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?"

her head as she said, "No. I'd do the same thing if she got picked on because we're friends

them out to their parents, but Willow was different.

her cheeks and kissed

as she asked,

with a small

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

en novelxo

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

had become a confident little girl whose smile could light

was suddenly grateful to have

...

stood outside the study and stared longingly at Willow's

that night, yet he found himself wishing she would and join him for a late-night chat. He was

chided himself for