The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)
Chapter 252

Willow lifted her chin. "It's a secret."

Dorothy and Milton instantly clapped. "You're already keeping secrets at your age? Our Willow is amazing!"

Willow blushed with a smile. "Yeah!"

After exercising and taking a bath, the family sat down at the dining table to eat.

Willow, who had only just started speaking with Dorothy and Milton, was already bursting to share everything with them.

She chirped away like a little sparrow. "Grandpa, Grandma, the chef at our house makes such delicious food. You can tell him whatever you want to eat, and he'll make it for you. So, don't hold back!" Dorothy still felt like she was dreaming. All they did yesterday was give Willow a suggestion. Yet, after proceeding with it, Willow actually got better?

Milton answered, "Alright."

As a thought crossed Dorothy's mind, she immediately suggested, "How about we take you out for some fun after school to celebrate you finally being able to talk to us normally, Willow?" Willow quickly said, "I don't think I can."

Dorothy looked at Willow with a confused look. "Why?"

"I have to go home every day to train with my coach," Willow answered honestly. "I can't slack off, or I might get lazy and never want to practice again!"

Milton suggested a solution. "Then, how about Saturday?"

"Sure!" Willow nodded enthusiastically.

Every word she said made her feel happy and optimistic. "Can we bring Penelope, then? She's my only and best friend at school!"

Without any hesitation, Dorothy agreed, "Absolutely!"

...

After reaching an agreement, we dropped Willow off at kindergarten. When she saw Penelope, she ran up to her.

Seeing Willow coming her way, Penelope quickly spread her arms.

Willow threw herself into Penelope's arms and whispered, "I'm going to see you as a doll."

"Huh?" Penelope could hardly believe her ears.

Did Willow just speak to her?

Willow winked at her. "Penelope, my daddy and mommy used dolls that resembled my grandpa and grandma to slowly help me with talking to people. Now, I can talk to Grandpa and Grandma.

"And then, they made a doll that looks a lot like you, too. So I thought that if I treated you like one of those new cotton dolls they brought home, maybe I could talk to you as well. And it worked!"

Willow excitedly held Penelope's hand.

"That's incredible!" Penelope thought that this was unbelievable.

After marveling at Willow's ability to speak to her, Penelope continued to ask, "So, can you talk to our other classmates now?"

Willow considered it for a while, then shook her head. "Maybe it's because Daddy hasn't made dolls that look like them yet. I just can't speak to them."

"Oh." Penelope was a bit disappointed but quickly cheered up. At least Willow could talk to her now, which made her happy.

Zachary, who followed behind them and was listening to what Willow said, couldn't help but feel happy as well.

Since Willow was getting better, Annalise would probably be happy, too, right?

He didn't dare hope for much anymore. His only wish was for Annalise to live a good life. That would be enough.

As I watched Willow and Penelope,

still found it hard to believe. I turned

to Zane. "Willow can talk to

vel?

e normally now even without

the walkie-talkies?"

Zane was equally surprised. "It seems so."

Confused, I got into the car. "I originally thought we'd at least need walkie-talkies, but it seems we don't now."

Zane chuckled softly. "What a pleasant surprise."