The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

With that, I headed straight into the bookstore to look for Willow. The moment Willow spotted me, she leaped into my arms and happily exclaimed, "Mommy!"

Her voice was pretty loud. I was just about to remind her that the bookstore was supposed to be quiet when Zane said, "Willow, let's keep our voices down." "Got it," Willow said quietly.

Noticing how sensible she was lifted my spirits. I took her hand and said, "Let's head upstairs and check out which books you like."

"Sure!"

Steven stayed right where he was after I left. Jessica tried to cheer him up when she saw he didn't look good. "Steven, don't let it get to you.."

"I never imagined that leaving her with nothing in the divorce would set her off like this," Steven mumbled to himself.

Jessica frowned, confused. What was he getting at? He said he set me off, But I obviously moved on.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Steven clearly didn't buy what I said. "She must have hired someone to play the role of her husband and kid just to prove she's moved on without me and that someone else wants her.

"She probably thinks that seeing her happy will make me regret everything..." He shook his head. "But what she doesn't get is that the more she tries to show off, the more it shows she still loves me." Jessica noticed how confident Steven seemed and started to question her beliefs. Was everything really as he claimed? She was about to step into the bookstore when Steven held her back. "Let's check out another store. If we bump into them, she'll act all loving with her fake husband and kid again. That would be awkward for me."

It was only then that Jessica left with him,

Zane walked beside me, hesitating briefly before asking, "Did he give you a hard time?"

"Well.."I wasn't sure if it counted as a hard time. "He's just being self-absorbed, acting like I still have feelings for him."

I shared everything Steven had just told me with Zane, who chuckled.

I sighed. "He never thought there'd come a day when I might not love him anymore."

Zane halted and stared at me. "If he ever figures out that you don't have feelings for him, regrets it, and wants to get the

"You can't fix a broken mirror." I cut him off. "Zane, I've made my choice, and there's no going back." Zane nodded in agreement. "That's what I want to hear."

Willow finally looked relieved after hearing what I said. She looked up at me and exclaimed, "Mommy!"

Ifted her into my arms. I brought her here to the bookstore to see if any books or picture books would catch her Zane wanted to pick up some books. He wandered off to find his own while Willow and I looked around. Willow's eyes lit up when she saw those colorful book covers. I could see

that

eye.

together-"

excited she was about reading and wanted to encourage

I considered reading the books to her quietly on the side, but I was worried I'd end up disturbing everyone else even if I whispered. 1 figured the best move would be to buy all the books she liked. By the time Zane finished picking out his books, I had already paid for everything

Zane looked taken aback "Why didn't you wait for me to take care of that?"