The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Chloe grew angles at Zachary's resistance and raised her hand, ready to hit him. "Why are you so ungrateful? Everything I'm doing is for

Sering what was happening, Hannah rashed over and scooped Zachary into her arms. "Why are you hitting a child?"

Zachary, perched on his teacher Hannah's shoulder for safety, placed back at Chloe "Stop using nie as an excuse! You're only doing this for yourself!TM

Chloe, still faming, tied to follow, but Hannah authed Zachary into the kindergarten and quiclily shut the gate behind the

"Thank you, Ms. Ludvig "Zachary sald with a grateful look. "If you hadn't come in time, who knows what would've happened." Hannah smiled gently "You're my student. It's only right that I protect you." When we arrivedal

the kindergarten gate, Willow leaned toward Zane and whispered, "Daddy, you've got to work harder, okay?" Zane nodded eagerly. "Don't worry, I will

Satisfied, Willow hopped out of the car, Zane and 11wed her into the kindergarten, where he took my hand naturally.

1 glanced at him in surprise but decided not to pull away, remembering what we had told Willow earlier.

As we walked, Willow suddenly turned around and stopped in front of us, her face serious

"Darkly, mommy, maybe you should tone it down in front of me."

Lukin't help but laugh. "Didn't you say earlier that you wanted to see us being lovey-doway?"

Willow's expression was somber. "I can't explain it, but when I see you holding hands, it feels like mommy isn't just mine anymore,

Her words struck a chord with me. Always mindful of her feeling, I immediately let go of Zane's hand "Okay, I'll listen to Willow." Zane looked reluctant but nodded, respecting Willow's wishes. Seving this, Willow broke into a smile and this herself into my arms. "Mommy's the best."

Zane raised an eyebrow. "What about daddy?"

Willow, used to Zane's playful jealousy, replied with a casual, "I love daddy too"

She let go of me, wared goodbye, and slipped into the kindergarten.

"Willow!" Penelope's voice rang out from behind us, catching Willow's attention.

She turned around quickly, just as Penelope rushed over to her.

Willow grabbed Penelope's small hand excitedly. "I was just about to wait for you inside the kindergarten.

Penelope smiled confidently. "Now we can head to the classroom together."

We watched their little figures disappear into the kindergarten, hand in hand

inned and go into the car.

up with a pounding headache, his vision blurry from the previous night's drinking

In his half-conscious state, he thought he heard Annalisa's voice scolding him sotily.

"Drinking so much is bad for your health

"Even if you're upset, you need to show some restraint.

"Look at you, drinking your self sick fin't it awful?"novelbin

Hen Baper was filled with genuine concRITL

But when Soren opened his eyes, the room was empty

He realized in had been nothing more than a hallucination, and the bitterness of it all made him laugh....... Before the divorce, he hadn't thought much of Alieved their relationship was one of convenience, not love.

Yet now, having lost her, he found himself yearning for her with an intensity that was almost unbearable.

Steven wondered how it was possible to fall so deeply in love with someone only after losing them

ble couldn't tell if it was the aftermath of his drinking or something else, but all he knew was that he desperately wanted to see Anuline