The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 182

The more Zachary cried, the more devastated he felt.

"I miss Mommy."

Chloe wrapped her arms around him. "Why don't you call her? Maybe she'll come back to see you."

Zachary sobbed and said, "She doesn't want me anymore."

Chloe's face darkened with frustration. "No matter what, you're her biological son. How could she be so heartless?"

Zachary winced at her words. It was because he had done things to disappoint Annalise. In the past, he didn't realize the consequences of doing such things. But now, seeing how Annalise treated Willow so well and how she treated him indifferently... It stung deeply.

He couldn't help but feel guilty. How much had Annalise suffered when he had hurt her?

Chloe was so angry that she started to curse Annalise.

Zachary gently tugged on Chloe's sleeve. "Grandma, it's not Mommy's fault."

at this point, yet

shifted the topic quickly. "Grandma, I want to study. Could you hire me a

best if he could learn to read and write. That way, Zachary could write down all his thoughts, feelings, and guilt about Annalise. If he didn't do that, he feared

upstairs. In his room, he flicked on the light and got ready for a shower. Just as he was about to step into the bathroom, his phone buzzed. It was

asked, "Are you coming home

hesitate to

would hear was

what Zachary was thinking, and he explained without being prompted,

was as sharp as ever, and he grasped the key point. "You

Zachary would ask such

how to respond. It was only now that he truly realized his

Steven had bought Jessica an expensive house and lavish jewelry. Zachary felt a pang of unfairness for Annalise. "Daddy, could you

"Sure. Do you have a

resolute. "The house that

...

have been exhausted today. She didn't even wait for me to finish the story before she collapsed into bed,

in gently, making sure the blanket covered her snugly, and then tiptoed out of