The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Right then, Holly came to explain the situation. "This is Willow's mother, Zachary. She's here to drop her off. This is a misunderstanding." "Impossible!" Zachary refuted without hesitation. "She's my mommy!"

"Hey, don't get all friendly," I interrupted him. "I definitely didn't give birth to a son like you."

He was taken aback.

Holly quickly chimed in, "Did you forget? You said you didn't know her when she came to pick you up last time."

Why was he claiming someone he supposedly didn't know as his mother today? Strange.

As Zachary watched me enter the car, looking nonchalant, he couldn't contain his excitement.

At last, his Mean Mommy abandoned him! He could finally live a happy life with his Mommy Jessie!

His displeasure from seeing me earlier quickly dissipated and was replaced with utter joy.

Woohoo! He had finally escaped from his Annoying Mommy!

Elated, he bolted into his classroom.

Meanwhile, Willow looked at his retreating figure and let out a huff. "Stupid boy! He doesn't know how great of a mommy he's lost!" Inside the car, the chauffeur took the driver's seat, while Zane and I sat in the back seats. He looked at me, face full of inquiry.

I'd had enough of his stare. "Are you curious why I was so cold to Zachary?"

Zane didn't deny it. "He's your flesh and blood, after all."

It suddenly occurred to me that Zane was the first person to find me after I fell down the stairs, so he knew nothing about the full story. My voice turned as cold as ice. "Jessica

tampered with the stairs. When Zachary saw me fall, he chose to ignore me and ran off. And the reason? Well, he desperately wanted me to divorce his dad so they all could live happily ever after as a family of four." While retelling the story, I turned to look at Zane and saw his surprised look.

I could understand his reaction. "At that time, I couldn't believe that the boy I patiently, lovingly looked after and nurtured turned out to be a traitor. I kept compromising, yet I ended up paying such a painful price time after time. "That's why I feel nothing for them anymore."

I knew I couldn't hide my future plans from Zane, so I told him everything.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

"Between me and them lay the child who never came into the world. Although I chose to divorce, it doesn't mean I'd brush this matter aside lightly. If you wish for Willow's mother to be a benevolent woman, I suggest you fire me." After a long silence, Zane responded, "I was just imagining what I'd do if I were in your shoes. Frankly, my ways would be more extreme than yours."

I was pleasantly surprised that he understood me.

"As long as Willow stays unaffected..." He naturally wasn't going to turn a blind eye to everything I did. "You can do whatever you want."

I contemplated for a long time. "Don't worry. I will never get Willow involved in that mess."

"Then, we're good," he said casually.

As we passed by the hospital, I frantically informed the chauffeur, "Could you stop here? I need to get off."

The driver immediately stepped on the brake pedal.

I alighted from the car, shut the door, and told Zane through the rolled-down window, "Go ahead without me. There's something I gotta do."

Despite being unaware of what I planned to do, Zane respected my privacy and simply told the chauffeur to proceed.

After taking a deep breath, I strode into the inpatient department.

That was where I fell, and I needed to check if any surveillance cameras were in the area. Perhaps I would even find someone who had overheard my conversation with Zachary.