The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 228

Willow picked up her dolls and placed them on a small desk beside the bathroom door. She then stood on a little stool.

Gazing into the mirror, she began to practice her greetings, "Hello. I'm Willow. What's your name?"

After practicing in front of the mirror, she didn't forget to inform Milton and Dorothy, "The mirror practice is over now. It's time to read."

She picked up a storybook and carefully enunciated each word phonetically before reading the words. Once she was familiar with all the words, she read the entire sentence aloud.

After finishing a short story, she put the book down.

"Willow."

Hearing Annalise's voice, Willow quickly placed Milton and Dorothy on the bed and said, "I'm going to jog now. Bye, Grandpa, Grandma!"

"Goodbye!"

bedroom door and

by the railing. Hearing her call, I

over to me eagerly.

Willow's stamina had become much stronger. She ran a full mile without stopping. Though she sweated like mad, she never paused for a break. After the jog, the three of us practiced the basic

seemed to feel the fatigue then, as she was breathing heavily. I was about to pick her up and carry her back to the

seemed to be becoming more independent

feeling proud of her. "Alright. You

up the stairs. She stopped at her room's doorway and looked back at me. "Mommy, I want to shower

time with her, I had gotten to know her well. I knew she probably had something to say to Milton and Dorothy, so I didn't stop her. Instead, I smiled and

wanted to tell Milton and Dorothy how amazing she was, but

a refreshing shower, and changed into

in front of the dolls and twirled in her

praised, "You look like a little fairy! So

think so, too." She wasn't

spoiled her, agreeing