The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Steven asked carefully, "You won't mind, will you, honey?"

"Oh, so she made me fall down the stairs and have a miscarriage, but you feel sorry that she's getting beaten up by her ex-husband instead." I snickered. "You're such a good samaritan."

"Honey!" Steven rose angrily. "I know you're sad that we lost our baby, but you know damn well that it was Zachary who called you to the stairwell. You slipped and fell-it had nothing to do with her!"

He continued, "I can't believe you don't see how much of a danger she's in now, especially as a woman. If you can't sympathize with her, the least you can do is shut your mouth. Gosh, I'm so disappointed in you! "Anyway, whether you agree or not, Jessica will be moving in with us."

With that, he left exasperatedly.

See? This was Steven-always blaming me, no matter how much I was hurt or bullied. I never retaliated, yet I couldn't vent for more than two sentences without being cast as the bad guy.

I used to love him so much that I willingly accepted this treatment, but not anymore... Not this time.

my cold gaze, I lay quietly on my hospital bed and stared at the pale

from returning home because I didn't want to see Steven and Zachary-the revolting father and son-yet the former came every day to see

and visit her. Eventually,

door, delight spreading across her face as soon as she saw me. "Oh, my! What brings

with open arms, smiling and coquettishly saying, "I

hug and patted my back lightly. "You're a mom now.

melted the frost that had settled in my heart over the past few days. In this world, Mom was the only

room, I spilled my guts. "Mom, I want to divorce

shut the door instantly, and

maybe because I almost died in

before I could speak, she

and asked, "Did he cheat on

something else worse than

was afraid to tell her the full story, as I didn't want her to mourn over my míserable marriage. "He said he hasn't physically cheated yet,

happen in a marriage. And