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

I should just get a

and now, he's even learned to

about to compromise and nodded eagerly. "Yeah,

this baby a complete home, I've been desperately convincing myself to forgive everything you

over when I

Steven suddenly fell silent.

what did Zachary do? He knew there was oil on the stairs and knew I would be seriously hurt

And Zachary had

was the child I had

what about Steven? Was he

one of

eyes. "The baby is gone, and I've lost all hope for Zachary. There's nothing left in

From now on, I would simply be Annalise Jamison. I didn't need any more burdensome labels. But I wouldn't spare

say you liked Jessica? I'm stepping aside to make

never forget the day in the stairwell when Zachary told me Jessica wanted to harm me, but