The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 223

"She's truly extraordinary!" Willow exclaimed. "I can't speak in front of her, but she just keeps chatting away like it's nothing. I really admire her." She then said wistfully, "I hope I can talk to people like that one day." "You will," Milton assured her gently.

Tired of sitting, Willow flopped onto her stomach on the bed. Propping her face up with her hands, she looked at the two dolls and asked, "How have you two been lately? I heard Grandma wasn't feeling well before. I was really worried about you both." Dorothy's voice was filled with warmth. "Before you came to visit me, I was constantly in and out of hospitals and never truly recovered. But when I heard you had come to see me, I started to feel better.

"When I went to Zane's house and saw how much he loves you, treating you like his own daughter, that's when I felt I'd finally healed."

"Really?" Willow asked in amazement.

"I wouldn't lie to you," Dorothy replied patiently. "Willow, do you like your current mom? How are you getting along with her?"

Dorothy was eager to hear Willow's honest thoughts about Annalise.

Willow carefully chose her words. "If I say this, you and Grandpa might get upset."

"Oh?" Dorothy's curiosity piqued.

a lot," Willow said shyly. "Sometimes, I feel like I was

added, "You wouldn't be

we be? We're just happy she's good to

"Really?" Willow's energy returned.

Milton

stuck, like there was something heavy in my heart. "When you couldn't talk back, speaking to you helped a little, but not enough. But now that you can reply, even if it's not real, it makes me

interjected, "You can

"Then, I wouldn't be able to talk to you like

"Yes. I'm not as smart

at the praise. "Of course! I've been studying

...

stood up. "Didn't the chef take the