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."

frozen on the spot for quite a while before

backing away. "I'm leaving

"Goodbye," I echoed.

...

back to the car. Once the door was closed behind him, he burst into tears.

already fulfilled his wish and spoken to Annalise, so

"Ms. Annalise", it was as if the 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 child? Harry watched him crying miserably and made an attempt to console him by asking, "Since calling her such makes you

any attention to me

sighed, feeling sympathy for the child in front

Annalise as he murmured,

upon which Willow finally made her way over to me

said quietly, "Mommy, Cody was really bad today. He suddenly ran up to me and told me that he hated me and that he

her up

wrapped her arms around my shoulders, adding, "But I'd rather be bullied by

initiative to ask,

replied Willow before she suddenly started

the