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.

things he

the window. "At that point, I thought maybe I should just get a divorce to make things

and now, he's even learned to hurt himself. If I give in and let

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

I was pregnant. To give this baby a complete home, I've been desperately convincing myself to forgive everything you

emotions spilled over when I mentioned

Steven suddenly fell silent.

what did Zachary do? He knew there was oil on the

detail behind the scenes. And Zachary had known everything from the

was the child I had raised so

what about Steven?

one of

lost all hope for Zachary. There's nothing left in this home that I want to hold onto." All I wanted now was

simply be Annalise Jamison. I didn't need any more burdensome labels. But

you say you liked Jessica? I'm stepping aside to make room for you two. You should

the day in the stairwell when Zachary told