The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)
Chapter 247

Would Annalise also be afraid that Zachary might say or do the wrong things again? Zachary hesitated for a long time but decided to buy the other two dolls as well in the end.

After making the payment, he left a comment in Annalise's comment section, "Mommy, please update soon, but make sure to also take care of yourself and don't overwork!"

After replying, he felt a bit uneasy. He wondered if she would get mad if she knew he wrote that. He anxiously refreshed the comment section.

To his surprise, many others had posted similar comments.

He let out a sigh of relief, but at the same time, he felt a pang of sadness.

He used to be her only child. Now, he was just one of many readers calling her "Mommy".

Zachary lowered his gaze.

The truth was, Annalise had also drawn comics for him back when she stayed home to take care of him. At that time, he thought Annalise was an embarrassment, and this was what hurt him the most.

He had told her that her drawings were ugly and that she should stop. He also said that if other people knew about it, they would definitely laugh at him.

Annalise had finally found people who truly appreciated her comics now, so he believed he should be happy for her.

"Don't be sad," Harry said when he saw Zachary tearing up again. "Look on the bright side at least your mom is doing well now."

Zachary forced a smile. "I guess that's true."

...

After work, Steven didn't go home immediately. Instead, he drove to the vicinity of Zane's house.

The thought of Annalise living nearby made all the negative emotions in his heart disappear. They were replaced by calmness.

He even found interest in appreciating the sight of Zachary jogging back and forth.

The tutor and driver he hired were also pretty good, seeing they would exercise with Zachary.

Steven seriously considered buying a house nearby. That way, Zachary could see Annalise every day, and it would be convenient as the commute back home wouldn't take that long.

Steven took out his phone to check his bank balance.

He still had a fair amount left.

He immediately called a friend to ask if any houses nearby were for sale, but his friend said that there weren't any. The area was a prime location, and all the properties were villas once owned, few would want to sell.

Steven ended the call, feeling a bit disappointed.

His gaze was fixed on the villas.

One's heart wouldn't lie. He felt at ease whenever he was near Annalise.

Since that was the case, did this mean he liked her? If that were true, then would that mean that everyone around him had conspired to deceive him? Why would they do that? He didn't understand it at all.

As a knock sounded at the car window, Steven turned to see Zachary standing at the car door. He got out immediately.

Zachary said expressionlessly, "Daddy, I'll be fine here on my own. You don't need to worry about me."

"Did you complain to your grandma yesterday?" Steven didn't want to leave, so he calmly changed the subject.

Instead of answering his question,

Zachary asked, "Am I not allowed to

say anything when Jessica treats. me terribly? Then, what do you expect me to do instead? Should I

just stay silent and let her pick on me?"

IMS

Only when Steven looked at Zachary's face did he realize that the latter had a look of refusal and hostility. "I didn't say that."

"But that's what you want to say!" Zachary stated firmly. "If you really cared about me, you'd go to Jessica instead and ask why she keeps messing with me behind your back.

"Yet, the person you came to was me. Doesn't that mean you think I'm the one in the wrong?"

Zachary then huffed, "Daddy, I'm really disappointed in you! Since you're so protective of Jessica, just go home and be with her!"

Steven was stunned-he never expected his own son to grow to hate him so much.