The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 510

I was stumped by Willow's bluntness. She continued, "I'm guessing Penelope told you about it?"

I did not deny it. "Yes."

"The bullying did happen," Willow confessed now that she knew I had heard about it. "But I've grown stronger since I started training and stopped caring about what others say about me.

"If they tease me, I tease them right back. If they call me names, I'll do the same to them. Plus, I don't think they can beat me in a fight."

She sounded pleased with herself, adding, "I handled the matter on my own, so I didn't feel the need to bring it up to you, Mommy." For good measure, she clarified, "But I promise I wasn't trying to keep it a secret from you." "I'm so proud of you, Willow," I said as I pulled her into my arms. "You handled the bullying splendidly despite your young age."

She gave me a shy smile.

I asked, "Are you angry with Penelope for telling me about the bullying incident?"

as she said, "No. I'd do the same thing if she

children might be upset if they found out their friends had ratted them out to their parents, but Willow was different. She was mature enough to see

and kissed her forehead. "You're so

as she asked, "You

I murmured with a small

longer, but she must have tired out, for she stopped responding to me at some point. I stared at her sleeping

en novelxo

but her demeanor was the opposite. She used to be a loner who refused to speak to anyone and tended to be a little

that long since our first meeting, yet she had become

suddenly grateful to have a daughter like

...

and stared longingly at Willow's bedroom door,

found himself wishing she would and join him for a late-night chat. He was even jealous

himself for