be a good wife and a responsible mother. From now on, I would simply be Annalise Jamison. I didn't need any

"Didn't you say you liked Jessica? I'm stepping aside to make room for you two. You

told