The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 184

I reluctantly accepted his explanation. "Alright, then."

Zane let out a light laugh.

...

Steven opened his eyes and immediately noticed the absence of Jessica, who had always been beside him just days ago. His mood lifted at the sudden emptiness.

He got up and walked to Zachary's bedroom door, knocking lightly. "Time to get up! I'll take you to school today."

There was no answer.

Steven casually opened the door, only to find the room empty.

It was then he remembered that Zachary had spent the night at Chloe's house.

Steven made his way to the living room and sat down. It felt like everything had changed since he and Annalise had separated. The house no longer felt warm. Instead, it was cold and distant, the silence more suffocating than comforting.

...

usual. When we dropped Willow off, we saw

the little girl. The little girl took Willow's hand,

listened

surge of relief. Though Willow still couldn't speak with others, it was reassuring to see her make a friend. I turned to Zane and said, "Let's go." Zane

Steven still found himself at the kindergarten.

her that Jessica had moved out of the house, but he hesitated

Jessica were just living apart for now their

she wanted to get back together with him? And if that happened, how would he explain things to Jessica?

...

the office, I immediately

had already sent me a message. "We've received the four sketches you sent over. We had a meeting and decided to go with this one." Then, a picture

to find it was

I quickly replied, "Alright."

was just a side project, I couldn't let it interfere with my main job. I turned on my computer and got back to sketching the line art I

pulled out my phone. Since it was