The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chapter 690

Steven slumped onto the sofa, his entire body drained of strength. He stared blankly at the ceiling, his eyes bloodshot.

The thing he had feared the most had come true: Zane had been in love with Annalise all along. This meant that Steven never stood a chance.

Tears rolled down Steven's face. How had he not seen it? How had he not realized that someone had been watching Annalise with quiet, unrelenting determination?

If Steven had noticed it earlier, would it have made a difference? Would he have realized that Annalise was not some possession that only he could claim? That even without him, she was wanted, and that leaving him hadn't left her alone?

Would that sense of urgency have made him cherish her? Would Steven have chosen to settle down, to give up his reckless ways and love Annalise the way she deserved?

Regret clawed at Steven, but what baffled him the most was Zane's patience. How had he endured it for so many years? How could he have known that Annalise was married-that she belonged to someone else—and still had chosen to wait?

Zane had even watched Annalise get married and have a child. Yet he had never once lost control, neither did he ever reveal a trace of his true feelings.

Steven shut his eyes. After a long silence, he let out a bitter laugh. While he took Annalise for granted, someone else cherished her.

like it was tearing apart. The agony was suffocating, leaving him

numb the pain, Steven turned to alcohol. Grabbing several bottles from the

it wouldn't change anything. He knew that when he woke up

then, the sound of someone at the door pulled him from his downward spiral. He calmed

heading back to

"Do

the moment she stepped inside, making her frown

you drink so much? Do you feel unwell? Should I make you

affection. In the past, he would have thought Chloe was simply showing him motherly concern. He would have believed she

her exasperated expression and guessed he wasn't just there

suddenly felt exhausted. He said flatly, "No need. If you have something to say,

kitchen. "Wait a moment.

shut his eyes, his voice calm and unhurried. "There's no need. I'm not drunk yet. Whatever you want to say, Dcan answer you just fine. I'm no

Chloe hesitated before turning

that moment, he was hit with a