The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 178

Zane picked up a folder on his desk.

In his own opinion, his feelings for Annalise had reached far deeper than he himself had imagined.

...

Willow seemed to especially like the new friend she'd made.

Most of the other children had already gone home. However, she was still reluctant to walk out of the school gates, her small hand holding tightly onto another girl's even as she stared fixedly at her. I was also happy that she had made a new friend, so naturally, I didn't press her.

"Ms. Annalise, Cody was bullying Willow in school again."

At the sound of the familiar voice, I lowered my head to look.

Zachary's hands clutched tightly at the hem of his shirt as he looked up at me, continuing, "But I stood up to him for Willow, so he didn't succeed."

As if I was just speaking to another one of Willow's classmates, I replied calmly and politely, "Thank you."

stood frozen on the spot for quite

he spoke, he started backing away. "I'm leaving first.

"Goodbye," I echoed.

...

he burst into tears. His tears flowed uncontrollably, and he hurriedly wiped them away with his

He'd already fulfilled his wish and spoken to Annalise, so

mother-son relationship between them was abruptly severed? Or was it because the way she spoke to him sounded like how she would speak to an unfamiliar

attention

sighed, feeling sympathy for the child in front of

car window, staring unblinkingly at Annalise as he murmured, "Mommy... I miss you

little girl's mother arrived, upon which Willow finally made her way over

hated me and that he would still bully

her up in a

shoulders, adding, "But I'd rather be bullied by Cody

the initiative to

before she suddenly

the car