ă€ŠThe Unveiled Roseă€‹


 Chapter 1

    "Mom, can you and dad get a divorce?"

    It was 9 PM, and I was tucking my son into bed, convinced he was on the brink of sleep when out of the blue, he hit me with that question.N?velDrama.Org content.

    That one line left me reeling. My hand, which had been gently patting his back, froze in ce.

    A sharp twinge of pain pricked my heart.

    Over the years, my husband and I have maintained a pretty good rtionship.

    Ideally, a child nurtured by love should feel blessed to grow up in such an environment.

    But...

    Why would he think like that?

    I was puzzled, yet I softly asked, "Why would you say that, honey?"

    I made sure to soften my voice, fearing I might identally scare him.

    "Mom, you never let me have McDonald''s or ice cream..."

    His voice was fading into sleep, muffled and childishly innocent.

    It was both amusing and bewildering to me. To think such trivial matters could lead him to wish for a divorce between his parents... The innocence of a child''s world is just too pure.

    I listened to his breathing be steady and knew he had drifted off to sleep. I was about to stand up and leave when...

    "Ding-dong."

    A sound came from the direction of his bedside.

    I turned around.

    Beneath his pillow, a light was shining.

    Lifting a corner of the pillow, I found the hidden tablet.

    I sighed.

    My son was still young, and I was worried about him getting nearsighted, so I set strict limits on his daily screen time.

    Though he often grumbled in protest, he had always followed my rules.

    I never expected him to sneak the tablet into bed tonight.

    I casually pulled out the tablet, intending to turn it off, but was caught off guard by the chat group page lighting up the screen. Group Name: Blissful Home^_^

    It sounded just like something my son would say, using his favorite emoticon.

    The group avatar looked like a family portrait of four.

    I zoomed in on the photo, and there was a woman beaming broadly, holding two kids in her arms.

    One of them was my son, Nigel Payne, holding a giant ice cream cone. His face was the picture of contentment.

    And there was my husband, Leander Payne, standing right behind the woman. His gaze on her was tender and affectionate. Just like the way he used to look at me when we first fell in love.

    It felt like a needle had pricked my heart, uncontrobly painful, yet my eyes involuntarily shifted to the woman''s name...

    The group showed that my son hadbeled her as "Mom."

    I was thunderstruck.

    Trembling, I clicked on her profile.

    There it was, her username: Le-and-Luna.

    Luna... Leander''s first love, Luna?

    For a fleeting moment, I felt the absurd suspicion that I was dreaming.

    My husband and son had formed a family group chat with his first love and her child, leaving me out.

    They had a new family with someone else.

    It felt like someone was squeezing my heart; I could barely breathe.

    The group messages were overwhelming, my brain nearly shutting down, my fingers numbly scrolling up...

    Actually, our family of three also had a group chat. But aside from the asional message asking Leander when he would be home for dinner, that group was as silent as if it never existed. Just then, the "Mom" in the group suddenly sent a video.

    My hands shook as I clicked on it.

    The video was clearly well-edited...

    In just one minute, countless scenes shed through.

    Fried chicken, c, a Ferris wheel, a carousel...

    Nigel''s little face was full of unrestrained joy.

    Even Leander, usually so reserved with his emotions, couldn''t hide his indulgence and affection...

 Chapter 2

    I couldn''t even begin to think about the other two anymore.

    The video slowly stopped, finally freezing on Nigel''s little face.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    His eyes were closed, and his tiny hands gripped tightly. He looked focused and serious as he made a wish over a giant birthday cake.

    I could hear his young, earnest voice.

    "I wish Luna could be my mom."

    "I wish the four of us could be together forever!"

    Apuse erupted.

    Luna and her kid joined in, pping and saying they hoped his dream woulde true.

    Leander also wore a smile at that moment.

    They looked just like a happy family.

    But then...

    What about me?

    I felt a pain so acute I could barely breathe.

    The group''s "Mom," Luna, had sent another voice message.

    Her voice was bubbly and cheerful, like Nigel''s supportive big sister.

    "Sweetie, you told me before that you wished I could be your mom, And that anyone would be better than your mom. It got me wondering, why do you dislike your mom so much?"

    "Then I realized it''s because she''s too controlling, doesn''t let you eat what you want, doesn''t let you y."

    "Just to make you happy, I''ll be your new mom in this group from now on. This group will be a safe space for the four of us."

    Is that so?

    Anyone could be his mom but me.

    As long as I''m not his mom, that''s fine, right?

    That''s what he said, word by word.

    I tortured myself by listening over and over again, but I still couldn''t believe it, my own child, whom I taught and nurtured...

    The child I devoted all my energy to, could hate me like this.

    I closed my eyes, tears streaming down uncontrobly.

    Nigel has had a sensitive stomach since he was little. A little bit of the wrong food would cause him to have a stomachache. He was hospitalized a few times for gastroenteritis when he was very young. So, I''ve always been strict with his diet, carefully preparing meals every day, just hoping to improve his health...

    But all my efforts for him, ording to Nigel, had turned into instances where I hurt him.

    No wonder Nigel''s gastroenteritis started acting up again recently.

    I had be frantic but couldn''t find the reason, and this was the truth.

    I numbly listened to the voice messages Nigel had sent before.

    Every usation was like a dagger to my heart.

    It nearly suffocated me.

    Then, suddenly, Nigel stopped recording his voice message.

    I knew it was because I hade into his room to put him to bed.

    He couldn''t let me know he was still sneakily using the tablet. Even though he wanted to keep chatting with Luna in the group, he had toply with me. Now, he was asleep.

    I bit my lip, tears streaming down as I looked at him.

    He was so delicate, like a porcin doll.

    He spoke without guile, simply expressing whatever he felt.

    But...

    Lies don''t hurt; the truth hurts like a dagger to the heart.

    As his mother, I always thought that even if I was a bit strict, he might find it annoying now, but when he grows up, he''ll understand I did it for his own good. However, I never imagined he could hate me this deeply.

    I couldn''t contain my sadness and anger.

    But I hadn''t lost all reason. I understood...

    Nigel was still just a child, like a nk te, not knowing or understanding anything.

    But for him to resent me and like Luna...

    The only possibility could be because of my husband, Leander.

 Chapter 3

    Holding the tablet, I left Nigel''s room and headed straight for Leander''s study.

    But for the life of me, I couldn''t wrap my head around it...-

    Why, of all people, it had to be Luna.

    The first time I heard the name Luna was at our wedding..

    Back then, Leander was so good to me. Whenever I was down, he''d tell me it was okay, nobody was perfect, and then he''d patiently stay by my side until I cheered up. If I got sick, he''d drop everything to take care of me.

    Because of that, I wholeheartedly decided to marry him for love.

    There I was, in my pristine white wedding dress, holding a bouquet of pure flowers, dreaming of our future together, when I overheard his friends talking about his first love. "Man, Leander and Luna were so passionately in love. I was sure they''d end up together."

    "Exactly, they seemed like a match made in heaven."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    "Such a shame."

    The regret in their voices felt so genuine.

    At that moment, I wasn''t so sure anymore. Did Leander really love me?

    Just as I was about to confront Leander for some answers, I saw him storming over to them with a dark expression. His voice was angrier than I''d ever heard.

    "I''ve said it countless times. I hate Luna!"

    "I may not have made it clear before, but this time, I''m warning you: bring her up in front of me again, and we''re done!"

    Hearing Leander say that made the lump in my throat finally dissolve. So, he didn''t love Luna and actually despised her.

    I couldn''t understand why under such circumstances, Luna came back, and he suddenly started bringing our child into their rtionship. Why did he allow Nigel to cozy up to her? For the first time, I began doubting the marriage I had always believed was happy.

    Unlike my usual respectful self, who would knock before entering, I pushed the door to the study open without knocking.

    Leander was buried in work, but upon hearing the door, he looked up leisurely. Seeing it was me, he quickly put down his work and stood up, walking towards me. "Honey, what''s wrong?" His voice was as warm and soothing as ever. As if we were still in the honeymoon phase.

    Hearing his concerned tone, tears uncontrobly started spilling from my eyes.

    Even at this moment, his demeanor was still that of a man in love...

    And yet, this was the man who also betrayed me.

    After a moment, he stopped in front of me.

    He was tall, about 6''2", not overly muscr, but clearly worked out.

    His physique was reassuring.

    He reached out to wipe away my tears, gently coaxing me, "Did our little champ get on your nerves again?"

    My voice broke as I managed to say, "No."

    Leander wanted to ask more.

    But I couldn''t bear to hear anymore. "I saw the chat history."

    Leander''s hand dropped from my cheek. "What chat?"

    Through my tears, I stared at him.

    How could he y dumb at a time like this?

    My voice raised, almost shouting: "The Blissful Home group chat you and Luna are in!"

    Leander, as if he couldn''t stand to see me upset, stepped forward to embrace me, hisrge hand gently patting my back. "Honey, calm down for a second."

    My body and nerves were wound tight, like a bowstring ready to snap.

    Leander exined, "Nigel insisted on creating that group."

    Well, how did Nigel even know Luna?

 Chapter 4

    What did they experience together, and what kind of bond did they develop, that their feelings grew so deep that Nigel had to call Luna "Mom"?

    He was just trying to dodge responsibility. He never considered...that he was the root of it all.-

    I closed my eyes. "Leander..."

    Uttering his name had drained all my energy. "I''ve seen all the messages, so please, don''t treat me like I''m clueless, okay?"

    Leander fell silent.

    I waited for a long time, but his reply never came. Turning around, I was about to head back to the bedroom.

    But Leander caught me from behind. "I''m sorry."

    I stopped in my tracks.

    Leander carefully chose his words. "This is mostly on me. Icked judgment. I just thought you were overwhelmed with our son every day and wanted to ease your burden." Yeah, right!

    His idea of easing my burden was...not finding the time, even a single day, with our son and me.

    But how did he always manage to sneak out with other women?

    I struggled hard, trying to break free from his embrace.

    Leander didn''t want to let go. "But I didn''t realize it would bother you. That''s my mistake!"

    "I promise I''ll never contact her again!"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    "It''s over. Nigel and I will leave that group!"

    "I''ll even delete her contact information from Nigel''s and mine phone."

    "So, Amara, can you give me another chance, please?"

    "I promise I''ll make it right from now on. And I''ll keep my distance from other women too."

    Leander''s voice turned a bit intive. "For the sake of our years together and for our son''s sake... Amara, please don''t leave me."

    His pitiful tone made him seem terrified of being abandoned, and my thoughts inadvertently drifted to Nigel.

    He was so young...

    Leander is still oblivious to everything; after just a little time with Luna, Nigel has already started showing signs of bad influence. Plus, with Luna''s indulgence, he was frequently in the hospital.

    If I really went through with a divorce, giving Leander and Luna what they wanted, Nigel''s future wouldn''t look bright.

    So, I...had topromise.

    With immense difficulty, I uttered a single word, "Okay."

    Hearing this, Leander''s grip tightened around my waist, forcing me to turn around.

    I looked up at him.

    Leander held my face, and his eyes were filled with the joy of regaining something lost. He leaned in for a kiss.

    Even though the issue was resolved, Nigel and his betrayal still felt like a thorn in my heart.

    I wasn''t ready for any intimacy with him before I could fully move past this, so I dodged his kiss.

    The next moment, I was suddenly lifted off the ground.

    The unexpected loss of ground beneath me made me feel insecure, instinctively making me cling to Leander.

    Leander chuckled. "Still mad, huh?"

    I didn''t deny it. "I need time."

    Leander''s voice sounded seductive and persuasive. "Then, how about I make it up to you tonight? Could that earn me some leniency?"

    Normally, I would have found it hard to resist such a plea, but this time, I truly wasn''t in the mood.

    As if knowing my answer already, Leander didn''t give me a chance to refuse andid me down on the soft bed.

    Just as I was about to get up, Leander immediately pressed down.

    I pushed against his chest with both hands, trying to resist his advances.

    Leander pinned my wrists above my head with one hand. His strength was overwhelming.

    I couldn''t break free.

 Chapter 5

    Leander''s other hand firmly captured my chin, not allowing me to escape, as he pressed his lips against mine. "You''re going to like this."

    ...

    Nigel was in his final year of preschool.

    School started promptly at 8 AM every day.

    It was a twenty-minute drive from our house to the preschool, and to avoid him beingte, we always left at 7:30 AM.

    I, on the other hand, would get up at 6:30 AM to prepare breakfast.

    Today''s breakfast was a bit simpler, consisting of chicken sandwiches I had prepared the night before.

    The breakfast muffins required a bit more effort, needing fresh bacon and eggs.

    I saut¨¦ed bacon in a pan, cracked three whole eggs, and finally added the bacon and chives to the eggs before cing it in the oven and turning the heat up. Once the muffins were ready, I took them out of the oven and was greeted by the rich aroma.

    After making some fruit sd, I turned off the oven and cleared up the dishes.

    With everything in order, I left the kitchen to help them pick out their clothes for the day.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    Leander, being the CEO of hispany, dressed quite meticulously.

    Nigel, being a young boy, wore whatever wasfortable and convenient.

    After selecting their outfits, Iid them out in their respective bedrooms.

    By the time they had almost finished getting ready, I took this chance to serve the chicken sandwiches, the breakfast muffins and fruit sd.

    The muffins were still hot. I waited quietly for the muffins to cool down.

    "Mom!"

    I heard Nigel''s annoyed voice and turned to see him storming over with his tablet in hand.

    He was irate, asking, "Did you delete Luna''s contact and leave the group we were all in?"

    Looking at his vividly upset little face, I shook my head. "No."

    But I could understand Nigel''s feelings. Even though he''s young and can''t yet fully discern right from wrong, Luna is someone who indulges him. She allowed him to eat whatever he wanted and y as he pleased. To him, Luna was his favorite person. It didn''t matter that his parents cut off his contact with Luna for his own good...

    He couldn''t ept it.

    I braced myself for his anger, but I didn''t expect his words to be so hurtful.

    "If it wasn''t you, who else could it be?" Nigel red at me with reddened eyes. "No wonder people all say Dad doesn''t like you! A woman who likes to control everything and everyone''s every move doesn''t deserve to be liked!"

    Although I anticipated his emotional outburst might lead him to say extreme things, I told myself that, as a mother, I should be understanding.

    But...I overestimated myself. His words struck me like a sharp arrow, easily breaching my defenses and piercing my heart.

    So my son truly believes I am so despicable.

    My hands trembled uncontrobly. "If your dad doesn''t like me, then who does he like?"

    Nigel puffed his cheeks in anger. "Obviously, Luna! He said himself that he''s liked Luna for a long time!"

    "Really?" My mind went nk. "How do you know this..."

    Nigel cocked his head at me. "Dad told me, of course. Why else would he always take me to y with Luna?"

    His innocent and straightforward question hurt even more because of his simplicity.

    Indeed, if Leander truly didn''t have feelings for Luna, he wouldn''t keep in touch with her.

    But their recent interactions had been worryingly frequent.

    Leander''s feelings for Luna were clear as day.

    It felt like a giant hand was squeezing my heart.

    "Dad must really like Luna. The way he looks at her is different from how he looks at you. Dad said he won''t divorce you because he''s worried that if he does, I''ll end up like you, from a single-parent family, which wouldn''t be good for my mental development." "He''s also worried you''d cling to him, lose control, and possibly harm others!"

    I looked at Nigel standing before me. As a five-year-old, his voice sounded childishly sweet, yet he spoke harsh words.

    What he said...was unimaginably extreme and hurtful.

    I tried tofort myself, telling myself he was just in a bad mood...

    Yet my hands kept shaking.

    The muffins were ready.

    The aroma wafted to my nose, forcing me to push aside Nigel''s "childish words." I served him some muffins and fruit sd, cing the te on the table, careful not to scald him. "Let''s eat," I said.

 Chapter 6

    Nigel''s tiny hands gripped the te on the table, and with a forceful gesture, he hurled it to the ground.

    "Crash!"

    The porcin shattered, scattering pieces all over the floor. The syrup in the fruit sd sshed in every direction.

    "Nigel! There''s a limit to throwing a tantrum. Have you forgotten all the manners I taught you?"

    My temper red, and we locked eyes, neither willing to back down.

    Nigel, not getting the reaction he sought, seemed extremely upset. He pushed me and stormed off crying, "Who needs your lessons? I hate you!"

    His push wasn''t strong, but it was enough to stagger me, nearly causing me to fall.

    I watched Nigel''s retreating figure in disbelief.

    Our rtionship had always been harmonious.

    But given his young age and immature thinking, he could say or do the wrong things.

    Although his words sometimes stung, I would exin what he did wrong after cooling down. He would reflect and understand how to correct his behavior.

    Usually, at times like this, Nigel woulde over, wrap his small arms around my neck, and say, "Mom, I said something wrong earlier, didn''t I? That made you sad, right? I''ll remember that and won''t say it again." Then he would nuzzle me with his little face.

    But now?

    I steadied myself against the counter, unable to control the tears streaming down my face.

    Why had he changed like this?

    Was it truly because of my approach to parenting?

    I deeply reflected on my methods.

    Perhaps I had been too strict. He was still young and couldn''t understand that all I did was for his benefit.

    He just felt oppressed, and Luna''s reckless indulgence seemed to offer him the rxation he craved...

    Slowly, he was influenced by her. He was gradually drifting away from me and drawing closer to Luna.

    If I lowered my expectations, could our rtionship improve?

    I took another te from the rack.

    Nigel had smashed his meal. Leander hadn''t eaten yet.

    Unlike usual, instead of dishing out his meal in advance, I ced an empty te on the table and sat down beside it.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    I couldn''t hide my inner turmoil.

    Leander sat down, noticed the empty te, and was puzzled. "What happened?"

    I struggled to keep my emotions in check, "Nigel was upset about me deleting Luna from his contacts and leaving the group chat yesterday. He threw his meal in a fit. He probably won''t have the appetite for anything I make today; you might as well take him to the school canteen." Leander nodded in agreement. "Alright."

    He then served himself some food, and tried to lighten the mood. "Don''t be mad, honey. Don''t stoop to arguing with a child."

    Nigel''s words reyed in my mind. I wanted to ask Leander what was really going on...

    But I stopped myself.

    How would I respond if he countered by asking why I took a child''s heated words to heart?

    Yet, not asking felt even worse...

    With frustration building up inside, I finally spoke, "About yesterday..."

    "Don''t worry." Leander seemed to anticipate my concerns, smiling as he reached across the table to ruffle my hair. "I''ve made a promise to you, and I''ll handle it properly."

    His assurance somewhat eased my mind. "That''s good. Let''s eat."

    I awaited the day he would cut ties with Luna.

    I would try to believe that his affections had never wavered, that he would remain a loving husband and father...

    After all, we used to be such a happy family.

    ...

    After finishing his meal, Leander went to call Nigel for school.

    Nigel came out dressed, saw me, huffed, and turned away, grudgingly taking Leander''s hand as they headed to the door. Leander paused at the doorway to say goodbye.

    Just like any other day, they left, and I was left alone to clean up the aftermath.

    A shattered te, scattered food, and syrup were spilled all over the floor.

    I had to clear the used tes on the table and wash their clothes from the day before.

    Once everything was tidied up, I began to mop the floor, moving from the living room to the bedroom and then to the study...

    Upon opening the study door, I saw a photo and two opened letters on the desk.

    The photo showed a youthful and vibrant Luna.

    On the left, a letter in Leander''s familiar handwriting...

    He had written just a few lines.

    [Luna, despite your past betrayal, which hurt me deeply, I can still forgive you. If you''re willing toe back to me, I''ll immediately call off my wedding with Amara Jensen.] My mind went numb with shock.

 Chapter 7

    Had Leander penned this letter to Luna on the eve of our wedding? And was the other letter Luna''s reply to him?

    [I''ve enclosed your letter in mine and sent it back to you.

    Leander, I''m truly happy now, and I hope you can wish me well.

    And please, let''s not contact each other anymore. I wouldn''t want my husband to misunderstand.]

    As I''m pouring over these letters, it all clicked.

    Luna was clearly Leander''s one that got away. However, Leander harbored such resentment towards Luna.

    My grip on the mop tightened unconsciously.

    Luna had once betrayed Leander.

    Leander convinced himself to overlook Luna''s past mistakes, to ignore the hurt she had caused him. It was all for Luna to return to his side. Unfortunately...Luna rejected him.

    Only now did I finally understand why, back at the wedding, the mere mention of Luna by his friends stirred such a reaction in him. So, why did he keep these letters?

    Was it a reminder to himself to remember Luna''s coldness and to make a firm decision to keep his distance from her? To start anew with me?

    Or was he afraid... after giving up everything and facing the disgrace of abandoning his wife, Luna still does not want him.

    I closed my eyes.

    The pain was nearly enough to knock me out.

    Maybe it was just as Nigel said, Leander only ever loved Luna.

    So, when contemting a future with Luna, he never considered how his choices might hurt me...

    "Ring, ring."Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    I stood in the study for what felt like an eternity until the sound of my phone jolted me back to reality.

    I picked up without a second thought.

    "Honey?"

    Through the phone, Leander''s voice seemed even deeper, more enticing.

    He was always so gentle. "What are you doing?"

    Leander was always like this around me - caring and generous. He worried that I might feel uneasy in this unfamiliar city. He was all-embracing, even careful not to speak harshly to me. I should have felt content.

    But now, just hearing his voice reminded me of how I was head over heels for him, willing to cross oceans to his city and eager to walk down the aisle with him...

    While he was desperately pleading for his lost love to return.

    Perhaps he evenined to friends about my arrival ruining his chances of reconciliation with Luna.

    "Why the silence?"

    Leander was taken aback by myck of response.

    I didn''t know how to face Leander anymore, but clearly, this wasn''t the time to keep silent.

    ncing at the photo and letters on the desk, I said, "Mopping the floor."

    "I called to remind you..."

    Leander paused, then continued, "There are some highly confidential business documents on my desk, so you don''t need to tidy the study. I''ll take care of it when I get back." Before, I would have joked and said, "Can''t I take a peek?"

    But now, those words just wouldn''te out. After a long pause, I managed a simple "Okay."

    Leander hung up.

    I left his study with the mop in hand.

    Why didn''t he want me to see those letters?

    Was he afraid I''d be heartbroken to know he wasn''t trulymitted when he married me?

    Or was it because he''s always loved Luna, not me?

    Or perhaps...

    He''s already nning to leave me...

 Chapter 8

    Was Leander, Nigel, Luna, and her kid bing a true family of four?

    The more I thought about it, the colder my heart felt,

    For the first time, I realized that years of marital bliss might just be an illusion.

    ...

    "Ding-dong."

    The sound of the doorbell brought me back to reality. ncing at the clock on the wall, I realized it was the time Leander came home from work.

    As I opened the door, I was puzzled not to see Nigel. Normally, Leander would pick up Nigel on his way home.

    "Where''s our son?"

    "He''s still sulking and didn''t want toe home." Leander wrapped his arms around me. "I thought, it''s been a while since we had some alone time, so I dropped him off at his grandma''s."

    He nuzzled against my shoulder, cooing, "Honey."

    I didn''t know how to react.

    Once the seeds of doubt are nted, they start to grow uncontrobly...

    When we first got married, he was so loving, yet his mind was still on Luna.

    Now, he still seems so affectionate...

    But I couldn''t help but wonder if he truly loved me now or if it was all just an act.

    Leander''s hand rested on my stomach, gently caressing.

    I snapped back. "Hmm?"

    Leander tentatively asked, "Should we try for another baby?"N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    I froze. "Why?"

    "After going to work today, I''ve been thinking a lot." Leander exined calmly, "I used to be really into Luna, but after she came back, we spent some time together... I still feel happiest being with you." I instinctively turned to look into Leander''s eyes.

    His expression was sincere. He did not seem to be lying.

    I hesitated, "If that''s the case, then let''s focus on our life together..."

    Leander took my face in his hands, smiling as he kissed me. "On the way here, I talked with Nigel, and he said he''d like a little brother or sister too. You know, I''ve always dreamed of having two kids." "So, honey..."

    "Please don''t say no."

    His eyes, so full of emotion, tempted me, making it impossible to refuse.

    We already have a son. He wanted to have a daughter...

    From now on, he''dmit to our family. With a sibling, Nigel would take on the responsibility of being a big brother and be more sensible.

    Such a beautiful future was enticing me...

    I nodded.

    Seeing my agreement, Leander, with one arm around my waist and the other cradling the back of my head, kissed me irresistibly.

    I closed my eyes, surrendering.

    Meanwhile, I silently reassured myself...

    Leander hadn''t actually cheated and was willing to cut ties with Luna.

    As for Nigel, I''d be patient and guide him to be better.

    From now on, we''d still be just an ordinary family.

    "Ring-a-ling!"

    The sharp ringtone of the phone shattered the intimate atmosphere.

    Leander didn''t even check who was calling and was about to turn off the phone and toss it aside.

    But I caught a glimpse of the name on the screen, my blood running cold as I pushed him away. "It''s Luna calling."

    Hadn''t he said he''d block Luna?

    How could she still reach him?

    Leander didn''t even get the chance to look at me before he turned to grab the phone.

    "Leander, what do we do? Nigel has a stomach bug and is in the hospital!"

 Chapter 9

    "What?"

    It took me forever to process that single sentence.

    Stunned, I stared at Leander.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    Didn''t he say he dropped Nigel off at his grandma''s?

    His grandma knows about Nigel''s health. She wouldn''t let Nigel eat just anything. So why was Nigel in the hospital?

    And how did Luna know about Nigel''s condition?

    "Which hospital?" Leander hastily picked up the clothes that had fallen on the floor and hurriedly dressed.

    Through her tears, Luna told him the name of the hospital over the phone.

    Worried sick about my child, I had no choice but to follow Leander.

    It was then that he seemed to remember I was there.

    I knew I looked furious, like I was on the verge of exploding, but I managed to hold it in.

    He opened the car door and got in without a word.

    I took the passenger seat.

    The whole ride there, neither of us spoke.

    My mind was a mess of information that slowly started to clear up during the twenty-minute drive.

    So Leander had said he and Nigel had cut off contact with Luna. But he had taken Nigel to Luna''s behind my back.

    To keep me from suspecting anything, he even went as far as to distract me with the idea of having another child.

    I turned to look out the window.

    It turned out I was the only one in the family who wanted to go back to our old life and live peacefully.

    Their loyalty had already shifted towards Luna...

    ...

    Upon arriving at the hospital, I rushed to the infusion area.

    In the vast space, Nigel was all alone. He was leaning against the wall, clearly asleep.

    I walked over to him quickly, my heart aching and furious at the same time.

    It pained me that he was so young and did not know right from wrong.

    Yet adults who were fully aware of his delicate stomach indulged him, causing his frequent hospital visits.

    What angered me was...

    The main culprit had gotten him into this situation and didn''t even stay to keep himpany, leaving him all alone. She did not care whether he was scared or not.

    I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm.

    Then I sat down next to Nigel, careful not to disturb him, and gently supported his little head so that it rested on me.

    "Amara, my son wanted you to be a stay-at-home mom and take good care of your kid. What happened?"

    A sharp, usatory voice came from the doorway.

    I turned to see Leander''s mother, Hattie.

    She had just arrived, but in an attempt to cover her own neglect, she decided to attack first. "Under your so-called careful watch, Nigel''s stomach problems re up every other day..." Was she trying to shift the me onto me?

    I often held back when it came to conflicts with Leander''s side of the family, not wanting to put him in a difficult position. But when it came to Nigel, I couldn''t back down.

    Careful not to wake the sleeping Nigel, I kept my voice low but couldn''t hide my anger. "Mom, you know better than anyone who''s been stressing his stomach."

    "Of course, I do!" Hattie scoffed. "Amara, Nigel spends the most time with you. If you were willing to properly manage his diet, his stomach wouldn''t be so weak. Even the smallest thing sends him to the hospital!"

    I looked up, meeting her gaze.

    All the frustration I''d been holding back came rushing out, and I finally raised my voice. "But when I was taking care of Nigel, he never had to be hospitalized for stomach issues."

    Hattie was taken aback. "You..."

    I didn''t stop. "On the contrary, ever since you said you missed Nigel and demanded Leander drop him off at your ce after work, his stomach issues began to re up frequently. I even warned you not to feed him just anything. And what did you do?" I had grievances against my inws. But I always thought the issues were minor and, considering their love for Nigel, a simple talk would suffice.

 Chapter 10

    ''They''d surely be more careful in the future,'' I thought. They wouldn''t make the same mistake again.

    But, as it turned out, I had given them too much credit.

    "Not only did you ignore everything I said, but you even sent him over to Luna''s ce! You let my child bond with Luna, the woman trying to wedge herself into our marriage! It''s the same story even today!"

    "Leander came home and told me, ''I dropped Nigel off at his grandma''s.'' Just a few hourster, he''s at Luna''s house, eating himself sick to the point of being rushed to the hospital!" "And now what?"

    At first nce, the scene I walked into at the hospital broke my heart.

    "Luna just walked away, leaving Nigel all alone here."

    Hattie opened her mouth, looking to argue, but found herself at a loss for words.

    "Mom," I began, the words heavy on my tongue. "I know you''ve never thought much of me. And I understand that the only daughter-inw you ever approved of was Luna..." "But if you dislike me and want to torment me, direct it at me! Nigel is still your grandson, and he is still so young... He can''t handle this kind of turmoil!"

    Hattie hadn''t expected her usuallypliant daughter-inw to stand up to her, and as she scrambled for a retort, a good scolding seemed to put this unruly one in her ce. Before she could get the words out, Leander, rushing in, interrupted. "Mom, can''t you just ease up a bit?"

    In moments of conflict with my inws, Leander always unconditionally stood by my side. That was one of the reasons I was utterly devoted to him.

    Hattie, stopped by her son, was even more infuriated. "You ungrateful child. Did you not hear how she just spoke to me?"

    Leander, with a stern face, stood by me. "Did she say anything untrue?"

    Hattie was at a loss for words.

    Leander continued, "I''ve already made it clear that I would cut ties with Luna, yet you went behind my back and took Nigel to her. This has started to affect my marriage." Hearing this, I looked at Leander in surprise.

    So, he was unaware of this as well?

    Hattie seemed to have a lot to say, but in the end, she held back, only managing a fierce re at me.

    My attention was fully on Nigel, with no time or energy to spare for Hattie.

    After some thought, I decided to clear things up. "Mom, I won''t be sending Nigel over to your ce anymore."

    I wasn''t sure when Luna had started getting involved with my son.

    But I hoped from today onward, there will be no contact between them.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Meanwhile, I would like to spend more time with Nigel...

    With enough patience, he would return to being the healthy, sweet child he once was.

    Hattie, without thinking, objected, "No way!"

    I was merely informing her that her opposition or support wouldn''t change my decision.

    Hattie, not waiting for my response, turned to Leander.

    Leander simply said: "I support Amara."

    "You!" Hattie was livid yet powerless to change anything. After a long standoff and seeing we weren''t going to budge, she had no choice but to leave.

    In the vast infusion area, it was just the three of us left. I held Nigel in my arms and Leander sat by my side.

    Nigel slept soundly until the moment the needle was removed. He suddenly woke up, his eyes clouded with confusion as he looked at me.

    I gently patted his back, whispering soothingly, "It''s okay, don''t worry, mommy''s here."

    Nigel pouted, clearly upset. "It''s your fault. Why did we have toe to the hospital?"

    Perhaps it''s a mother''s bias, but even as he grumbled, I found him adorable:

    "You didn''t want me toe?"

    "Yeah." Nigel''s response was immediate. "If you hadn''te, Luna would''ve stayed with me."

 Chapter 11

    His words, naive yet forthright, pierced my heart like a needle.

    When he was sick, at his most vulnerable, all he could think about was the woman who made him ill.

    I looked down at him. The illness had clearly taken its toll; he could barely speak two sentences before falling back to sleep.

    Leander obviously heard what Nigel said, too. He took my hand. "Honey."

    I had nothing to say to him, trying to pull my hand back.

    But Leander tightened his grip, not letting go. "Today was just a mishap. My mom acted on her own, and Nigel is just sick. He didn''t mean what he said..."

    "Ipletely understand," I said, picking up Nigel to head out of the hospital. "He''s at that age where he''s smitten with Luna. Of course, he thinks the world of her." I paused, then added, "And here I am, strictly forbidding him from seeing Luna."

    "At first, his resentment is bound to be intense. Nigel is a good kid at heart. I''ll guide him back on track and make him see who truly has his best interests at heart." "But, I need you to make sure this doesn''t happen again. I can overlook today as an ident, but I won''t stand for a repeat."

    I stopped speaking.

    Leander, not wanting me to get tired, naturally took Nigel from my arms.

    "I will, I promise you, honey!"

    I watched Leander, who held the sleeping Nigel in his arms and said no more.

    ...

    After we got home.

    Leander parked the car.

    Nigel was still sound asleep, so I decided not to wake him and was just about to carry him inside.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    But Leander was already standing by the passenger door, his voice soft, "Let me."

    Then, he effortlessly lifted Nigel with one arm, extending the other hand towards me.

    I was surprised and looked up.

    The streetlight cast its glow on him, his tall frame and handsome features almost divine.

    Leander said gently, "Let''s go inside."

    "Okay," I sighed inwardly, taking his hand to step out of the car, "Let''s go."

    Inside, Leander ced Nigel in his bed. I brought a small basin of warm water into his room. Leander cooperated by stripping Nigel down and wringing out a washcloth to wipe him down. Nigel slept through it all, only asionally whimpering to show his difort.

    Leander just smiled indulgently, then tossed the towel into the basin and carried it out of the bedroom.

    I sat by the bed, watching Nigel.

    Lately, his mood towards me has been getting worse.

    Before we could even speak calmly, he would snap at me.

    Only when he''s asleep like this can we be at peace with each other.

    "Honey."

    Leander called out to me, walking over and bending down to lift me in his arms.

    I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck, puzzled as I stared at his profile. "What''s up?"

    Leander turned off the light with his elbow, then closed Nigel''s bedroom door.

    He hinted, "What did we say before going to the hospital?"

    I had forgotten what happened before the hospital.

    But what happened after that I remembered vividly...

    As I held Nigel, I had seriously considered divorcing Leander.

    But then I thought, if Luna could torment my child like this even before we divorced, what would happen after?

    Nigel wouldn''t stand a chance at happiness.

    For the sake of Nigel, we couldn''t break apart.

    All night, these thoughts gued me, unable to recall what had happened before the hospital visit.

    "A reminder?"

    "You really are scatterbrained," Leander said as he closed the bedroom door, hisrge hands cradling my face, gently kissing my lips. "Honey..."

 Chapter 12

    In the stillness of the night, whispers carried an indescribable atmosphere, as if the darkness itself had its own secrets.

    Leander chuckled softly, his voiceced with mischief, "Remember yet?"

    He was clearly trying to tease me.

    But I refused to give in, "Oh dear, it seems I haven''t quite gotten there yet."

    Leander''s gaze captured my reflection.

    My hair, loose and flowing like a waterfall, sprawled across the pristine white sheets.

    My cheeks, flushed from kisses, were radiantly captivating.

    Leander worked my throat as he spoke, "Then let me help jog your memory..."

    ...

    The mental exhaustion and the physical toll of staying up all night weighed heavily on me.

    But Nigel had just been admitted to the hospital with a stomach bug and was obviously in need of careful attention.

    I forced myself to get up early to prepare breakfast.

    Nigel could only have oatmeal for now, to help soothe his stomach. I made sure to cook it in a slow cooker, to get it extra soft.

    I started with a high me to bring the water to a boil, then turned it down to simmer gently.

    ncing at the clock, I noted it was still early, just past five.

    Deciding to make the most of the morning, I headed to the local farmers'' market to pick up some fresh vegetables and meat.

    Once home, I cleaned and prepped everything, timing it perfectly for when Nigel would wake up.

    I made two dishes for breakfast: saut¨¦ed green beans and a hearty beef stew.

    Just as I was about to call them to eat, I heard the rapid patter of feet.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    Nigel burst into the room, puffing up his cheeks in discontent. "I told you I didn''t want toe back home. I just want to stay at grandma''s..."

    He red at me. "Even if I was sick and in the hospital getting an IV, you should''ve taken me back to grandma''s after!"

    Nigel thought I was oblivious. So, he assumed he could keep using his grandma as his shield to continue his escapades with Luna. But I decided to confront him, "Take you to grandma''s so she can then take you to Luna''s, huh?"

    Nigel froze. He was still a kid, unversed in dealing with such situations.

    "Nigel, from today on, I won''t be taking you to your grandma''s anymore." He retorted on instinct, "Says who?"

    I stood my ground, something I rarely did, "Says me, because I''m your mom!"

    "Well, I don''t want you to be my mom anymore!" Nigel copsed into tears. "I just want to go to Luna''s. I want Luna to be my mom!"

    He was the child I carried for nine months. The one I''ve painstakingly cared for.

    Yet now, he was willing to discard me for someone who had led him astray with junk food and careless living...

    It felt like a stab in the heart.

    Tears filled Nigel''s eyes, which resembled ck gems. Mere crying couldn''t vent his frustration, so he grabbed a ss of water from the table and smashed it on the floor with all his might. "Crash!"

    The ss shattered everywhere, along with the water.

    My heart went cold. It wasn''t just the broken ss; it felt like my heart was too. I couldn''t understand...

    How could he bear to hurt his mother for a woman he had barely known?

    Nigel, not yet satisfied, went on a rampage, throwing whatever he could find.

    Leander came out, surveying the chaotic living room while Nigel was in the midst of his tantrum, his brow furrowed in disapproval. "Nigel, what are you doing?"

    Hearing his father''s voice, Nigel stopped crying and ran to Leander, "Dad, you like Luna the best, right? Please, divorce mom and marry Luna."

    "I want Luna to be my mom. I want to be a family with Luna and live with her!"

    The scene was a snapshot of a fractured family, a testament to theplex webs of rtionships and the innocence of a child''s misunderstanding.

 Chapter 13

    Nigel tilted his little head back, gazing up at Leander with eyes brimming with tears, their sparkle revealing the innocence and confusion unique to children. He was pitiful yet irresistibly endearing. Leander crouched down to his level. Nigel no longer had to look up to meet his father''s eyes.

    With a shaky voice, Nigel pleaded, "Daddy, please promise me."

    "You''re still young." Leander spoke with the indulgence of a father, gently ruffling Nigel''s hair. "Nigel, acting up with Mom like this, you''ll regret it someday."

    Nigel shook his head vigorously. "I won''t!"

    As if fearing Leander wouldn''t believe him, Nigel wiped away his tears, insisting as he did so, "Daddy, I dream of living with Luna instead of Mom. I want Luna to be my mom!" His every word wasden with conviction.

    Leander, without responding, simply patted Nigel on the shoulder and stood up.

    I turned my head with difficulty towards Nigel.

    I had always thought his wish to make Luna part of our family was just a whim...

    But...his repeated tantrums and his attitude weren''t a joke!

    He genuinely longed for Luna to be his mother.

    And what about me?

    The mother who had given everything unconditionally for him?

    Was I just supposed to be discarded?

    A dense pain spread through my heart as if countless ants were gnawing at it.

    "Honey," Leander came over and hugged me, hisrge hand gently patting my back soothingly. "Don''t be upset. Nigel is still young; he doesn''t understand what he''s saying."

    I had repeatedly told myself not to take Nigel''s words to heart. He was just a child; I should be more forgiving...

    Yet, Nigel''s blunt words could easily pierce me.

    I managed a weak "Hmm" in his embrace, waiting until my emotions stabilized before stepping back. "Let''s have breakfast."

    Leander let go of me.

    I turned to the kitchen, serving the food I had prepared on the table.

    Leander, careful not to let me scald myself, took over the task of carrying the casserole to the table.

    Nigel, not having achieved his goal, was visibly upset. "Daddy!"

    "Eat your food!" Leander''s tone left no room for argument. "Don''t make me repeat myself."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Only then did Nigel obediently sit down, taking small sips from his bowl.

    With too much broken ss around, I feared they might get hurt, so I began cleaning up while they ate.

    Nigel, still munching, swung his little legs back and forth, muttering, "I hate Mom. I despise her!"

    I paused in my sweeping.

    Before the pain could fully hit, I reminded myself... Hadn''t I anticipated this?

    The initial period of forbidding Nigel from seeing Luna was bound to provoke a fierce bacsh and his words would naturally be more extreme. But it would get better in time.

    After cleaning up the ss shards, they had finished their breakfast.

    Leander, leading Nigel to the door, reminded him, "Say goodbye to Mom."

    "I don''t want to!" Nigel huffed, turning his head away, refusing to look at me.

    I stood inside, watching them leave. My heart, once in agony, seemed finally to calm...

    "Honey." Leander took my hand, drew close, and stole a kiss on my lips. "Don''t take it to heart. This phase will pass."

    "Okay."

    ...

    Nigel''s daycare runs from eight in the morning until six in the evening.

    Usually, Leander would insist on picking Nigel up after work to spare me the trouble...

    But from today on, I decided to take back the task of picking up our child.

    I just hoped to spend more time with Nigel and strengthen our bond through these moments together.

 Chapter 14

    But today, I didn''t give Leander a heads up, hoping the three of us could head home together.

    To make time to pick up Nigel, I rushed through the chores at home and even left an hour early, arriving at the preschool gate way ahead of time. After waiting for what felt like an eternity, preschool finally ended.

    The electric gates swung open, and teachers, guarding the kids closely, verified each parent''s identity before letting them leave with them. "Nigel!" a teacher called out. "Is Nigel''s parent here?"

    "Here!"

    I raised my hand and hurried forward.

    At the same time, someone else rushed to my side.

    Instinctively, I turned my head.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    And there was Luna in a vibrant red dress, her wavy hair cascading over her shoulders.

    Her makeup was immacte, and her smile was warm and inviting: "Hello, I''m Nigel''s parent."

    I was rooted to the spot in shock.

    Why was Luna at the preschool gate to pick him up, iming to be Nigel''s parent?

    Had Leander lied to me?

    He said he''d pick up Nigel on his way home from work, but...

    He had Lunae instead? To give Luna enough time to bond with my child?

    This suspicion paralyzed me on the spot, a sharp pain piercing my heart.

    "Nigel''s mom," the teacher was speaking to Luna but eyed me warily. "She also responded when I called for Nigel''s parent. Do you know her?" What?

    The teacher just referred to Luna as Nigel''s mom.

    My mind was in turmoil!

    Slowly, the realization dawned on me...

    In this preschool, not a single person knew I was Nigel''s biological mother.

    Instead, everyone assumed Luna was Nigel''s mom.

    That meant... Luna had been here to pick up Nigel many times before without my knowledge.

    Who had allowed her here to pick up Nigel?

    Why did the teachers believe she was Nigel''s mother?

    The emerging truth felt like a dagger twisting in my heart.

    Was it Leander?

    Luna hadn''t met me before, so she saw me and seemed surprised.

    She reached out to Nigel. "Sweetie,e see, do you recognize thisdy?"

    Me?

    Did she refer to me as ady?

    I found it almostughable. I carried Nigel for nine months, and they''re calling me a stranger?

    This must be a joke.

    I was about to retort when I saw Nigel obediently walk to Luna''s side, holding her hand while staring at me from a distance. After a moment, he shook his head. "Mommy, I don''t know her!"

    Boom!

    My smile vanished, and a buzzing noise filled my ears, so loud I could barely hear anything else.

    Nigel...

    My own son called Luna his mom in front of me!

    Did he say he didn''t know me?

    His cruel decision shattered my heart into pieces.

    Tears streamed down my face uncontrobly.

    Luna maintained her polite smile. "Perhaps thisdy is mistaken."

    "I''m not mistaken," I managed to say through tears. "Nigel,e here!"

    "No!" Nigel hid behind Luna, peeking out at me. "You can''t just call my name and expect me toe with you."

    Luna and the teacher exchanged nces.

    The teacher, concerned, asked, "Could she be a kidnapper?"

    Luna shook her head. "I''m not sure."

    Out of concern for the child''s safety, the teacher decided to call the police.

    But I was already beyond caring about anything else, stepping forward to Nigel. "Nigel, I am your mom!"

    "You''re not!" Nigel scrambled further behind Luna. "She is my mom!"

 Chapter 15

    At the preschool gate.

    In front of so many parents, my own son, again and again, denied that I was his mother.

    Over and over, he insisted that Luna was his mom.

    Even though my heart was already shattered and bleeding, I tried to remind myself that he was just a kid, unaware of the consequences of his words. "Nigel! I''m giving you one more chance to choose!"

    "Take a good look at me, calm down, and think it through. Between her and me, who should you really choose?"

    Everyone''s eyes turned to Nigel.

    Hiding behind Luna, Nigel pressed his forehead against her back. "Of course, I choose my mom."

    As soon as he finished speaking, Luna gave me a puzzled look, then tried to leave with Nigel in her arms. "What a lunatic."

    Of course, I couldn''t let her go. I hurried to catch up, to stop them.

    But someone stood in my way.

    I grew somewhat hysterical, "I need to go after my child. You can''t stop me!"

    Their conversation was full of disdain for me.

    "Have kidnappers really be this brazen?"

    "Yeah, she looks so frantic. Anyone who didn''t know better would think she''s the child''s mom."

    "Exactly!"

    "We all need to be more careful from now on!"

    Everyone else watched in silence.

    Their scornful gaze fell on me.

    I couldn''t care less at that moment and was desperate to follow them, but no matter which direction I ran, someone woulde after me, blocking my path. Until the police arrived, and Luna had vanished.

    Only then did the crowd disperse.

    A concerned bystander rushed to the officer, "Officer, you wouldn''t believe how bold this kidnapper was today."

    "She came right up to the gate, trying to snatch a child from their own mother..."

    "The real mom had to run with her child, and she was still trying to chase after them."

    "If we hadn''t stopped her, she might have actually seeded!"

    I never imagined thating to the preschool to pick up my child...would result in him being taken away by Luna right in front of me.

    I stood there, stunned.

    The officer approached me, "Someone reported you as a kidnapper. Pleasee with us to the station."

    Since I couldn''t chase after them anymore, I had no choice but to cooperate. "Okay."

    ...

    At the station, after verifying my identity, the police quickly found out that Leander was my husband, and Nigel was my son.

    Obviously, they hadn''t expected this oue and quickly apologized. "Sorry, we misunderstood you..."

    "It''s not really your fault," I said, as tears involuntarily started to fall. "I never would have imagined..."

    My child. The one I had poured my heart and soul into caring for....

    He actually called another woman "Mom" at the preschool gate and left with her.

    Seeing my tears, the officer quickly tried to console me, "Kids can be thoughtless."Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    They didn''t know what else to say. After all, they had seen thoughtless kids. But a child who refused to recognize his own mother like Nigel was a first.

    I felt utterly lost as I prepared to leave.

    Seeing I was in no condition to be alone, an officer stepped forward, "Do you need us to give you a ride?"

    "No, thank you."

    ...

    I had no idea where Luna lived. To get Nigel back, I had only Leander to turn to.

    Also, I needed to ask Leander...

    Why did the teachers not recognize me but knew Luna?

    Leander''s office wasn''t far from the police station. It was just about a ten-minute walk away.

 Chapter 16

    I hailed a cab and gave the driver the address to Leander''s office. Then, I settled quietly into the backseat, gazing out the window.

    I thought the ten-minute ride would give me enough time to cool off...

    But the more I thought about it, the worse I felt.

    The tears I had managed to stop started falling again.

    Did Nigel really love Luna that much?

    Enough to...throw me, his own mother, aside?

    When I got to Leander''spany, I didn''t stop; I headed straight for his office.

    Just as I was about to push the door open, I overheard people inside talking about me.

    "Amara''s just not it anymore. She''s a real in Jane; only her sweet temper and love for you are redeeming qualities. She''s got nothing else going for her."

    "Yeah, and then there''s Luna, same age, but dresses like she''s fresh out of college."

    "And personality-wise, Amara is just all about the household, dull and boring. Luna''s different, though. She''s outgoing, optimistic, living life to the fullest! If I were you, I''d definitely ditch Amara for Luna." I froze in my tracks.

    Is that how Leander''s friends see me?

    Someone seemed to lean in closer to Leander and asked, "What''s your take on this? If you''re over Luna, then it''s our turn to shoot our shot!"

    The eagerness in their voices was unmistakable; Luna, even after a divorce and with a child, was still seen as quite the catch. "Huh."

    The room fell silent.

    Everyone waited for his response.

    Leander''s voice was chillingly indifferent. "I''m with Amara just... because, at the time, Luna had left me. And Amara loved me. She traveled thousands of miles to find me."Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    "At my lowest, she was the lifebuoy that kept me from drowning... She was like a light appearing when wandering alone in the dark. I truly am grateful to her. Before Luna came back, I actually thought I''d spend my life with Amara." The office was dead silent.

    I could even hear the breathing of the people inside.

    So...Leander''s choice to be with me wasn''t out of love?

    But because Luna has dumped him and I just happened to be there.

    My heart, already scarred, now bore deeper, heavier wounds from his words...

    The pain almost knocked me out.

    "Do you know what?" Leander''s voice was coldly rational. "I always thought, after all these years, I had forgotten Luna. Even though I loved her deeply, right up until my wedding, I''d write letters begging her toe back and call her when she rejected me... Back then, just one word from her, and I would''ve called off the wedding."

    "But when Luna came back into my life, I suddenly realized I didn''t feel that way. I still love her."

    All my doubts were confirmed in his words...

    Turns out even after years of marriage, after all my silent support...he still loves Luna...

    And here I was thinking, if I just overlooked the past, we could return to how things were.

    I frantically wiped away my tears.

    Someone asked, "Then why don''t you divorce Amara?"

 Chapter 17

    Leander sighed with a hint of regret, "Yeah, we have a kid together."

    "So, you had Luna sneak around behind Amara''s back to get close to Nigel, huh?" his friend eximed with a mix of surprise and admiration. "Once Nigel warms up to Luna as his mom, you can y happy family with your first love and your kid!" The group burst intoughter. "You sly dog. You''ve thought this through!"

    So, it was Leander pulling the strings for Luna to bond with our kid?

    No wonder Leander had the habit of dropping Nigel off at his mother''s, who would then conveniently pass him on to Luna.

    It was all to foster a bond between them.

    No wonder even the teachers started referring to Luna as Nigel''s mom...

    Here I was, the fool, convincing myself to forgive and forget over and over again.

    I was shaking uncontrobly, desperately trying to calm down, only to realize it was futile.

    Before Leander could respond, his phone rang.

    He answered immediately, "Luna?"

    "What, you''re saying Nigel tried to hurt himself? Wait there, I''m on my way!"

    It hit me like a ton of bricks.

    At the school gates, Nigel chose Luna...

    After all, shouldn''t he have been happy going home to Luna? Why the sudden despair?

    I couldn''t find the answer.

    The consecutive blows nearly drained me of all strength. I leaned against the wall, trying to steady myself, but my legs just wouldn''t hold, "Nigel..." Leander rushed out of the office and froze at the sight of me.

    In front of his friends, I wished I could show some dignity, but the tears wouldn''t stop...Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    His friends were equally stunned. They exchanged looks, unsure of what to say.

    Seeing me in such a mess, Leander took the initiative to lift me up. "Honey, Nigel will be fine, don''t worry too much."

    I covered my face with my hands, not wanting to embarrass myself further in front of others.

    Leander practically ran to the elevator, leaving his friends far behind.

    "Is that Amara?"

    "Man, she''s even more stunning than I imagined."

    "No wonder Leander can''t bring himself to leave her. If I had such a beautiful wife who loved me wholeheartedly, I''d definitely cherish her." "Leander''s one lucky guy."

    Leander opened the car door, helping me into the passenger seat.

    I was too exhausted to resist, sitting quietly as Leander fastened my seatbelt.

    "Honey," Leander stood by me, hisrge hand wiping away my tears, but they just wouldn''t stop.

    He wanted to exin, but I cut him off, "Let''s just go to the hospital first and see what''s really going on with Nigel."

    Concerned for Nigel''s wellbeing, Leander quickly closed the door and started the car, heading towards the hospital. He kept his eyes on the road, his left hand on the steering wheel, his right hand reaching out to mine, but I pulled away.

    I turned to look out the window. "Just focus on driving."

    Worried I might misunderstand, Leander pleaded, "Honey, please, let me exin."

    I rested against the car seat, closed my eyes, and sighed.

    "I admit, you''re not the one I initially loved."

    Leander nced at me through the rearview mirror, noting my frown and resistance.

    He quickly added, "But after all these years together, having a kid, and raising him together..."

    I opened my eyes to look at him. "But then Luna came back, and you realized you still loved her."

    I couldn''t even finish my sentence without choking up.

    So, all these years, all my silent sacrifices were in vain.

    But I decided toy it all out, "And the reason you''ve been stalling the divorce... is you''re worried Nigel won''t want to go with you."

 Chapter 18

    "So, you purposely made time for Luna and Nigel to bond."

    "Leander." Tears choked my words. "Now Nigel has epted Luna. He only recognizes Luna as his mom. And what about you? When were you nning to tell me about the divorce?" Each question I threw at him weighed heavier than thest.

    Leander seemed taken aback by my fury, his voice tinged with panic. "No, honey, please calm down!"

    He didn''t even dare to linger, "Actually, when Luna first came back, I did spend some time with her. I thought... Old mes might reignite, but they didn''t."

    The car stopped at the entrance of the hospital.

    I didn''t want to hear any more. I opened the passenger door, ready to step out.

    But Leander quickly stepped in front of me. "During the time I spent with Luna, there was only one thought in my mind. I realized I couldn''t betray our marriage."

    I tried to walk past him.

    Leander followed. "I can''t betray you."

    I looked up at him.

    Leander sighed in resignation, "We''re adults. You did not listen to the full story and are now sulking here."

    After saying that, he forcefully pinned me against the car, his hands cupping my face, trying to kiss me forcefully.

    But my heart was filled with images of Nigel and how he might be right now...

    I really wasn''t in the mood for intimacy with Leander.

    I forcefully pushed his shoulders away, "Let''s see our child first."

    Only then did Leander snap back to reality. "Okay."

    ...

    In the hospital room.

    Nigel sat there, head bowed, silent, his left arm wrapped in thick bandages.

    His usually rosy cheeks were now devoid of any color.

    My barely calmed heart ached uncontrobly at the sight of him.

    I walked over to him, carefully holding his wrist, asking, "Why would you hurt yourself like this?"

    Only then did I notice Luna standing there.

    This woman was trying to break my family and inciting discord between me and my son. My anger was palpable. In a fit of rage, I didn''t hesitate to confront her, "Is this how you ''care'' for Nigel by forcefully taking him away?" Before Luna could respond, Nigel suddenly became agitated on the bed.

    "Don''t you dare talk about Luna! I cut my wrists because of you! Because you refuse to divorce Dad."

    I stared at him, dumbfounded.

    Nigel acted as if it was the most natural thing in the world. "Mom, I know cutting myself would hurt you. The more it hurts you, the more I want to hurt myself."

    His words, innocent yet so cruel, "Until... You agree to divorce Dad."

    His words hit me like a hammer, blurring my vision...

    The pain made even breathing difficult. I was gasping for air...

    How could he use my love for him to hurt me so recklessly?

    Before I could even start to seek answers, everything went ck, and I copsed...

    "Honey!"Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Through the haze, I heard Leander''s anxious voice.

    ""Doctor!"

    ...

    When I woke up, it was the next morning.

    Leander sat by my bed, his face beaming with a smile, eagerly sharing, "Honey, great news."

    Given the series of unfortunate events, I was disoriented.

    I couldn''t fathom what good news there could possibly be. I replied half-heartedly, "What?" ""You''re pregnant!"

 Chapter 19

    I looked at him, utterly baffled.

    Leander immediately showed me the test results, his eyes brimming with anticipation for the new life on its way. "You passed outst night and scared me half to death. The doctor took you for some tests and found out you''re pregnant." "You''ve been through a lottely, and your emotions have been all over the ce, which is why the baby''s a bit unstable. You''ll need to stay in the hospital for a while. Make sure you take good care of yourself and the baby."

    I casually took the paper from him, my gaze fixating on the ultrasound image of the tiny yet-to-be-formed child, and I couldn''t look away.

    My heart, battered and bruised, found a moment of sce right then.

    Without thinking, I began to tenderly stroke the image of this new little life, my mind racing with thoughts.

    My father passed away early, and I grew up in a single-parent home,I truly didn''t want my child to endure the same childhood I did. So, I said, "Leander."

    He looked puzzled at my sudden call. "Hmm?"

    I lifted my head, a certain determination in my eyes.

    "I''ll let bygones be bygones for the sake of this child. Can we go back to how things were and live a good life together?"

    Leander met my gaze, then nodded. "Yeah."

    "Honey." Immediately after, Leander pulled out a small red velvet box, opening it somewhat nervously.

    Inside was a pair of pearl earrings shaped like lilies.

    He rarely gave me gifts since we got married, which took me by surprise. "What''s this?"

    He sounded a bit tense. "A gift for you."

    I epted them. "Thank you."

    No matter what had happened in the past...

    At least in this moment, the arrival of this little life brought me a long-lost joy.

    Leander took a phone call, said something aboutpany business, gave me a quick kiss, and left.

    I gently caressed my belly. My expression softened ever more.

    "Ding-dong."

    My phone chimed, and I checked it absent-mindedly.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    It was a message from Nigel, a screenshot from Luna''s Twitter.

    I opened it.

    [Thanks to Mr. Payne for the emerald ring this morning. Also, the jewelrypany has no taste. They sent me a pair of ugly pearl lily-shaped earrings. They were so hideous I couldn''t stand the sight of them, so I had them thrown away.] The selfie showed Luna''s hand resting on her cheek, a massive oval-cut emerald ring on her finger.

    The expensive gem was cut and crafted perfectly. Even from just a photo, you could see the diamond sparkling.

    My grip on the phone tightened. The corner of my mouth where Leander had kissed felt like it was burning, making me nauseous.

    During the time I was unconscious, my husband hadn''t been worried about me at all; instead, he''d spent a fortune to secure an expensive emerald ring for Luna.

    After I woke up, he tried to appease me with Luna''s rejected gift.

    Did he see me that cheaply?

    Did he think he didn''t need to make an effort, that a mere trinket would move me and make me forgive everything unconditionally?

    Despair washed over me like a tidal wave, threatening to drown me.

    Why?

    Why did he keep hurting me so recklessly?

    Why did he keep trying to win me back with cheap sweet nothings...

    I bit my lip, the room spinning,

    "Ring-ring."

    The phone rang, snapping me out of my despair.

    "Hello?"

    "Mom, I miss you. Can youe find me?"

    Nigel''s voice sounded a bit down. He had already done something to hurt himself the day before.

    Worried he might do something foolish in his state, I immediately got up. "I''lle now. Where are you?"

    "Go outside," Nigel''s young voice was devoid of happiness or anger. "Turn left, keep going." Following his instructions, I walked straight ahead until I saw Nigel standing on the stairs. The light streaming through the window fell on his pale face, highlighting his vulnerability. Blood ties really are a strange thing.

 Chapter 20

    Even after all the hurtful things he had done before, seeing him vulnerable like this still tugged at my heartstrings.

    I crouched down in front of him. "What''s wrong?"

    Nigel looked at me intensely. "Luna said you''re pregnant. She mentioned that even if Dad doesn''t like you much, he''d stick around for the baby, right?"

    My heart skipped a beat. Why would Luna discuss such things with Nigel?

    While I hesitated on how to exin this to Nigel, he suddenly spoke up again. "She also mentioned that I must have really upset you with my actions before. And once the new baby arrives, you''d shift all your attention to them and wouldn''t love me anymore." Had the thought of my pregnancy made him ponder over all this alone?

    My heart melted instantly.

    He was still a child, unequipped to seek help from adults in times of trouble.

    I ced my hands on his shoulders, speaking earnestly. "That''s not true, Nigel. You are my child. Whether I have other children or not doesn''t matter. I will love you just the same."

    "Luna also said..." Nigel suddenly broke into a smile, "If this baby was gone, Dad would only love me, follow my wishes, divorce you, and then marry Luna."

    His words sent shivers down my spine.

    How could Luna feed such nonsense to a child?

    I thought about taking him back into the room to have a heart-to-heart talk.

    Such adultplexities shouldn''t involve a child.

    But before I could move forward, my body uncontrobly slipped backward...

    "Thud!"

    Along with the loud crash, Nigel apologized. "Mom, I''m sorry. Luna spilled oil on the stairs. She said all I had to do was call you over..." Warm blood flowed...

    The intense pain was almost unbearable, and my heart felt like it was being torn apart...

    My head spun violently...

    Nigel!

    Even though his actions had be increasingly intolerable, I empathized with him being a child and never held grudges!

    But...even at a young age, he should have some conscience!

    Yet, he was indifferent to his mother being schemed against.

    I desperately tried to open my eyes wide to see Nigel.

    His blurry figure, however, scampered away from the corridor.

    I screamed with all my might. "Help! Someone, please help me..."

    But the pain made it nearly impossible to make a sound...

    Sweat rolled down, mixing with the increasingly pooling blood...

    Tears fell.

    Nigel... Nigel!N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    ...

    "Honey..." Leander''s eyes were bloodshot. The normally strong and independent man trembled as he spoke. "The baby... didn''t make it."

    "Mom, I was wrong..." Nigel, looking petrified. With a pale face andrge tears streaming down, he pleaded, "Please forgive me." But how could I forgive him?

    The moment he lured me to the staircase.

    The moment he coldly ran away...

    I hadpletely lost heart in him.

    Nigel kept apologizing.

    I still remained silent.

    Nigel, perhaps not expecting my prolonged silence, got angry, "If you won''t forgive me, fine, I don''t want you as my mom anyway."

    I looked up at Nigel, my voice hoarse and dry. "Nigel, haven''t you always wanted Luna to be your mom?"

    Confused about why I''d say that, he nodded nkly.

    "Alright then." I suddenly smiled, "From today onwards, I''ll step back from being your mother. From now on, I''m no longer your mom. Whoever you like can take that role." Nigel''s eyes sparkled with intense joy.

    Beside me, Leander, rmed by my words, had a bad feeling. "Honey, don''t be hasty."

    "Don''t worry, I''m very calm," I said, my heart as still as stagnant water, devoid of any ripples.

    I closed my eyes. "Leander, let''s put an end to this drama. I wish you well. Now, please, let me go."

 Chapter 21

    Leander jumped to his feet, disbelief etched across his face. "Impossible!"

    "So much has happened these past few days," I said, locking eyes with him, "It all started when Nigel was determined to have Luna be his mom...."

    Leander, usually the epitome of calm and restraint, now spoke with a voice quivering with fear. "He''s just being foolish, darling. I''ve never crossed the line. You can me Nigel. You can even resent me... But you can''t leave me."

    His plea was almost desperate at the end of his sentence.

    Yet, he was still shifting the me onto Nigel...

    Clearly oblivious to the fact that my hurt was a result of his inaction and his tolerance.

    Nor would he realize that over the years, my deep-seated love for him had evaporated in the moment I fell down the stairs yesterday.

    "But then, I suddenly discovered that despite your promises, you''ve been in close contact with her..."

    Leander opened his mouth to protest, then closed it. Evidently, he hadn''t expected me to know about his secret dealings.

    He clenched his fists, a look of agony on his face.

    I turned to look out the window. "At that moment, I thought about just getting a divorce, to make things easier for you both. But I worry about Nigel. Ever since he got involved with Luna, his health has gone downhill, and now he''s even started harming himself... Indulging him by making Luna his mother won''t make his life any easier."

    Leander, thinking I was softening, quickly agreed. "Right, darling, which is why we can''t divorce."

    My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, and emotion leaked through as I mentioned the baby. "And then I found out I was pregnant... For the sake of giving this child aplete family, I tried to brainwash myself into forgiving your past actions." But Leander suddenly couldn''t continue listening.

    "What about Nigel? He knew the stairs were slick with oil and knew the consequences for me..."

    Luna had orchestrated every detail from behind the scenes. And Nigel, fully aware from the start, did nothing to stop it, instead...

    How ludicrous? All this from a child I''ve nurtured from birth...Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    And Leander?

    Is he innocent?

    No!

    He''s one of the instigators!

    I looked him in the eyes. "Our child is gone, and my hope in Nigel with it. There''s nothing left in this house for me to yearn for." Now, I just want to escape this cannibalistic home.

    For years, I''ve worked hard to be a dedicated wife and a responsible mother.

    From now on, I am just Amara and no longer burdened by thesebels.

    But those who''ve wronged me will not be let off so easily.

    Leander asked, "What about me?"

    I answered seriously, "Didn''t you say you loved Luna? I''ll step aside and let you be happy."

    I''ll never forget Nigel saying in the stairwell that Luna meant to harm me,

    Unfortunately, I have no proof now.

    Leander''s blind to love such a toxic woman, so I''ll just let them be.

    "Dad!" Unaware of my decision, Nigel didn''t grasp what it meant for him. He only knew his dream was about toe true! Soon, Luna would be his mom!

    Nigel was thrilled, gripping Leander''s sleeve, gently shaking it. "Please agree with Mom!"

    Leander snapped coldly, "Shut up!"

    Nigel, scolded by his dad, felt wronged and burst into tears.

    Usually, his crying would tug at my heartstrings, leading me to embrace andfort him.

    But today, I found it annoying, unbearable. I turned back to the window. "Think it over. Also, I''m exhausted. Take him out, please." Leander had more to say, but seeing my weary expression, he held back.

 Chapter 22

    Leaving the hospital room with Nigel trailing behind, his hesitance palpable, marked the end of an ordeal I never anticipated.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    ...

    Shortly after their departure, my phone rang with a call from the nurse. She inquired, with a tone of delicate concern, about the post-miscarriage arrangements. It seemed they had initially tried to reach my partner to spare me the immediate distress but failed to connect

    and had no choice but to inform me directly.

    Despite my physical frailty, a consequence of a tragic fall that resulted in a miscarriage, the thought of not meeting my child, even in such a sorrowful context, propelled me to insist on going immediately.

    Upon arrival, I signed the necessary paperwork and was handed a small box - the physical embodiment of a life that would never be.

    Alone, I took a cab to the cemetery, where I secured a final resting ce for my unborn child and ensured a proper farewell.

    The logical next step was to leave, yet I found myself unable to move, sitting beside the grave in a solemn vigil. It was in this moment of profound grief that I realized the depth of my loss.

    "Sweetheart, I promise you won''t just vanish from this world," I whispered to the silent air, a vow meant for the departed.

    ...

    Upon my return to the hospital, the sight of Leander standing by my bed greeted me. His concern was palpable as he grasped my arms, questioning where I had been.

    My exhaustion was overwhelming,pounded by the physical toll of the miscarriage and the day''s emotional endeavors. I shrugged off his touch, the coldness in my voice unmistakable.

    Leander''s dissatisfaction was evident. "Amara, you shouldn''t have left without telling anyone... What if something had happened to you?"

    His words, meant to beforting, felt hollow.

    I had no patience for pretense, responding curtly, "I''m an adult, Leander. I can take care of myself."

    His attempt to soften the conversation with endearments did nothing to bridge the distance between us.

    I turned away, seeking refuge in sleep, as he continued to speak, defending Nigel''s innocence in the mishap that led to my fall.

    But behind his words, I sensed a fear of ountability, not for Nigel, perhaps, but for Luna, whose malicious intent had set the tragedy in motion. If pursued, Luna could face serious legal consequences.

    In the middle of the night, Leander came to me, trying to persuade me. I wondered who it was for.

    I sneered and didn''t want to listen to his endless chatter. So I took the initiative to interrupt him forcefully, "Just speak your mind directly."

    Leander was silent for a long time before saying, "Luna''s ex-husband became extremely aggressive after going bankrupt, and he often abused her. Previously, her ex-husband was abroad. But today, her ex-husband suddenly returned to the country." Oh? Does he n to pursue and beat Luna?

    Well, that''s one way to seek revenge for my unborn child!

    What a good person indeed...

    I sat up and looked at Leander.

    Leander looked at me with difficulty and said, "Her ex-husband hates her very much, and he will definitely try to get revenge on her now that he''s back. To ensure her safety, I brought her into our house."

 Chapter 23

    Leander trod carefully, "Honey, you don''t mind, do you?"

    "Oh, so she caused you to lose our baby in a tragic fall, and you''re over here feeling sorry because her ex was a jerk to her?" I scoffed. "You really are a saint, aren''t you?"

    "Honey!" Leander stood up, frustrated. "I know losing the baby was hard on you! But you''ve got to understand, it was Nigel who called you to the stairwell. You slipped and fell all by yourself. She had nothing to do with it! And here you are, a woman showing no empathy for another woman whose life is being threatened. You''re just here making snide remarks! I can''t believe this is you!"

    "Whether you agree or not... Luna will be moving in with us."

    With that, Leander stormed off.

    There it was!

    That was Leander for you. No matter how much I got hurt or bullied...

    Even if I didn''t fight back and just vented a little, he''d always find a way to me me.

    Only, I used to love him and was willing topromise for his sake.

    But this time...I wouldn''t.

    I withdrew my cold gaze andy quietly on the hospital bed, staring at the sterile ceiling.

    Initially, I chose to stay in the hospital because I didn''t want to go home and didn''t want to see the detestable Nigel and Leander.

    But Leander just had to visit me in the hospital every single day...

    Absolutely nauseating.

    ...

    To avoid seeing Leander, I went to my mom''s house first thing the next morning.

    I couldn''t visit often since I moved away after getting married. She missed me and moved to this city too.

    At my mom''s, I could always find a bit offort...

    My mom opened the door, her face lighting up with joy upon seeing me. "What brings you here?"

    I walked up to her, wrapped her in a hug, cooing, "I missed you."

    She gently hugged me, patting my back, "You''ve got a kid of your own and are still such a sweet talker."

    Her indulgent tone softened the steel that had fortified my heart over the past few days.

    In this world, only my mom would love me unconditionally.

    I went straight to the living room and told her, "Mom, I want to divorce Leander."

    Hearing this, she immediately closed the door and approached me, "Why?"

    Because with Leander, I nearly lost my life.

    I pondered how to exin it to her. But before I could say anything, it seemed she already had an inkling.

    She sighed, "Did he cheat on you?"

    It was much worse than that...

    But I dared not tell her everything, fearing she''d be heartbroken all day.

    "He ims there was no actual cheating, but he''s been secretly in close contact with someone."

    My mom took my hand, "That''s definitely wrong of him. But Amara, when couples are together for a long time, it''s inevitable that problems arise. When ordinary folks encounter issues, we need to actively find solutions. Like now, with another woman meddling in your rtionship, you should clearlymunicate with Leander and make him realize his mistake. Get back to living a good life together."

    I knew my mom saw divorce as a sin, something that would make society look down upon you...

    So, as long as this marriage could be maintained, no matter how outrageous Leander''s actions, she''d want me to endure.

    But...

    I didn''t want to.

    "If you act impulsively and divorce Leander now, wouldn''t that be ying right into their hands? You can''t be that foolish!"Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    The more my mom spoke, the more she thought I was being unreasonable, tapping my forehead with her finger, "There''s an old saying, ''Get a stepmom, and soon you''ll have a stepdad.""

 Chapter 24

    "Can you honestly imagine them getting married? Will Nigel ever catch a break? Amara, even if you won''t think about yourself, think about Nigel. He''s your own flesh and blood. Can you bear to see him mistreated?"

    At first, I couldn''t. I always put him first and was terrified of him facing even the slightest hardship.

    But what did that get me?

    It led to him hurting himself and hurting me, all to push me aside for his stepmom!

    I no longer felt the need to exin myself, simply saying, "She treats him well."

    Mom didn''t take kindly to my retort: "But does she treat him as well as his own mother would?"

    I scoffed, "Seems like it since he''s calling her ''mom'' every day."

    Mom frowned, clearly not expecting Nigel to go that far. She didn''t know what to say; she just held my hand in silence.

    But at that moment, I felt the urge to pour my heart out. "Leander likes her, Nigel likes her. In our own house, I''ve be the outsider. If that''s the case, I don''t want this family anymore."

    "Oh, honey." Mom looked disappointed. "Nigel''s still young and doesn''t understand. She gives him a bit of sweetness, and he''s off following her. If you give up over this little issue, then when she and Leander get married, she''ll make sure all the family wealth goes to her own kids. By then, Nigel won''t get a dime."

    She earnestly tried to make me see the pros and cons, hoping I''d realize how dire Nigel''s situation could be if I abandoned him.

    But she didn''t know my heart had already turned cold, devoid of any pity for Nigel.

    "This was Nigel''s choice, Mom. So, he should face the consequences."Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    Seeing that even bringing up Nigel couldn''t persuade me, Mom realized I had truly lost all hope.

    She gently patted my hand. "Amara, even if not for them, do it for me. Please hold on a bit longer?"

    Hearing that made my tears unstoppable.

    She was my only family in this world.

    But she still wanted me to go back to those who hurt me.

    I couldn''t hold back anymore. "Hold on, I''m always the one who has to hold on. But I hurt, too. I''m in pain!"

    She seemed taken aback, clearly not prepared for how to continue persuading me.

    But I saw through her intentions. She probably hoped I could be like her generation...

    Endure the pain until the end.

    Feeling suffocated by this conversation, I didn''t say another word and walked away.

    I was alone on the wide street, watching the passersby and the distant lights...

    I suddenly felt so lost.

    In such a big city, there seemed nowhere that could amodate me.

    ***

    I had nowhere to go and no desire to return home.

    Even thest of my savings were spent on a child''s grave, leaving me penniless. I had no choice but to return to the hospital.

    As I opened the door to my room, I noticed a stranger''s silhouette.

    He was in a suit, tall and imposing, holding a little girl''s hand.

    I paused at the door, double-checking the room number to make sure I wasn''t mistaken.

    This was indeed my room.

    I took the initiative to speak up. "I think you might have the wrong room."

    The man turned around and extended his hand towards me. "This is no mistake. We''re here to see you."

 Chapter 25

    It was only then that I really took a good look at the man standing before me.

    He had the kind of looks that could rival any movie star, but his aura was even more aloof.

    Just standing there, he exuded an air of unapproachable authority, like he belonged to a world far above the ordinary hustle and bustle.

    If I had known him, I''m sure I would have remembered.

    But try as I might, I couldn''t ce his face. "Do I know you?"

    Eager to clear any misunderstanding, he quickly exined, "The day before yesterday, you fell down the stairs. It was us who rushed you to the ER." Until he mentioned it...

    I had always assumed it was Leander who had been following me, heard the fall, and then took me for emergency care.

    I looked down, feeling a bit foolish.

    So, it wasn''t him after all.

    I looked back up at the man. "Thank you for saving my life. I mean, that''s no small thing."

    Of course, mere words of thanks weren''t enough.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    "I really don''t know how to repay you both."

    A smile touched the man''s eyes. "Actually, I could use your help with something right now."

    Ever since I had Nigel, I had decided to stay home to take care of him and my husband, fully embracing the life of a stay-at-home mom.

    Though at that time, I never anticipated that it would lead to today''s situation.

    In the eyes of many, I was already out of touch with society, let alone capable of helping someone else.

    I looked at him, somewhat taken aback. "Me?"

    He nodded, then said, "Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Reuben Harris."

    He crouched down to introduce the quiet girl standing next to him, who looked as pretty as a porcin doll. "This is Joyce Harris."

    I also crouched down, extending my hand towards the little girl. "Hello, I''m Amara Jensen."

    Joyce looked back at Reuben as if seeking reassurance.

    Reuben encouraged her with a look.

    Then Joyce tentatively took my hand, saying shyly, "Nice to meet you."

    Her hand was as soft and delicate silk.

    I smiled back, saying, "Same here."

    As soon as I finished speaking, Joyce quickly hid behind Reuben, peeking out at me.

    "Arlo." Reuben evidently wanted to keep our conversation private from Joyce. "Why don''t you take Joyce out for a bit?"

    "Sure thing."

    The middle-aged man who had been guarding the door picked up Joyce.

    Joyce clung to Reuben''s arm, clearly reluctant to leave with Arlo.

    Reuben soothed her gently. "Joyce, you understand why we came to see Amara, right?"

    Joyce hesitated, then nodded.

    Reuben continued, "But what I need to talk about isn''t for children''s ears, so you go with Arlo for a little tour, okay? Just five minutes, and I''lle find you, alright?"

    With Reuben''s promise, Joyce finally let go and obediently followed Arlo out of the room.

    Once the door closed behind them, Reuben began, "I''m Joyce''s uncle. Her parents died in a car crash two years ago. She was there, saw everything, and since then, she''s refused to talk to anyone."

    "It''s been two years without a word from her. The doctors said she has severe autism. They advised us to encourage her tomunicate."

    I listened patiently.

    Reuben seemed to feel a bit awkward asking for help so directly. "We''ve tried everything, to no avail, until..."

    "That day, at the preschool, your child mistook another woman for you and followed her home. When Joyce got home, she suddenly said she wanted the mother Nigel didn''t want. She said you seemed like a kind mother. She really wanted you to be hers." Reuben paused, looking at me earnestly. "For you, she was willing to speak to me. I''m relieved, even hopeful that maybe if you spent more time with Joyce, her condition might improve."

    He chose his next words carefully. "So, I''m here to boldly ask you, Ms. Jensen. Would you considering to help look after Joyce at our ce?"

 Chapter 26

    Worried that I might misunderstand, he quickly added, "Of course, I''ll pay you."

    But I haven''t got a divorce yet. If I rashly leave Leander and Nigel to care for a stranger''s child, it might not sit right with them.

    I didn''t know how to respond.

    "I understand your current situation..." Reuben said, handing me his business card. "And I know you''ll need time to think, so don''t rush your decision."

    I took the ck card with gold lettering from him.

    Reuben stood up. "I''ll be off then."

    I watched him leave, biting my lip hard.

    I''m broke and homeless, and after the divorce, I might really end up on the streets.

    But now, this opportunity is right in front of me.

    I have to seize it. "Give me one week."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Reuben turned around, looking puzzled by my sudden deration.

    I exined, "Just one week, and I''ll be through with my divorce. Then, I''lle to work for you. Is that okay?"

    Even if they decide I''m not good enough and let me go, I''d have some money.

    Enough to pay rent and get by.

    Then, I can slowly look for another job.

    Reuben seemed surprised. "Are you sure?"

    I nodded. "Yes."

    Against my wishes, Leander brought Luna back home. Now, their "family of four" is living happily together.

    But legally, Leander and I are still married. Luna will inevitably be branded as the other woman. They love Luna too much to let her suffer even the slightest grievance. It won''t be long before Leander agrees to the divorce. Reuben smiled. "Looking forward to hearing from you."

    ...

    After Reuben left, I also got ready to leave the hospital.

    Having decided to end this marriage, I needed to go home and finalize the divorce.

    Even though I''d have to face those nauseating faces.

    When I got home, it was already 8 p.m. As soon as I opened the living room door, I saw Luna had already settled infortably.

    I lost my child, but no one else seemed to remember. At that moment, they were gleefully celebrating together.

    "Today is Luna''s first day living with us!" Nigel was thrilled, overjoyed. "We should celebrate!"

    Leander brought out a cake with candles.

    Luna''s son pped, his eyes shining.

    Nigel continued, "And there''s more good news. My annoying mom isn''t home!"

    Luna couldn''t help butugh, yfully tapping his nose. "You silly goose, you."

    Nigel said mysteriously, "Mom, close your eyes."

    Luna thought she was supposed to make a wish and obediently closed her eyes. Her hands were tightly sped, and her beautiful red lips silently articted her wishes. Assured she couldn''t see, Nigel dashed to the bedroom and grabbed a bunch of roses, hiding them behind his back.

    The roses were huge. Almost too big for his small frame to hide.

    After Luna finished making a wish, she opened her eyes.

    Nigel then presented the roses. "I''m so happy you''re going to be my mom."

    Leander and Luna''s son also presented their gifts.

    At that moment, they truly seemed like a family of four.

    As for me...

    I just stood quietly at the door, coldly watching the "fulfilled" foursome celebrate in the living room, watching Luna take my ce as thedy of the house.

 Chapter 27

    With a warm smile, Luna was unwrapping gifts, expressing her heartfelt thanks to everyone around the table.

    As the evening wore on, she became increasingly emotional, her voice breaking as she spoke, "I never imagined... that I could find a true family like this with all of you. It means the world to me."

    "Let''s not get into all that now," Leander interjected, clearly ufortable with the disy of emotion and clumsily trying to shift the mood. "Let''s eat before the food gets cold," he suggested, hoping to lighten the atmosphere. They were all set for a cozy dinner in the dining room when Leander suddenly paused and turned around to see me standing at the doorway.

    The smile froze on his face.

    Following his lead, the others turned to look at me, their expressions turning sour upon realizing I was back. It was as if a shadow had fallen over their previously joyful gathering.

    I could feel a fire of anger and betrayal igniting in my heart. It had been less than a week since I lost my child... And here they were, the very people responsible for my misery, enjoying themselves as if nothing had happened. Ignoring their stares, I decided not to waste my breath on them and headed straight for my bedroom.

    Yet, as I passed by Leander, he grabbed my wrist. "Great timing, honey. Why don''t you join us?"

    I stopped in my tracks, my response cold andced with sarcasm. "So, we''re celebrating her moving in and making you a happy family of four? What exactly am I supposed to be celebrating? Your sess in causing my miscarriage?" I had always been soft-spoken and gentle at home, always careful to maintain Leander''s dignity in front of others, no matter how badly he treated me. But not this time.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    My tone was sharp, my words sparing no feelings.

    Leander was visibly taken aback. He opened his mouth to say something, but I was done listening. Shrugging off his hold, I marched towards the bedroom.

    As I was about to open the door, Nigel rushed up, blocking my way like a little cub defending its territory. "This room is Luna''s now. You can''t go in."

    So, Luna had even taken over my bedroom? She really did know how to make herself at home.

    Forced to halt, I turned back to face Leander, my voice steady but demanding, "Exin."

    Leander struggled to find the right words. "You''ve been away... And with Luna here, taking care of the children alone, it just seemed impractical for her to stay in the guest room. It made sense to let her use our bedroom temporarily."

    I listened as he tried to justify prioritizing Luna over everything and everyone else. I had nned to confront him with evidence of Luna''s maniptions, but the scene before me made me reconsider. It was clear Leander would do anything to keep Luna happy, even if it meant dismissing my feelings.

    But I wasn''t about to let him have his way without a fight. Without showing any emotion, I simply stated, "But I''m back now."

    Leander, visibly ufortable, replied, "Asking her to move out now would be inconvenient."

    "It''s okay, Leander," Luna chimed in, ever the martyr. "I''ll move out right away. I''ve always said, this is your house. It never felt right taking over the master bedroom anyway."

 Chapter 28

    Luna made a move as if she was about to walk forward.

    But Leander stopped her. "No need."

    Nigel also ran over, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Mom, this bedroom has been yours and yours alone from the day you moved in!" Leander clearly agreed with Nigel, "The kid''s right."

    Luna apologetically turned to me. "I''m sorry, Amara. It''s not that I want to hog your master bedroom. It''s just that they won''t let me." Leander frowned. "You don''t have to apologize to her. It''s not your fault."

    He was clearly displeased with my behavior, his voice raised in reprimand. "Amara, I don''t recall it being time for you to leave the hospital yet."

    "So what?" I wasn''t about to take any more from him. "Now that you bring your mistress back home, I can''t evene back to my own house?" Leander bluntly concluded, "You''re back, so you can sleep in the guest room with me! It''s a simple solution, yet you make it ufortable for everyone. I really don''t know what you''re thinking."

    After saying that, he and Luna turned and headed towards the living room.

    Ha!

    I scoffed, "You know exactly what I''m thinking, don''t you?"

    Leander turned back.

    "Nigel has told you countless times that he wishes you would divorce me." Calmly and deliberately, Iid out my case. "Clearly, Luna''s the only one in your heart. If that''s the case, then why not just agree to the divorce? If you''d agree, many problems would be solved." Across from me, Luna looked at Leander expectantly. The kids were also staring intensely at him.

    Nigel was bolder, pleading outright, "Dad, just agree to it, please!"

    But Leander remained silent.

    I continued, "After the divorce, I won''t step foot in this house again. So, whoever you bring home is your prerogative. I naturally won''t have a say in whoever sleeps in the master bedroom." Having said that, I turned and entered the bedroom, leaving behind a frustrated family of four at the door.

    They angrily used me of insisting on sleeping there, knowing full well the room was Luna''s, and calling me shameless. But...so what?

    As long as Leander doesn''t divorce me and I''m still in this house for a day, then I''ll make it unpleasant for them onest time!

    Consider it their interest for hurting me.

    ...

    Habit is indeed a fearsome thing.

    Even though I decided to rest a bit more, I still woke up promptly at six.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    As I opened the bedroom door, Leander was there, clearly disapproving. "Honey, I''ve thought about it all night, and I still think you should apologize to Luna." What?

    Did he spend the whole night sleeping his brains out?

    I looked up at Leander disdainfully.

    Leander met my gaze. "I know you''re upset about losing the child, but Luna is a guest. Your behaviorst night was too rude."

    Throughout our marriage, I would unconditionally ept whatever advice Leander gave.

    Leander had probably gotten used to it, believing that I would relent as soon as he spoke up.

    So, he even stopped what he was doing, obediently waiting for me to apologize.

 Chapter 29

    I had had enough of bending over backward, so my voice was ice-cold. "But I don''t see where I went wrong."

    At that, Leander stood up abruptly.

    Ignoring him, I turned to head back to my room.

    "Amara!" Just then, Luna called out.

    I turned to look at her.

    She looked breathtaking, even with just a hint of makeup and her hair casually tied up.

    Seeing I wasn''t paying her any attention, she hurriedly said, "I only made breakfast for four today... I''m sorry. Usually, they''d swing by my ce for breakfast, and I just forgot for a moment that we''re not at my ce..."

    As she spoke, Luna lowered her gaze with tears shimmering in her eyes, looking irresistibly pitiful.

    "You didn''t do anything wrong!" Leander couldn''t stand seeing Luna cry. "You don''t have to apologize to her."

    Tears fell as Luna looked sorrowfully. "But Amara doesn''t like me. She might berate me if I don''t ask for her forgiveness. Last night, she took over my room, and today..."

    She nced at me sneakily as she spoke.

    The insinuation was clear...that I was out to get her.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    I saw it all and etched it into my memory.

    When all those sinister deeds she''d done were brought to light, I''d reappear before her just to see if she could twist truths and provoke me as seamlessly as today.

    Leander was clearly taken in by her act. "Amara, look at you, why can''t you be more understanding like Luna? She''s done nothing wrong, is willing to step back, and even apologizes to you proactively! And you? You took over her roomst night, scaring her... Don''t you feel the slightest bit guilty?"

    Leander red at me reproachfully.

    I was on the verge of rolling my eyes. After all this, was he trying to pin a baseless charge on me?

    I retorted, "And so what? Ie home, sleep in my own bedroom, and I''m supposed to bow down to Luna. Should I thank you for graciously letting me sleep in my own bed, and I''ll forever be grateful for your kindness?"

    Tired of this drama, I headed straight for the door.

    The divorce couldn''te soon enough, or I might lose my mind to their shameless antics first!

    Luna seemed ready to cry again. "Amara didn''t answer me. Is she still mad at me?"

    Leander was evidently doting, "She wouldn''t dare!"

    Oh, but I dared.

    Walking into a diner, I ordered a basket of bagels and a bowl of oatmeal. I sat down and pulled out a pin-shaped camera and a recording pen from my pocket.

    I had recorded everything that had happened at home these past few days.

    It was better to be safe than sorry. Maybe one day, this would serve as solid evidence.

    Those who''ve done wrong will eventually have to pay for their misdeeds!

    A smile slowly formed in my eyes as I idly yed with the pin before clipping it back onto my shirt.

    ...

    After breakfast, I returned home.

    Leander and the others were just about to leave, halting when they saw me.

    Nigel stepped forward to exin, "It''s Saturday, and there''s no school, so we''re nning a family day out."

    Ever since Luna moved in, Nigel had already seen the four of them as a real family.

    He didn''t hide his disdain for me one bit. "You better note along; you''ll just ruin the fun!"

 Chapter 30

    Luna shed me a smug grin. "But we''ll be back for dinner, so you''ll be on kitchen duty tonight, Amara."

    Her taunt was tant, believing she could get under my skin.

    I ignored them, striding towards the living room with purpose.

    Leander stepped in to smooth things over. "She''s probably just blowing off steam. Don''t worry. She''lle around once we''re back."

    Nigel chimed in, too, "Yeah, she might be a pain sometimes, but she''s a wizard in the kitchen! Tonight''s dinner is going to be a feast!" Luna''s eyes lit up. "Really? I can''t wait!"

    They still seemed to think that I was pining for Leander and was still willing to push my still-recovering body to the limit just to prepare avish dinner to win his forgiveness. Little did they know, the way I looked at Leander now was as cold as I would a clueless stranger.

    After they left, I headed to the storage closet, retrieved my suitcase, and brought it to the bedroom to pack.

    I methodically filled it with my belongings.

    Once Leander agreed to a divorce, I could just walk away with my suitcase in hand.

    There wasn''t much that truly belonged to me in this house; I had just a few changes of clothes, my phone charger, and some personal documents.

    I made sure nothing was left behind. Everything went into the suitcase.

    As I opened another cupboard to pack my dresses, I noticed a smartphone lying on top of them. Beneath the phone was a piece of paper.

    I picked it up and nced at it.

    It was Luna''s pregnancy test result. She was nine weeks along.

    So...whose child was it?

    Could it be Leander''s?

    I pondered deeply, pressing the power button, and the screen lit up.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    It was still on a chat with Luna''s ex-husband.

    The only message from Luna to her ex was from yesterday.

    [I''m pregnant. It happened two months ago when I visited you abroad.]

    ording to Leander, Luna''s ex was supposed to be bad news. So, shouldn''t Luna be trying to keep her distance?

    And yet...she dared to reach out to her ex.

    A thought struck me, amusing and intriguing.

    So, Luna was not only flirting with Leander but also entangled with her ex and carrying his child?

    Tsk, tsk. Imagine Leander finding out the woman he''s been tiptoeing around is pregnant with another man''s child. He''d be devastated.

    A smirk crept onto my lips, but now wasn''t the time to spill the beans to Leander...

    I was actually looking forward to the day they''d all turn on each other!

    I took out my phone, snapped a clear photo of the chat, and, ying the cautious good Samaritan, deleted the message for the careless Luna.

    Then, turning off the screen, I set aside the test result and phone, folded my dresses neatly, and packed them into the suitcase.

    The clothes didn''t take up much space. Even fully packed, the suitcase wasn''t full.

    I zipped it up and wheeled it back to the storage closet, and after all that tidying up, I felt parched. Just as I reached the living room and was about to sip some water, Leander burst through the door. He was always soposed, but his voice now wasced with regret and panic. "Honey, Nigel''s been kidnapped..."

 Chapter 31

    I pushed myself up and headed toward the bedroom, my voice as cold as ice. "Then call the cops. What''s that got to do with me?"

    But Leander blocked my path, a look of desperation in his eyes. "It''s Luna''s ex-husband who''s taken him."

    I tried to sidestep him, my tone dropping a few more degrees. "Then you should be talking to Luna, not me!"

    Yet, Leander followed, refusing to let me pass. "He thinks there''s something going on between Luna and me, and he''s livid. He''s demanding that you spend a night with him, or he won''t release Nigel." Leander looked at me, helpless and pained. "Honey..."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    He didn''t finish, but I already knew what he was implying.

    Rage coursed through me, and I pped him hard across the face.

    "Leander, what kind of a man are you?"

    "Honey, Nigel is your flesh and blood. You can''t just let him die!"

    After saying that, he suddenly pulled out a spray bottle from behind his back and sprayed it ruthlessly in my face.

    Instantly, my body went limp, and my mind started to fog.

    The bastard Leander had drugged me!

    Staggering, I turned and made a dash for the nearest room.

    Fumbling with the doorknob, I then realized the door wouldn''t budge.

    I rushed to try another door, only to find it locked as well...

    Leander''s voice was calm. "I''ve locked all the doors."

    "Including the front door."

    That''s when I realized I was trapped.

    It was in that moment that I truly understood how ruthless the man standing before me could be!

    I demanded, "You agreed to his terms?"

    "I had no choice!" Leander''s voice was almost a roar. "He said if you don''t show up in front of him within two hours, he''ll kill Nigel! Honey, we raised that kid together, day by day. Can you really stand by and watch him die?" I wanted to fight but couldn''t even take a step...

    So, all I could do was yell, "I can!"

    "No, you can''t." Leander looked down at me.

    I was now showing signs of fainting, and his posture towered over me, looking cruel. "You always wanted a divorce, right? Once you return from your night with Luna''s ex, we''ll get it done."

    ...

    When I woke up, my body was still weak.

    The house was eerily silent. It seemed Nigel had already been taken away.

    I struggled to sit up, sifting through my brain for information on Luna''s ex-husband.

    I remember his name was ude Collins.

    At the peak of his wealth, he had enough to make most people green with envy.

    As the heir, ude had always been seen as a gentleman, a dream catch for countless women.

    But something had happened in thest few years. His family''s fortune had crumbled, and he''d taken it hard, bing unhinged and unkempt.

    I cautiously looked around. The door was locked from the outside, windows sealed shut.

    Without a key, I was stuck with no way out.

    Panic was about to set in, but I reminded myself to stay calm! I forced myself to appearposed as I faced ude.

    Meanwhile, my mind raced, trying to figure out how to defuse this crisis.

    His face was covered in stubble. He was clearly in no hurry to make a move, just focusing on the camera equipment before him. "Do you know why I took your kid?"

    He didn''t wait for my answer, continuing, "Because Luna wants to marry your husband. But despite everything she''s done, Leander just won''t divorce you. In order to rece you and be Leander''s wife, she plotted this kidnapping the moment she knew I was back in town. She told me that if something happens between us, Leander would definitely leave you."

    I had no immediate solution, so I yed along with his narrative, hoping to buy some time. "She seems to know Leander pretty well."

    ude seemed surprised by my calmness under such circumstances.

    He paused, looking at me as if to deliver a fatal blow. "Do you know how your child ended up in my hands?"

 Chapter 32

    "My son told him that if he was willing to drop by, Luna could easily be his mom."

    ssic move from that little devil.

    I wasn''t surprised at all and just bitterly said, "Oh."

    ude stood up. "Do you know why I''m setting up this camera gear?"

    "To record the invasion of your privacy. And send it to Leander tomorrow. So Leander can see us together. He''ll definitely get over you then!"

    After saying this, he strode towards me.

    Seeing his determination, I quickly pieced together the information in my head with the scene unfolding before me.

    In an instant, I thought of a way out.

    I met his gaze without flinching. "So, you and Luna are already divorced, and you''re still doing her bidding?" ude pushed me hard.

    I lost control and fell backward, crashing onto the wooden bed.

    Even in his downfall, a man like ude had his pride!

    I bet I wasn''t wrong, so I sped up my speech. "ude, your family has always groomed you to be the sessor. So, I believe, even if you''re bankrupt now, with your capabilities, climbing back to the top is just a matter of time." ude paused, his gaze fixed on me.

    He stopped, very close to me.

    Looks like I made the right bet!

    I breathed a sigh of relief, continuing, "But if you keep wasting your time on Luna... You''re her pawn and even willing to break thew for her. Do you know what awaits you? Are you really going to sacrifice your life for this woman?" ude sat down on the edge of the bed. "But..."

    He hadn''t nned on listening to Luna.

    However, Luna promised him that after marrying Leander, she''d give him a sum of money.

    After bankruptcy, he was living aimlessly, somewhat recklessly.

    In a moment of impulse, he agreed without thinking through the consequences.

    After a long while, he murmured, "Can I really get back to where I was?"

    Hearing this, I knew I waspletely safe.

    I tried to keep smiling, giving him friendly signals. "As long as you''re willing to work hard again, you definitely can."

    ude looked back at me and asked after a while, "When you go back, will you divorce Leander?"

    I didn''t lie, "Yeah."

    Not only that, I''d return everything he did to me, a hundred, a thousandfold!

    ude said with a smile. "He''ll definitely regret losing you."

    ...

    Unfortunately, I just got to the front door and caught Luna handing over some test results to Leander.

    The only recent document she had was the nine-week pregnancy report I saw in the bedroom.

    Meaning she nned to pass off ude''s child as Leander''s.

    This woman was constantly lowering my expectations.

    I suppressed my disgust, and I am not nning to expose this now.

    Otherwise, how would I enjoy Leander''s downfallter?

    As expected, Luna spoke in a shy tone, "Guess what this is?"

    Leander nced over casually, then incredulously asked, "You''re pregnant?"

    "Yeah." Luna''s voice was sweet as honey. "After losing Amara''s child, you were so sad... I thought it''d be great if I could make you happy. And now, we really did have a child." Leander stood there, stunned, looking at Luna''s belly.

    He didn''t say a word for a long time.

    I sneered inwardly. Leander always stressed that he hadn''t been with Luna,

    Turns out he lied!

    But I stopped caring about that a long time ago.

    Now, I just worried he''d think too hard and discover something. So, I stepped inside, breaking his train of thought.

    "Leander, didn''t you say you''d divorce me aftering back from ude''s?"N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

 Chapter 33

    Leander turned, his gaze a mix of emotions upon hearing me. "Amara... you''re back. He didn''t... hurt you, did he?" Oh, the hypocrisy!

    Now that he suspects I''ve been with another man, the endearing term ''honey'' suddenly vanishes!

    "Oh, he didn''t do anything. We just sat and chatted for a bit," I said, brushing off the truth lightly.

    "I''m sorry... Amara, I really had no choice," Leander replied, his face a picture of insincerity, still ying the apologetic card.

    I shrugged, knowing all too well he wouldn''t believe me a fact I had anticipated.

    ude might y a key role in exposing Lunater, and naturally, I wouldn''t bother exining any further to Leander.

    Ignoring him, I pulled my suitcase out of the storage room. "Let''s go."

    After the divorce, I''d continue to gather evidence.

    When the Payne family drowns in their false happiness, I''lle forward to reveal everything.

    Ah, the irony...I can only hope they can still y a happy family by then!

    ...

    Leander surprisingly cooperated, and we smoothly secured our divorce.

    Holding my suitcase, ready to leave, Leander followed. "Amara, it''s ultimately my fault. You''re leaving me without asking for anything, and with no work experience, you might find it hard to get a job. How about youe to work for me as a nanny? I''ll pay you." Was he suggesting I go back to serve their family of four, enduring their moods daily?

    Did he think so low of me?

    I nced at him. "Mr. Payne, that''s quite bold of you, but I''ll spare you the worry."

    Leander looked annoyedly taken for granted. "I''m just thinking of your best interest!"

    "Thest time you had my ''best interest'' in mind, you sent me to another man''s bed," I couldn''t be bothered to expose him further. "And before that, you were the reason I lost our child."

    Leander''s expression froze.

    I didn''t want to waste any more time on him and hailed a cab.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    I told the driver my destination and settled in the back seat, letting the car take me away.

    ...

    Reuben''s house was in a vi district in the city center.

    Standing at the entrance of the neighborhood, I called Reuben.

    He seemed surprised. "How are you doing?"

    I desperately needed a job and a ce to stay. "You mentioned before that you wanted me to look after Joyce, right?"

    "Yes," Reuben remained calm. "Are you avable now?"

    "I''m at your gate right now."

    No sooner had I finished speaking than a security guard came over to say I could enter.

    As I walked in, I saw Reuben waiting in the yard.

    Typically, he''d be at the office, but it seemed he took the day off to stay home.

    Reuben looked somewhat troubled. "Could you please help console Joyce?"

    I casually asked, "What happened?"

    Reuben exined, "Ever since we parted at the hospitalst time, she''s been believing you''de over the next day. You were tied up and couldn''t make it. She''s been upset, crying, ignoring me, and even refusing to eat." Reuben must have been worried sick about Joyce crying to leave work and stay at home.

    "No problem," I quickly asked, "Where is she?"

    Reuben immediately led the way.

    ...

    Joyce was in her bedroom.

 Chapter 34

    Her bedroom was spacious. It was decorated as if it had leaped straight out of a fairy tale pristine andvish.

    She was dressed in a princess gown with multipleyers, clutching a long-eared bunny plushie. She was sitting on the carpet with her back to the door, silent as night. Reuben was desperate to cheer her up. "Joyce, guess who''s here?"

    Joyce merely turned around, ignoring Reuben''s presence and voice.

    Reuben cast me a pleading look.

    Though it was just my job, I''d always dreamed of having a daughter...

    Joyce, with her doll-like appearance, was irresistibly adorable.

    I couldn''t help but grow fond of her, feigning distress. "Seems like Joyce doesn''t want me here."

    Hearing my voice, Joyce immediately spun around, her eyes lighting up at my sight. She scampered over.

    She shook her head.

    I squatted down to meet her gaze. "Why aren''t you talking to me? Do you not like me? Is that it?"

    Joyce started to shake her head again but paused, seemingly afraid I''d think she disliked me, and finally spoke, "No, I like you a lot."

    "I like you too, Joyce," I said, taking her small hand. I love hearing you talk. Will you talk to me more from now on?"

    Joyce heaved a grown-up sigh. "Okay."

    Getting her to initiate conversation was clearly a challenge, so I had to lead. "I heard you''ve not been eating welltely. Are you hungry?"

    Joyce nced down, gently patting her belly. "Mhm!"

    I smiled. "Shall we go have some lunch?"Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    Joyce nodded eagerly, then, worried I might disagree, she added emphatically, "Yes!"

    Reuben visibly rxed at this.

    As I was leading Joyce to the dining area, she suddenly halted, gazing up at me with big, hopeful eyes.

    I was puzzled, "What''s wrong?"

    "Mommy..." Joyce looked down shyly. "Can you carry me to the dining room?"

    I was about to agree when Reuben interjected, "No, Joyce."

    Her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

    Reuben scooped her up, the usually stern businessman softening remarkably in her presence. "Remember, Mommy just fell from a high ce a few days ago and lost a lot of blood. Her body hasn''t fully recovered yet, and you want her to carry you. That would hurt Mommy a lot, wouldn''t it?"

    I was surprised at Reuben''s thoughtfulness.

    Who would have thought the CEO of a business empire could show such care?

    Joyce''s tears started falling. "I''m sorry, Mommy. I was being rude and not thinking about your pain."

    Her crying weakened my resolve. Walking behind Reuben, I took Joyce''s hand,forting her softly. "It''s okay, Joyce. Don''t worry."

    Joyce looked at me. "But..."

    I raised my other hand, wiping her tears. "Now that you know, you''re being considerate by not asking me to carry you, right?" Joyce sobbed. "Yes."

    "That''s my girl." I gently ruffled her soft hair, watching Reuben ce her beside the dining table.

    "Let''s eat."

    Joyce was well-mannered and independent and didn''t need coaxing or feeding. She quietly sat and ate her meal.

    "This afternoon, she has to go to school," Reuben, now reassured, mentioned. "Would you mind taking her?"

    My gaze returned from Joyce to him. "Of course."

    "But Joyce and Nigel are at the same preschool." He was clearly worried, given my recent divorce from Leander... Facing Nigel at the preschool gates could indeed be awkward.

 Chapter 35

    I watched him.

    Reuben continued, "They''re both in the same ss."

    Joyce chimed in as if to take credit. "I''ve been watching all the kids in our ss, and Nigel is looked after the best! That''s when I thought Nigel''s mom had to be my mom!" She shed a sweet smile. "Now, my dream hase true."

    She was such a well-behaved and adorable kid. Even my icy heart felt a bit of warmth from her words.

    I smiled, gazing at her cherubic face. "Congrattions."

    Joyce giggled, continuing with her meal.

    "Since I''ve agreed to be her mom, I should act like a real mom, right? Pick her up and drop her off. The whole deal."

    Turning to Reuben, I said, "It doesn''t matter who''s at the school. I''ll be there."

    Reuben nodded. "We''d really appreciate that."

    I casually replied, "No trouble at all; it''s what I should do."

    ...

    I thought Joyce opening up to me was a sign of progress.

    But when others at home tried to talk to her, she still wouldn''t respond. She would only nod or shake her head at Reuben.

    Sitting in the car, watching Joyce beside me, I finally understood why Reuben was so insistent on having mee over to be Joyce''s mom. Otherwise...Joyce''s condition might have worsened.

    We stopped at the preschool gate, and I took Joyce''s hand, walking her to the entrance.

    After thest incident, the teachers obviously recognized me, their eyes filled with caution.

    Reuben stepped forward, frowning, "This is Joyce''s mom. We hope you get to know her because she''ll pick up and drop off Joyce from now on." The teachers exchanged nces, curious, but ultimately asked nothing.

    "That''s just fine," they said with a nod.

    I crouched down, looking at Joyce. "You be good and go to ss. Mommy wille pick you up in the afternoon, okay?"

    Joyce''s eyes welled up, clearly not wanting to part. "Then, Mommy, you have to be the first one toe get me."

    After saying that and remembering my health, she quickly added, "But it''s okay to be a bitte. Your health is more important." Such an understanding child.

    I was moved. "Alright. I will do as you say."Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    Joyce then reluctantly walked into the preschool, turning back every few steps. "Mommy!"

    I watched her small figure. "I''m here."

    Joyce cried. "I''ll miss you."

    She usually doesn''t say a word in preschool, almost as if she couldn''t speak at all.

    But she spoke so much all at once, and the teachers by the door looked at each other in shock.

    Joyce continued, "Mommy, you have to miss me too!"

    I yed along, "I will."

    "Why are you here at preschool?"

    Before my gaze could shift from Joyce, Nigel''s voice reached me.

    I turned to look at him.

    Nigel eyed me warily, "Are you still not giving up? Are you nning to snatch me away when no one''s looking?"

    He despised me, nothing but loathing, and now, my feelings weren''t much different towards him.

    Ignoring him, I was about to leave, but Nigel blocked my way. "I''m warning you! No matter how many times youe to the preschool gate. I won''t go with you." "What are you talking about?" My expression cooled. "Why would I want to take you? Who are you to me?"

    Nigel was taken aback by my question.

 Chapter 36

    At the preschool, the teacher stepped in to clear up the confusion, "This is Joyce''s mom. She''s here to drop off Joyce. Don''t get it mixed up." "No way!" Nigel protested without a second thought. "She''s clearly my mom!"N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    "Stop iming rtives out of the blue," I interjected. "I''ve never had a son like you."

    Nigel was taken aback.

    The teacher also tried to remind him, "Remember,st time she came to pick you up, you said you didn''t recognize her."

    Howe today, he suddenly imed her as his mom?

    Weird.

    Nigel saw me get into the car without a backward nce and couldn''t hide his glee.

    Mom really doesn''t want him anymore! That means he can happily live with Luna from now on!

    His initial displeasure at seeing me vanished, reced by sheer joy.

    Fantastic! He was finally rid of the annoying mom!

    Nigel, thrilled, dashed toward his ssroom.

    Joyce watched his retreating back and huffed in annoyance.

    What an idiot. He doesn''t know what a great mom he''s missing out on!

    ...

    The driver was on the move.

    Reuben and I, sitting in the backseat, exchanged looks. He eyed me curiously, making me ufortable.

    "Are you wondering why I''m so cold towards Nigel?"

    Reuben didn''t deny it. "He''s your biological son."

    That''s when it hit me. Reuben was the first to find me after I fell down the stairs, so he didn''t know the full story...

    My voice was as cold as ice, "Luna had tampered with the staircase beforehand. Nigel saw me fall but chose to ignore me and ran off... And he did it because he hoped his dad and I would divorce... So their family of four could live happily ever after." I turned to Reuben and he looked incredulous.

    I understood his disbelief. "At the time, I couldn''t believe it myself. My own child, whom I cared for dearly, could treat me this way. My patience only led to this painful oue. Now, I have no feelings left for them."

    I figured I couldn''t keep it from Reuben forever.

    So, I decided to tell him everything. "There''s always the shadow of the child that never was lingering between us. Although I chose divorce, it doesn''t mean I''ll just let this matter slide. But if you prefer Joyce''s mom to be a saintly figure, feel free to let me go." Reuben was silent for a long while before speaking, "I was just thinking if the same thing happened to me, my reaction would probably be even more extreme."

    He actually understood me.

    That was unexpected.

    "As long as what you do doesn''t affect your care for Joyce," Reuben seemed indifferent about my ns, "then do as you please."

    After a long silence, I finally spoke, "Don''t worry, I won''t drag Joyce into this mess."

    Reuben nonchntly replied, "Then there''s no problem."

    As the car passed by the hospital, I quickly said, "Stop here. I need to get off!"

    The driver braked immediately.

    After getting out, I closed the door and told Reuben, "You guys go ahead. I have some things to take care of."

    Although Reuben didn''t know what I was up to, he didn''t ask and instructed the driver to leave.

    Taking a deep breath, I strode into the hospital.

    This is where it all happened...

    I needed to check if there were any security cameras in the hospital.

    Or perhaps someone who might have passed by and heard my conversation with Nigel.

 Chapter 37

    The hospital ward was overflowing with patients.

    So many, in fact, that a number of them had no choice but to make their beds in the hallway.

    Their conditions were generally severe, and their stays lengthy.

    Many were already here when I was admitted and remained when I was discharged.

    As I walked through, I bumped into familiar faces almost immediately.

    An elderly gentleman I''de to know asked, "Weren''t you discharged? What brings you back here?"

    "I had a bit of an ident the other day. I took a tumble down the stairs," I confessed, hoping maybe they had seen something or even caught it on camera. But I couldn''t spill all the beans. "The stairs were slick. It''s almost as if someone had tampered with them. I was hoping to check if there were any cameras around that might have caught who was behind it. Or, if someone might have identally recorded it."

    The old man was eager to help. "Oh, there are cameras all over the hallways. You should be able to find what you''re looking for in the security office."

    "Great." With surveince, things seemed hopeful.

    I couldn''t hide my excitement. "Thank you. I''ll check it out right away!"

    The hospital''s stairwell was deserted, tranquil.

    The spot where I''d fallen was cleaned up; no trace of the incident was left.

    I looked up, and right above me was a camera.

    Continuing down, I found another camera right where I hadnded.

    The hospital''s surveince coverage was reassuringly thorough, even in this rarely trafficked stairwell.

    Feeling relieved, I headed straight for the security office, exined what happened, and asked them to retrieve the footage from the stairwell, hoping it would reveal who had caused my ident.

    But when they brought up the footage, the cameras had been obstructed.

    I stood there in disbelief.

    Which meant...even though I was certain Luna was behind it all, I had no evidence to prove it.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    The security staff was clearly embarrassed. "We noticed something was off and were about to check it out, but then we heard someone had fallen."

    Nigel was just a kid and wouldn''t have thought about the cameras.

    So...the only person who knew everything and was cunning enough to destroy the evidence was Luna.

    It took me a while to regain myposure. "Thank you for trying."

    ...

    Back home, I switched to house slippers in the foyer.

    Reuben was working in the living room. Hearing me enter, he didn''t look up but called, "Amara,e here for a second."

    I sat across from him.

    Without waiting, Reuben got up and headed to the fridge. "What would you like to drink?"

    I''m not much for beverages but replied politely out of respect, "Just water is fine."

    He grabbed an iced coffee for himself and poured me a ss of water.

    After the day''s events, I was quite thirsty and gratefully took a few sips.

    "Today''s your first day over," Reuben started politely. "I''ve been asking you to help get Joyce to eat and take her to school. I haven''t had the chance to ask if you need anything. If you need to buy anything, just let me know. Our shopper can pick it up for you." I thought he might want to discuss something about Joyce, but I was touched by his concern for me.

    Caught off guard, I replied, "Thank you. But I''ve brought everything I need with me. There''s nothing I need now."

    Reuben, usually so reserved, seemed to soften, a hint of warmth in his voice. "You don''t have to be so formal with me. Joyce genuinely sees you as a mother. You can consider this ce your home, too."

    I was taken aback.

    If this was truly my home...

 Chapter 38

    So, I''d have a sweet, thoughtful daughter.

    A daughter who''d truly love me.

    The thought alone brought an involuntary smile to my face. "I will," I whispered to myself.

    Reuben averted his gaze back to his paperwork. "Seems like you haven''t had the chance to unpack yet."

    I got up. "I''ll get to it right away."

    ...

    My bedroom was on the second floor, tucked away in the far east corner.

    The room was spacious, even boasting a separate walk-in closet, not to mention the generous lighting and a sizable balcony.

    With the curtains wide open, swathes of sunlight spilled across the bed, casting a cozy warmth throughout.

    I didn''t immediately start unpacking. Instead, Iy on the bed, soaking in the long-missed tranquility and thinking of my old life deep within my heart.

    In that moment, the thought crossed my mind that living this way for the rest of my life wouldn''t be so bad after all.

    Only after a good rest did I wheel my suitcase into the walk-in closet and swing open the wardrobe doors to hang my clothes, only to find it already full.

    Dresses, tees...of all kinds of styles and fashions.

    I was stunned for a good while before I closed my suitcase and hurried downstairs, just as Reuben was about to leave. "The room the butler arranged for me seems to be upied already," I said. Reuben calmly responded, "No, that room was prepared for you."

    But I was sure of what I saw. "But there are a lot of clothes in the walk-in closet."

    "Oh." Reuben didn''t seem surprised. "Joyce was so excited when she heard you wereing. She insisted on dragging me shopping to buy those clothes for you."

    That''s when I realized the things he said in the living room weren''t just pleasantries.

    He had already prepared everything I needed but was still worried something might be missing...

    That''s why he asked.

    When Reuben mentioned Joyce, his expression softened. "She''s always hoped her mom would one day wear the clothes she picked out."

    "But..." I wasn''t one for brands, but I knew the clothes he bought were expensive. "It''s too much."

    Reuben clearly didn''t care about the expense. "Consider it your work uniform."

    I opened my mouth to protest but ended up saying nothing.

    "From today on, you''re Joyce''s mother," he continued, "And thus, it''s only right we take care of your needs, isn''t it?"

    I hadn''t even had the chance to respond.

    Reuben had already changed his shoes. "After I pick up Joyce, we''ll go out for dinner. Make sure you join us after you''re settled in. She''ll be happier with you there. I''ll send you the address in a bit." With that, he strode out the door, gently closing it behind him.

    I watched the door shut, Joyce''s little face filling my thoughts.

    While choosing the clothes, she must''ve thought, ''Mom will look beautiful in this.'' And, ''Hmm, this set seems perfect for Mom too.''

    A wave of indescribable emotion washed over me.

    I had been Nigel''s mom for five years, yet he''d never shown me this kind of attention.

    But Joyce...

    We weren''t even rted by blood, and she was already so considerate of me after a few days of being together.

    I turned and made my way back upstairs, cing my own clothes in the bottom drawer of the walk-in closet.

    After setting everything up, Reuben sent me the location.

    The restaurant was about a half-hour drive away.

    I was about to head out directly when a thought struck me.

    Joyce had put so much effort into choosing those clothes for me, clearly hoping I''d wear them to meet her.

    If I chose not to, she''d surely be disappointed.

    On the other hand, if I showed up wearing them, she''d probably be overjoyed, her eyes sparkling with happiness. Imagining such a scene warmed my heart.

    I eventually returned to the walk-in closet and carefully picked out an outfit.

    Joyce was wearing a pink princess dress, so I chose a silk blouse paired with light-colored pants to match.

    Wearing this ensemble and standing beside Joyce would have anyone believe we were mother and daughter at a nce.

    After changing, I was about to call a cab when Arlo spoke up, "Mr. Harris instructed me to drive you."

    ...

    I reached the restaurant and was about to look for Joyce in one of the private dining rooms when my phone rang with a call from an unknown number.

    I answered reflexively, "Hello?"N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.

    "Hi, is this Nigel''s parent speaking?"

 Chapter 39

    "Hey there, I''m Nigel''s teacher. School''s out, and he''s still waiting to be picked up. None of his folks have shown up yet. Just checking in to see if everything''s alright at home. Is there anything that might have caused a dy?"

    The teacher''s voice was polite and concerned.

    Before the divorce, Luna used to be so on top of picking up Nigel, didn''t she?

    Now that I''ve only just split from Leander, Luna''s suddenly out of the picture when ites to Nigel.

    I was taken aback, but then again...

    They''re not my circus, not my monkeys anymore. I''ve got no business poking my nose into their affairs.

    "I''m actually Joyce''s mom. I have no rtion to Nigel," I replied with a light chuckle. "Looks like you''ve got the wrong number."

    The teacher immediately apologized, "Oh, I''m so sorry for the mix-up."

    "No worries at all," I said before hanging up.

    Just as I stepped into the elevator, my phone rang again. It was Leander.

    I answered casually.

    Leander sounded uneasy. "Hey, any chance you could pick up Nigel?"

    Once smiling, my reflection in the elevator''s mirrored wall turned indifferent. "I''m afraid not."

    My voice, usually soft, was now icy. "Mr. Payne, it seems like you''ve forgotten. We''re divorced. Unless it''s absolutely urgent, please don''t contact me." Leander was panicking. "I''m out shopping with Luna..."

    "I''m not interested in your whereabouts," I cut him off coldly. "So, no need to exin."

    "But Nigel''s still at school. No one''s there to pick him up," Leander rushed, fearing I''d hang up. "I can''t leave right now, Amara. Please, do me this favor..." "No need to beg," I said firmly and hung up. "My answer is no."

    Leander and his family were history to me.

    If there was anything left to cherish... it would be the child that never came to be.

    Beyond that, we had no connection whatsoever.

    I found the private dining room number Reuben had sent me, turned the knob, and to my surprise, the room was pitch ck.

    Were they not here yet?

    Just as I was about to call Reuben to ask what was up, the lights flickered on.

    The room transformed into a scene from a dream filled with love.

    Gorgeous flowers, heart-shaped balloons, and a child''s scribble wee sign for mom.

    At the center was a table, and on it was a cake surrounded by roses.

    Joyce''s cheeks were pink, and she was holding a hefty bouquet. She saw me, leaped from her chair and scampered over.

    The flowers seemed almost too heavy for her. But she beamed, her eyes squinting. "I''m so happy you''re my mom!"

    It felt like the first time someone had looked at me with such adoration...

    I knelt down, epting the flowers with gravity, and then hugged Joyce tightly. "I''m the lucky one to have you as my daughter."

    Joyce, worried I might get hurt, hugged me gently. Her voice was soft and a bit shy. "Mom, our outfits match! Like mother and daughter."

    I ruffled her hair. "I picked this outfit to match yours. Do you like it?"

    Joyce looked up, her eyes sparkling. "I love it!"

    Relieved, I smiled. "That''s all that matters."

    She snuggled closer. "Now, let''s move on to the next part."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    I let her go, and hand in hand, we approached the dining table.

    The candles on the cake were already lit.

 Chapter 40

    Joyce settled next to Reuben and then patted the seat beside her. "Mom, sit here!"

    I obliged and took my ce next to her.

    Turning towards me, Joyce whispered, "Make a wish."

    I gazed at the flickering candlelight, closed my eyes, and silently wished.

    ''I hope Joyce gets better soon and we can always be happy.''

    After opening my eyes, I blew out the candles with all my might.

    Joyce immediately snuggled up to me, her tiny body almost clinging to mine. "Mom, what did you wish for?"

    I was about to respond when Reuben, not wanting to put me on the spot, chimed in, "Joyce, if you say your wish out loud, it won''te true."

    Unable to hide her disappointment, Joyce pouted. "Okay, then."

    Seeing her cute, sulking face, I couldn''t help but smile and cut her a small piece of cake. "Have some food first."

    With her cheeks puffed, Joyce said, "But Dad says we shouldn''t have sweets at night; it''s bad for our teeth."

    It was a clear tattle on Reuben but also an exnation as to why she shouldn''t eat the cake.

    I looked at Reuben, and he coughed awkwardly. "Today is a special day, so you can have a little."

    "Yay!" With Reuben''s permission, Joyce''s mood instantly lifted. She grabbed a big piece of cake with her fork and stuffed it into her mouth.

    Her eyes gleamed with happiness. "This cake is so yummy!"

    After serving Reuben a piece, I finally cut one for myself.

    Raising her cake, Joyce''s voice was sweeter than the treat. "Cheers!"

    Hearing her innocent promation, Reuben and I also raised our pieces, tapping them together in a toast.

    Joyce continued enjoying her cake with glee.

    After finishing the cake and the rest of the meal, which was not too spicy to amodate Joyce and me, it was clear Joyce had thoroughly enjoyed her food. She even asked for seconds of the rice.

    By the time we left the restaurant, Joyce''s belly was visibly fuller. Once in the car, she leaned against me. "Mom, can you rub my belly? I think I overate."

    I chuckled softly, gently massaging her little stomach as she closed her eyes infort.

    Upon arriving home, Joyce had already fallen asleep.

    I was about to carry her to her room when Reuben took her in his arms, whispering softly as if to not wake her, "Your health hasn''t fully recovered yet. Let me do it."

    Though his voice was still cool, his actions were incredibly caring.

    Watching his retreating back, I couldn''t help but recall my previous marriage...

    I had often been unwell, but Leander always pretended not to notice.

    Eventually, I got used to bearing everything alone, no matter how bad things got or how much I needed help.

    Leander had never shown me any tenderness as his wife.

    And now, here I was, just helping Reuben with Joyce in a mere employer-employee rtionship. Yet, he was considerate of my health.

    Suddenly, I felt a surge of emotions.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    The difference between people can indeed be vast.

    Back in my bedroom, I closed the door, and my phone rang.

    Casually, I answered it.

    "Amara, you actually didn''t go pick up Nigel?"

 Chapter 41

    Leander''s voice,ced with frustration, broke through the phone.

    I nced at the caller ID, realizing I hadn''t blocked Leander yet.

    "What do you think?" I retorted.

    Leander, irked by my nonchnt tone, clenched his teeth and said, "Do you have any idea how your son felt, waiting alone at the daycare until 9 PM because you didn''t show up?"

    I calmly responded, "Mr. Payne, it seems you''re pointing fingers at the wrong person. Luna is his mother now. And I..."

    I stood up, walking out onto the balcony, gazing into the distance.

    The night was pitch ck, with only the stars above and the distant glow of household lights.

    I continued calmly, "I''m just a stranger now."

    Leander took a deep breath. "Are you still holding a grudge against us?"

    "No," I replied methodically. "I''ve simply moved on to a new life. There''s no need to get entangled with the past anymore."

    Without giving Leander a chance to respond, I hung up and blocked him.

    "Knock, knock, knock."

    Hearing the knocking, I quickly went to open the door.

    Joyce stood there, hugging her bunny plushie, looking up at me with big eyes.

    Reuben, trailing behind her, sighed, "She had some candy, so I had to wake her up for a tooth-brushing session. But then..."

    He massaged his temple. "She insisted on seeing you."

    Joyce looked a bit embarrassed. "My ssmates all say that their moms apany them while brushing their teeth."

    Her voice trailed off. "But my mom... hasn''t."

    It was such a small wish that I was naturally inclined to fulfill. "So, do you want to brush your teeth in my bathroom or your bedroom?" Joyce''s eyes lit up instantly. "In Mommy''s!"

    She then hurriedly handed me her bunny, dashed to her room to grab her cup and toothbrush, and rushed back to me.

    Her eyes shone brightly as she looked up at me.

    I casually ced her bunny on a nearby table. "Let''s go."

    Joyce hopped along behind me.

    Kids are so easily satisfied.

    ...

    Joyce was tiny, barely able to see herself in the bathroom mirror as she stood on the stool Reuben had brought for her. After thanking him, she climbed on, gazing at her reflection and sporting a huge smile. "Look, Mommy, my teeth are so white," she proudly showed off her pearly whites.

    I leaned in for a closer look.

    Joyce opened her mouth even wider, wanting to make sure I saw.

    This childlike act brought me joy, and I exaggeratedly gasped, "Wow, they really are!"

    Joyce lifted her chin with pride. "I brush them every day!"

    Her boastful demeanor made me want to pinch her cheeks, but I refrained. "Joyce, you''re doing great."

    Joyce giggled shyly, squeezing a stripe of kid-friendly toothpaste onto her brush, sneaking nces at me.

    Her little thoughts were transparent, but I didn''t want to call her out on them.

    Finally, Joyce couldn''t hold back any longer. "Mommy, can you promise me something?"

    Her voice was cautious as if fearing rejection.

    I didn''t immediately answer. "Hmm?"

    Joyce lowered her voice. "I want to sleep with you tonight."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    She paused her brushing, waiting for my response.

    "Can you make me a promise, too?" I set down my cup, meeting her gaze.

    Joyce eagerly responded, "Tell me!"

    I slowed my speech. "I know you''re not keen on talking to others, and I won''t force you. But starting today, at least try to talk to your dad."

 Chapter 42

    "Can it be just like with me, please?"

    Joyce looked uncertain.

    I dangled a carrot in front of her. "If you agree, then you can sleep in my bedroom tonight."

    Joyce nced at me, then back at the spacious and inviting bedroom.

    She took the plunge. "Okay!"Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    After brushing her teeth, Joyce left her cup and toothbrush in my bathroom. Then, she walked confidently to the bedroom door and reached out to Reuben, saying, "Daddy."

    Reuben froze, incredulous, and even doubted his ears. "Did you just talk to me?"

    Joyce looked past Reuben to me, and despite the struggle, she continued, "Yeah."

    Reuben immediately scooped Joyce up.

    Ever since learning about Joyce''s autism, he had taken her to countless doctors and therapies.

    However, Joyce remained silent.

    Back then, he thought, as long as Joyce could just live a good life, that was enough.

    Then Joyce met Amara. Finally, she started talking to Amara.

    He didn''t press further, feeling content as long as Joyce couldmunicate, even if it wasn''t with him...

    But today... Joyce actually called out to him!

    Reuben felt like he was dreaming. "This is wonderful."

    Joyce could feel Reuben''s excitement and gently patted his back, whispering, "Mom said if I talked to you, she would let me sleep with her tonight."

    Reuben abruptly stopped and looked at me standing at the bedroom door.

    I smiled at him.

    Reuben looked away. "She''s great."

    Joyce proudly dered, "Of course, I picked her as my mom, after all."

    Reuben took Joyce back to her bedroom and set her down.

    Joyce dashed to her closet, grabbed a pajama dress without waiting for Reuben, and ran over to me.

    Reuben followed, his eyes filled with tenderness.

    I asked Joyce with a smile, "So, what do you say to Daddy now?"

    Joyce pondered and replied, "I''m going to bed. Goodnight, Daddy."

    Then she pulled me into the bedroom, closed the door, and handed me the pajama dress. "Mom, help me change."

    "Sure."

    Joyce cooperated, making the change quick and easy. She happily snuggled under the covers, then peeked out with a big grin. "Mom, read me a bedtime story."

    The house had plenty of picture books. I picked one suitable for her age and began reading.

    Whether she was naturally tired or my voice was just that soothing, Joyce fell asleep before I could get through two pages.

    Looking at her innocent sleeping face, I couldn''t resist giving her a kiss.

    Then I whispered softly, "Sweet dreams, baby."

    ...

    I''m an early riser, so the next morning, I got up early, intending to prepare breakfast for Joyce.

    But as I stood at the kitchen doorway, I realized someone was already there making breakfast.

    I turned and walked into the living room.

    "Hungry?" Reuben''s voice came from behind me.

    I shook my head and turned to face him. "I used to be the one who prepared breakfast."

    "That won''t be necessary anymore." Reuben, holding a cup of ck coffee, sat on the couch. "We have a chef and a housekeeper, so besides spending time with Joyce, you can do whatever you''d like with your time." I sat across from him.

    In the past, my days were filled with chores.

    Now, suddenly, I was told I didn''t have to do them, and I was at a loss for what to do with all this free time.

    "Mommy!"

    While I was pondering, I suddenly heard Joyce''s panicked voice. I looked up to see her tearfully running down the stairs.

    I immediately went to her. "What''s wrong?"

 Chapter 43

    Joyce was clearly upset, her voice breaking as she spoke. "I woke up and couldn''t find you. I thought you didn''t want me anymore."

    I took her hand and led her into the living room.

    Joyce sat obediently on the couch, her tears starting to fall uncontrobly.

    I wiped her tears away,forting her softly. "It''s all my fault. I woke up early and wanted to make you breakfast, forgetting that you wouldn''t see me and would get upset." Joyce''s eyes were brimming with tears. "Really?"

    "Of course, it''s true." I coaxed her gently. "So, can we stop crying now, sweetie?"

    Joyce held back her tears and nodded slightly.

    Then, she threw herself into my arms, saying in a muffled voice, "But Mom, getting up early to cook is too tiring. I want you to sleep in more."

    I gently stroked Joyce''s hair. "Joyce, you''re so thoughtful."

    Joyce shyly shed a smile.

    Seeing that Joyce was now calm, I asked, "Shall we go get washed up now?"

    Joyce hopped off the couch. "Let''s go."

    As we reached the staircase, she paused, turned around, and looked at Reuben.

    Reuben was also watching her.

    After a long silence, Joyce finally said, "Dad, good morning."

    Reuben usually had a frosty expression but smiled warmly. He was like a melting cier. "Good morning to you too, Joyce."

    With his response, Joyce took my hand, and we headed upstairs.

    Though only five, she was quite independent. She liked mypany, but she did most things on her own.

    She brushed her teeth, washed her face, and even chose and changed her clothes all by herself.

    Watching her, I realized that her asking for help with her pajamas the night before was just her wanting to be pampered a bit. Once she was dressed, Joyce approached me and asked, "Mom, can you help me do my hair?"

    "Of course."

    Hearing my answer, she dashed to her room, grabbed a box of hair ties, and ran back to me, out of breath.

    I took the box from her, selected two small ties, and started doing her hair.

    Joyce still had her baby cheeks. Once her hair was tied into a cute braid, she looked just like a princess out of a fairy tale.

    She rushed to the bathroom, stepped on a stool, and gazed at herself in the mirror, mouth agape.

    Joyce exaggerated, "Who''s mom are you? You''re so skilled!"Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    She knew how to givepliments and was so considerate.

    I yed along. "Must be Joyce''s mom, I guess."

    Joyce lifted her chin. "I think so, too!"

    Admiring herself wasn''t enough. She pulled me downstairs in a hurry, running to Reuben.

    Reuben looked at her. "Joyce."

    Before he could finish his sentence, Joyce proudly said, "Dad, how did you know my mom did my hair?"

    Reuben was speechless.

    Not satisfied with just showing off to Reuben, she ran to show everyone else.

    As soon as anyoneplimented her, Joyce would lift her little chin and respond, "Right? My mom did my hair. It looks really good." Everyone was stunned.

    After showing off to everyone, she finally settled back in her seat.

    Watching her lively and cheerful demeanor filled me with joy.

    Reuben couldn''t help butugh.

    Joyce, who used to be so quiet, was now eagerly boasting about her mom doing her hair.

    Back at the dining table, Joyce returned to her previous quiet demeanor.

 Chapter 44

    The rest of the family saw that she was opening up and all gathered around to tease her.

    Apart from me and Reuben, Joyce wouldn''t give anyone the time of day.

    I mulled over this as I ate my breakfast.

    If just fixing her hair into a little braid made her so happy, she''d chat up anyone, then maybe, if I did more stuff like that, she''d start talking to others more, too.

    After breakfast, Joyce took my hand and said goodbye to Reuben, who was lounging in the living room. "Daddy, I''m off to school."

    Reuben had nned to head straight to work, but her words made him change his mind on the spot. "I''ll drive you guys."

    Joyce, tilting her head, couldn''t figure out why Reuben suddenly decided to switch gears.

    But Reuben just pulled up the car next to her. "Hop in."

    Joyce was too young to sit in the front, so I joined her in the backseat.

    As Reuben drove, he nced at Joyce through the rearview mirror. "This Saturday and Sunday, I''ll clear my schedule to hang out with you. Got any ce you wanna go?"

    "Yes!" Joyce started counting on her fingers. "My preschool friends all go to the amusement park in their free time! I want to bring Mommy along! So they all see, I have the best Mom in the whole world!" The more Joyce talked, the more her eyes sparkled until she burst into joyfulughter.

    Reuben looked away from the mirror. "One day at the amusement park, and then where to the next?"

    "Hmm..." Joyce thought hard but couldn''te up with a good answer.

    She looked troubled. "Mommy, is there anywhere you''d like to go?"

    I answered, "I''d like to visit the library."

    Joyce made up her mind instantly. "Then we''ll do what Mommy wants!"

    Saying so, she snuggled into my arms and hugged me.

    I hugged her back.

    Maybe it was because she''d been without a father and mother from a young age, Joyce clung to me as if afraid of losing me. Whenever we were together, she stuck to me like glue.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    It was a sign of insecurity.

    I lifted my hand, gently patting her back.

    So, what I needed to do was be even nicer to her until she believed that no matter what happened, I''d never leave her.

    ...

    We arrived at the preschool. I walked Joyce to the gate, reluctant to part with her.

    "Mommy, can you stay for ss with me?" she asked earnestly.

    "I''m an adult," I replied sincerely. "I probably can''t attend preschool."

    Joyce looked a bit downcast. "Okay then."

    I knew she didn''t want to part so soon, so I had to cheer her up. "You focus on your studies, and when you get home, I will y with you, deal?" "Deal."

    With my promise, Joyce finally turned and walked into the preschool.

    I also got ready to leave, but a figure blocked my path.

    It was Nigel, staring straight at me. "From now on, you better act like you didst night. No matter who calls you, don''te pick me up. Only then will Luna believe you truly don''t want me. And then she''ll treat me like her own son!"

 Chapter 45

    Luna had officially be his mother, but it seemed he wanted more - a closer bond with Luna.

    And what was that to me?

    I looked at him with distaste. "Why are you telling me this? Do I know you?"

    Nigel stood there, stunned as if my words had hit him hard.

    I frowned, making no effort to hide my annoyance. "Whatever you want to do to build a rtionship with your mom, just go ahead. That''s your business, not mine. Please, stoping over to tell me about it over and over again. I don''t have the time to waste, got it?" With that, I walked past him, but after a few steps, I turned to address the staff, "I hope you will keep a better watch on your students in the future. Don''t let them bother strangers."

    After dropping that line, I got into my car.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    As Reuben hit the gas and steered onto the road, he gave me a curious look.

    After spending some time together, I had a pretty good read on him. Settling into afortable position, I leaned back.

    "What''s on your mind?" I asked directly.

    "I just think you''re doing great," Reuben said, his voice neutral, eyes back on the road. "Making a choice and sticking to it."

    I chuckled lightly.

    "Got any ns for what''s next?" Reuben asked.

    I shook my head. "Not yet."

    "Do you need me to have someone draw up a n for you?" Reuben felt that Joyce had been doing much better since staying with me. Naturally, he wanted to make sure I was doing well, too. "No, thanks!" I replied quickly.

    He had given me shelter and a job when I was down on my luck, and for that, I was grateful. I didn''t want to impose on him any further.

    I knew that once I wasn''t needed for chores, I''d have a lot of free time. And he probably wanted me to find something to keep me busy.

    So, I smiled and said, "Give me a few days. I should figure out what I like or what kind of career I want to pursue."

    "Alright," Reuben said as he pulled up to the office.

    "You can explore the area and see if there''s anything you want to buy. If you get bored, just call me, and I''ll have the driver take you home." After he went upstairs, I started wandering around the area.

    The office buildings were surrounded by various small shops, mostly restaurants, and a few beverage stores.

    I looked at the signs and the pictures posted at the entrances, trying to guess what each store was about.

    At the same time, I mulled over a few things...

    If I were to start a business, would I want to open shops like these?

    The conclusion was a no.

    First off, running a store required long hours, which would sh with my time with Joyce.

    And secondly,pared to jobs that required interacting with a lot of people, I realized I''d rather find something I could do from home.

    My pace slowed. Even though I hadn''t finished exploring, I was starting to get a clear picture of what I didn''t want to do.

    As for what I was truly interested in...

 Chapter 46

    Chapter

    46

    Zachary stood there dumbfounded, but he instinctively asked, "Why?"

    Jessica used to take him everywhere, so why did things change?

    "Because you''re not a good boy." Jessica sneered. She was an adult, so dealing with a child like him was a piece of cake.

    Looking down at him with cold disdain, she continued, "When you were sick, I didn''t go to the hospital with you because I wasn''t feeling well. Yet you got upset, told your dad, and made him hate me. So, naturally..." Jessica''s voice dripped with malice. "I''m not going to make things easy for you. Got it?"

    Zachary quickly nodded. "I''ll change. From now on, no matter what happens, I won''t tell Daddy, okay?"

    He just wanted Jessica to treat him a little better.

    "It''s toote. "Jessica packed up and left with Cody.

    Zachary tried to follow, but she shoved him hard. He fell onto the floor as the door mmed shut. Once again, he was all alone.

    He stared at the door. He loved Jessica so much. He even helped drive Annalise away just for her, but why was Jessica so cruel to him?

    Willow''s appetite was small, and they had ordered too much pizza. After a few slices, she was full.

    Resting her chin on her hands, she looked at Zane with wide eyes. "When will I be able to eat as much as Daddy?"

    Zane put down his chopsticks and gave her a speechless look. I could tell Zane was getting full, too, so I suggested, "Should we get the leftovers to-go?"

    Willow immediately raised her tiny hand in agreement. "Yes!"

    She added, "That way, I can try the other vors when we get home."

    Zane waved over to the walter. "Could we get these packed to go?"

    The walter quickly gathered the leftover pizza into boxes and handed them over in a bag. Zane reached out to take the bag and was ready to leave. But Willow stopped him, snatched the bag, and handed it to me. She then winked mischievously at me. I couldn''t help butugh at her yful expression.

    Zane looked shocked. Was Willow actually being considerate and not wanting him to carry something heavy?

    He was touched. When he was about to express his gratitude seriously, Willow opened her arms wide and announced, "Daddy, it''s time to go to the amusement park!

    Zane was speechless. Willow was worried that making me carry her would tire her out, so she gave me the pizza to carry instead.

    Zane''s heart sarik a little, but he obediently picked up Willow. She buried her face in Zane''s shoulder, giggling as sheforted him, " Didn''t Daddy say Mommy shouldn''t be too tired because she is not feeling well?" Zane agreed. "That''s right."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    It was only then that Willow waved at me. I quickly stepped forward, and she snatched the pizza trom my hands and handed it to Zane. She spoke in an admiring for

    "Daddy is so strong! Carrying a little more won''t tire him at all"

    Zane took the bag with a sigh. "Should I thank you?

    His tone was resigned, but his eyes were full of indulgence for Willow. Watching them, I suddenly realized something

    Raising a child with Zane was different. He noticed my efforts and acknowledged that my health wasn''t the best. He made sure overburden me. But in my previous marriage, no matter how much I did or how many sacrifices I made, neither Steven not Zachary

    I followed behind them. At that moment, I felt deeply grateful that I had escaped such an unhealthy rtionship. Although Zane wasn''t my husband, and Willow wasn''t any biological daughter, spending time with them made me understand what a healthy par child rtionsh

 Chapter 47

    Today, Willow wanted to enjoy some family

    family time with just the three of us. She specifically asked the driver not toe along. Zane was driving, and I sat in the back with Willow.

    She leaned affectionately against me, fiddling with my clothes. I gently patted her shoulder, pondering about how to ask her to start talking to people other than Zane and me. After hesitating for a while, I carefully said, "Willow, would you be willing to help Mommy with something?"

    Willow immediately sat up, her eyes sparkling with eagerness, "What is it?"

    It seemed like she was excited to help me with something. I slowed my speech. "Could you try talking to other people?"

    Willow straightened her posture, her little face turning serious. I didn''t interrupt her, giving her the time to think it over.

    "Mommy..." Willow looked troubled, her head hanging low. "I don''t think I can do it."

    Her tone was apologetic, as if she had done something wrong. I couldn''t bear to me her for it. Besides, she hadn''t actually done anything wrong.

    1 patiently reassured her. "It''s okay."

    Willow looked at me in disbelief. I continued to ask, "So you''re saying it''s hard to talk to everyone?"

    Willow nodded. "Yes."

    1 pressed on, "What if it''s just your grandparents?"

    Willow shook her head again. "I can''t."

    She exined further, "I can only talk normally with you and Daddy. With other people, it''s like my mouth is sewn shut. I just can''t open it."

    Tunderstood. Asking Willow to startmunicating with others wasn''t going to work, but that was fine.

    I could think of other ways.

    Willow nervously asked, "Do you think I''m not a good kid, Mommy?" Her tone sounded so sad, as if she was afraid I wouldn''t like her anymore.

    "Of course not." I pressed my cheek against her little head.

    "Everyone has things they can''t do, no matter how hard they try. The fact that you''re honest about it makes you very brave."

    Willow''s face brightened. "Really?"

    I loved seeing her being lively. "Sure."

    When the delivery finally arrived, Zachary had to use all his strength just to open the door. He had been so hungry at first, but his appetite seemed to have disappeared.

    Jessica had ordered breakfast for him. It was a few egg sandwiches and a bowl of chicken noodle soup. He took a sip of the soup, and it

    was warm.

    Tears started falling uncontrobly. All his life, Zachary had been the most pampered kid in the family. Someone would always be there with him no matter what time they ate. This was the first time he was eating alone. Zachary felt worse. Tears mixed with his soup as he finished it. Yet, he couldn''t bring himself to finish the sandwiches.

    Hey listlessly on the couch. He tried hard to recall

    her to Steven

    fessica used to be so kind to him. But in the past couple of days, it felt like she suddenly despised him. She said it was because he toldMaterial ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    But even before that, Jessica had stopped picking him real reason?

    up from school, She also didn''t take him to y anymore. So, what was the

 Chapter 48

    Chapter

    48

    Zachary couldn''t figure it out. He had a vague feeling that everything had changed since Annalise''s and Steven''s divorce.

    Feeling down, he went back to his room and grabbed his tablet. As soon as he opened his Instagram, he saw that Jessica had posted something He clicked in to take a look.

    It was a photo of Jessica holding Cody, both of them beaming with joy. They were clearly having a great time at the amusement park.

    Tears welled up in Zachary''s eyes again. He wanted to screenshot the photo and send it to Steven, but before he could, the photo disappeared

    y with work that he rarely had time to take Willow out to y.

    The amusement park was packed with kids. Zane had been so busy w

    When she saw all the different rides and attractions, her eyes lit up. She grabbed my hand and eagerly bounced around, looking at everything

    She finally chose a small yground and turned to Zane. "Daddy, I want to y here!"

    Zane paid for the tickets, and 1 apanied Willow inside.

    Perhaps he wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. He followed us in as well.

    Although Willow still wasn''tfortable talking to others, she loved having me by her side in public. It made her feel like everyone would know she had a mommy now "Mommy!" Willow said, clearly wanting to try everything but worried about tiring me out.

    She snuggled into my arms and said, "You can just wait here. I''ll go y by myself."

    I understood she was trying to be considerate, so I smiled and nodded. "Okay."

    Willow headed for the slide. We had one at home, but ying in a crowded ce seemed to bring her extra joy. She climbed up and slid down right away.

    I watched her from below.

    She squealed in delight, ran over to me, and gave me a quick loss on the cheek. "Mommy, I''m going to y again!"

    It was rare for her to have so much fun. So, of course, I wasn''t going to stop her.

    I smiled and nodded. "Go ahead."

    Willow ran off again..

    "She hasn''t said a word to me..." Zane looked at her and said.

    I turned to look at him.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    He shifted his gaze away from Willow and added, "I''m the dad who raised her since she was little."

    Even if she liked Annalise, it couldn''t possibly be more than she liked him, right?

    "It''s just because we''ve only just started spending time together, and she is scared I''ll leave her. That''s why she has been clinging to me more," exined. Zane didn''t quite agree. "But usually, kids prefer their moms when they''re young"

    "Is that so?" I asked, although my attention remained on Willow.

    She looked so adorable and was having such a great time. Nearby, some other kids seemed eager to y with her. They gathered around, saying something to her that I couldn''t quite hear. Willow''s smile vanished in an instant. She didn''t respond to them and continued ying on her own. She still wasn''tfortable talking to others, not even kids her age.

    I could understand how Zane must have felt. The little girl who used to be closest to him was suddenly bonding with someone else, and naturally, that wasn''t easy to ept

    I smiled and tried to console him, "B

    "But by blood, she''s still closest to you.

    Zane nodded. "That''s true."

    I couldn''t help

    p but find this powerful, business-savvy man a little endearing in moments like these.

    "Mommy!" Willow came running over, wrapping her arms around my waist.

    "Can we go y somewhere else?"

    Her chubby little face was filled with impatience. I lifted her onto myp.

    501

    She had been having so much fun. Why did she suddenly want to leave?

    Willow pouted in irritation. "I was having fun. But then this kid came over and started saying mean things about you.

 Chapter 49

    "I don''t like that," Willow said.

    As Willow spoke, I looked up and saw Jessica''s son standing on the slide, staring at me.

    His gazecked the cordiality of a friend''s and instead held an unsettling maturity that didn''t match his age. At that moment, he looked at me with pure disgust.

    I had initially wanted to keep my distance from them. Aside from wanting to gather evidence to expose Jessica''s true nature, I had no desire to contact them again. Yet they hade right up to me.

    Perhaps it was because I had always endured their provocations and bullying in the past that they thought I was easy to push around. Now, they had even bullied Willow. If I didn''t fight back, they would likely continue to push their luck.

    Imasked my cold expression and gently said to Willow, "But if you run away when others are bullying you, they''ll just double down on bullying you. Do you understand, Willow?"

    Willow obviously didn''t understand. She looked at Zane and asked, "Daddy, is that so?"

    Zane nodded. "Exactly."Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    Cody got off the slide and was about to climb up to continue ying when I grabbed his arm. Upon seeing me, he showed no effort to hide his disgust. But I ignored him and asked, "What did you just say to my daughter?" He looked surprised. "She can''t talk, can she?"

    It seemed he hadn''t expected Willow to tell on him. I suppressed my anger and said, "I''m sorry to tell you that not only can she speak, but she repeated everything you just said word for word."

    After all, he was just a kid. Upon seeing my serious expression, he panicked and shouted, "Mommy, save me! Annalise is bullying me!" Jessica, who was far away, finally noticed what was happening. She put down her phone and walked over. "How old are you to be bullyin I retorted, "If your son hadn''t said such nonsense to my daughter, I wouldn''t even care about anything he does!"

    Jessica immediately tried to downy it. "It''s normal for kids to have some conflicts-"

    I wasn''t about to give her that opportunity. "Apologize!"

    Jessica clearly didn''t expect my response. "What?"

    "Ask your son to apologize to my daughter!" 1 stated firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.

    When a child hadn''t done anything wrong, the parent must stand by them. Otherwise, they might feel that their parents would rather

    let them suffer than defend them. In the future, they wouldn''t tell their parents about any issues they faced.

    Seeing my strong stance, Jessica started to act unreasonably. "What if I refuse?"

    She even took two steps closer, challenging me, "What are you going to do about it?

    Thad just nced around and noticed Zachary wasn''t there. So, I had a way to solve the problem. "Now you are Zachary''s mom, and you should be taking care of him over the weekend, right? Jessica was stumped by my question. 1 asked with a smile, "But where is Zachary?"

    Her eyes darted away. "He is ying another game."

    "That''s impossible." Zachary was my

    like

    I replied, "If he hade out with you, he would definitely be right by your side. But he isn''t, which clearly means you didn''t take him

    and I raised him. Although he did to

    myself to know him well.

    My voice grew colder. "I''m putting this out there. If there''s no apology, I''ll tell Steven about this. If he finds out yo beloved son, what do you think will happen to you? you neglected hus

 Chapter 50

    I spoke slowly and clearly, "Jessica, you should know very well."

    Alter Casper went bankrupt, Jessica abandoned him without hesitation. She would rather be a mistress just to stay with Steven. This showed she couldn''t bear to live without money. y man to support her. Other men might not

    If Steven truly didn''t want her anymore, she would have to struggle to find another wealthy

    care for her as Steven did, nor would they want to build a life with her.

    That was why Jessica would do everything possible to stay by his side.

    "Annalise!" Jessica didn''t expect me to threaten her, and her face turned grim.

    I calmly urged, "I don''t have much time"

    Jessica gritted her teeth just as I was about to turn and leave, she blurted, "I''m sorry."

    I turned back "Whoever did wrong should apologize, right?"

    Jessica harbored a deep resentment toward me. But for her and her son''s future, she had no choice but to endure. She dragged her son forward. "Apologize to this little girl!"

    Her son refused to speak. Seeing that I was about to leave with Willow, Jessica pped her son twice and said, "Are you ignoring my words, too?"

    He immediately started crying. "I''m sorry! I shouldn''t have said those things!"

    I knelt down and looked at Willow. "Do you ept his apology?"

    Willow shook her head. She then hugged me tightly without saying a word. I stood up, gently patting her back tofort her. "Let''s go

    then."

    Jessica was clearly protective of her child. "Does your daughter not even know how to say it''s okay?"

    "Your son was the one who said something inappropriate to my daughter first."

    I held Willow in my arms. "He is supposed to apologize since he has done something wrong. As for my daughter..."

    I looked at Willow. She had her arms wrapped around my neck and didn''t even dare to meet my gaze.

    "She can choose to forgive him or not. That''s her right." With that, I walked away with Willow in my arms.

    Zane followed behind us.

    "Mommy..."We had walked quite a distance before Willow finally spoke.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    She had always been considerate of me. Usually, she didn''t want me to carry her for too long, worried that I would get tired. But this time, she didn''t let go of me.

    a

    I wasn''t in a hurry to put her down. Upon hearing her voice, I patiently asked, "What''s wrong?"

    "I love you so much," Willow spoke softly, hiding her face shyly against my neck. "Being with you makes me feel so happy."

    When others targeted her and did bad things, I would stand up for her and make those people say sorry. This was a feeling she had never experienced before.

    I chuckled softly. "Is that so

    Willow rubbed her face gently against my neck. "Yes."

    Leaving the small yground, Willow suddenly found that the amusement park wasn''t so fun anymore.

    Initially, she had wanted to show off that she had a great mommy. But there were always unpleasant people around, saying rude things and annoying her. So she decided to go home and spend some rare, happy time with Zane and me. At noon, Zachary was home alone. He grew hungry and ate all the leftover sandwiches from the morning while crying.

    Usually, when I was around, his meals would always be hot. But now, he could only eat cold food.

    The door swung open. Zachary ran to the entrance excitedly and shouted, "Daddy,y having a miserable time at home?" you''re back.. Do you

    know

    ww your precious son is

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    Before Zachary could finish speaking, Jessica stormed in furiously.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    r mom got my son hit, so

    The moment she saw Zachary, her anger bolled over. She marched up and pped him across the face. "Your I''m hitting you

    Zachary, who had just managed to stop crying, burst into tears again. Jessica ignored him and went straight to the kitchen. Only after seeing that the chicken noodle soup was still warm in the pot did she return to the living room. She tidied up all the sandwich wrappers Zachary had left behind and handed them to Cody. "Throw these out," she said.

    son? She was going Cody obediently grabbed the wrappers and ran out. Staring at the scene, Zachary was confused about why she was doing this

    Jessica shot a nce at him. Didn''t he love toin about her to Steven? And didn''t Steven dote on his precious to sabotage their father-son bond bit by bit.

    She longed for the day when Zachary would tell the truth and Steven would no longer believe a word he said. Jessica waved to Cody as he returned. He immediately came to her side.

    just don''te out, okay?"

    She leaned down and told him, "Cody, go back to your roomter. No matter what happens, just

    Cody nodded and replied, "Okay, Mommy.''

    Jessica patted his shoulder, "Good boy. Go now,"

    After hearing the door close, Jessica began working up her emotions.

    Zachary watched, pazzled. He didn''t know what she was nning to do next.

    "Daddy!" Willow was already hungry when she had just reached home. She immediately stood in front of Zane.

    Zane saw her expression and knew she had a request. "Yes?"

    Willow''s eyes sparkled. "We can start cooking the steak now!"

    Zane smiled indulgently. "Sure. Let''s see how well Daddy does."

    Willow followed him to the fridge. From the living room, I asked, "Do you need help with any of the ingredients?"

    Upon hearing my question, Willow turned her head, confused.

    Zane answered, "Some sides still need prepping."

    I walked over to them "Alright, I''ll help with those since I''m free anyway."

    Willow looked a little confused. "But shouldn''t we be resting if Daddy is coolding?"

    "Well, when ites to housework, it''s not fair to leave all the work to just one person, right?

    lexined gently, "If we make Daddy do everything, wouldn''t he get too tired?"

    Willow looked at Zane. He didn''t respond, simply pulling ingredients from the fridge. She then looked back at me. I just smiled at her.

    After pondering for a moment, Willow came over to me "1 guess it would be tiring.

    She sat down on her little stool and seriously said to me, "I''ll help you, Monumy. Otherwise, you''ll get tired too."

    I smiled and said, "You''re such a good girl, Willow, for helping Mommy with the work."

    Willow smiled sweetly, clearly enjoying the praise. My heart melted.

    Zane just shook his head, handing me a basket of ingredients. I took it and patiently showed Willow how to prepare each one.

    But Willow was still just a little kid. It didn''t take long before she got tired. She looked at me pitifully.

    I didn''t push her "Go and take a rent."

    She immediately got up but only took a couple of steps before turning back to me.

    "Wait! If I''m tired after doing just a little, that means Mommy has to do the rest... And Mommy will be even mo

    more tired!"

    When Steven came home, the first thing he heard was Jessica crying. He looked over. Jessica immediately rushed over to him "Steven, Zachary is just so difficult to handle..."

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    Zachary stated in disbelief at Jessica. He had been surviving on takeout and cold egg sandwiches, yet she still imed he was difficult to handle Steven nced at Zachary before softlyforting Jessica, "What''s wrong?"

    "isn''t Zachary supposed to have a sensitive stomach? Jessica leaned her head against Steven''s shoulder, worried about being exposed.

    "I woke up early to make him chicken noodle soup, but he refused to eat it."

    Zachary was so furious he almost burst into tears. "You''re lying!"

    She hadn''t made him anything. In the morning, she ordered him takeout.

    Steven pushed Jessica aside. He walked over to the couch, signaling for Zachary toe over.

    "Come here, tell Daddy what you had for breakfast"

    Zachary felt even more wronged when he saw Steven. He couldn''t hold it in any longer and recounted everything that had happened

    the tears from falling- that morning By the end, he couldn''t

    "She went out without me, and when she came back, she hit me.''

    Steven didn''t respond immediately. Instead, he turned to Jessica. "Do you have anything to exin?

    Jessica bit her lip. "Don''t you trust me, Steven? If I didn''t care about him, why would I go through the trouble of bing his mother? I could''ve just chosen not to marry you."

    Seeing Steven''s doubtful expression, Jessica tugged him toward the kitchen.

    "ording to Zachary, I didn''t make him any soup. So what''s this in the pot?"

    Steven saw the pot of soup, which was still steaming. His suspicious gaze shifted toward Zachary. Jessica smirked at Zachary. Did he really think he could outsmart her? What a ridiculous thought! She added, "Didn''t he say he ordered takeout? Shouldn''t there be takeout can in the house has any takeout boxes."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    1900

    It was only now that Zachary understood why Jessica had been so eager to clean up his leftovers and even had Cody throw them away. She had been setting him up all along Steven stepped forward and took Zachary''s hand, leading him aside.

    "Zachary, I know that Jessica might have neglected you a bit in the past, but she has changed. Look, she even got up early today to. make you soup. You should be grateful, right?"

    Seeing how Steven was defending Jessica, Zachary was so upset he was on the verge of tears. "Daddy, that''s not what happened...". Steven grew stem as Zachary wouldn''t listen to him. "Are you still lying?" Zachary exined, "I didn''t...".

    Zachary''s protests made Steven take a deep breath. "Go to your room and reflect. You cane out and apologize to Mommy Jessica when you realize your mistake."

    "No way!" Zachary red at Steven in fury.

    Jessica was bullying him, and now even Steven was taking her side and didn''t believe him at all. He would never love them again!

    Zachary furiously pushed Steven away, storming into his room and mming the door behind him. After Zachary left, Jessica shed a few tears.

    "Steven, it seems Zachary still doesn''t like me. Maybe I should just take Cody and leave... I can''t stand seeing you and Zachary fight because of me."

    Seeing her cry, Stevenforted her tenderly, "He is just being difficult. I''ll make sure he listens to you from now on."

    "Thank you, Steven." Jessica''s mood improved significantly now that her n had seeded. She sat beside Steven, his arm casually draped over her shoulder.

    Feeling nonchnce, Jessica asked, "Have you heard anything about Annalise since the divorce?"

    "Annalise?" Steven replied with disdain. "No, why?"

    When we divorced, Steven offered me a job. But when I declined, he hasn''t bothered to follow up on anything rted to me since. It surprised him that Jessica would even bring me up now.

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    he got married to someone else..."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Jessica tentatively said, "It seems like she

    Steven didn''t believe her at all. "That''s impossible!"

    Everyone knew how much I loved him. I even gave up my career to marry him. Throughout our entire marriage, I had never singleint.

    ruttered a

    Even after our separation, I should still be holding onto feelings for him. How could I possibly marry someone else? In Steven''s heart, he was convinced Jessica was just testing him. Jessica added, "I know the girl who calls Annalise "Mommy." She is Zachary''s ssmate

    Steven stared straight at Jessica

    "If you don''t believe me, you cane with me on Monday when I drop off Zachary," Jessica said.

    Steven was about to decline. But after thinking it over, he nodded. "Fine. I''ll go with you and see for myself."

    With all the side dishes ready, it was Zane''s turn to take the stage. He first asked about everyone''s preferences, "Willow, how do you like your steak cooked?"

    Willow excitedly responded, "Well done!"

    Zane turned to me next. "And you?"

    I politely replied, "Same as Willow."

    "Got IL"

    Zane gently nudged Willow, who was clinging to his side, out of the kitchen. "Go wait in the living room like a good giti, okay?"

    Willow''s eyes lingered on the kitchen as she reluctantly agreed, "Alright."

    ""Willow." I waved at her.

    She nced between Zane and me. With a hesitant step, she came to my side and asked, "Mommy, what is it?"

    I slowed my speech. "You have textbooks now, right?"

    Willow nodded. "Yeah!"

    I suggested, "Why don''t you bring them over? I can

    ? little characters for you"

    She quickly dashed to her room, returning with her backpack and handing me her pencil case. Sheid her head on the desk and said to me, "Draw Daddy, Mommy, and me!" She couldn''t hold back herughter as she added, "And write "A happy family" underneath!"

    "Sure." I started drawing ording to her request. I drew Willow in the middle, with Zane and me on either side.

    Once I finished one book, Willow eagerly handed me the rest. As I continued drawing, she asked, "Mommy, can I change my hair color?

    Kids loved to experiment, so I readily agreed, "Of course."

    In every drawing, Willow''s expression varied-sometimes smiling, sometimesughing out loud-but all of them showed her full of joy. When I finished, I handed her the books.

    As she flipped through them, she eximed, "Mommy, you''re amazing!"

    I ruffled her hair with a smile. "Of course! But can Mommy see the drawings you changed?"

    Willow handed me her modified artwork. When I looked, I noticed she had changed her hair to pink. Even her clothes were all pink.

    Willow snuck a nce at me, asking cautiously, "Mommy, does it look good?"

    "It''s beautiful. You look like a little princess!" 1 assured 1

    ther

    She was at that age where she adored pink, so it was no surprise that she wanted everything in her favorite color. Willow couldn''t contain her happiness, covering her mouth with a giggle. It was clear mypliment had made her day. "Dinner is ready!" Zane announced as he brought the cooked steaks to the table.

    Willow immediately grabbed her artwork and excitedly showed it to him. "Daddy, look!"

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    Chapter

    54

    Zane picked up the artwork and examined it thoughtfully.

    Willow watched him eagerly. "So, what do you think?"

    Zane went quiet. His taste didn''t quite stretch to appreciating an entirely pink piece. But when he saw Willow''s hopeful look, he hesitated for a long while before finally nodding. "It''s nice," he said.

    Happy with his response, Willow packed her books into her backpack, making sure not to leave anything behind. She double-checked before finally zipping it up.

    Then, Willow took a seat and enjoyed the steak Zane had cooked for her. The well-done steak was tender and juicy. After taking a bite, she couldn''t help but exim, "Daddy, you always make the best food!" "Thanks," Zane replied, happy to hear herpliment.

    Willow saw that I hadn''t tried my steak yet and quickly encouraged me, "Mommy, you should give it a taste!"

    Even though she was just a little girl, she loved sharing with others, whether it was delicious food or her joy, I cut a piece and took a bite while she watched closely. Then, I turned to her, my eyes wide in surprise. "Wow, this is really good!" Willow''s happiness grew with my approval, and the meal somehow tasted even better.

    After returning to his room, Zachary stayed inside even though it was already dinner time. Steven felt at a loss. Worried that Zachary might be hungry, he gently knocked on the door. "Zachary,e on out for dinner." "No," Zachary replied, still angry. "You only trust Mommy Jessie, not me, You''re not a good dad at all!"

    Steven felt helpless, He wanted to believe Zachary, but the evidence was clear. Jessica had treated Zachary well. He just wasn''t ready to ept that.

    Concerned that Zachary was starving, Steven reassured him. "I trust you."

    "Really? Zachary opened the door and gave Steven a hopeful look.

    Steven nodded. "Let''s grab a bite."

    Zachary wiped away his tears and grabbed Steven''s hand. "You need to set her straight so she doesn''t use me like this again."

    His voice softened as he added, "If she could just treat me a bit better, I could still see her as my real mom." Zachary loved Jessica so much that he was willing to give her another chance, even after getting hurt

    Steven picked Zachary up and held him in his arms. Zachary''s eyes were red from crying, looking like a little bunny''s. They stopped before Jessica''s door, and Steven raised his hand to knock ""Jessica," he called

    Jessica opened the door with a smile at the sound of Steven''s voice. She had thought he''de by himself, but he brought Zachary

    along

    Her smile faded immediately. "What''s wrong?"

    Steven nced away, feeling ufortable. "You need to apologize to Zachary. Otherwise, he''ll just stay holed up in his room and won''t eat anything."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    "s line if you don''t want t

    apologize," Zachary murmured.

    Steven nced down at him. Zachary''s voice lowered even further. "Mommy Jessie, all I need is for you to promise to treat me like your own son from now on. That''s what matters

    Jessica was about to tell Zachary to quit dreaming but realized Steven After everything that happened this time, she understood just how much Zachary meant to Steven Zachary was his only son, after all. was around. She took a deep breath to steady herself.

 Chapter 55

    Jessica knew Steven would always have Zachary''s back regardless of his mistakes. Her mind was racing. She reminded herself to slow down and be patient.

    At first, Steven might spoil Zachary a little, but sooner orter, he''d likely get tired of Zachary. Jessica was sure she couldn''t change her ns.

    She yfully pinched Zachary''s cheek and said gently, "I promise I''ll treat you just like Cody from now on, deal?"

    Zachary nodded eagerly. "Deal!"

    Steven patted Jessica''s hand, telling her to hang on. Then, he set Zachary down from his arms. "Go grab some dinner."

    Zachary joyfully sprinted to the living room.

    Jessica nced at Steven before turning to head into the bedroom

    "Jessica " Steven closed the door and wrapped her in a hug from behind. "Kids don''t really understand. Please don''t hold it against him."

    Jessica scoffed. "It''s obviously his fault-

    "But can you stand to see him go hungry?" Steven''s voice was gentle.

    Jessica stayed quiet.

    Steven continued, "I get that this has been hard on you, so just let me

    let me know what you need, and I''ll handle it."

    "I want to hire a nanny and a driver," Jessica said, turning to him. "I''m pregnant and can''t do it all by myself."

    "Sure," Steven replied affectionately.

    Jessica wrapped her arms around his neck. "And we need a bigger house."

    "Sure, I''ll go with what you say." Steven was always keen to make her happy.

    Willow didn''t feel the urge to impress her ssmates anymore. After waking from her afternoon nap, she hung out with Zane and me like family. Then, we decided to check out the bookstore. brings you here?"

    We were just about to walk in when someone called out my name. "Annalise, what b

    I turned at the familiar voice and saw Steven helping Jessica as they slowly walked toward us.

    I looked away, brushed him off, and took Willow''s hand instead. "We don''t have to worry about someone we don''t know."

    Steven heard that. He quickly left Jessica and hurried over to me. "Don''t you want to exin? Who are they?"

    Willow clung to my leg, trembling with fear..Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.

    Thad promised Zane I wouldn''t let my family problems affect her, so I crouched and suggested, "Why don''t you go upstairs with Daddy for a bit and do some reading?"

    Even though Willow was scared, she stood before me and said, "No, Mommy. I want to protect you!"

    Her words warmed my heart. It didn''t matter that Willow wasn''t my biological daughter. She was determined to protect me even in times like this. I felt so grateful to have such an incredible daughter. But I didn''t wa

    her to get involved in adult problems. I spoke to her patiently, "Willow, trust me, I''ve got this."

    Willow shot a wary re at Steven, her voice barely above a whisper as it she were scared of being left behind. "Will you still be my moramy when you''re done talking to him?" Istroked her head. "Ofill-

    Only then did Willow walk over to Zane

    Zane nced at me, then at Steven, his tone as t as ever. "Just let me know if you need any help. We''ll be close by." It was clear he was on my side

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    Zane and I weren''t close. We only knew each other because of Willow, so I appreciated him looking out for me.

    "Thanks," I said.

    "No problem," Zane replied, guiding Willow into the bookstore.

    They plopped down on a nearby couch. They couldn''t hear what was happening over here but could still keep an eye on me.

    I turned to Steven. "Mr. Pelham, we''re divorced. Do I have to tell you every time I stop by a bookstore?"

    Steven was at a loss for words. I added, "About my rtionship with them...".

    Steven stared at me, eagerly waiting for an answer. I continued slowly, "I never cared about you and Jessica. So it''s natural that my life isn''t your business, right?

    "To put it nicely, we''re just strangers now. I don''t understand why you think you have the right to ask about my life."

    Steven was getting more and more frustrated. I felt confused, wondering what he truly cared about.

    He took a deep breath. "We''re married-"

    "Stop!" I interrupted, even though I was unsure where he was going with this. "That''s all in the past.

    Steven looked surprised by my determination. "But you can''t seriously marry some random guy just to get back at me, right?"

    "Get back at you?" I thought it was hrious. "What makes you think you deserve that?"

    "It''s because you were so into me!" Steven replied without a second thought.

    He knew how much effort I''d put in over the years, even if he didn''t love me back. He knew I valued him above everything else, so he figured I''d still be caught up in him even if I managed to walk away. Steven believed

    I was intentionally hanging out with Willow and Zane to irritate him because I couldn''t stand watching his old me with Jessica reignite.

    I was speechless. I was definitely into him and wasn''t going to deny it.

    "That''s behind me now. I''ve moved on from that rtionship and started fresh. I''m happy these days, and I hope you won''t bother me again," I said.

    I didn''t want to waste more time on him, so I went past him to look for Willow instead.

    Yet, Steven blocked my path. "No way...

    I looked up and met his eyes. "I''ve been with you all these years as your husband. I can''t just sit back and let you make a mistake without stepping in," he said.

    I wondered if the "mistake" he was talking about was that I had another daughter after we split up. He thought Zane was my husband, even though he never said it. But I was too exhausted

    to exin it to him.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "Steven, I''m divorced and single now," I emphasized each word.

    Honestly, I was just making a living as Willow''s mother. But even if I did have a husband and kids, it wasn''t his ce to judge me. I continued, "I have the right to build my own family. And as for what you call a mistake, maybe you should look in the mirror." "You couldn''t keep it together during our marriage, and you took Zachary along to butter up Jessica. So, what gives you the right to call

 Chapter 57

    With that, I headed straight into the bookstore to look for Willow. The moment Willow spotted me, she leaped into my arms and happily eximed, "Mommy!"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    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.

    Steven clearly didn''t buy what I said. "She must have hired someone to y 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 imed? 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''de 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 eximed, "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?"

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    Zane passed the book he was holding to the cashier.

    I held Willow''s books and her hand, standing nearby as we waited. "You know, it just hit me that I haven''t given Willow anything since I met her. So these books are my gift for her."

    Zane didn''t say a word. After paying, he took the books from my hands and headed to the car. Even though Willow couldn''t read yet, she was curious about what was inside the books. She excitedly urged, "Daddy, let''s go home and read!"

    "Sure." Once we buckled our seatbelts, Zane quickly started the car and drove off.

    Steven had grabbed the books the kids needed from a different bookstore. As he headed to his parents'' ce, a thought crossed his mind, and he turned to look at Jessica

    Jessica noticed his gaze and raised an eyebrow. "What''s going on? Is something up?"

    "You said Annalise takes that little girl to kindergarten every day now, right?" Steven asked, deep in thought.

    Jessica nodded. "Yeah."

    Steven looked away. "Got it."

    Jessica thought he was finished when he surprised her by saying, "T''ll take Zachary to school on Monday morning"

    She perked up right away. "You want to see Annalise?

    "No way." Steven shot back without missing a beat. "I''m done with her, so why would I want to see her?"

    "Then why do you suddenly want to take Zachary?" Jessica asked.

    Since she and Steven got together, she''d been the one driving the kids to and fro school. So when Steven suddenly offered to take Zachary, it was no surprise that she was overthinking things. "She was my

    wife once..." Steven paused to take a deep breath. "I can''t just stand by and watch her go down the wrong path, right?" Jessica stayed silent. Steven added, "But if I try to help her and she ignores me, then whatever happens next is on her." Jessica finally eased up. "Yeah,

    Steven finally felt a weight lift when he saw that she understood him. He gently patted her hand before turning his gaze back ahead. When we got home, Willow set up a bunch of snacks and a fruit tter, though I was the one who washed the fruit. Zane had the job of cutt She spread a small cloth on the carpet,id out the food, and then pointed to a spot next to it. "Mommy, you sit here."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    I walked over and sat where Willow pointed. She snuggled beside me, pulled out a picture book, and asked me to read to her.

    Zane was supposed to be working upstairs but brought hisptop to the living room Maybe he couldn''t resist the peaceful vibe down here. He worked while keeping an eye on Willow.

    Theld the picture book and read stories to Willow while she happily munchied away and listened. Worried that I might strain my throat, she kindly held a piece of watermelon to my lips. "Mommy, open up!

    I smiled and took a bite, giving her a big hug "Thanks, Willow."

    "You''re wee," Willow replied sweetly.

    Time slipped aw

    in the peaceful atmosphere, and night had fallen before we knew it

    After freshening up, Willow looked at her backpack with a worried expression. She needed to take it to school tomorrow

    "Willow, what''s bothering you? Lasked. It was unusual to see her

    Inveldert. I was already aware of that Zane told me she had autism

    "Meaniny, I only talk when I''m with you or Daddy"

    upert

 Chapter 59

    Zane and I were d that Willow could talk to us.

    "And then?" I asked.

    Willow pouted, Inoking disappointed. "Mommy, how do I tell my ssmates that you made all those amazing drawings for me?"

    She wanted to show off but just didn''t know how.

    "What if you wrote in the book that I drew these pictures?" I suggested.

    Willow frowned even more. "I can''t write, and they probably can''t read, either!"

    I was taken aback. She had a point. Kindergartens these days didn''t emphasize teaching reading and writing. We needed toe up with a different solution. "Why not ask Daddy? He might have some ideas," I said.

    "Okay." Willow still looked pretty down. It seemed she didn''t have much hope for Zane either. She shuffled over to the bedroom door

    and knocked.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    "Come in," Zane called out. His tone was cold, like a strict boss.

    I nced at Willow, who slowly opened the door, walked over to Zane, and shared her problem.

    Zane thought briefly before carefully suggesting, "What if we get a small speaker? You could record your message and let it y on a loop"

    Willow''s face lit up right away, "That''s perfect, Daddy!"

    She wrapped her arms around Zane''s arm and said, "Daddy, you''re awesome! Let''s go get one right now!"

    Without waiting for Zane to say no, she started tugging him downstairs. I followed right behind them.

    Zane couldn''t help but smile at Willow''s excitement. "We can ask someone to help us buy it."

    Willow tilted her head, looking at Zane with curiosity. He pulled out his phone, quickly ced the order, andpleted the payment. Someone epted it almost right away. "Wow!" Willow''s jaw dropped in amazement.

    Zane softly ruffled her hair. "I''ll set it up for youter. I still have some work to finish, so why don''t you head to bed first?"

    With her problem solved, Willow happily returned to her room, took off her little slippers, and climbed into bed. I sat beside her and read a bedtime story

    Kids like her didn''t have many worries. Before I could finish the short story, she was already breathing steadily. It looked like she had fallen asleep.

    I watched her peaceful face, her round cheeks were rosy and fair. She looked absolutely adorable. I couldn''t help but lean over and kiss. her cheek. "Goodnight, sweetheart."

    After we spent some time getting to know each other, she realized that I truly loved her and wasn''t going anywhere. She grew more confident and starteding to me directly when she had issues. It felt amazing.

    I switched off the light and quietly closed the door. I was about to return to my room when I spotted Zane standing at the study door. "Do you mind if we talk?" he asked.

    I didn''t talk to him much. Most of our conversations were about Willow. So, if he was looking for me, it probably had to do with her.

    I was aware of this, so I smiled and said, "Of course not. Let''s talk"

    Instead of heading to the brightly lit living room this time, we stepped out onto the balcony on the second floor. The night breeze brushed against us gently, carrying a refreshing, chill that felt nice. Zane besitated for a bit before finally asking "How long were you married to your ex-husband?

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    Chapter

    60

    I leaned over the railing, staring into the distance. The night was pitch ck, with only the lights from countless homes flickering

    the dark.

    I didn''t see that questioning from Zane. I turned to him, surprised. "Give me a second to think. We got married first and then had a kid. The kid''s live now, so we''ve been married for at least six years."

    If someone had told me six years ago that I''d stop loving Steven, I wouldn''t have believed it. I truly cared about him back then

    But now, thinking about how I ever loved him felt unreal. What was it that drew me to him in the first ce?

    "If that''s the case, he might keep bothering you," Zane said, sounding more serious than usual.

    "No way. He''s always been into Jessica." I found it funny. I''d moved on from Steven and telt at ease talking about him. "Now that he''s with Jessica, it''s like a dream from his past finally came true.

    "If I were him, I''d cherish every moment with her instead of wasting time on someone who doesn''t matter."

    Zane leaned against the balcony, his gaze fixed on me. "But in his mind, you were his wife. That means you still belong to him."

    I looked at Zane in disbelief. "But I''m already divorced from him."

    "Guys like him are all the same," Zane said tly. "Even if the divorce was his fault, he thinks he can have new rtionships and a new- family, but his ex-wife is off-limits."

    Zane couldn''t help but chuckle as he spoke. It was because he hade across so many guys like Steven. "The moment the ex-wife tries to move on, a guy like him feels like she''s betraying him." "People like that are just weird," I said thoughtfully. Steven didn''t love me, so it was strange that he couldn''t handle the idea of me starting a new life after our divorce.

    "So there''s a good chance Steven will keep pestering you," Zane said. His words took me back to that moment outside the bookstore. Steven came over to talk, and Willow was so scared that she clung to my leg

    I quickly got Zane''s point and replied calmly, "Don''t worry, I won''t let him scare Willow again. Plus, his weird possessiveness over someone who isn''t his is his issue, not mine. He should work on that w, right?" Zane had almost said that he thought Steven might still have feelings for me, but he held back when he saw my calm expression. "Fair enough. As for Willow... if it''s easier for you, I can take her for the next few days." He didn''t want Steven bothering me. I chuckled. "It''s all good. Since it''s already happened, there''s no point in trying to avoid it."C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    Then, I looked into his eyes. "Don''t worry, I''ll handle this."

    Zane didn''t say anything else. "Okay."

    Back in my bedroom, I checked the time. It was already past 9:00 pm. I had nned to go straight to sleep but was worried I''d forget some details. So I turned on the light, hooked up my drawing tablet to theputer, and carefully sketched everything Willow and 1 had ex Alter drawing for several hours, I finally captured all the key moments My gaze softened as I looked at my finished piece. I gently touched the drawing of Willow, and a smile crept across my face without me even realizing it.

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    "Thanks, Willow," I menured.

    If it weren''t for Willow stepping into my life and truly caring about me, I could have ended up being a different person. After saving all ny finished artwork, I finally turned off theputer.

    As soon as Willow woke up, she raced to my bedroom door and knocked. "Mommy!" y face."

    Topened the door, and she excitedly said, "I''m going to brush my teeth and wash my

    "Go for it," I replied, stepping out and closing the door behind me. "Juste straight downstairs after, I''ll be waiting for you." "Okay, I''ll be right there "Willow''s feet pattered as she dashed to her room. I couldn''t help but chuckle at her excitement. "Make sure you brush your teeth really well, even if you''re in a rush!"

    "Got it!" Willow replied.

    When I got to the living room, Zane was already sitting there. He looked at me and said casually, "I''ll be pretty busy these next few days."

    I knew what he meant. "So I''ll take care of dropping off and picking up Willow?"

    "I can still find time for that," Zane replied. No matter how hectic things got, be always made sure to take Willow to and from school. " But 1 might not have time to bring you back home."

    Inodded. "That''s okay. I can grab a taxi back"

    Zane seemed at a loss for words.

    I couldn''t help but ask, "Did I say something wrong?"

    "I was saying you could bring your work stuff ande to the office with me," he exined patiently.

    Oh, so that was what he meant. That would definitely save a lot ofmuting time and give me more hours to work on my projects. I didn''t refuse

    "Okay, I''ll bead upstairs and pack my things."

    By the time I returned to the living room, Willow hade downstairs, too. She was wearing a lovely little dress. Girls her age were all about princess stories, so they tended to have simr tastes and lovedyered, frilly princess dresses. Willow spotted me watching her and ran over to do a little twirl. "Mommy, do I look pretty?

    I gave her a thumbs-up. "You look stunning!"

    She lifted the hem of her dress and curtsied like a little princess. "Thanks, Mommy! You look beautiful, too!"

    The way she carried herself was charming for her age. I crouched down, cupped her face, and kissed her. Not to be outdone, she held onto my shoulders, stood on her tiptoes, and kissed my cheek

    Zane looked envious. "Willow, can I get a kiss, too?

    Willow adored Zane, too. She walked over and kissed his check

    Zane picked her up, his eyes shining with affection. "Willow, you''re the best."

    Willow puffed out her chest proudly. "Of course I am!"

    Richard heard the cheerful noise in the living room and approached to greet Willow. "Good morning, Willow."

    He made sure to soften his voice so he wouldn''t startle her. But she turned away and clung tightly to Zane, staying quiet.

    Richard looked a little disappointed. "I thought she was getting better."

    "Not yet," Zane replied. "She''s just morefortable interacting with me and Annalise, but that''s already a big step up from before, right?"

    He was satisfied with the progress. Richard nodded. "Yeah, you''re right."

    After dropping Willow off at kindergarten, she held onto me for a bit before finally saying goodbye. I watched her until she disappeared into the ssroom before heading out "Annalise, Steven called out.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    I ignored him and picked up my pace to get to the car. But he stepped before me, blocking my path. "Do you have to keep acting this way?"

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    62

    ck to put some space between me and Steven. "I don''t get what you''re saying

    Thad to pause and take a few steps back to put

    Steven patiently exined, "I thought after 1 called you out yesterday, you''d see your mistake and stop putting on a show with random people just to prove you''re doing fine without me."

    Tcouldn''t help but find his sell-righteousness ridiculous. It was like he saw me not as an individual but as an extension of himself. Everything I did seemed to revolve around him, and even my feelings were under his control. Icurled my lips in disbelief, "Let''s say you''re right."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Steven nodded, looking like he thought I''d finally realized how wrong I was

    Then, I continued casually, "Willow''s been in the same ss as Zachary at this kindergarten for over two years now, Her dad picks her up and drops her off every day, so you must have seen him when you drop all Zachary. "Even if you haven''t spoken to him, you''ve probably seen the car he drives and the way he dresses-you can tell with a nce that only the rich can afford them

    "So tell me, Mr. Pelham. Do you really think my broke ass would be able to convince someone as wealthy as him to lend me a hand just to annoy you?" Steven frowned and didn''t say a word.

    I scotted. "You need to wake up to the truth, Mr. Pelham. There isn''t any form of pretense here. The moment I gave up on you and Zachary, I started fresh."

    Steven stared at me in disbelief. "How can that be? Annalise, don''t you remember why you came to this city? It was for me!"

    I didn''t deny it. "I used to love you, but that doesn''t mean I''ll love you forever, does it?"

    Steven was stunned into silence.

    Just as I was about to walk past him, he suddenly grabbed my arm. "Still, you shouldn''t be disregarding me so quickly."

    I then turned to face him.

    He looked serious. "Don''t forget about our child. You might be able to move on from me, but you can''t just forget about Zachary! You carried him for nine months and gave him so much love and care, after all." Steven still seemed to doubt mymitment in moving on and living for myself.

    I gave him a dry smile. "You were the reason I gave up on him, Steven. It was you who took both him and Jessica out for fun all the time.

    "It was also you who built his resentment for me bit by bit, and in the end, all of these piled up on me so heavily that I finally chose to let go. It was all your fault, Steven!

    "What makes you think I could just forgive you after everything you have both done to me?"

    Lately, I have been wrapped up in love and happiness, and I also realized that it was up to me to create the life I wanted.

    If I continued to put up with both Steven and Zachary and allowed them to disrespect me, I''d only end up suffering even more and get pushed around by them.

    After distancing myself from toxic family members, I chose to surround myself with people who truly cared for me, like Willow, others who showed me respect. I appreciated the life I had now.

    and

    "As a wife and a mother, you should be more forgiving toward your husband and child, no matter what they''ve done," Steven couldn''t understand why I stopped tolerating them all of a sudden when I had been willing to put up with their attitudes in the past. "But you''re not my husband," I replied bluntly. "Besides, isn''t Zachary''s mom Jessica? Both of you have nothing to do with me."

    Trying to get him to back off, I said tly, "Steven, since you were able to so easily let

    just forget about our past and leave me alone"

    Then, I yanked my hand out of his grip and headed to the car

    me and move on with Jessica, you should

 Chapter 63

    Steven stood there silently as he watched Annalise walk away.

    Initially, Jessica had thought of skipping the send-off for the kids, but she was worried that it might give Steven and Annalise a chance to reconnect. After wrestling with her thoughts, she finally decided to join Steven.

    From atar, Jessica watched as Steven stopped Annalise. Though she couldn''t hear their conversation, she could see Annalise''s expression turning colder by the second, as if she didn''t care about Steven.

    Still, Jessica couldn''t shake off her unease at Steven''s reaction. She approached him and asked, "Does she still not see your good Intentions?"

    Steven hummed in reply before getting into the car, and Jessica climbed into the passenger seat, buckling her seatbelt.

    However, Steven didn''t start the engine immediately. Instead, he looked at her and said, "Annalise used to love me so much. How could she just stop loving me like that?"

    He seemed to struggle with the idea of it.

    Upon hearing that, Jessica tightened her grip on the seatbelt, anxiety flooding her. What did he mean by that? She looked into Steven''s eyes and noted the bewilderment he was going through, as if he couldn''t ept what was happening. Jessica couldn''t tell exactly how Steven was feeling, so she hesitated before she said, "I think she might be putting on a brave face."

    Having heard her reply, Steven began to rx a little "Really? That''s what I was thinking, too."

    Just by his response, Jessica could tell what he was thinking about. But she went along with it. "Maybe she''s just pretending strong before you, hoping you''ll see her worth and make an effort to win her back."

    to be

    Steven scoffed. Did that mean his suspicions were right? That meant that Annalise still cared about him and loved him, right? With that thought in mind, his mood was lifted right away.

    "Let''s just ignore her. Once she sees that her little games aren''t getting to me, she''lle back in tears to say she''s sorry, just like always." He then took Jessica''s hand. "But I won''t budge, because you''re the one I''ve always loved." Jessica merely smiled without saying a word.

    The driver took us down the road while Zane sat next to me in the back seat. He seemed to be worried that Steven''s harassment might bother me, so he asked, "What did your ex-husband say to you?" Just hearing Steven''s name made me feel sick.

    "Just the same old stuff. He said he''s ''seen through me and thinks I should quit ''acting.""I sighed. "He''s so full of himself, always thinking that I''m his to control and can never leave him." "Good thing you''re not," Zane said as he turned to me.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    I chuckled. "Yeah. When I stopped counting on others and started living for myself..."

    I met his gaze as I paused. Then, I added, "I realized that life isn''t as hard as I thought it would be. In fact, I feel so much morefortable and free now."

    Zane usually held a stoic gaze that concealed all of his emotions, yet they now disyed a hint of warmth. "Congrats, Annalise! From now on, you''re no longer anyone''s wile or mother. You''re just you" "Thank you," I replied politely.

    However, things weren''t as easy as it turned out to be, for Zane had mentioned that Steven would keeping after me. Just what was I supposed to do topletely shake him off?

    I thought a lot about it, but I couldn''te to a definite conclusion, so I decided to move on and leave it be first.

    Husham Corporation upied an entire building-the lobby was on the first floor, while the cafeteria was on the second, and the offices started on the third

 Chapter 64

    Zane brought me to his office, which was pretty spacious. In addition to his desk, there was a wall that was lined with shelves packed

    mostly with finance books

    Meanwhile, there was a white screen divider that separated an area filled with a set of tables and chairs. Thepartment wasn''tpletely closed off from the rest of the office, but it seemed like it was where Zane took his breaks. He led me over and casually said, "You can sketch here until Willow finishes school."

    "Sounds good," I replied

    Then, I sat down and opened myptop before I started sketching my first meeting with Willow. I couldn''t help but smile as I created a drawing of her. It was just soforting to be around her.

    Soon enough, I lost track of time. But I finally managed to capture all our special moments together, alongside the sketches I''d done over thest few days. Now that I had finished it, I stretched and prepared to kick back. "Are you done?" a voice called out.

    I turned to see Zane standing behind me, and I got up in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

    wrap up so quickly,

    "It''s lunchtime. I was going to ask you to join me, but you looked so into it that I figured I''d wait. Didn''t think you''d wrap up

    Zane exined.

    I checked the time on myptop-it was already 12:30 pm. I hadn''t eaten much that morning, and my stomach was rumbling- Feeling a little embarrassed, I walked over to him. "Let''s go."

    e menu signs one by

    The cafeteria on the second floor was huge, and it was filled with a great selection of tasty food. I looked over the one, trying to decide what to get

    Most times, I would be cooking at home, rarely ever eating out. It was only after 1 became Willow''s mom that I started dining out with them every now and then.

    Finally, I turned to Zane and asked, "Any rmendations?"

    "I sure do." He then took me to the saut¨¦ station and ordered a few dishes, saying, "These are some of their specialties."C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    After the chef stated the price, Zane automatically paid with his card

    Do you eat in the cafeteria every day?" I asked.

    "Not really," Zane said with a smile. "Since I''m not that busy today, I figured I''d bring you here and let you check it out."

    I felt a bit nostalgic. "I used to eat at the school cafeteria, but this is my first time back in since I started working."

    Honestly, I didn''t have much work experience.

    The cafeteria wasn''t busy at this h

    shour, and there were plenty of empty seats

    Zane took me to a corner table and said, "Ourpany has an art department. I can check if they have any openings that might be a good fit for you."

    I could feel his kindness when he said that he wanted to help me find a part-time job so that I could make extra money.

    "Thanks, but I''ve only just finished the sketch, so I still have to color it. It''ll probably take me a while before I''m able to post the Inished pieces online," I said. Imances.

    "I just hope you get a chance to make some extra money before you be famous," Zane exined. He was concerned about my

    I gave him a gentle smile. "I''m already eating and living at your ce. Besides, you also cover my expenses for my clothes and daily

 Chapter 65

    Chapter

    65

    ed up all of the sry you gave me,

    "There''s nothing I need to pay for, and there''s even less for me to spend on. As such, I basically saved

    and 1 can do whatever 1 want with it in the future-I''m not short of money.

    Tell your employees to contact another artist instead, "I said.

    Though Zane was surprised, he could only nod in agreement. "Alright."

    "Besides, I have two jobs now," I added.

    I knew what he was thinking-he probably couldn''t understand why I didn''t treasure the precious opportunity that he gave me.

    As such, I exined, "My main priority is to take care of Willow. Even though she was unwilling to speak to people previously, she has started to talk to us now. She also likes to brag to others. "Since her situation is improving greatly, I have to try my best so that she''ll recover eventually.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "Besides, I''ll need a lot of time to draw my daily life with Willow."

    After that, I said calmly and slowly, "Everyone has their limits.

    "If I try to multitask and do other things all at once, I might not be able to do my work well. Wouldn''t that result in more losses for me?

    Once Zane beard my exnation, he fell silent for a while. Then, he said, "I didn''t expect you to consider things so carefully.

    "It didn''t ur to me that you''d choose to work on both of these tasks when you rejected the other choices."

    Inodded. "Yes"

    Admiration filled his eyes while he looked at me. "It''s all good as long as you''ve carefully thought about what you want

    Meanwhile, my spirits were lifted after I got Zane''s approval. "Don''t worry, I know what I want."

    All the dishes were cooked by the time our conversation ended, and Zane carried them over.

    todo"

    Most of the servings were only for one person, so he ordered four dishes and a bowl of soup. He also brought two servings of quinoa

    over.

    After cing the tray down, he passed me a bowl of quinoa

    Since I was afraid that the food would go to waste, I asked in confusion, "Will we be able to finish all of these?"

    Zane smiled gently. "If we can''t finish them, we''ll have the leftovers boxed up."

    There were a ton of people who kept peeking at us during our meal. I guessed that they were curious because Zane rarely ate at thepany''s cafeteria, yet he was here today. 1ignored them and continued eating

    The meat dishes were saut¨¦d nicely-they were fragrant and delicious. However, there wasn''t a lot of seasoning for the vegetables, so their initial vor could he tasted with a sweet kick

    I nodded happily while eating, and thought, "If only I could doodle here more often..."

    If I could get a cafeteria card from Zane, I would deposit some money inside it to buy a few dishes there

    After finishing his meal, Zane left thepany because he had other matters to attend to

    It seemed that he was ustomed to behaving like a parent, for he gave me instructions before he left. He told me that I could continue drawing in the office, and if I was bored, I could take a walk around the ce. Not to mention that I could also call him if I encountered any other problems.

    Inodded to show my acknowledgment

    In the meantime, Zane paused, then started smiling as he waved me goodbye

    Once I saw him leave, I entered the lift

    There were other employees inside who had just finished their lunch, and they all observed me curiose

    2/2

    Meanwhile, I just stared straight ahead.

    "Hello..." Curiosity got the better of a young woman in her twenties, and she asked me, "Are you thedy who came with Mr. Huxham today?

 Chapter 66

    I turned to look at her, bewildered. "Is there anything wrong with that?"

    "No" The other party seemed rather uneasy, but she mustered her courage in the end and continued, "I just wanted to know what your rtionship was with Mr. Huxham... After all, you''re the only woman he brought to thepany." Just then, I realized that the employees had mistaken me to be Zane''s girlfriend.

    Although I knew what they wanted me to say, I didn''t n on lying "I''m just here to take care of his daughter."

    "Huh? The employers looked at each other in disappointment.

    Then, they continued asking, "It your rtionship was that simple, why did he bring you to hispany?"

    "Hetetches his daughter from kindergarten every day," I replied calmly. "Since she has taken a liking to me recently, he didn''t want to waste time sending me home. So, he had no choice but to bring me here."

    The employees looked at each other. Evidently, none of them believed me.

    In the end, they noticed that something was amiss. "But there are so many offices in thepany, so why did he ask you to wait for

    him in his office room?"

    They tried their best to find out Zane''s rtionship status.

    §±

    But I chuckled gently. "It''s probably because I''m not working for yourpany."

    To stop them from everthinking, I added, "If he really liked me, he wouldn''t have brought me here before our rtionship became

    official

    "Because, what if I fell in love with another man from hispany? He wouldn''t be able to date me, then."

    It seemed that my words bad persuaded them, as they all nodded in agreement.

    "That''s not right! Meanwhile, a another person found a loophole in my argument. "There''s no man who is better than Mr. Huxham in this world!"

    Objectively speaking, Zane was pretty impressive. Besides possessing such handsome features, he was also a very gentle person, though he appeared to be very aloof at work. He was also rather rich Therefore, those young employees believed that he was the best man in the world.

    I exined, "Are all good men a suitable match for me?"

    Everyone was stumped by my question.

    Yet, they also realized that Zane and I were purely working with one another and had no feelings for each other.

    When the lift doors opened, they walked out of the lift and stared at me until the doors closed again.

    After arriving at the office, I sat down and started to color my sketches

    Since Willow loved the color pink, I colored her dresses pink in my drawings. Once I filled in the background colors, I started to focus on the details.

    It took me the entire afternoon to finish coloring

    sketchesC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    When I looked at my drawings, I was pleased. However, just as I logged into my ount and prepared to post it, I suddenly realized that I hadn''t asked Willow for her opinion yet. Thus, I decided to show her my sketches after she got home from school

    If she was satisfied with it, I would post it online unmediately. But if she were to have some concerns regarding the sketches, I''d amend it.

    Then, I checked the time and realized it was 5:30pm.

    I cleared the desk and packed my bag

    "Annalise." I heard Zane''s voice the moment I carried my backpack

    After turning back, I noticed him standing at the door. He looked like he just ran, for he seemed to be panting and out of breath Chapter 6

    Sweat dotted his forehead.

    I asked, "Why are you so anxious? Are you looking for something?"

    "No." Zane''s breathing became steady again, and he replied calmly, "I was afraid I''d bete."

 Chapter 67

    Zane had always doted on Willow, and though he wasn''t very expressive, he showed his love through his actions. So, I felt happy for Willow.

    Though she suffered terribly in her childhood, she met an uncle who loved her a lot.

    "It a simr situation urs next time, you can just call me and wait for me downstairs. I''ll go down myself"

    "Okay." Zane waited for me before heading downstairs together. "Do you feelfortable working in the office?"

    I nodded. "No one disturbs me there, and it''s pretty quiet, so I''m quickly getting used to it."

    Then, Zane asked, "Are you going to work with me tomorrow?

    I looked back at him in shock. "Do you want me to visit you at yourpany every day?"

    After heating that, Zane fell silent, and I didn''t probe further because he didn''t speak anymore.

    Just when I buckled my safety belt, he said, "My family members have been forcing me to go on blind dates recently."

    He rubbed his temples in frustration. "At the start, I wanted to cate them, so I followed their instructions and met a few women. But they all had the same opinion..."

    While he paused, I thought, "What he says next isn''t going to be a good thing."

    Zane continued, "They were willing to date me, but they didn''t want to be a stepmother. They said that if Willow was my biological daughter, they could put up with it. But Willow isn''t mine... "If I want to continue meeting them, I have to let Willow live with my parents instead."

    Zane couldn''t agree to

    to that, because Willow''s situation had just improved.

    If he sent her to her grandparents'' house, her situation would worsen. Besides, the women he met were all capable people from Influential families.

    As such, they could find other options If Zane wasn''t willing to listen to them-he wasn''t thest of the lot, after all.

    So, Zane didn''t continue the rtionship with any of his blind dates.

    After realizing that, I looked at him.

    Thetter stared at me sternly for a long while. Then, he said, "Let''s get married."

    "Ahem!" I choked on my saliva when I heard his words and coughed uncontrobly.

    As I slowly calmed down and caught my breath, I stared at Zane reproachfully.

    Thetter replied apologetically, "I''m sorry."

    But I wasn''t a petty person, so I said, "It''s fine."C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "But you should consider this carefully." Zane hadn''t spoken rashly, for he had deeply thought about it beforeying out his conclusion. "To be honest, I''m a pretty good man.

    "I''m not poor, so if you marry me, I can provide for you just fine. Plus, I might not love you now, but I will still treat you well and protect you

    Frankly, his offer was pretty tempting

    If I was a young woman who hadn''t gotten married before, I would''ve been deeply persuaded. However, I had just gotten out of a failed marriage, so didn''t want to date anyone at the moment. I didn''t reject Zane directly. Instead, I asked with a smile, "May I know why you want to marry me?"

    Zane replied honestly, "Because Willow likes you."

    I questioned in disbelief, "You''re willing to marry me just because she likes me?"

    He exined, "You''re the only woman that she''s willing to interact with all this while. Anyway, I don''t want to waste time on dating. so after careful consideration,

    He appeared to be rather serious.

    kit would be best if we got married."

 Chapter 68

    Naturally, I couldn''t joke around either. So, I straightened up and answered seriously, "In my opinion, marriage is a sacred thing, so

    we can''t rush into it

    ging you to get married, and because Willow isn''t epted in your family.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    "You chose to marry me because your family members are urging you

    "Well, what if you fall in love with another woman, then? Are you going to divorce me?"

    Zane had never liked anyone romantically before, so he wasn''t sure if the situation I mentioned would ur.

    "Besides..." Though what I said earlier was out of my consideration for Zane, I had to think for myself too.

    "I just escaped an unhealthy rtionship and was lucky to have met you two. Both of you treat me really well, and it was Willow who showed me how it felt to be loved.

    "When I''m taking care of her, I can feel the emotional wounds Steven had inflicted onto me heal gradually. So, instead of taking a step further in our rtionship, I think we should stay like this for now. What do you think?" Meanwhile, Zane pondered over my words seriously.

    After a long while, he nodded and replied, "You''re right."

    As the car stopped in front of the kindergarten, I breathed a sigh of relief, because Zane had been persuaded by my words. After that, I got out of the car.

    In the meantime, Zane knew that what I said previously was to dissuade him from marrying me. So, he asked, "May I know what the real reason is behind your rejection?"

    I leaned against the door and smiled leisurely. "Does wanting to live for myself count as a reason?

    Zane nodded. "Yes

    "That''s the answer that I wanted to hear most." Though he seemed like an aloof and distant businessman when he worked, he was actually caring and gentle at home. Iughed. "Thank you."

    "No problem."Zane walked to the kindergarten entrance and waited for Willow.

    Meanwhile, I stood next to him.

    Just then, he seemed to remember something and told me, "But my mother might try to find out who the people around me are.

    "Once she notices you, she might try to cause trouble for you.

    "Thope that if that happens, you''ll tell me about it immediately. Let me solve those problems.

    "Don''t get mad and leave me secretly."

    He was worried that Willow''s condition would worsen if I left, but I understood what he meant and said, "Don''t worry. I''ll hang in there for Willow." After that, Zane smiled. "That''s good."

    Willow was finally dismissed from school.

    In the past, she would always wave at me and smile brightly whenever she saw me. However, she lowered her head and remained silent this time. Both Zane and I looked at each other in confusion.

    What happened exactly?

    I took a step forward and prepared to ask Holly what had urred. However, Zane beat me to it. "Did someone bully my daughter today?" The teacher looked rather

    er upset, "Willow''s mother had drawn something in her carried a loudspeaker and repeatedly sted a recording during her break time. rbook, and though she hadn''t said anything, Willow

    "It said, ''My mother drew this for me. All her ssmates went to check the drawing out, and they all admired her for having such an amazing mother."

    20

    Amid the other children, Zane was the only one who frowned.

    If that was the case, Willow would''ve been very happy when she was dismissed from school.

    Yet, Holly continued, "But after Zachary whispered something to her, she switched off that loudspeaker and leaned on her table sadly. She wouldn''t say anything even when we asked her what was wrong"

 Chapter 69

    Chapter

    69

    "We also asked Zachary about it, but he didn''t want to tell us anything either."

    Meanwhile, Zane stood beside Willow as he looked at Zachary from a distance, and Zachary instinctively shrunk behind his ssmates

    Since Zane didn''t know what Zachary said, he couldn''t punish thetter, so he looked away and carried Willow up

    His voice was very gentle. "Why are you unhappy, Willow?"

    The moment he asked that question, Willow started crying. Her eyes were filled with tears, and she looked very pitiful

    Willow kept quiet and continued crying in Zane''s arms.

    While Zane patted her back, he looked at me for help. Then, I stretched my arms out toward Willow and said, "Here, Mommy will give you a hug However, Willow turned and ignored me when she heard my voice

    Previously, she used to always cling tone, but now, she was ignoring me. As such, I was pretty sure that Zachary told her something

    about me.

    Yet, I didn''t show any indication that I knew anything Instead, I inhaled deeply and asked sadly. "Willow, you don''t want me anymore, right? Then, Willow lifted her head and looked at me. After hesitating for a while, she stretched her arms out toward me.

    Then, I picked her up and walled toward the car.

    Suddenly, Zachary blocked my path and dered, "You can''t carry her!"

    I asked coldly, "Why?"

    Immediately, Zachary replied, "Because you''re my mother. You can only love me."

    He behaved just like Steven-both of them used my love for them to hurt me deeply.

    They seemed to think that no matter how badly they treated me, I''d return to them if they apologized. In the meantime, I looked at Zachary coldly.

    Thetter''s gaze was filled with hope, hoping that I''d put Willow down and go home with him instead.

    However, I just stared at him coldly and asked Holly, "Haven''t you taught the children here not to call a stranger ''Mommy? After bearing that, Holly immediately pulled Zachary back to ss. "Zachary, even if your mother hasn''t fetched you trom kindergarten for the past few "I didn''t do that! Zachary sobbed.

    While Holly blocked his path, he wiped his tears and tried to rush outside. "She''s my Mommy!"R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    "Your mother has been picking you up from kindergarten for one year now. You even called her Mommy

    "Besides, you said previously that this woman isn''t your mother."

    Holly was exasperated "Stop being mischievous, Zachary!"

    However, Zachary didn''t seem to hear her. He kept trying to break free so he could run to me, but he soon realized that his efforts were

    Becould only watch as I entered the car and drove off without him.

    After that, Zachary lowered his head and started crying

    Actually, Jessica didn''t treat him well from the start. Though he wanted to give her a chance, she would only treat him well in front of Steven s, whenever Steven letit, she would treat him very coldly

    In fact, jessica uften looked very unhappy in front of Zachary, which was why he thought of Annalise all of a sudden.

    Everything would be alright if she was by his side

    At the same time, Willow remained silent in the car no matter how I tried to coax her.

    So, Zane asked, "Did Zachary say something bad about Mommy?"

    Willow shook her head and looked at me with tears in her eyes. She looked rather pitiful. Then, I asked, "Did he say something to make you not want Mommy anymore?"

 Chapter 70

    Willow buried her face in my arms and hugged me without speaking

    I knew that she didn''t want to talk, so I didn''t probe any further. Instead, I gently patted her back and said, "It''s fine if you don''t want to talk

    "just know that no matter what, Mommy will always be by your side,"R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Willow didn''t reply to me for a long time after that.

    Just when I thought she would remain silent, she made a sound of acknowledgment. Since she was willing to respond, it meant that she was only upset at me temporarily.

    If I waited for her to open up, she e would tell me why she didn''t want to talk to me soon.

    This definitely improved my mood greatly.

    Unsurprisingly, Zachary was thest child to leave the kindergarten. However, a newly hired driver picked him up instead of Jessica

    this time.

    But since Holly didn''t recognize the driver, she didn''t allow Zachary to leave with him. Thus, she video-called Steven to confirm things with him. Only then, did Holly agree to let Zachary leave with the driver. Then, Zachary sat in the backseat of the car silently.

    Ever since Annalise and Steven divorced, Jessica became his new mother. Since then, Jessica had stopped fetching him from school.

    Though Zachary told himself that he was a big kid now and he had to get used to being away from his parents, he felt a little upset when he saw his ssmates getting picked up by their parents. After returning home, he saw Jessica, who was ordering the chef to cook dinner. She said arrogantly, "Just cook a meal for three people. As for Zachary..."

    When Zachary heard his name, he raised his head and met his eyes with Jessica''s. Then, he immediately lowered his head and changed. into his slippers.

    In the meantime, Jessica continued impatiently, "He probably ate dinner at school, so you don''t have to cook for him."

    Zachary didn''t answer and simply walked past her and went back to his room,

    His attitude made Jessica a little confused. Previously, Zachary had at least gotten angry when she said that, so why was he ignoring her now?

    She wanted to provoke him before Steven came back so that Steven would see Zachary quarreling with her the moment he entered the house

    If Steven hade back to that sort of situation in y, he would probably think that Zachary was disobedient and stubborn. However, Zachary hadpletely ignored her and spoiled her ns. Since Jessica didn''t want to miss this opportunity, she knocked on the door and said, "Zachary,e out."

    But Zachary didn''t want to go outside. If he went outside, Jessica would mock him, and if he retorted, Steven would find out about it... In the end, he would be scolded.

    Since Zachary was a small child, he didn''t know how to deal with this situation. However, he sensed that whenever he interacted with Jessica, things would turn out badly for him.

    As such, he didn''t want to interact with her

    Though Jessica kept calling Zachary toe out, thetter didn''t reply to her.

    This made her furious, but since she couldn''t do anything about it, she returned to the living room

    At the same time, Cody quietly sat in a corner and watched a television show.

    When Jessica saw her son, she calmed down.

    As she gently hug

    hugged him, she asked, "What do you want to eat tonight? I''ll get the chef to make it for you."

    Cody shook his head. "Mommy, I''m not picky. I''ll eat whatever the chef cooks."

    After that, Jessica rested her head on his shoulder and said, "If you feel like eating anything, just tell the chef."

    The moments spent with her own son were short but joyful.

    But before Jessica could continue her conversation with Cody, the living room door suddenly opened.

 Chapter 71

    Jessica looked back in surprise and saw Steven entering the house. Then, she immediately rose to greet him. "Wee home

    Thetter nodded and searched for Zachary in the living room. "Where is be?"

    At the mention of Zachary, Jessica instinctively pouted and replied unhappily, "He seems to dislike me.

    "When he came home, he ignored me and headed to his bedroom. Then, he closed the door and didn''t respond to me even though I kept calling his name." "What?" Steven was in disbelief. But he loves you so much."

    "Because of you, he abandoned his own mother, who treated him well."

    Though Jessica wanted to criticize Zachary and ruin his rtionship with Steven, she fell silent because Steven seemed extremely protective of his own son. Forget it. She wasn''t in a hurry to ruin their rtionship anyway.

    Jessica told herself to have more patience.

    After that, Steven continued, "Maybe he experienced something in kindergarten, so he felt upset."

    While he spoke, he patted Jessica''s back. "You''re pregnant now, so you''ll get fatigued easily. Don''t worry about this. I''llfort him."

    Before Jessica could say anything. Steven walked to Zachary''s bedroom and knocked on the door. "Zachary,"

    Once Zachary heard his father''s voice, be opened the door. After seeing Steven, be teared up and started crying

    Steven felt bad for him when he saw his tears, so he immediately carried him up and gently wiped away his tears. "Why are you unhappy, Zach?"

    "Can you pick me up from school next time?" Ultimately, Zachary was just a child.

    He didn''t know how to be cunning and just felt very ufortable. As such, he told Steven the truth. "Everyone''s parents picked them up from school "Even if their parents are busy, their grandparents would pick them up.

    "I''m the only one... who was fetched by a driver."

    Whenever he saw Annalise waiting for Willow outside the kindergarten, Steven couldn''t help but feel sad.

    If she hadn''t divorce Steven, would she be waiting for him every day instead?

    Then, he wouldn''t have to wait at the kindergarten for a long time, right?

    Steven, however, realized that Zachary depended on him a lot. Nevertheless, he was really busy and didn''t have time to pick thetter

    1. up.

    Though he instincti

    he instinctively wanted Jessica to pick him up instead, Steven kept thinking of Annalise

    In the end, he replied, "Okay. In the future, I''ll pick you up when I get off work, okay?"

    Zachary nodded. "Okay."

    After seeing the smile on Zachary''s face, Steven felt relieved. "Then, promise me that you''ll be nicer to Mommy Jessie, okay?"

    Zachary whispered, "Daddy, I don''t know why but ever since you divorced Mominy...

    "It seems that no matter how hard I try, Mommy Jessie is always unhappy with me."

    After that, Zachary looked up and asked, "Am I disturbing the three of you by living here? His

    gaze was innocent and clear.

    Upon seeing that, Steven was moved. He pinched Zachary''s cheeks and replied, "Of course not. This is your house, so you can just be yourself here. Don''t worry about what others think." The food wasn''t prepared yet when we returned

    dhome.

    I held Willow''s hand and led her to the living room. After that, I took out

    myic and showed it to her. "What do you think can be amended here?"R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Thetter held it and started crying when she saw my drawings.

    I prepared tofort her, but she burst into tears.

    "Mommy, I''m sorry..."

 Chapter 72

    Clupter 72

    1 panicked and hurriedly wiped away her tears. "Why are you suddenly apologizing to me?"

    Willow hugged me tightly and replied, "I shouldn''t have ignored you."

    Her voice was soft and lovely.

    Meanwhile, I stroked her hair gently and said, "But you''re only human, so it''s normal to feel upset."

    While I spoke, I ced her on myp. Then, I looked into her eyes and asked seriously, "Can you tell Mommy what Zachary said to you

    now!

    After hesitating for a while, Willow answered, "He said that you only became my mother because you were angry with him.

    "When he forgives you, you''ll go back to him and continue being his mother. After that, you''ll abandon me."

    Willow wasn''t a person who knew how to differentiate between lies and the truth. As such, she treated Zachary''s words seriously... Since she liked me a lot, she would be very sad if I left her one day.

    Willow lowered her head and didn''t dare to look at me.

    But I asked cheerfully, "Is that why you were in a bad mood when you were dismissed from school?"

    Willow was too embarrassed to answer my question.

    After that, Iughed. "What about now? Do you know the truth now?

    She thought for a while and said, "Once I saw your sketches, I realized that you probably love me.

    "If you didn''t love me, you wouldn''t have remembered that I like the color pink.

    "Besides, you wouldn''t have drawn me as a pink princess in the drawings!"

    Willowughed shyly while she spoke.

    "Yes." Since she knew that I loved her, I wouldn''t deny it. "Willow..."

    Then, I pinched her cheeks, "You saw what I was like when I lived with them. I wasn''t happy at all"

    Upon hearing that, Willow looked at me, so I continued, "Now that I have stopped living that kind of life, I won''t go back for okay?" Willow nodded in response.

    I made use of this valuable opportunity and asked her, "Tell me what you learned from this incident, alright?

    After thinking about it, Willow frowned and answered tentatively, "I learned..."

    Her eyes lit up. "I learned that I shouldn''t believe everything that other people say.

    This made me pleased. It was difficult for a small child to learn from her experiences.

    I answered gently, "That''s right.

    §Ń§á§ĺ§â§á§Ö

    "For example, if someone says something bad about me, you have to find out my point of view even if you think that they were right.

    "So, both of us canmunicate with one another and have a clearer understanding of the situation.

    "Otherwise, you would ignore me because you believed Zachary''s words even though I didn''t do anything wrong, like what happened earlier.

    "If I was too sad and left you because of that..."

    Then, wouldn''t our rtionship be ruined?

    Before I could say that, though, Willow interrupted me in a hurry. "Mommy, you have to stay by my side forever."

    1 looked at her affectionately. "Okay"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    Thetter replied seriously, "I won''t believe what others tell

    me

    in the future."

    Her small body was practically draped over mine while she spoke. "Besides, I have to believe what I see and feel most times,

    "I can see that Mommy treats me like her own daughter, and I can also feel that Mommy wants to be my mother."

 Chapter 73

    Willow kept talking to me-it seemed that it had been difficult for her to keep quiet ever since she had been dismissed from school.

    My smile grew brighter, and my spirits were lifted as I watched her talk.

    Meanwhile, Zane continued to work in his study since he had yet to finish his work at thepany.

    3/2

    When Zane went downstairs, he saw that Will

    and i were behaving after tjerately

    sther again.

    The was surprised "Willow"

    Then, Willow fell silent, and it was my turn to look at her in surprise

    Em Willow moved closer to me and whispered, "If I tell Thaddy why I kept quet past wow, he''ll think that I''m stupid."

    To ensure that Zane wildn''t underestimate her, Willow decided that she was going to stop talking to him After realizing that, I felt likeughing

    However, Willow warned cutely, "Mommy, you can''t tell Daddy the truth

    "Okay!" promised "Don''t worry, I''ll keep your secret sale"

    This made Willowtelieved.

    Meanwhile, Zane looked at me when he noticed that Willow had fallen silent

    I made up an excuse on the spot. "She said that

    Upon hearing that, Zane looked at Willow in confusion Instantly, thetter hugged me and avoided his gaze

    Zane thought. "Willow will talk to me tomorrow anyway

    The issue wasn''t urgent, so be headed over to the dining hall. Finally, the dishes had already been prepared.

    As Zane looked at Annalise and Willow, who were still talking, his pure turned gentle Wille

    Soon after, Willow got up from the couch and pulled me to the dining hall "Mommy, let''s eatCopyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Ever since I solved the earlier conflict with Willow, I felt better.

    "Okay." I replied

    Dinner at the Huxham residence was always lightly vored Since Zane was particr about his diet, he didn''t eat a lot though the food was tast But Willow wasn''t affected by that and ate whatever she wanted to

    While I ate my meal, I suddenly remembered something important. "Willow, didn''t you read my drawings just now

    Willow looked over and said, "Huh?"

    She resolved the conflict with me just when I was asking her a question about the drawings:

    Back then, I didn''t pursue the matter, so I asked again now, "Is there anything that I should amend?

    "Nope!" Willow shook her head and dered, "Mommy draws really well. I really like it!"

    Naturally, I thanked her for thepliment Thank you!

    Thetter smiled at me and continued rating

    Once Willow fell asleep, I left her bedroom and knocked on the door of Zane''s study

    "You may enter," he said emotionlessly

    After that, I opened the door and walked into the study

    The lights were switched on, and the root was bright anything the matter

    in front of theputer and stood up as soon as he saw me. Thi

    "I wanted to talk to your about Willow After thinking about it, I realized that Zane should have known the truth behind him actioni earlier because he was her guardian I nidd him what Zachary vend

    while before asking. "Can you wait for me tit

    ? best then, I registered that I ha

    But Zane immediately replied, "It''s okay. I have very little work left to do, so give me five minutes and I''ll settle it. You can wait for me here if you don''t mind."

 Chapter 74

    He carried a scool over for me at

    and I sat downL

    The furnishings in the study were simple. Apart from a desk and two chairs, there was a bookshelf that disyed two rows of books

    It was ced next to a wall that had no windows on it

    Since I had nothing to do, I started looking at the books on the bookshelf.

    "Most of the books here are about finance," Zane said while he switched off theputer. Then, he approached me and continued, "I can buy other books for you to read if you want."

    "It''s alright," I replied swiftly and turned to look at him

    Even though Zane was at home, he still wore a suit, appearing rather reserved and aloof that night

    I asked, "Have you decided how to solve the problem?"

    Instead of replying directly, Zane questioned, "What''s your opinion?"

    Meanwhile, I said, "You''re asking for my opinion?"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "Yes." Zane wanted to know my stance. "After all, Zachary is your biological son."

    After hearing that, I remained very calm. "Isn''t he Jessica''s child?"

    My words shocked Zane. He thought that though I had given up on them, I would try to protect Zachary since I used to love him for

    many years.

    But he hadn''t expect me to be so ruthless.

    Zane stood at a spot while I remained seated.

    Since he didn''t reply, I looked up at him and asked, "Do you think I''m too ruthless?"

    "No, I think you''re great," Zane said.

    He added, "I admire you for that."

    After that, I questioned, "Now that you know what I think, how are you going to deal with this issue? "I''m going to go to the kindergarten tomorrow morning and get the teacher to call his parents over." Someone bullied Willow, and that made her condition worsen though sh getting better before that.

    As such, Zane couldn''t stand it because he was her father. "Let''s see what Zachary''s parents are going to say, though I hope they''lle up with a logical solution."

    I couldn''t think of a better n, so I agreed. "Okay."

    After finishing the discussion with Zane, I prepared to leave.

    However, thetter stopped me. "Annalise."

    When 1 heard that, I stopped and turned to look at him. "What''s wrong?"

    Suddenly, he asked, "Can you stay with me for a while?"

    A high-ranking man like him had a lot of stress at work. Besides, his parents kept urging him to get married, and Willow''s condition

    was serious..

    So, he needed the support of other people. Once I realized that, I returned to my

    seat.

    It seemed that Zane didn''t want to waste my time, so he spoke immediately. "Mypany has an advertising department."

    I looked at him as he continued, "If you don''t mind, you can take a look around the advertising department and learn how to advertise yourics."

    He saw myics too.

    Though they weren''t polished or pretty enoughpared to professionall artists, they were cute and heartwarming,

    As a result, Zine felt that if I posted myics online and promoted them well, many readers would read them

    "Well... Okay."1 understood he cared about me, so I didn''t reject his suggestion.

    It seemed that Zane was worried that I would be too busy, because he said, "If you don''t have enough time, I can hire someone else to help you advertise theics." This made me look at him in confusion. After all, I had only drawn a fewics so far...

 Chapter 75

    Was he already thinking about the future of myics?

    I asked in disbelief, "Isn''t it too early to talk about this now?

    "No, when you post most of yourics before advertising them, it''ll be toote,

    "By the time you finally start to advertise them, your entire work might already bepleted.

    "That won''t help you gain readers easily,"

    Since his exnation made sense to me, I believed him. "Then let''s do it ording to your n."

    H

    "Okay" Zane smiled. "In the future, I''ll create a small department for you in mypany and hire a few employees to manage your work"

    I shook my head. "That isn''t very appropriate."C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "But you aren''t willing to be my wife," Zane teased. "If I don''t treat you well, you might switchpanies when someone else treats you better, right? Was he worried that I would leave Willow?

    I replied, "Don''t worry, I won''t do that.

    "I want to stay by Willow''s side because she''s really nice to me. I like her a lot."

    I promised seriously, "I won''t leave unless an ident urs. Or, I''ll leave when you don''t need me anymore."

    Zane smirked. "That won''t happen."

    Seeing that, I smiled as well. "I hope so.

    Zachary woke up early in the morning.

    As Steven was still at home in the morning, Jessica treated him nicely.

    Once she saw Zachary, she greeted him cheerfully. "Zachary,e and have your breakfast."

    Zachary had already grown ustomed to her two-faced behavior, so he didn''t bother exposing her lies.

    He sat down seriously and looked at Steven, who was beside him. "Daddy, will you send me to kindergarten today?"

    "Yes." Since Steven had made a promise, he wouldn''t go back on his word. "Let''s eat first."

    After hearing that, Jessica stopped smiling. She asked, "What''s going on?"

    Steven exined, "Zachary said that all his ssmates were sent to school by their parents.

    "Since you''re heavily pregnant now, you can''t send him there, so I''ll drive him to school myself."

    On the other hand, Zachary secretly nced at Jessica.

    As expected, she looked a little unhappy.

    He pouted and thought, "As expected, Mommy Jessie doesn''t want Daddy to send me to school. But, so what? Daddy won''t listen to her!

    Then, Zachary concentrated on eating his food.

    Jessica hesitated for a while before saying, "I know you feel bad for Zachary, but ever since I divorced Cody''s father... I have been taking care of Cody by myself." She felt rather upset on Cody''s behalf

    Meanwhile, Steven paused. "So?"

    Once Jessica nced at Steven and ensured that thetter wasn''t angry, she continued, "His ssmates mocked him for being fatherless.

    "As a result, Cody wants his father to send him to kindergarten."

    Chapte

    The moment Steven heard that, he ced his cutlery down. "Do you want me to send Cody to school too?"

    Though Jessica couldn''t figure out what Steven was thinking, she had to help Cody as well. As such, she nodded.

    Then, Steven asked, "What about my son?"

    He still sounded cheerful while he spoke.

    Immediately, Jessica answered, "Of course, you can get the driver to send him to school."

    After that, Steven''s smile disappeared, and he dered unhappily, "Jessica, I was trying to save your dignity by being vague about my answers. However, not only did you disregard my efforts, but you also treat me like a fool!"

 Chapter 76

    Jevcica asked instinctively. "What do you mean?"

    Steven replied slowly, "Ever since I divorced Annalise you stopped fetching Zachary from school because you

    This made jessica a little irritated "Do you want me to serve you though I''m heavily pregnant?

    Steven''s tone turned cold "Why are you able to fetch Cody, then?"

    All the retorts that Jessica came up with seemed to be stuck in her throat when she heard that

    "I know you can''t treat Zachary like your town son," Steven said slowly. "After all, you aren''t his biological mother."

    Meimshile, Jessica was trying to think of aeback quickly

    But since the situation had turned out this way, Steven felt that he had to make things clear with Jessica

    He added, "You wanted a chet, a driver, and arger house, and I have tried my best to fulfill your requestsi

    "But you want me to abandon my own son and treat your sou well.

    "Jessica, if that happens, Cody will be able to have two parents. But what will happen to Zachary

    Steven''s voice sounded stern as he interrogated Jessica.

    On the other hand, Jessica''s eyes were filled with tears.

    She added in disbelief,

    "How could you bicker with ine about this?

    "You don''t treat me like a family member

    At first, she thought that this would make Steven distracted and pality. That would allow her to shift all the me to Zachary then Though Steven had already made things clear, she didn''t realize her stake yet.

    As such, he stopped talking and stood up.

    He walked to the entrance and waved at Zachary

    Thetter had already finished his breakfast and obediently approached Steven.

    Steven said gently, "If I can''t fetch you home tonight, I''ll call your grandmother and ask her to pick you up 1

    Then, Zachary nodded. "Okay."

    Since both of them were leaving. Jessica panicked and chased after them. "Steven, don''t forget

    I''m pregnant

    it with your child!

    She thought that once she became pregnant, she would be more important to Steven than Zachary,R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    However, that wasn''t the case.

    "I know." Steven''s tone was rather cruel. "Otherwise, when you left my child outside the school gates because you wanted to go shopping with me, I would''ve divorced you already." With that, Steven drove off in his car.

    In the meantime, Cody stood behind Jessica and said, "Mommy, you were too hasty."

    At the same time, Jessica took a deep breath She had realized that long ago.

    Yet, Steven loved her and believed that the unborn child in her belly was his

    As such, she thought that no matter what she did, he would forgive her.

    Once she calmed down, Jessira held Cody''s hand and said, "I''ll try to be more patient"

    So long as she waited, Steven would take her side one day.

    Thinking about that, Jessica started smirking

    It wasn''t toote to treat Zachary badly when that tiine came.

    ne, Ewas in the car with Willow. It seemed that after our reconciliation, thetter kept clinging to me Everance she

    bearded the car, she kept hugging me and didn''t let go.

    She said softly, "I don''t want to leave Mommy."

    While she spoke, she looked at me with bright eyes. "Why don''t you go to school with me, mommy?" Then

    more she thought about it, Willow felt that her suggestion was great. "Then, I can always be with you!"

    Since her words were bing more ridiculous, Zane barked, "Willow!"

    I was afraid that he would scare Willow, and hurriedly tugged his sleeve.

 Chapter 77

    When Zane looked at me, I shook my head.

    So, he fell silent.

    "Why are you so fierce all of a sudden? Willow didn''t know what was going on, and she only knew that her father was scolding her.

    But he kept quiet after yelling her name.

    Willow said coquettishly, "I just love Mommy."

    I gently stroked her hair and replied, "Why don''t you try talking to other people?

    "If you try talking to other people, I''ll try to get a job in your school."

    Though Willow had no trouble speaking with Zane and me normally, she remained silent in front of others.

    Even if she wanted to share her thoughts with other people, she controlled herself.

    "Mommy." Willow answered sadly. "I can''t do that."

    At the same time, I knew that it was a difficult task for her, so I said, "It''s fine."

    She hugged me and sighed deeply. After that, Willow whispered, "But I''ll try my best."

    "Okay." I looked at her gently. "I know you''ll be able to do it one day."

    Thetter eximed seriously, "Okay!"

    After heating that, Zane looked at her in surprise.

    Once all of us were silent, the driver tried to talk to Willow because she was cu

    cute.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    However, no matter what he said, she kept quiet.

    Just then, we reached the entrance of the kindergarten.

    Zane didn''t go to hispany after sending Willow to school. Instead, he met Holly once Willow was in ss. He asked, "Did Zachary''s parentse here?"

    Holly knew what happened the previous day, and understood that Willow''s parents wouldn''t allow their child to be bullied in school. Besides, Willow was different from other children, so she braced herself in advance. "No, he hasn''t sent Zachary to school for the past few days."

    Zane frowned in response, but Holly continued, "But if you wish to contact him, we can tell him to make a trip here."

    "Then, call him." Zane nodded.

    Just when Holly managed to call Steven, thetter appeared, "Were you looking for me?"

    After that, Holly looked at Steven and Zane and exined, "Zachary said something bad to Willow yesterday, so her autism worsened." She pointed at Zane. "This man is Willow''s father. He wanted to talk to you about it."

    Just then, Steven looked at Zane, then stared at me.

    I cursed to myself and looked away because I didn''t want to see him

    When Zane noticed my difort, he shielded me behind him.

    Steven asked Holly, "Are we going to talk at the entrance?"

    As she was worried that this would affect the reputation of the school, she led us to the office.

    Following that, she poured a cap of water for both men

    Once they were inside the room, Zane dropped all formalities toward Steven and asked, "Mr. Pelham, do you know what your son said to my daughter?"

 Chapter 78

    His voice was cold and intimidating

    Steven didn''t answer Zane''s question directly. "I don''t know. But my son has always been obedient, so he wouldn''t say anything out of hand.

    "Instead of ming my son, why don''t you reflect on yourself?"

    He continued rudely, "Is your daughter too weak? Maybe that''s why she was hurt by my son''s words."

    Ever since Zane''s older brother passed away, he took care of Willow like his own daughter.

    Most people around him didn''t dare to speak ill of her because of Zane''s high status. However, Steven seemed to be an exception.

    It was obviously Zachary''s fault, so how could Steven me Willow instead?

    Zane was furious, but his expression remained indifferent. "Is that what you think, Mr. Pelham?"

    Steven shrugged. "Isn''t that so? Young children are disobedient, so conflicts will ur between them. However, those are just trivial problems between them, and they should solve it themselves.

    "If we interfere, it won''t help the kids mature. What do you think?"

    Steven smiled at Zane while he spoke.

    But thetter''s expression turned extremely frightening. "I don''t think that''s the case." Meanwhile, Steven didn''t expect Zane to turn serious. As such, he slowly stopped smiling

    Zane continued, "Since you''re not getting your son to apologize, I''ll post this issue online.

    "So, everyone will find out that your young son has learned how to speak ruthlessly to another young child.

    "He said, "Your mother is only pretending to be your mother because she''s angry with me. Once I forgive her, she''lle back to me and continue being my mother instead. When the timees, she won''t want you anymore. Zane was an adult, so he had prepared different ns to solve the problem.

    So what if the other party

    y wasn''t willing to cooperate with him?

    It didn''t matter, because he had other forceful methods.

    While he looked at Steven''s gloomy expression, Zane added, "Once everyone knows what your son did, they''ll try to find out why he turned out like this.

    "In the end, they will discover your secret.

    "Mr. Pelham, if the things you did be exposed, yourpany will be affected, right?"

    Zane smiled, but his expression was devoid of warmth

    Meanwhile, Steven looked unhappy.

    He didn''t think it was a big deal when he cheated on his wife, brought his son to see his mistress, and married the other woman.

    But if the public learned of it....C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    The scandal would destroy hispany.

    Therefore, Steven wouldn''t allow Zane to expose his scandalous behavior.

    He pretended to be unbothered and replied, "It''s just a little conflict between small children. Do you really have to do this?"

    "Of course, "Zane replied seriously Willow is my daughter. Before she has the ability to fight back those who wronged her, I have to help her.

    "This is my responsibility."

    Zane was dead serious

    On the other hand, Steven realized that Zane wasn''t joking. As a result, he could only give in to thetter''s demands. "What do you want to do?

    Zane answered, "Tell your son to apologize to my daughter in front of all their ssmates." Chapter 78

    After hearing that, Steven fell silent.

    If he gave in, Zachary would be humiliated in ss. But if he didn''t apologize...

 Chapter 79

    Steven wouldn''t be able to bear the consequences.

    He thought, "I don''t have any other choice but to give in."

    In the end, he looked at Annalise and said, "Actually, I think Zachary is right

    "Didn''t Annalise leave the house because she was angry with us?

    "If I break up with Jessica and Zachary forgives her, she will return home"

    After that, Steven visibly rxed. He looked at Zane disdainfully. "Can''t my son speak the truth?"

    Thetter replied condescendingly, "Have you asked Anna for her opinion?"

    Weirdly enough, Steven felt ufortable hearing Zane say Annalise''s name.

    He married her for more than six years and they even had a five-year old child together

    Yet, he would call her ''Annalise'' all the time.

    He thought, "How long has Zane been with Annalise for? When did he start addressing her affectionately?"

    So, Steven was greatly irritated by that. He looked at me, then looked away. "Do you even have to ask?

    He added confidently, "I know better than anyone that she loves me."

    Since he was certain that I loved him and that couldn''t leave him, he behaved terribly toward me

    Even though I became furious and divorced him, Steven thought that I''de back to him if heforted me

    After that, Zane looked at me. It was finally time to express my opinion..

    I couldn''t understand it. Though I told Steven many times that I didn''t love him anymore, and that I wanted to start a new life, he didn''t believe it.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    So, 1 said calmly, "I''m not nning to go back to you."

    On the other hand, Steven looked at me in disbelief. "Annalise, it''s fine if you throw a tantrum during another time! But, if you identally say something wrong to humiliate Zachary this time, he won''t forgive you in the future!"

    He seemed to think that by exaggerating the consequences of my actions, I would be scared.

    However, I simplyughed. "Isn''t that great? Steven, I hope both of you will never disturb me again."

    Perhaps I looked too calm, because Steven was stunned by my gaze.

    He couldn''t understand why I was so heartless.

    Just then, Zane said, "I''m sure you''ve noticed by now that Anna doesn''t want to go back to you.

    "Your son did something wrong. So, what''s your answer, Mr. Pem?"

    As expected, Steven didn''t want hispany to be affected. As such, he could only give in. "I''ll ask Zachary to apologize."

    Once they reached an agreement, Holly called Zachary over

    Steven looked at me before saying, "Zachary, apologize to Willow."

    "Why?" Meanwhile, Zachary burst into tears. "She stole my mother. I hate her!"

    1 frowned while I watched him cry. His actions annoyed in "Zachary," I said.

    When Zachary heard my voice, he stopped crying and looked at me

    Ever since Jessica became his mother, she started treating him badly. His difort grew when he gradually recalled how well I took care of him

    Meanwhile, I replied impatiently, "Your mother is Jessica, andm Willow''s mother".

    Whsle Llooked at him, Leally added, "Willow loves me a lot, so she won''t steal your mother away from you. Don''t worry about that.

 Chapter 80

    Soon after, Zachary started crying again.

    He yelled shrilly, "NO! You''re not Willow''s mother! You''re my mother!"

    He walked toward me while speaking

    When I looked at the pitiful expression on his face, I suddenly remembered what he looked like when he told me that he liked jessica and wanted her to be his mother.

    Thus, I didn''t pity him at all. Instead, I felt that he was being ridiculous.

    "Zachary, you have to take responsibility for your actions.

    "Since you chose Jessica to be your mother instead of me, you should deal with the consequences of your choice."

    This made Zachary cry harder. "No. I''m still a small kid."

    He shook his head. "I didn''t know the consequences before I made my choice. You''re my mother, so you should forgive me. unconditionally!"

    As I observed his unreasonable behavior, I realized that he wouldn''t listen to me no matter what

    As such, I walked toward Zane and told him, "I don''t want to interact with both of them anymore. Deal with it yourself." Zane nodded in response, and 1 left the room immediately.

    In the meantime, though Zachary wanted to chase after me, Zane stopped him. He was strong and easily blocked the former.

    Zane said, "Mr. Pelham."

    At the same

    time, Steven was stunned by my heartlessness. After a long while, he said to Zachary, "Apologize to Willow."

    Zachary became tired from struggling and sat on the ground dumbly. "No."

    After that, Steven replied harshly, "If you don''t apologize to Willow, I won''t want you anymore"

    His words frightened Zachary.

    He continued, "Behave yourself."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Following that, Zachary stood up numbly and followed Holly to the ssroom.

    He apologized to Willow in front of everyone.

    On the other hand, Zane observed Willow''s expression throughout the entire ordeal. At first, she seemed too upset when Zachary spoke and wanted to hide in aer Yet, when she realized that Zachary was apologizing to her, she looked at him in confusion. Then, she became overjoyed.

    When Zane saw that, he was relieved.

    He stopped recording the scene and turned to leave.

    At the same time, Steven followed behind him. "Are you satisfied now, Mr. Huxham?"

    "Yes." Since Zane had sessfully managed to deal with his daughter''s bully, he was contented.

    When he noticed the unhappiness on Steven''s face, Zane said, "It seems that your new wife isn''t a good person." Instinctively, Steven tried to exin, "She''s great."

    "If she''s that good. Then Zachary should be very close to Jessica because he wanted her to be his new mother."

    Zane didn''t want Steven and Zachary to cling to Annalise anymore, so he added, "All of you should be enjoying a peaceful life now.

    "Wouldn''t you be too busy to cling to Anna then?"

    With that, Zane entered his car.

    When Steven saw the natural interactions that Annalise had with Zane, he clenched his fists uncontrobly.

    He thought, "She thinks I don''t know, but Annalise loves me!

    "She''s just standing up for Zane and Willow because she wanted me to get mad!

    "By doing this, she hopes that I''ll discover how great she is and beg her toe back! Hmph! I won''t allow her to seed."

 Chapter 81

    a great life with Jessica!

    From then on, he was going to live a great

    Steven would make Annalise realize that she wouldn''t be able to be his wife and Zachary''s mother anymore

    After thinking about that, his spirits were lifted.

    In the future, Annalise would regret her actions!

    H

    Once Zane entered the car, he passed me his phone. "Since you weren''t around, I think you''re curious to find out how Willow reacted after Zachary''s apology. So, I recorded everything."

    He turned to look at me. "Look at it carefully,"

    "Okay." I clicked on the video and stared at Willow.

    Though she was very upset at the start, she became happy in the end.

    I was very happy. "That''s great."

    "Yes," Zane replied calmly. "I think if we continue teaching her, she''ll recover one day."

    I nodded in agreement. "Yes, she''ll definitely recover."

    Once we arrived at thepany, Zane brought me to his office again.

    As I stayed in the room, I prepared to continue coloring myic. However, since I stayed upte the previous night, I kept dozing off.

    After cing my things on the table, I leaned over and wanted to rest on the couch. But I remembered that I was Zane''s office.

    What if he didn''t like others sleeping in his room?

    I stood up and hid behind the partition. Then, I asked, "Can I trouble you with something, Zane?"

    Zane heard my voice while he was working "What?" he asked.

    "I kept working overtime for the past few nights." I hesitated and continued, "I''m a bit tired now, so I want to sleep Immediately, Zane stopped working and approached me. "Do you want me to book a room for you at the nearby hotel?" "It''s fine!" I hurriedly refused. "If you do sleep on your couch instead."

    Zane fell silent and looked at me.

    Just when I was about to tell him that I could bear with it if he didn''t like that, he suddenly talked to me seriously. "You don''t have to be so polite with me. "Huh?"

    I was surprised.

    Meanwhile, Zane realized that

    his

    can just sleep when you''re tired,"

    tone seemed too stern so he softened his voice. "Anna,

    Concern was evident in his aloof volce

    you don''t have to ask for my permission. You

    Just then, I realized why the female employees liked him that much.

    Zane made others fall for him easily.

    After that, Iy on the couch. "I''m going to sleep now."

    Zane shook his head in response and draped a nket over me. "Don''t catch a cold."

    He treated me like a small child.

    "Maybe he took care of Willow for too long. He seems to treat those around him like children too," I thought before falling asleep.

    A whileter, Zane returned to his seat.

    He lowered his head while he worked, then looked up and observed Annalise, who was behind the partition.

    A smile grew on his face.

    At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

    "You may enter," Zane said coldly.

    Because he was afraid to wake Annalise up, he looked at her instinctively.

    Once he ensured that she was asleep, he became relieved.

    Eric entered the room and prepared to tell him the schedule for that day.

    Yet, Zane interrupted him before he could speak. "Speak softly-she''s sleeping." This made Eric look at the areCopyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    that was partitioned off in confusion.

 Chapter 82

    Chapter

    82

    Zane had always been very stern and professional in thepany, and he had never dated anyone before.

    Infact, everyone thought that he was a workaholic who couldn''t fall in love!

    Yet, not only did he bring a woman to his sacred office, but he also allowed her to sleep inside

    Besides, because of that woman, Eric had to lower his voice

    After looking at the partition, Eric stared at Zane. If the woman was sleepy during the day, it meant that she hadn''t slept well the previous night. She must have been ''tortured'' by Zane at night!

    As he thought of that, a smile crept on Eric''s face. However, when he looked at the cold expression on Zane''s face, he controlled himself.

    Then, Eric continued talking to Zane about work in a hushed voice.

    Thetter listened to him patiently. Once Eric was done talking, Zane passed a few documents to him. "I approve of these projects." Eric took them without ncing at them. "Okay."

    In theirpany, everyone was treated fairly-the person who came up with the project woulde up with a proposal.

    Once it was approved, they would be in charge of the project and execute it.

    Since Zane had approved them, Eric said, "Ms. Weston wants to meet you tomorrow morning at thepany."

    Usually, Eric would reject those phone calls.

    Yet, she was his blind date, Sasha Weston

    Since Eric didn''t know what would happen to the blind dates, he didn''t dare make a decision for Zane.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    "Tell her I have no time to meet her." Once again, Zane had resumed working hard and was focused on his documents. Since Eric thought that he didn''t know who the other party was, he said, "She told me that you met her yesterday" There was only one woman who met him at that point in time.

    Thedy''s identity seemed very obvious.

    Meanwhile, Zane looked up.

    Eric continued ufortably, "She wants to ask if you would continue dating her in the future."

    Zane replied indifferently, "I don''t want to date her, so we won''t have to meet anymore."

    After getting a confirmation, Eric nodded. "Okay, I tell her that."

    "Alright"

    After that, Zane motioned for him to leave.

    Huxham Corporation was argepany, and it was the best in the industry.

    At that moment, things were progressing smoothly.

    Logically speaking, Zane shouldn''t be busy working at this point.

    However, he was ambitious and wanted to start a newpany to venture into other industries...

    As such though his employees could ck off a bit, he had to think about the future of his newpany.

    The threats and ways to solve them had to be considered

    Zane needed to work. However, after thinking for a long time, he decided to call his mother.

    He wanted to tell her the was very busy and had no time to date.

    So, she shouldn''t arrange blind dates for him anymore.

    At the same time, he ho

    hoped that she would tell those blind dates not to contact him anymore since they were unable to meet.

    As Zane didn''t want to disturb Annalise, he walked out of the room and called Rowena.

    2/2

    "Why don''t you want to meet her?" thetter asked.

    After Sasha had been rejected by him, sheined to Rowena about it.

    Zane asked calmly, "Didn''t she tell you about it? She only agreed to date me if I didn''t bring Willow with me."

    "Willow is your brother''s daughter," Rowena replied. "Sasha is young, so it''s normal for her to be unwilling to be a stepmother."

    Since everyone who was the same age as Zane was married, she became anxious.

    "Once you start dating her, I''ll take care of Willow by myself."

    "That''s impossible," Zane answered firmly. "Mom, I won''t sacrifice Willow for anyone else."

    Rowena retorted worriedly, "If no one is willing to ept Willow into their lives, will you remain unmarried forever?"

    "That could happen," Zane admitted.

    This made Rowena furious. "Zane! Do you want me to die from anger?"

    "No." At the same time, Zane knew that once he gave in, his family members would use the same tactic and force him to do more for them Chapter 81

    Zamecouldn''t back down

    Rowena raised her voice. "Zane, remember, you''re no ordinary person. You are in charge of arge corporation!

    "If you don''t get married and have kids, who will inherit yourpany in the future? Will it belong to Willow?"

    Zane replied calmly, "Yes"

    This made Rowena''s head hurt. "But she has autism! She doesn''t dare to talk to others. If you hand thepany over to her, it will go bankrupt soon after!"

    But Zane disagreed. "Firstly, her autism will improve slowly.

    "Next since I want her to inherit mypany, I''ll nurture her well,

    "Don''t worry about that"

    As Zane kept retorting, Rowena cut to the chase. "I won''t allow it! Zane, if you

    still view me as your

    our mother, you have to get married!

    ""Ms. Weston seems like a nice person.

    She gradually spoke quickly. "I told her to find you at your office today. Why don''t both of you interact with one another?"

    Zane said, "No. I''m too busy for that

    "I won''t meet any blind dates that you''ve arranged for me."

    Then, he hung up immediately.

    Since Zane was growing older, Rowena became anodious that he didn''t have a girlfriend.

    Meanwhile, Zane had followed his mother''s instructions in the past.

    Yet, atter

    them

    met more women and experienced more blind dates, he gave up.

    Those who were of simr status as him didn''t want to be a stepmother.

    Besides, those who didn''te from a good family might mistreat Willow.

    Apart from that, Willow wasn''t willing to talk to others back then. So, if others had bullied her, sh she wouldn''t tell him.

    Zane couldn''t bear to let Willow suffer any injustice, so he stopped thinking of marriage from then on.

    After that, Zane opened his office door and walked into the partitioned area. He observed Annalise, who was sleeping soundly.

    She had no makeup on and her hair was tied casually. Her gentle and elegant face looked very pretty.

    Most importantly, Annalise had a good temper and treated Willow like a daughter.

    In fact, Zane sometimes felt that it would be great if she didn''t find another partner one day.

    If that happened, they would live together forever.

    Although there was no love between them, their life would be peaceful, right?

    When I woke up from my nap, I checked the time and realized that it was 10:00 am.

    I still had enough time to work on myic....

    After logging on to many social media ounts, I posted my drawings online. Following that, I switched off the inte and ced my phone aside. I continued drawing myes Living with Willow was peaceful and heartwarming every day.

    If I could, I would draw all my interactions with her.

    *Did you post youric already?" Zane stood at the entrance of the partitioned area.

    I turned around. "I posted it."

    Zane nodded. "I am hiring people to advertise yourics. I think your advertising department will be established in one week."

 Chapter 83

    "Then..." I stood up and approached him. "Can I make some merchandise from myic?" As Zane wasn''t familiar with that, he was confused and asked, "What is merchandise?"

    I exined, "I''ll make stickers, keyrings, and other objects from the characters in myic."

    Just then, Zane realized what I meant. "So, you will create items inspired by youric characters?"

    I nodded. Unexpectedly, he understood me quickly. "Yes!"

    Zane replied, "That could be done."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    This made me relieved. "Then that''s good."

    If my merchandise was created, I would immediately gift Willow the entire set of it! Suddenly, I became excited....

 Chapter 84

    11

    It only thisic could attract arge fanbase.

    Many others would envy Willow if she carried the merchandise around. More kids would be keen on seeking her out and speaking to her. Her condition might improve then.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Zane approached me and said, "If thatic gains traction and bes a hit, selling its merchandise could be profitable."

    I stared at him, wide-eyed. Maybe it had been too long since Ist had a job,

    I only cared that the merchandise would help Willow make new friends and improve her condition, but Zane saw a whole business opportunity. I had to admit, he was a talented businessman with an eye for the next big venture. Smiling, I said, "Indeed."

    He pressed my shoulders and sat me down on the couch. His gaze bore into mine as he said, "I think I have an idea of the new business I want to set up. Give me a minute."

    With that, Zane hurried back to his workstation, and his fingers flew over his keyboard the next second,

    I stared at his back andbed through our conversation earlier. Nothing we had said could have inspired a business idea, but I didn''t dwell on it

    My te was full now, so I returned to my workstation and continued my sketches.

    Steven stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, his gaze falling upon the scenery in the distance. After a long moment of hesitation, he decided to call Jessica.

    After dropping Cody off at school, Jessica headed to a nearby mall to do some shopping. She was a little surprised to receive Steven''s call. "Do you need something?"

    "Of course." Steven cut to the chase. "Jessica, I''d like to know what you think about what I said to you this morning"

    Jessica did not answer. He had made his threat clear this morning: if she was cruel to Zachary, then he would be cruel to Cody. And now, he was asking her what she made of it.

    She chose to be subservient. "I''ve reflected on my behavior" Steven was generous with the

    allowance he gave her, and her priority now was to get back into his good graces. "And I think you were right. My emotions have been all over the ce these days because of the pregnancy-

    "Cody looked so left out that I couldn''t help wanting to make it up to him. He is my son, after all. I didn''t mean to sideline Zachary The process."

    As she spoke, she sorted out her thoughts and added, "I felt bad that Cody was missing out on fatherly love, but I''ve realized that for you to love Cody as your own, I must first do the same with Zachary "You''d be kind to Cody if I were kind to Zachary, right?"

    Steven heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this. "Yes."

    Jessica knew he cared about her. She had expected him to forgive her unconditionally even after he caught her picking on Zachary. All she had to do was lower herself and apologize to coax him out of his anger. She couldn''t describe her satisfaction with the results.

    "We''ll pick up Zachary and Cody from school today," Steven said. "We''ll spend the rest of our days as a happy family."

    Jessica answered enthusiastically, "Okay!"

    When Steven hung up, she pointed at the ensembles she liked and told the retail assistant, "Ring these up for me."

    Steven returned to his work desk and casually tossed his phone aside. Annalise had always loved ying hard to get. She loved him irrevocably, yet she liked to pretend she had given up on him. From now on, he would unt his and Jessica''s rtionship in front of Annalise and make her regret leaving him

    The thought of vindication pulled Steven out of his bad mood.

    Zane had been so tied up that he did not finish his work until one in the afternoon. He nced at the time and came up to me, asking, Have you had lunch?

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    I shook my head. "Not yet."

    cht up with work and didn''t notice the time. I''ll make it up to you right now. What do you

    Zane apologized at once. "Sorry, I got caught

    want for lunch? My treat!"

    I did not refuse his offer and suggested, "We could go to the diner on the second floor."

    "Don''t scrimp on my ount." Zane knew Annalise hardly ate within the building and was unlikely to know any good lunch spots, so he brought her to a nearby restaurant.

    A waiter came up to our table after we took our seats and handed us a couple of menus. Zane ordered a few signatures and said. congenially, "The food here is different from the one you''d get at the cafeteria. Give it a shot."

    "All right," I said with a nod. If the food was as good as Zane said, I would bring Willow here after getting my next paycheck

    Zane paused, then asked, "Are you nning on dating anyone soon?"R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Igaped at him. "Why the sudden interest in my love life?"

    "I figured that if you do n on seeing anyone romantically..." He seemed to choose his next words carefully. "Willow would have to stop calling you ''Mommy'', lest your new boyfriend gets the wrong idea."

    That was considerate of him, not that I didn''t agree with him. "True, but don''t worry. I don''t n on dating anyone for the time being " Relief flickered across Zane''s face. He assumed Annalise meant she wouldn''t be dating anyone in the next few years. Having gotten the answer he wanted, he smiled, and his otherwise impassive face lit up. "Gotcha."

    But i

    t if you n on dating anyone..." I wondered if Zane had brought up the topic because he wanted to look for a girlfriend. I probed tentatively, "If you think Willow calling me ''Mommy'' will get in the way of your love life..."

    I knew Willow and I were not blood-rted and that I had no right to make such requests, but I liked the little girl too much. "You could let me move out with Willow I promise we won''t bother you."

    Zane was quiet for a long time before he said, "Don''t worry, I won''t."

    I was a little disappointed.

    Zane gave me a meaningful look

    The food was served shortly after. The vors were sumptuous, though a little on the hotter side. It was a shame that Willow''s poor gut health meant she couldn''t tolerate spice for a while.

    I asked Zane, "What''s the non-spicy food here like?"

    He shook his head. "Average."

    I gave up on any thought of bringing Willow here. There were plenty of restaurants around. Surely there had to be one Willow and 1 would agree on

    Upon returning to the office, I clicked on the website where myic was published. Theic wasn''t gaining much reads, though that was probably because it was the first story of the series and it had just been published. However, there was a reader who left an enthusiastic and kindment under theic. She imed to really like the heartwarming storyline.

    I replied to her, "Thank you for your support! I''ll work hard on theic."

    After that, I hunkered down on my next few sketches.

    Zane sat behind his work desk. Having thought through the idea, he decided he would setup aic publishingpany. That way, he would be solely in charge of Annalise''s work, advertising it, andunching its merchandise. From there, he could build up his portfolio. Once Annalise''sic gained traction, the trajectory of theic publishingpany''s business development would have been set.

    Thepany could expand on arger scale and sign on moreic artists. The marketing strategies would be based on each artist''s

    style.

    Zane gently rapped his knuckles against the desk, instinctively turning to look at Annalise, who was poring over her work.

    He decided he would keep his ns a secret for now and surprise her once thepany had been set up.

    Drawing back his gaze, Zane got to work and drew up his business n.

    At 5:00 pm, someone banged on Zane''s office door. He frowned at themotion and rose to get the door. When he saw the woman standing on the other side of it, he asked in surprise, "What are you doing here?" The beautiful, polished woman wearing delicate makeup at the door was Sasha Weston, Zane''s blind date.

 Chapter 86

    Considering how he had turned down her proposition during their blind date, Zane thought they had reached a consensus: they would not work out in the long run.

    Sasha should have seen other people and gone on other blind dates after that. He certainly hadn''t expected her to turn up at his office. Frowning, Zane blocked her way and asked, "Can I help you?" Sasha scowled when he refused to let her through. "Why did you turn me down when I asked to meet you tomorrow?"

    She followed up with an usatory tone, "Is it because you don''t want to see me?"

    Zane made his stance clear. "Yes. Ms. Weston, I think we''ve talked about many things in detall during our first meeting" He added pointedly. "I do not and will not agree to what you suggested.

    "With that said, we should stop wasting each other''s time with these pointless meetings, don''t you think?"

    Sasha did not seem to realize his reproach, for she countered boldly, "But I like your face, and I think you should try to date me. You might fall in love with me as we hang out over time and prioritize me over Willow! Who knows, you might willingly send her to live with some She would never allow herself to be someone''s stepmother.

    Zane bit out without hesitation, "No way."

    "How would you know if you never tried? Sasha challenged

    "Because I would never date anyone who won''t ept my daughter," Zane said, deadpan and impassive. "Do you get it now?"R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Headstrong as she was, Sasha was about to argue with him when he continued, "If you get it, then leave and never bother me again. If you insist on staying, I''ll call security. I''m sure they have ways to make you leave."

    When Sasha saw how serious Zane was, she left in disappointment.

    Zane turned to head back into his office, only to find Annalise staring in his direction. His tone softened without his knowing as he said, "If you have questions, just ask."

    I walked up to Zane and asked, "Who was that youngdy?"

    Zane met my gaze, chuckling. "A blind date."

    I thought they were exes who had parted on bad terms. "She seemed pretty interested in you. Ten to one, she''lle back to hound you.

    He did not deny this, though he pointed out cryptically, "You should be prepared."

    I gave him a baffled look. "Why?"

    "Because my mom just called earlier this afternoon and pestered me to go out with Sasha," Zane exined matter-of-factly. "I refused. I turned Sasha away again when she came by earlier.

    "And with my mom hoping I''d get together with Sasha..." He analyzed his situation calmly. "She''s never been one to give up until she gets her way, and if she wants me to be with Sasha... I won''t put it past her to take Willow away by force."

    He nced elsewhere. "You and Willow are close. Eventually, my mom and Sasha will discover you''re in the picture. And with Willow calling you ''Mommy and me ''Daddy'', my mom will think of you as the biggest obstacle keeping Sasha and me from dating" I fell silent. Did this mean Zane''s mother would take me out of the equation herself?

    Zane reassured me gently, "But don''t worry. As long as we drop Willow off at school and pick her up together, my mom and Sasha won''t be able to get past me and go after you."

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    ing an oath. "Annalise, I promise, even if they came after you while we were apart, I''ll take

    Zane''s tone was solemn as if he was swearing

    care of it as soon as I find out."

    He was never one to break his promises.

    I believed him. "Okay"

    The main reason I wasn''t scared of Zane''s parents was that I could always exin myself to them. Even if his parents were to mistakenly believe I was involved with him romantically, I would tell them the whole truth. That should get them to back off. Relief flooded me at the thought of this.

    Seeing that I had rxed, Zane nced at the time and said, "Come on, it''s time to pick Willow up from kindergarten."

    Thummed in response.

    Parents crowded at the kindergarten entrance, but their numbers dwindled as more first-years filled out. In the end, only a scattered few were left waiting outside the kindergarten. "Steven."

    I turned around at the mention of Zachary''s name, only to see Jessica and Steven, who had not been picking Zachary up from kindergarten thest couple of days.

    Jessica leveled a taunting look in my direction as she leaned into Steven''s embrace. "I''m tired."

    Steven suggested thoughtfully, "How about you wait in the car?"

    Shaking her head, jessica insisted, "No, I want to wait here with you until Zacharyes out."

    They seemed happy and in love with each other. I drew back k my gaze

    Noticing them, Zane grew worried that I would be affected and asked in concern, "Are you upset?"

    I shook my head. "Why would I be?"

    IT HEE

    Steven had nothing to do with me anymore now that we had divorced, right? In that case, he was free to date Jessica and shower with love all he wanted

    As for me, I only had to focus on living my life.

    "Mommy"

    When I saw Willow barreling toward the entrance and greeting me enthusiastically, I hurried to meet her in the middle. "Willow!" The teacher immediately let Willow out, and she threw herself into my embrace. "Mommy, I have good news!" I knew what she was about to say, but I yed along for her sake and asked, "What is it?"

    Willow looked up at Zane, then at me. After that

    My mood lifted considerably. "All right."

    that, she reached for our hands and led us to the car. "I''ll tell you when we get in the car!"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Steven was baffled as he watched the trio leave. He thought Annalise was ying hard to get with him. She ought to be distraught to see him and Jessica unt their rtionship in front of her, yet she seemed happy. Why? Did she not love him anymore?

    Panic seized Steven as he considered the possibility

    Jessica clutched his arm. "Why do you keep staring at them? Don''t tell Annalise after your divorce!"

    me you''ve suddenly realized that the person you love is

    Steven denied this instinctively. "No way. I could fall in love with anyone else in this lifetime except Annalise "

    Only then did Jessica was reassured, Zachary shot her anodd look Why had Jessicae to pick him up all of a sudden?

    when she spotted Zachary standing next to the teacher, she beckoned him over.

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    Steven crouched so that he was at eye-level with Zachary, smiling as he exined, "Mommy Jessie said she was in a bad mood a few days ago because of the baby and ended up neglecting you. "She''s thought about her actions since and realized she was wrong. Do you think you can forgive her, Zachary?"

    Zachary looked up at Jessica and saw the warm smile she was shing him. She then asked, "Can you give me another chance, Zachary?

    He looked down. He wanted to say no, but he knew Steven was speaking up on Jessica''s behalf and glossing over her behavior. In other words, Steven wanted them to make up.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    If Zachary refused to give Jessica a second chance, Steven would me him for being stubborn and force him into forgiving her. He might be young, but he certainly wasn''t stupid. He said with a nod, "Okay." Jessica reached for Zachary''s hand and asked, "I''ll get you a present! What would you like?"

    She sounded bright and cheerful, as if she had never picked on Zachary. Seeing this, Zachary wasn''t sure how to respond.

    Jessica prompted inquisitively, "Would you like a gaming console? Or a toy, perhaps?"

    When Annalise was around, she would stop Zachary from having too much screen time and encourage him to take a walk outdoors. She had told him that looking at screens for too long was bad for his eyes.

    He had found her warnings annoying and brushed them off as pointless nagging, but now, he was starting to miss her. And just as Jessica was trying to make up for her behavior a few days ago by getting him an electronic gadget, too. Zachary suddenly realized how it was a blessing to have someone fuss over and nag at him.

    He was also beginning to note the differences between Annalise and Jessica. The former always had his best interests at heart, while thetter focused on letting him have fun.

    Jessica had never cared much about his health as Annalise had, and Zachary had been too stupid to realize these things before.

    But now, he knew that only a person who loved him could make great sacrifices for him and want him to grow up healthy and happy. That person wouldn''t encourage him to do anything bad for his well-being He decided to seek Steven''s advice. "Daddy, which one should I get?"

    Steven considered the options Jessica gave the kid. "You''ll get addicted to video games if you y too much of them and start to lose interest in your studies. I think you should pick the toy."

    Zachary nodded. "Mommy Jessie, I''d like a toy, please."

    Jessica gave the little boy an assessing look. She might be overthinking this, but she had a feeling that Zachary did not want a gaming console but did not want to tell her outright. As such, he chose to ask Steven for his opinion so that thetter could do the rejection for him

    She drew back her gaze and hoped she was wrong.

    Zachary got into the car after that. He was too young and little to sit in the passenger seat, so he climbed into the

    backseat of the car. Having hired a driver, Steven seized the opportunity to spend some quality time with his son. He slid into the backseat and sat next to Zachary, asking in hushed tones, "Do you think Mommy Jessie did well today?" Zachary wanted to answer "no". He was a child, and he couldn''t h up, and she should have known better.

    have known that gaming was bad

 Chapter 89

    Yet, Jessica had offered to get Zachary a gaming console. She was probably hoping he would get addicted to gaming so that he would look bad in front of Steven, who would then stop loving him! Zachary was about to speak his mind when he saw the expectant gleam in Steven''s eyes. He changed his mind and nodded. "She did well."

    "Really?" Steven caressed Zachary''s face affectionately. "Since you like Mommy Jessie, the four of us will live together as a happy Jamily from now on."

    Jessica might be able to keep up the kind-and-affectionate stepmother act in front of Steven now, but what about in the long run? Zachary was afraid that she would pick on him in the future. As such, he kept quiet and did not give Steven a response,

    Upon getting home, Willow set her backpack down and bounded up to me. She recounted excitedly while gesturing, "Zachary apologized to me in front of the ss today!" Ifeigned surprise. "Really?"

    She nodded solemnly. "Yes! I''m really happy about it."

    She then burrowed into my embrace and clutched my arm, adding cheerily, "I went through the same thing back when I wasn''t talking to Daddy, but I never told him.

    "I tried not to show that I was upset when he picked me up from school, so he never found out about it, either."

    Her childlike voice was high and clear. "I kept it to myself most of the time."

    Igently stroked Willow''s hair. "It must have been hard for you, Willow."

    One minute, she was happily sharing her triumph for the day, and the next, teardrops gathered in herrge eyes when she heard my words. She quickly wiped her tears away and said, "Yes."

    Icupped her chubby face and kissed her cheek. "But everything''s better now. You won''t have to worry about getting picked on by the other children in ss anymore now that your dad''s spoken up for you. You won''t have to endure in silence anymore." Willow''s tears did not stop falling, but she broke into a fit of giggles. "Yeah,"

    "But this solution isn''t permanent, Willow." I ced my hands on her little shoulders. "Do you want to how you can make them so scared of you that they''d back off for good?"

    w''s eyes lit up as she looked at me hopefully. "I can do that?

    Willow''s

    Iughed. "Of course! We''ll sign you up for martial arts sses

    Her jaw dropped in surprise, but I continued slowly, "That way, the next time someone says mean things to you and you can''t use your words to get through them, just throw them a few punches until they learn to shut up." Blinking, Willow asked, "Is that a good idea?"

    I answered confidently, "You''ll be fine as long as you aren''t the one who stirs up trouble and picks on others."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    She seemed to consider my suggestion and saw the sense in it. Leaping off the couch, she took my hand and led me upstairs.

    Zane was working when Willow knocked on the study door. "Daddy"

    He rose to open the door and bent to pick Willow up. He asked indulgently, "What is it?"

    She eyed him seriously and said, I''ve decided to take up martial arts!"

    "Why?" Zane asked, giving her an odd look.

    Willow leaned against his shoulder and said softly, "Because today I realized... I like it when people apologize for picking on me. If they pick on me and 1 beat them up for it, I won''t have to keep quiet anymore." Zane stared at her and noted her grave expression.

    She might have seen the sense in my suggestion at first, but now, she had concluded that learning martial arts would be good for her. When Zane did not answer her immediately, Willow was crestfallen. "Don''t you want me to learn martial arts, Daddy?"

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    Chapter

    90

    Mast parents seemed to prefer their daughters taking up pretty and elegant skills like dancing or ying the piano, and Willow wondered if Zane was the same. Did he think martial arts was too rough or inappropriate for a little girl? Disappointment filled Willow, and whatever light had filled her eyes carlier dimmed out.

    "Of course not," Zane quickly said. "I''m happy about it.

    Willow gaped at him, and he exined without prompting, "Once you learn martial arts, you can defend yourself even when I''m not around you. Why wouldn''t I be happy about that?

    Willow was so overwhelmed that she cupped his face and nted kisses all over it. "You''re the best, Daddy!"

    "Now, herees the problem," Zane said. "Do you want to hire an instructor for private lessons at home, public ss?"

    or

    do you want to attend a

    Torn between the two options, Willow turned to look at me for help.

    I had to admit, it was a dilemma. "If you attend a public ss, you might make new friends your age and find that you enjoy others''pany. But private lessons are more tailored toward your learning progress." Having heard my analysis, Willow said quietly, "Private lessons, then."

    She didn''t like speaking to others.

    Zane was happy to oblige with his daughter''s requests. "You got it."

    Clutching Willow in one arm, he nced at the time and realized it was already 8:00 pm. He called his secretary, Eric, and had him look around for a professional martial arts instructor to give Willow private lessons at home. He added for good measure, "Money isn''t a problem."

    Efficient as ever, Eric found a qualified instructor no more than ten minutes after he got off the call with Zane. He reported dutifully, The instructor has won the national martial arts championship on several asions and is a formidable practitioner. "His family was recently gued with troubles and he has no choice but to look for a part-time job."

    "All right." Zane trusted Eric''s choice of candidate. "Have him drop by the house tomorrow evening at seven to give Willow a private

    lesson."

    "Yes, sir," Eric replied.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    After hanging up, Zane set his phone down on the desk. Crouching to meet Willow''s gaze, he said, "Now that you''ve decided to pick up martial arts for self-defense, you have to train for at least two hours each day after school, okay?" Willow was about toin about the long hours when she thought about the benefits of training. If training hard in martial arts could stop her peers from picking on her, the grueling hours were worth it.

    She nodded in agreement.

    Zane gently pinched her cheek. "That''s my girl."

    Willow blushed at the affirmation, but she was so pleased about it that she ducked her head to hide her smile.

    Zane had work to get back to, so he said, "Willow, why don''t you and Mommy go downstairs to y for a bit?"

    "Okay!"

    !

    The streetmps illuminated the vi''s backyard. Bored of ying with her toys in the living room, Willow led me out to the swing set In the yard.

    She turned to look at me and said nothing, but I knew what she wanted. I picked her up and set her down on the swing

    Patting the seat next to her, Willow said, "You can sit here. Mommy."

    I perched next to her like she asked.

    Willow leaned against me and looked up at the beautiful night sky while we swung back and forth. The moon was full and bright tonight, a silvery orb against the star-sttered dark. The backyard greenery was so wellndscaped that I saw the flickering lights of fireflies bobbing around.

    Nothing could get more idyllic than this.

    "Zane!" An angry voice shattered the serenity, and I turned around to see a middle-aged woman storming into the living room.

    When Willow noticed me getting up, she tugged on my arm and said in hushed tones, "The woman who went in was my grandma." Only then did I sit back down.

 Chapter 91

    If that woman was Zane''s mother, then whatever discussion she hade to have with her son was none of my concern. I had no right to Intrade.

    "I don''t like her," Willow confessed after the woman had gone in. "She wants me to stop living with Daddy and let me move in with my maternal grandparents instead. They love me, but they''re not healthy enough to look after me."

    Willow was astute beyond her years. She didn''t have a chance to express herself before and atten bottled up her thoughts and feelings, resulting in her brooding. But she had good reason to vent now that her grandmother hade, and she did not hold back My heart broke at ber

    disgruntled words. She had gone through a lot despite being only five years old. It must have been tough for her.

    from now on, Willow." I pulled her close and promised, "Don''t worry, I''m here for you

    Rowena Miller stormed upstairs and pushed open the door to the study. "Zane!"

    Upon hearing the familiar voice, Zane set his work aside and looked up at Rowena. "I thought we''ve already hashed things out over the phone."

    She had pleaded with him relentlessly to meet up with Sasha tomorrow, but he refused and hung up after that. She was still sore about

    IL

    a stop before him. "I don''t think so I like Sasha very much.

    Rowena came to a stop!

    ""But I don''t," Zane countered coolly

    It didn''t matter to Rowena what he thought. "You can learn to love her."

    Zane''s gaze turned icy as he asked, "You want me to be with Sasha that badly?"

    "Yes!" Pleased that he was showing signs ofpromise, she quickly added, "You''ve never properly spent time with Sasha, so wouldn''t know how wonderful-"

    "I''ll meet her," he cut her off. He didn''t have time for her lecture.

    Rowena was thrilled to hear this, but before she could set a time for his meeting with Sasha, he said, "But on one condition."

    Her excitement died down as she asked wardly,

    "What is it?"

    you

    "I''ll cut you guys off from now on," Zane said, leaning into his chair as he leveled an impassive stare at Rowena. "I will not be giving you and the others a single cent after this." Rowena''s expression stiffened. "Don''t joke about this."

    "I''m dead serious," Zane drawled.

    He stood up then, his towering figure casting a shadow over her. For some reason, she couldn''t help feeling intimidated. She was about to argue when he added coolly, "Think about it." Refusing to believe that he would be so heartless as to cut her off, Rowena said, "Fine, so be it!"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    Zane gave her an icy look, then picked up his phone and dialed Eric''s number. "Cut Rowena and her family off from this month onward.

    Rowena hadn''t expected him to act on his threat and rushed forward to snatch his phone. "I''m your mother!"

    "Did you forget this was your choice?" Zane retorted, lifting his hand. He added imperiously, "You should know better than to butt into my life, considering you and your family are dependent on me. His words were cruel but true.

    Rowena nched, but she had no choice other than to yield at this point. "You don''t have to meet Sasha if you don''t want to... You didn''t have to go to such lengths."

    She dared not even raise her voice at him.

    Having gotten the answer he wanted, Zane grew tired of arguing with her. "I''m busy. You can see yourself out."

    Howena knew he was asking her to leave, so she sheepishly backed out of the study without another word. Chapter MT

    She had only just left when she realized she hadn''t seen Willow anywhere.

    When Rowena spotted the housekeeper watching television in the living room, she frowned and demanded contemptuously, "Shouldn''t you be looking after Willow at this hour instead of watching television?"

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    The housekeeper had obviously dealt with Bowena before and knew thetter liked to pick on faults even when there were none. Without exining, she turned off the television and rose from the couch, saying, "Willow''s already asleep " Rowena burned and made her way to Willow''s room after that.

    Willow was an angel at bedtime and got into bed at 9:00 pm sharp every night. Tonight was no different.

    After pulling the nket over her, she gazed up at me and said, "Mommy, I don''t want another princess story."

    I blinked in surprise. "Why not?" She used to adore beautiful and delicately made-up princesses.

    "The princesses in those fairytales are always waiting for someone to save them." Willow had realized today that waiting for others to rescue her meant she had to suffer in silence for a while. She couldn''t even express her frustration and anger until somebody asked her a But things would be different if she learned martial arts. She could live fearlessly and stand up for herself.

    She continued, "And I think it''s weak of them. I don''t like it."

    I was shocked. It took me over 20 years, during which time I had endured my fair share of hardship, to learn such lessons. And yet, my five-year-old daughter understood then.

    I stared at her chubby cheeks. Relieved, I bent to kiss her forehead and said, "All right." I set the book of fairytales aside and picked up a book on life lessons for children. After that, I began to read to her.

    Just then, loud knocks sounded from the door.

    Willow frowned and said, "That must be Grandma "Rowena was the only person in the family who knocked like that.

    She might not like Rowena, but she got out of bed to open the door anyway.

    "Stay put," I said, patting Willow. "I''ll get the door."

    Willow obediently pulled the nket over her but could not fall asleep,

    I opened the bedroom door to reveal Rowena. "Do you need Willow for something?" I asked courteously.

    Rowena assessed me warily. "Who are you? Why are you in my son''s house?"

    I chose my words carefully. "I''m here to look after Willow"

    The woman quirked her lips. "Oh, so you''re a nanny."

    I was technically "Mommy" to Willow, but my job was not all that different from a babysitter, so I didn''t bother correcting her. Rowena grumbled, "I don''t know what Zane is thinking, hiring two nannies for Willow. It''s like he''s got nothing better to spend his money on!" She loo This was the woman Willow hated. I couldn''t let her through and risk affecting Willow''s mood, nor did I intend to step aside.

    Just as I was about to make up an excuse to turn her away, Zane''s voice rang out. "Mom!"

    I nced in the direction of his voice and found Zane walking over to us, the lights bright above him. He had one hand in his pocket as he drawled, "Don''t bother Willow while she''s sleeping."

    Rowena argued, "I''m her grandmother. Do I not have the right to see her?

    "No," Zane bit out without hesitation.

    Rowena glowered at him. "What did you just say?"

    "I don''t wish to repeat myself." Then, he warned darkly, "Leave before I run out of patience, Mom, or else."

    scurried off.

    Rowena bristled at his tone, but she thought about how he had so readily acted on his threat to cut her off and held her tongue. She then

    I stared at Zane, but all he did was pat me on the shoulder as he said, call me. I''ll take care of it."

    "Go tuck Willow in. If you ever run into a situation like t

    There was something warns and sincere about Zane''s low voice as he spoke into the quietude of the night. I nodded. "Okay,"

    When I returned to the bedroom, Willow watched me approach her and said softly, "She''s always doing that,ing in to talk to me just as I''m about to sleep. I can''t speak, so she''d call me names..." Resentment filled her voice as she added, "She''d call me a deadweight and said Daddy would have been more willing to settle down if it weren''t for me.

    Tears began to roll down her cheeks. I rubbed them away gently and reassured her, "Your dad isn''t married yet because he doesn''t want to be." Willow looked up at me. "Really?"

    "Of course."I chuckled as Iforted her, "Trust me, he''d be rushing to the altar if 1 he hasn''t married yet, okay?"

    the altar if ben

    met someone he truly loved. It''s not your fault

    She nodded.

    I picked up the storybook from earlier and continued reading it to her. Perhaps she found the story interesting, or perhaps the weight

    in her chest had finally lifted, for she fell asleep with a smile on her face tonight.

    I watched her for a while and whispered, "You''ll always be my baby, Willow. Goodnight."

    I was surprised to find Zane standing not too far away when I walked out of Willow''s bedroom. I reckoned he was deep in thought, so I did not bother him. I tumed to head to my room and get some sleep. "Annalise

    I stopped when I heard him calling me and looked at him..

    "Did she scare you just now?" Zane asked casually.

    This sounded like the start of a long conversation, so I walked over to him and said, "No."

    "Good." He gazed into the distant night sky. "And what about Willow?"

    I pondered on what to say before deciding to tell him the truth. "She doesn''t like her grandmother very much."

    He didn''t seem surprised. "She hasn''t been the nicest to Willow. When Willow''s parents died in the car crash, she had been in a state of shock for a couple of days, but she could still talk

    "I don''t know what my mom said to her after that, but from that moment on, Willow refused to utter another word."

    Willow''s trauma had hit its peak during her parents'' passing. As her grandmother, not only had Rowena notforted the child, but

    caused her further emotional turmoil.

    Disbelieving, I asked, "Isn''t Willow her biological granddaughter?"

    Logically speaking, shouldn''t a grandmother date on her granddaughter?I couldn''t wrap my head around Rowena''s cruelty toward the little girl.

    "My mom prefers sons to daughters," Zane exined. "She never liked Willow, and since Willow was born, she kept saying how it would have been better if Willow were a boy,

    "Willow''s parents loved her very much. They argued with my mom whenever she madements like those but to no avail. They didn''t want her picking on Willow, so they made sure to keep their meetings to a minimum." Having heard the reason behind Rowena''s dislike for Willow, I was at a loss.

    Zane gave me a deadpan look. "I''d bring Willow to get her psyche checked if she liked my mom after what she did to her."

    "Can''t argue with you there." I met his gaze.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    He borated calmly, "To give Willow a safe living space, I''ve actually banned my mom froming to the house. She promised me she wouldn''te by, but she would sneak in. If I confronted her about it, she''d say she missed Willow." There was no emotion in this voice, but I heard his displeasure. I patted him on the s shoulder. "You''re already doing your best. If she

 Chapter 94

    I held Zaur''s pare, not avoiding him at all

    He smiled and said,

    "Thank

    you."

    "You''re wee," I replied, "I''m d to be of help."

    me to open it yet.

    When Zachary brought the toy home, he was sitting in the living room. He hadn''t had the time to

    Cody was hiding behind Jessica and staring at the toy in Zachary''s arms. Zachary could see that Cody also wanted the toy, but he

    it to him. wasn''t going to give il

    Cody whispered to Jessica, "Mommy, I want to y with this toy too."

    Jessica patiently coaxed him. "This is for Zachary."

    Cody fell silent, and Jessica noticed his displeasure, but she quickly assured him "I''ll buy the toy for you when the mall opens tomorrow. Okay?" Cody nodded reluctantly "Okay,"

    Steven noticed that Jessica had changed her tune and was nice to Zachary. So, he had to be nice to Cody in return. Then, he bent down and looked at Zachary as he asked, "Let''s have Cody y with it, okay?" The three of them were staring at Zachary,

    Zachary could tell that they were expecting him topromise. But strangely, he thought of Annalise. When Annalise was still in this home, the things she had bought for him belonged to him and him alone. He never had to share with anyone. Zachary tightly hugged his toy.

    Steven was already a little displeased when he hadn''t gotten an answer from Zachary. He raised his voice. "Zachary, don''t be unreasonable!"

    Zachary knew that Steven would scold him if he refused topromise, so he immediately handed the toy to Steven, saying, "Give it to Cody."

    Steven ruffled Zachary''s

    y''s hair happily. "That''s my son."

    After praising Zachary, Steven took the toy from him and handed it to Cody. "You can y with it," he said.

    Having gotten what he wanted, Cody was very happy. "Thank you, Daddy!"

    Steven was very pleased. "You''re wee!"

    Zachary simply stood nearby as he watched them interact.

    Cody excitedly put the toy on the ground and carefully opened the box, Steven stayed by his side and patiently taught him how to y

    with it.

    Zachary watched Steven from a distance. It was really strange. They were clearly living under the same roof, but Zachary felt that his father was bing more and more distant

    He returned to his bedroom and turned on the shower. When the cold water poured over his head, he shivered involuntarily. Then, the water turned hot.

    However, before he could finish his shower, the water became extremely hot.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Zachary hurriedly adjusted the temperature of the water, his eyes wet as he fumbled with the faucet. He just realized that the water couldn''t always stay at just the right temperature. Then, when Annalise had still been around, why hadn''t he felt cold or scalded when taking a shower?

    Zachary squatted on the ground and cried loudly. Back then, Annalise must have adjusted the temperature in secret without telling him Annalise had done so much for him, but he still disliked her. Zachary cried for a long time before he continued his shower. When he was done, beid on the bed.

    The room was very quiet. II Annalise was still around, she would definitely sing him a luby.

    Zachary subbed. He softly sang Annalise''s luby, following the way she used to sing for him. "Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping? Cater

    Brother John..."

    But when Annalise sang this song, her voice was gentle and soft. It made him feel safe.

 Chapter 95

    Unfortunately, Zachary could never hear it again.

    The lights were st bedroom.

    still on in the living room. Jessica was in a good mood when

    she saw Cody having fun. Then, she nced at Zachary''s

    Feigning concern, she asked, "Zachary doesn''t seem to be in a good mood. "Steven, do you want to check up on him?"

    "No," Steven answered without any hesitation

    Jessica raised an eyebrow and rested her chin on her hand as she stared at Steven. In the past, she had always been mean to Zachary and would give him the cold shoulder. Now, it seemed that it had been the wrong move to make.

    Jessica smiled even more, Just like today, she had bought something for Zachary. However, when they got home, Cody said he wanted to y with it.

    In that case, Zachary had to give the toy to Cody. Otherwise, Steven would criticize Zachary to maintain the peace in the family. "Daddy." Cody was sleepy, but he still stared at the toy reluctantly. He said, "I want to sleep, but I still want to y with this." Steven said patiently, "You can keep ying with it tomorrow,"

    "But the toy is Zachary''s," Cody said, sounding conflicted.

    "It''s okay." Steven smiled and reassured him. "He won''t mind."

    After hearing this, Cody said happily, "Thank you, Daddy!"

    Then, he followed Jessica to the bedroom.

    Steven was the only one left in the living room. He put away the toy while reminiscing about the time he spent ying with Cody. His mood unwittingly improved as he did. After he put everything away, be noticed that he had neglected Zachary. Steven turned off the lights in the living room. Then, he walked to Zachary''s bedroom and knocked on the door.

    However, Zachary didn''t answer him.

    Steven opened the bedroom door and turned on the lights. Zachary was already asleep in bed.

    He gently walked to the bedside and looked at Zachary. After a long while, he said, "Everything I''m doing is for your own good. I hope you can understand."

    Then, he kissed Zachary''s forehead. He silently kept himpany for a while before leaving the bedroom.

    Willow was very excited to find out that she was going to learn martial arts. As soon as she got out of bed in the morning, she would dart around and punch the air with clenched fists.

    Her liveliness made me happy, so I waved her over and said, "Come here,"

    Willow ran up to me and said, "Mommy, can I be a boxer after I learn martial arts?"

    As she said this, she turned around and threw a quick punch.

    I didn''t discourage her. Instead, I said, "I''m sure you can, as long as you''re willing to take this seriously."

    Willow''s eyes lit up when she beard my answer. "Really?"

    I said affirmatively, "Yeah!"

    Willow started to look forward to the martial arts ss. "When will the coach be here to teach me? I can''t wait!"

    "You''ll have to wait until you get out of school this afternoon." Zane walked downstairs and said, "Get your bag. We''re going to school.

    Willowpouted. "But I don''t want to study"

    All she could think about was how she could be a great fighter. The kids who bullied her at school would tremble in fear at the sight of her. Then, they would cry to her and say, "Willow, we won''t bother you anymore! Please show us mercy!"

    Dapter 15

    The in

    more she thought about this, the more excited she became.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    1217

    "But learning can make you smarter."I patiently advised her, "I''m sure you don''t want to be someone who''s all brawn and no brains, right?"

    If she were too foolish, she would end up like Zachary, who had abandoned me after being provoked.

    The smile on Willow''s face disappeared. Then, she obediently carried her schoolbag and held both of our hands. She said seriously, "I love studying!"

 Chapter 96

    "Take me to school!" low said.

    I tried my best to hold back myughter. Then, I looked back at Zane. He seemed to be in a good mood, a rare smile on his usually expression When we arrived at the kindergarten, I happened to see Steven dropping off ZacharyCopyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Willow held her head high and proudly walked past Zachary

    I felt very relieved when I saw her bravely clenching her fists.

    When Zachary walked up to me, he paused. I didn''t look at him, and strangely, he didn''t talk to me. Instead, he went straight into the school Willow disappeared from my view, walking into the school building. Then, Steven stopped me. He said, "Jessica and I are doing well right now." Having been forced to stop, I looked up at him and asked, "So?"

    Steven looked at me condescendingly and said, "Even if you regret divorcing me and want to get back together-"

    I interrupted him. "I''m very happy now, so don''t worry, Steven. I won''t get back together with you."

    Steven was stunned.

    I sounded calm andposed as I said, "I hope you and Jessica will have a long and happy life together."

    After saying that, I walked around him and was about to leave.

    However, Steven grabbed my wrist and said, "This can''t be right..."

    Lasked in confusion, "What can''t be right?"

    "Don''t you still love me?" Steven found my behavior different from what he had imagined.

    He continued, "Even if you''re pretending not to care about me, you''re just trying to make me regret my actions. You just want me to know how important you are. You should be furious to see me being close with another woman!" Steven must have always thought that as long as he pretended to be affectionate with Jessica, I would lose myposure. Then, 1 would cry and beg him for his forgiveness.

    He probably never expected me to remain this calm and look away from him, as

    if I were looking at an insignificant stranger. "Don''t read too much into this." I pulled my hand away and said, "Steven, this is all in the past. I don''t care about this anymore." After saying this, I left him behind.

    Zane followed behind me, and he looked back at Steven, a hint of mockery in his cold eyes. Then, he looked away.

    Meanwhile, Steven stood there in shock. In other words, Annalise didn''t like him anymore. He was strangely terrified. "Steven." Jessica stared at Steven warily and said, "You don''t look so

    "I''m fine," answered Steven. He couldn''t t force a smile and say, "Let''s go."

    good..."

    figure out why he felt so terrible. However, he didn''t want Jessica to worry, so he could only

    Jessica remained silent as she followed behind Steven. If Steven really liked Annalise, things wouldn''t be easy for her in the future. Therefore, she had to make Steven believe he didn''t have feelings for Annalise! After Jessica got into the car, she chose her words carefully and said, "Steven, I thought about it, and I still noticed that you''re in a bad

    mood.

    She held Steven''s shoulders, her eyes focused on him. "If I just ignore you, you''ll be in a bad you unhappy, so can you tell me why you''re upset?"

    all day. However, I don''t want to see

    "I don''t know either." Steven was telling the truth. He said, "I just feel very depressed after Annalise set boundaries between us."

    mood a

 Chapter 97

    As soon as Steven finished his words, Jessica tightly held him in ber aTITIS.

    Her beautful eyes were filled with disdain, but she still patiently exined, "Maybe it''s because you two were married for six years. Even though you''re divorced, you still believe you''re a family. However, Annalise treats you like a stranger, so you feel like she betrayed you." She gently soothed him. "That''s why you feel ufortable,"

    After listening to jessica''s exnation. Steven asked nkly, "Is that true?"

    Jessica immediately answered, "Of course."

    Then, Steven finally felt better

    Alter Jessica coaxed Steven, she gently stroked her belly. It seemed that Steven said he didn''t love Annalise, but in fact, he had gradually fallen in love with her after being together with her for six years. He just never realized the truth.

    However, Steven was no fool. Even though Jessica had insisted that his feelings for Annalise were not love but something else, it wouldn''t be long before he realized that he loved Annalise.

    Jessica frowned and turned to look at the window. For the sake of her unborn child and Cody, she had to take more money from Steven while he still mistakenly thought he loved her.

    That way, even if Steven didn''t want to be with her anymore, she wouldn''t be miserable. After Jessica thought her n through, she felt much more rxed.

    Zane parked the car in the underground parking lot. Then, I got out of the car.

    "That ex-husband of y

    band of yours seems to have feelings for you." He locked the car and walked up next to me before saying meaningfully, "We lived together for six years, after all," I said with a smile, "Even if we were just roommates, he wouldn''t be able to get used to things when I moved away so suddenly."

    Zane chuckled and asked, "You don''t think he loves you?"

    "I loved them before, but I love Willow now," I quickly exined, "I know too well how someone should show their love."

    The elevator door opened, and I walked straight into the elevator. I exined, "They should always unconditionally treat their lover well. After we got married, he kept saying he didn''t understand romance. I thought it was because men and women think differently. "But then, I saw him interacting with Jessica. He wasn''t as boring and old-fashioned as he was with me. Instead, he would put in a lot of effort to prepare gifts for her. That was when I realized that men and women didn''t have differing views of romance." Ipaused Then, Frontinued, "Talso realized that he never loved me "

    The elevator doors closed.

    Zane patted my back gently and said, "I''m sorry,

    I replied nonchntly, "It''s okay."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Zane looked at me for a long time. After making sure that I was fine, he gradually looked away.

    Back in the office, I walked to the cubicle, turned on myputer, and began to draw. As I spent more time with Zane and Willow, I experienced more atul mire things. In addition to drawing pictures at work, I would also work overtime at home after Willow fell asleep After much haste, I finally drew what had happened today. I sighed in relief. Starting tomorrow, I wouldn''t be so busy.

    Zane was about to handle his documents when he heard a knock on the door. He said coldly, "Come in."

    "You must be surprised to see me!" the visitor said.

 Chapter 98

    Chapter

    98

    The visitor, Sasha, pashed the door

    or open excitedly.

    Immoshately, Zane tossed his documents

    we first met." s aside. At this moment, he looked even more indifferent than he usually did. "Ms. Weston.

    "Why are you being so award?" Sasha said unhappily, "Zane, we were so affectionate when we

    g to waste his time with her. Then, hecontinued, "Or do you want me to

    "Do you want to leave on your own?" Zane asked, not wanting ask security to make you leave?"

    Sasha walked up to him and ced her hands on his desk. She tilted her head and asked, "Do you have to be so cold?"

    Zane ignored her question. Instead, he took out his phone, ready to call security.

    Sasha immediately tried to grab his hand and said, "I''ve carefully considered what you said yesterday."

    However, Zane moved quickly. He noticed her movements, so he avoided her in disgust.

    Sasha was sad that she didn''t get to touch Zane''s hand. "If you''ll go out with me, I''ll let Willow live with us."

    Everyone knew that Zane was a workaholic. His attention was only on his career. He had never been in a rtionship until now, which is why he really cherished someone who wasn''t his daughter.

    Sasha believed that Zane would slowly realize the beauty of a rtionship when he fell in love with her. When that happened, he would hand Willow over to his family to take care of. That was why Sasha was willing topromise.

    "I don''t want to," replied Zane. Then, he called security right in front of her

    Sasha hadn''t expected Zane to be so heartless. "You-"

    Zane told the security guard about what was happening and hung up the phone-

    The security guard soon rushed to the office and forcibly dragged Sasha away.

    As Zane watched them leave, he told the security guard, "Don''t let her in thepany from now

    The security guard replied, "Okay." won."

    Sasha still refused to give up. She said, "I''m already willing topromise, Zane. What else do you want?"

    The office door closed, and Sasha''s voice also faded in the distance.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    I walked up to Zane and said, "Actually, I''m also curious"

    Zane picked up his documents and flipped one open, reading through it carefully. "About what?"

    "She seems to be you a lot."I sat across from him and said, "She''s also willing topromise. Besides, she''s beautiful, and she has a decent family. She definitely fits what you''re looking for in a wife." I asked in confusion, "I''m curious. Why do you keep rejecting her?"

    Zane nced at me before continuing to look at his document. "I''m happy with my life right now."

    His answer surprised me. I asked, "Huh?"

    Zane answered casually, "Even though I don''t have a wife, I have someone who''s like a daughter to me. She has autism, but she''s also getting better. Things at work are also developing very smoothly." He put down the document in his hand and said, "Instead of getting married and letting other people into my life, uncertain of whether they would make my life better or worse.

    He continued casually, "I might as well maintain the status quo."

    However, I didn''t share his opinion "Since she really likes you, she should make your life better if she does date you."

    Zane didn''t follow up on myment. Instead, he asked with a smile, "What about you?"

    I didn''t understand why he asked this question. "Me?"

    "Yeah." Zane said slowly, "If I get married, and my wife is tolerant and nice, she''ll definitely mind if Willow keeps calling you her mother."

    I had considered this issue before. I lowered my head and said, "I can ask Willow to stop calling me that."

    However, Zane didn''t agree with my approach. "What if Willow refuses to do so?"

    I looked up at him.

    Zane said nonchntly, "That''s why I think it''s better to maintain the status

    quo

    However, he couldn''t just stay single for the rest of his life. I had to deal with a situation like this eventually.

 Chapter 99

    But when I thought that Willow would call me "Ms. Jameson" instead of "Mommy" one day, I felt depressed, I unhappily returned to

    rubicle and stared at myputer screen

    Zane kept his eyes on Annalise for a long time before he looked away. Actually, there was a way for him to get married that still allowed Willow to call Annalise her mother. He just needed to marry Annalise and make her his wife. Unfortunately, he had proposed to her, but she rejected him.

    Zane picked up another document, but he couldn''t focus on reading it.

    Steven got out of the car and was about to go to thepany.

    lost yourposure in front of me because of Annalise. That

    However, Jessica stopped him. She held his wrist and said, made me ufortable."

    "You just lost your

    Steven wanted to kiss her and alsofort her. However, before he could even get close to Jessica, Annalise crossed his mind

    In an instant, he couldn''t bring himself to kiss Jessica. Instead, he asked, "What should I do?"

    "Why don''t you give me a necidace?" replied Jessica. She could tell that Steven didn''t want to be affectionate with her, but she didn''t mind.

    She only wanted the money anyway. Once she got the money, everything would

    ? right as rain.

    Jessica smiled and said, "You know I love jewelry. When I''m upset, you can just buy me something like that."

    Steven said with a smile, "Okay, let''s go."

    As long as he didn''t need to be affectionate with Jessica, he didn''t mind spending a little money.

    Steven returned to the car and took Jessica to the jewelry store. The store wasrge, and there were many salespeople.

    Jessica walked straight to the counter where the diamonds were disyed. The cut diamonds shined beautifully under the light, and she couldn''t help but be drawn to them.

    Even though she liked most of the designs here, small diamonds weren''t valuable. She wanted the jewelry to sell them in the future.

    Afterparing all of them, Jessica pointed to thergest diamond in the store. With a smile, she asked Steven, "Can you buy me this one?"

    Steven was very generous and book out his ck card and handed it to the salesperson. "Use this card."

    Jessica looked at Steven with a smile. People said that men looked the coolest when they spent money. Sure enough, that was true.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    She was drawn to Steven when she saw him generously paying for her. She rested her cheek on her hand.

    Jessica looked a little distressed as she said, "Other people''s children get lockets when they are born. However, Cody didn''t get anything"

    She continued sadly, "Since you''re his father, can you buy him something?"

    Steven nodded. "You can pick something for him."

    "Thank you," Jessica thanked him. She left the counter and went to pick something at the counter with the gold jewelry. When she bought gold jewelry, she mainly looked at their weight.

    After all, when she sold gold in the future, it could only be sold ording to the value on that day. So, after looking at the price and weight on thebel, she decided to buy one particr locket. Steven carried the box and walked to Jessica''s side.

    Jessica looked back at him and said, "You can pay the bill now,"

    Steven paid the bill and was about to leave when he remembered that he had only bought something for Jessica and Cody but not for

    Zachary, When they got home, Zachary would be disappointed to see that only Jessica and Cody had gifts.

    Therefore, Steven went back to the counter and told jessica, "Pick something for Zachary "

 Chapter 100

    nom, so it felt

    Jessica''s smile faded instantly when she heard Steven''s words. She had already considered Steven''s money her oWT, agniizing for her to buy something for Zachary

    Jessica was unhappy, but she couldn''t let Steven notice it. So, she had no choice

    but to pick something, pretending to be attentive. After a long while, she suddenly thought of a solution to her issue. "Steven, you spent too much money. I know you''ve worked very hard, and it''s hard to make money."

    Then, Jessica walked up to Steven and said, "Why don''t we give Cody''s gift to Zachary instead?"

    Steven didn''t say anything and simply stared at Jessica. All of a sudden, he found Jessica insincere.

    She hadn''t said anything like that when she picked the biggest diamond in the mall. Even when she bought the heaviest golden locket for her son, she hadn''t said he had worked hard for that money.

    Jessica never said anything like that when she used his credit to spendvishly during their two weeks together. However, when she needed to buy something for Zachary, she suddenly acknowledged his efforts to earn that money. Steven hid his feelings of derision and asked, "Are you sure?

    Jessica held Steven''s arm and answered, "Of course."

    At worst, when they got home and gave the box to Zachary, she could get Cody to act miserable and call himself an unwanted child who hadn''t gotten a locket when he was born.

    Steven would definitely feel sorry for Cody and have Zachary give his locket to Cody.

    Jessica had thought this through

    Steven looked at her. He could virtually tell what she was thinking, but he didn''t show it and simply looked down.

    He couldn''t help but think of Annalise. His friends had told him that Annalise was a gold digger and that she was just with him for his money. But in reality...

    After their divorce, Annalise didn''t take away anything he had bought for her.

    At this moment, Steven was eager to know what he had given Annalise

    The salesperson packed the golden locket and handed it to Steven. Steven took the locket and said to Jessica beside him, "Let''s go home."

    Jessica was holding the diamond ne, and she looked unusually happy. "Okay!"

    Steven dropped Jessica off at the vi. Then, he drove to the ce where he and Annalise had lived after they had gotten married. It was a small three-

    bedroom apartment. The things hadn''t been moved, and the ce was almost the same as when they had left it. Steven walked into the bedroom and opened the drawer. It was clean and empty inside. Only then did he realize that Annalise was really frugal. Jessica''s table was littered with bottles and jars. However, Annalise''s dressing table only had a mirror.

    Steven thought about it carefully. He and Annalise spent six years together-over two thousand days-but she never seemed to have used any makeup or skin care products.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    When he opened the closet, he noticed that Annalise had left behind all the clothes he had bought for her after they had gotten married, as it she wanted topletely cut ties with him. efrom very

    There were very few clothes that he could count them on two hands. He looked through them in a panic-all the clothes were f cheap brands.

    Steven suddenly remembered the day of the divorce. Everyone had said that Annalise was a gold digger, yet she had never asked for a share of their joint property or expensive gifts.

 Chapter 101

    Annalise''s small suitcase was all she had taken after signing the divorce papers.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Stunned, Steven sat on the bed. If he had not found out about everything Jessica had done, he might never have realized just how much he had taken Annalise for granted. Guilt suddenly overwhelmed him. He pulled out his phone to call Annalise but could not get through. Opening Instagram, he wanted to message her but did not know what to say. He sent an emoji in the end, only to see an exmation mark appear. Annalise had blocked him.

    ...

    "This is what our team has been working on for the past year." The project manager handed his phone to Zane.

    While Huxham Corporation''s main business had been doing well over the past two years, they had decided to expand into new industries. Zane had delegated most of the authority to the project leads, as he preferred not to micromanage these new ventures. But now...

    Staring at the content on the phone, Zane hesitated to speak.

    The project manager wished he could disappear when he sensed Zane''s disapproval.

    "Redo it," Zanemented after reading the content.

    "M-Mr. Huxham, we really tried our best..." the manager stammered.

    Zane shot him a look. "Are you telling me your entire team is ipetent and can only produce trash like this?"

    The manager quickly defended, "No! Of course not-"

    "Good."

    Zane then continued, "Because if the next submission is of the same quality, start packing your desk."

    Only after leaving the office did the manager realize his shirt was soaked with cold sweat.

    In the office, Zane fidgeted with his phone before asking, "Annalise, do you have a moment?"

    I had just finished uploading my coloredic panels and was about to take a break. Walking over to his desk, I replied, "Sure. What''s up?"

    He handed me his phone. "Would you mind testing this game?"

    While gaming was not really my thing, I could not refuse his request. "What kind of game is it?"

    "It''s a dating sim developed by ourpany that targets female yers," he exined calmly. "I''d like your feedback on any issues you notice."

    Taking his phone, I returned to my cubicle and started ying. I frowned as I yed.

    Zane sat beside me while observing my reactions. He asked, "Are you not enjoying it?"

    "The male characters are all unattractive," I said bluntly. "If yers are supposed to charm these characters..."

    As I spoke, I looked up at him. "Shouldn''t they at least be good-looking?"

    Zane smiled. "Is that so?"

    "Yeah." I forced myself to continue ying. "Plus, they need to be respectful and considerate."

    Sitting up straight, I looked at Zane. "Why don''t you survey the female employees about what they look for in a partner? Then, categorize those traits and use them to develop your characters."

    Zane had never yed this type of game before. He had only approved the project because someone had pitched it. Hearing my exnation, he seemed to finally grasp the main appeal of these games. He probed, "So, for this game to seed, the most important thing is..."

 Chapter 102

    I finished Zane''s sentence, saying, "Focus on what female yers actually want."

    Zane studied me intently, and I met his gaze. "What? Am I wrong?"

    "No. You''re exactly right." He chuckled softly before reaching out to stroke my hair.

    I looked at him, surprised.

    He continued, "Actually, the game project needs a few more artists. Would you be interested in helping?"

    I had been pretty swampedtely, and Zane knew this. He quickly added, "It''s just to draw some small items like gifts and flowers."

    It would not be too challenging to draw those, so I agreed, "Sure."

    His cool voice held an unusual hint of indulgence. "I''ll give you a bonus when you''re done."

    I said with a smile, "Thanks."

    Then, I started coloring Chapter 3 of myic. After all, myic was my priority aside from looking after Willow.

    When I needed a break from theic, I started sketching roses. The lush bouquet turned out beautifully and vividly. Just looking at it lifted my mood and motivated me to finish the rest.

    So, I decided to continue sketching everything else. I managed to send all the item illustrations to Zane before the workday ended.

    He took a quick look, then turned to me.

    I stretched and asked with a smile, "Is there anything that needs changing?"

    He shook his head. "No. They''re perfect."

    "Great!" I sighed in relief.

    Zane started to ask about the bonus amount but stopped himself. Instead, he stood up. "Let''s pick up Willow."

    "Okay."

    ...

    "Steven..." Jessicained with a coy voice, "Zachary''s about to get out of school. Aren''t youing to pick me up? Haven''t we agreed to pick up both kids together from now on?" Steven exined, "I''m really busy with work today, so I probably won''t have time to get you."

    Jessica asked, "Should I go pick them up myself, then?"

    "No need." Steven saw this as a chance to finally talk things through with Annalise. "I''ll do it. You stay home and rest."

    Touched, Jessica gushed, "You''re so thoughtful. I''m so lucky to have found such a wonderful man!"

    For some reason, Steven felt nothing hearing her words. "Me too."

    After chatting a bit more, they hung up.

    Steven leaned against his car near the kindergarten while watching the crowd. The moment he saw Annalise getting out of her car, he strode toward her.

    ...

    The first-years got out earliest, so I waited patiently outside rather than pushing through the crowd.

    Zane stood behind me. I gave him a curious look. When I first came to the Huxham residence, I always picked up Willow alone. I was not sure when it started, but Zane beganing along, too. He asked casually, "What is it?"

    I shook my head. "Nothing."

    "Annalise."C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    As I waited for Willow, I suddenly heard someone call my name.

    I turned to look.

    Steven stood nearby with his eyes fixed on me.

 Chapter 103

    Steven''s face was filled with a mix of guilt and regret, leaving me puzzled.

    What was up with him?

    He walked over to me. "Can we talk?"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    Zane nced down at me, too.

    Steven had been acting so strangetely. He said weird things when he saw me a few days ago. Even though I waspletely over him, he was convinced I was still madly in love with him. And now, he wanted to have another chat with me. I refused without hesitation, "We have nothing to discuss."

    I then shifted my gaze from him to the childrening out of the kindergarten. "Everything that needed to be said was said long ago."

    His voice was heavy as he said, "I just want to know something. Was I a terrible husband to you?"

    What a pointless question! If he had been good to me, we probably would not be divorced.

    When I did not answer, he continued, "I buy everything for Jessica whenever she pouts and wants something. It made me realize that I never bought anything for you."

    Was he seriously trying to brag about his new rtionship?

    I was calm. "That just proves you love Jessica, which is why you want to buy things for her. And you didn''t love me, so you never wanted to spend money on me."

    He pressed on, "I feel terrible about it. Annalise, I want to make it up to you."

    Though he sounded sincere, I was unmoved. "Don''t bother. If you really want to make it up to me, just pretend you don''t know me when you see me. That would be the best thing you can do for me." "Really?" Steven asked, stunned.

    I confirmed, "Yes."

    The first-years had all been picked up, leaving just the older kids. I spotted Willow waving excitedly at me, so I stepped forward and crouched down.

    As soon as her teacher released her, she ran into my arms. "Mommy!"

    "I''m here, Willow." She was so adorable I could not resist giving her a kiss on the cheek.

    Willow held my hand happily and said, "Let''s go home and practice martial arts!"

    As we walked, she peered at Zane, who was standing on my right. Curious, she asked, "Daddy, why aren''t you walking on my side?"

    At her words, Zane moved to her other side. She grabbed his hand with her free one. Swinging their joined hands high, she giggled happily.

    It was beautiful. She had both a daddy and a mommy.

    ...

    After walking out of the kindergarten, Zachary stared at Annalise''s back as she left with the other two. He could not tear his eyes away until they disappeared from view.

    Steven knew he missed her and stood quietly beside him.

    "Daddy." Zachary looked up at Steven.

    Concerned, Steven lowered his head and gazed at him. "What is it?"

    As Zachary spoke, tears started streaming down his face. "Mommy doesn''t want me anymore."

    He broke down sobbing, as if releasing all the hurt he had been holding in. He could not stop crying for a long time.

    Steven crouched down and hugged him. "That''s not true."

    "It is." Zachary remembered how Annalise had been treating himtely, and his heart ached. "When I called her ''Mommy,'' she said I had the wrong person. She said she''s not my mommy and that Ms. Jessie is." He hugged Steven tightly. "She doesn''t care about me anymore. She looks at me the same way she looks at all the other kids."

    His voice choked with tears as he said, "I don''t have a mommy anymore."

 Chapter 104

    Steven was heartbroken, too. He patted Zachary''s back gently. "You still have Mommy Jessie." Zachary''s crying stopped abruptly.

    Thinking his words had helped, Steven continued, "She''ll treat you even better than Mommy did."

    "No, she won''t." Zachary pulled away from Steven''s embrace. "Daddy..." His tone turned serious. "Please stop lying to me. I may be a kid, but I understand everything." Before Steven could respond, Cody spoke up, "Daddy, can we go home?"

    Steven turned to look at him.

    Cody frowned. "I''m hungry."

    "Let''s head back, then." Steven quickly decided. "We can''t let you go hungry."

    Zachary stood frozen, watching as Steven walked away holding Cody''s hand.

    His own dad had also be someone else''s dad without him even realizing it. Since when had everything turned out this way?

    Zachary could not figure it out.

    ...

    The martial arts coach, Howard Lardon, arrived early. When we pulled up to the mansion, we found him-who was rather unfamiliar-standing awkwardly in the courtyard. Zane casually asked Richard, "Why didn''t you take him to the living room?"

    Howard quickly exined, "I asked to walk around the yard."

    "It''s hot outside," Zane said calmly. "We usually get home around this time. If you arrive early next time, please wait inside, where it''s cool."

    "Of course." Howard could tell Zane was not just being polite, so he asked, "When should we start the lesson?"

    Zane looked at Willow, who tugged gently at my clothes.

    I bent down and asked, "What is it?"

    Willow whispered in my ear, "I want to start now."

    She was still too shy to answer Howard. So, I exined, "Our daughter is kind of a special case. She doesn''t like talking to others."

    Howard nodded understanding. "I see."

    "Why don''t you start with her now?" I patted Willow''s shoulder. "She''s been looking forward to this for a long time."

    Though surprised his student was just a kindergartener, Howard crouched down to look at Willow. He said, "I''m Howard Lardon. What''s your name?"

    Before he could finish, Willow darted behind me.

    Howard apologized, "Sorry. I forgot."C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "It''s okay."

    I understood Willow''s feelings. Of course a little girl like her would feel ufortable around an unfamiliar adult male.

    I smiled at her and asked, "Would you like me to stay with you?"

    She nodded hard.

    "Where will we train?" I asked, holding Willow''s hand.

    Since this was Zane''s house, Howard looked to him for direction.

    Zane replied evenly, "We''ve prepared a room on the first floor specifically for her training."

    "Alright."

    Zane led the way. The room on the west side of the first floor was spacious. There were floor-length windows and arge balcony.

    Howard started to teach Willow some basic moves, but her stamina was poor. She was already out of breath after less than two minutes of each exercise. But when he tried to ask how she felt, she would not say anything. Seeing this, Howard told Zane he wanted to focus on running with Willow for the first month to build up her stamina. After that, they would move on to martial arts training.

    Zane nodded in agreement.

    As Howard was about to continue the lesson, Zane spoke up, "You''re definitely more qualified than me when ites to training, so feel free to modify the teaching n as you see fit. You don''t have to run it by me first."

 Chapter 105

    Howard was touched, as he did not expect Zane to trust him so much. "Alright."

    He was considerate enough to pull the study door closed behind him when he left.

    At his desk, Zane picked up his phone. "Go on."

    "Theic publishingpany is staffed and ready to go," Eric reported.

    Zane could now officially bring Annalise on board. He crossed his legs as his cold eyes softened a little. "Good." He asked, "Do you need help with anything else?"

    "I asked Annalise to help design some game items today," he said casually. "Make sure she gets a bonus."

    Eric could usually calcte employees'' bonuses in a heartbeat. But Zane clearly treated Annalise differently.

    Everyone knew Zane as a total workaholic. Yet, this strictly business-minded man had brought Annalise into thepany. Besides, despite having plenty of empty offices, he had insisted she work right next to him. Lost on what figure to suggest, Eric bit the bullet and asked, "How much should we pay her?"

    Zane thought for a bit. "A hundred grand."

    Eric nearly choked. The market rate was usually a few thousand tops!

    Thank God he had asked first! If he had issued the standard amount, it would not be even close to what Zane wanted, and he would have lost his job for sure.

    Eric felt relieved. "On it."

    He then rushed to process Annalise''s payment.

    ...

    After wrapping up work, Zane headed downstairs to find Howard leading a warm-up session with Annalise and Willow. His eyes drifted to Annalise.

    It was weird. They were just doing some basic exercises, but she made them look effortlessly graceful.

    ...

    After warm-ups, Howard got us running. I was doing okay, but Willow was gasping for air before she had even made it through a hundred yards. Howard told her to take a breather before continuing.

    By the time we finished, Willow was soaked through with sweat. I helped towel her off once she caught her breath.

    Exhausted, Willow slumped against me. "Mommy, I''m so tired."

    I smiled and asked, "Shall we continue with the training after this?"

    Most kids her age would throw in the towel when things got tough, but Willow''s eyes zed with determination. "Yes!"

    "That''s my girl!" I carried her up to give her a kiss, but she squirmed away and said shyly, "I''m all gross and sweaty. Let me shower first before that."

    I nodded. "Deal!"

    "Rest for a bit before dinner." Zane sat beside us and gently pinched Willow''s cheek.

    Too exhausted to speak, Willow just managed a tiny "mhm".

    Zane looked over at Howard. "You should stay for dinner, too, Mr. Lardon."

    "Oh, I shouldn''t." Howard was about to leave as he said that.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Zane added, "I already told our maid to make an extra portion."

    Howard paused mid-step and turned to look at Zane.

    Zane continued, "It''ste. You''ll be too tired to cook when you get home."

    Howard felt somewhat sheepish. "Well, I''ll stay for dinner, then."

 Chapter 106

    Once Willow had rested, we all gathered in the dining room for dinner.

    Howard''s mouth watered at the spread before him.

    Noticing his hesitation, Zane was worried he would hold back. So, he brought some food to Howard''s te. Howard quickly said, "Oh, no, please. I can help myself."

    "Don''t be shy." Zane''s tone was cool as usual.

    I nced at Zane. It was strange how he could seem so aloof on the outside yet be surprisingly thoughtful.

    "Mommy!" After getting some food in her stomach, Willow was back to her usual bouncy self. "If I train super hard every day, can I be a legendary martial arts master, too?"

    She had not even started training in martial arts or boxing and had already forgotten about bing a boxer. Now, she had a new goal instead.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Not sure what she meant by a legendary martial arts master, I asked with a smile, "What do you mean?"

    "Just like those martial arts masters in the movies!" she eximed. "They can fly through the air and take out bad guys with one punch!"

    I did not want to crush her spirit, but I had to be honest. "That might be a bit tricky."

    The sparkle in her eyes dimmed instantly. Disappointed, she tried to cheer herself up. "Well, I guess getting stronger is good, too."

    Howard could not help but smile at her words. Kids could be so adorable.

    After dinner, Howard got ready to leave. Though the mansion was in the city, everyone around here drove. So, there were not many cabs around the area.

    Zane offered to have Richard take Howard home. Knowing he would have to walk quite a bit to catch a cab otherwise, Howard epted his offer.

    Back at Steven''s house, Jessica handed Zachary a locket they bought earlier in the day. "Your daddy and I picked this out for you. Do you like it?" Zachary took the bag thoughtlessly and pulled out the box.

    Jessica nudged Cody with her elbow, who then looked up. She nced meaningfully between Steven and the box in Zachary''s hands. She wanted Cody to convince Steven to take the locket from Zachary and give it to him instead. Cody caught on immediately. Staring at the box, he said sadly, "I''m so jealous of Zachary! Daddy would buy a locket for him, but I''ve never gotten anything like that from anyone since I was born."

    He looked at Steven hopefully, and Jessica watched expectantly, too. They both assumed Steven would do what he had done before. They thought he would take Zachary''s gift and hand it to Cody.

    "I wanted to buy two." Ruffling Zachary''s hair, Steven had seen thising. He added, "But your mommy wouldn''t let me."

    Cody turned to Jessica, who quickly defended, "I was just thinking of your wallet. But now Cody wants one, too."

    She added softly, "You can''t y favorites, right?"

    Steven asked with a pointed smile, "So, if I give it to Cody, doesn''t that mean Zachary gets nothing?"

    Jessica froze.

    Steven looked down at Zachary. "I can''t let my son go without just because you don''t want me ying favorites, right?"

    "I just assumed someone else would get these things for Zachary since he has a happy family," Jessica exined. "But Cody..."

 Chapter 107

    It was clear what Jessica was asking. Cody had to have that locket.

    But Steven was not ying along. "I''ve given you plenty of moneytely. If you want to give Cody one, take him shopping yourself."Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    As he spoke, he gently nudged Zachary. "Do you want to open it and see if you like it?"

    "Yeah!" Zachary had caught on.

    While Steven often sided with Jessica and Cody, he still protected Zachary when it really mattered.

    Zachary set the bag aside and opened the jewelry box. Staring at the gleaming gold locket, he dered, "I love it, Daddy!"

    "You''d better find a safe ce for it, then," Steven said as he patted Zachary''s back.

    Zachary scampered back to his bedroom. After closing the door, he opened his custom desk. Inside was a hidden drawer containing a few bankbooks. They detailed all the money Annalise had saved for him. There were also some property deeds, mostly for retail spaces, which Annalise had bought for him. Zachary started to put the locket in with them before changing his mind and closing the drawer. He found another spot for the locket instead.

    Then, he opened his door, only to see Steven ying with Cody while Jessica cheered them on. The happy scene only made him feel even lonelier.

    Zachary suddenly realized that there was a limit to Steven''s love for him. He would defend Zachary one time, then act like Cody was his real son the next second. Staring back at his desk, he wondered if giving Annalise all the properties and savings back would make her forgive him.

    Fresh from her bath, Willow snuggled into bed. I sat beside her with a storybook, reading patiently. But she kept staring at me anxiously.

    Noticing something was on her mind, I set down the book. I looked at her and asked, "What''s wrong?"

    "Mommy..." Willow sat up and hugged me. She then buried her face in my chest. "Remember how Zachary apologized to me the other day?"

    Her sudden mention of this caught me off guard. "Yeah?"

    "I knew he didn''t really mean it then," she said softly. "But today, he came up to me and said sorry when no one was looking. He also promised never to be mean to me again. I could tell he really meant it this time." As she spoke, her voice turned sad. "He''s been so much bettertely."

    I just smiled and asked, "Has he?"

    "Yeah." Her voice got even quieter. "What about you, Mommy? Will you forgive him?"

    Her question surprised me. I looked down at her curled in my arms.

    When I did not answer, she continued, "When Zachary was mean, you didn''t want him around. But now that he''s being good..." Her voice started to crack.

    Seeing tears well up in her big eyes, I quickly wiped them away. "Why are you crying, Willow?"

 Chapter 108

    Willow sniffled and said, "I just feel that you probably want to be Zachary''s mommy again..."

    Surprised, I asked, "What makes you think that?"

    Willow stopped sobbing. "Because you gave birth to him."

    That was when it hit me. Willow still felt insecure about this matter. Though we were close, any changes with Zachary made her nervous. She was afraid I would leave her.

    While I thought about how to reassure her, Willow continued, "I know it''s hard not having a mommy. But I feel so selfish for stealing someone else''s mom."

    Her voice trembled. "But I love Mommy so much. I don''t want to give you back to him."

    "You know what? It''s alright to be a little selfish." I took her small hand as I spoke.

    I told her gently, "You don''t have to sacrifice your own happiness just because someone else is having a hard time."

    Willow looked at me, confused.

    I said with a smile, "I left Zachary because he hurt me. Whatever kind of person he bes now doesn''t change that.

    "I''m your mommy because you love me and are good to me. That''s why I want to be with you."

    Willow asked eagerly, "So, you won''t leave me?"

    Her joy was contagious. "Never."

    She jumped up and bounced on the bed excitedly before showering me with hugs and kisses. "Yay! I love you, Mommy!"

    I hugged her back,ughing and saying, "I love you, too."

    Once she calmed down, I returned to the story. Though she seemed to want to say more, sleep won out, and she drifted off peacefully.

    ...

    Closing her door, I found Zane waiting outside.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    We had fallen into this patterntely. If he wanted to talk, he would wait near Willow''s room after she fell asleep.

    I followed him to the balcony and casually asked, "What''s up?"

    Leaning against the railing, he looked right at me. "We''ve paid you the bonus. Check if you''ve received it."

    I checked my text messages. The bank notification was right at the top.

    I stared at the amount, dumbfounded. "A hundred grand?"

    Zane smiled at my shock. "Is that not enough?"

    I looked up at him. "It''s way too much!"

    He chuckled. "Well, then..."

    He nced away. "Since we pay so well, can we count on you if we need your artwork in the future?"

    "Of course!" I was not about to pass up extra ie like this. But...

    "But just pay me the regr rate next time."

    Zane did not say no. "Not greedy, are you?"

    "Between my sry and frence work," I said, gazing at the stars, "I make more than most already. And now that you''re giving me even more ie, I''m content." I turned to face him. "Really."

    "I believe you." Zane met my gaze. "I have more good news."

    Ever since bing Willow''s mom, I seemed to be blessed every day. I asked casually, "What is it?"

    "I''ve started aic publishingpany, and we''re almost fully staffed."

    Hearing that, I stepped closer and looked at him. "Are you serious?"

    His tone was earnest. "Absolutely."

 Chapter 109

    "I want to sign you to myic publishingpany. You won''t have to worry about marketing anymore. You can just focus on creating your work from now on," Zane said.

    The truth was, I had been really busy these days. Aside from sketching, I had to color the sketched drafts. And the little free time I had was spent figuring out how to get my work seen by more people. I had nned to spend a few hours each day learning marketing, but Zane had just saved me all that trouble. I was beyond excited. "Thank you!"

    Zane met my eyes. "Annalise, you don''t need to be so formal with me."

    ...

    Sitting in her bedroom, Jessica thought about everything as her frustration grew.

    She still wanted to get that locket back from Zachary. She had nned to bring it up when Steven came to her room. But he had not shown up, even though it was already half past ten at night.

    She could not wait any longer. It was time to take action.

    She walked to his study and knocked on the door.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Steven said evenly, "Come in."

    Jessica pushed open the door and moved to his side. She said, "Cody''s been upset all evening. He says he only wants a gift from you, not from me. He sees you as his real dad. A gift from his real dad means something different." "Jessica."

    She had already made a scene about this once, and now, here she was again.

    Steven rubbed his temples. "I wanted to buy two, but you said no."

    Jessica bit her lip as tears rolled down her cheeks. "It''s all my fault. I shouldn''t have been worried about your spending."

    She looked so pitiful with that tearful face. Steven had a feeling if he did not give in, she would keep pestering him about this. He asked, "What do you want, then?"

    "Let''s get Cody a locket tomorrow," she suggested hesitantly.

    Steven scoffed. As expected, when they could not steal Zachary''s locket, they would just ask Steven to buy a new one instead. So much for worrying about his spending! But maybe spending some money would end this drama. "Fine."

    Getting what she wanted, Jessica went over and linked her finger with his. "So, will youe to see me tonight?"

    Her touch was soft, and her voice was suggestive. As a grown man, Steven knew exactly what she was hinting at.

    He smoothly withdrew his hand. Smiling, he said, "For the baby''s sake, you should sleep alone these months."

    "Okay."

    Back in her room, Jessica closed the door as her face turned grim. Ever since she had returned from overseas, Steven had not touched her once-not even the slightest intimate gesture. The only reason there was a misunderstanding about her having his child was merely because he had been drunk one night.

    Jessica bit her lip.

    Indeed, she did not need Steven''s love-it was his money she was after. But Steven had been keeping a distance from her all this while...

 Chapter 110

    It probably would not be long before Steven got tired of Jessica. He would then find an excuse to dump her.

    No way! Jessica could not let that happen.

    She made up her mind. She needed to find more ways to get close to Steven. This was the only way to stay in his life a little longer.

    ...

    To help build Willow''s strength, I woke her ten minutes early. Though sleepy, she got up withoutint.

    We started with a few hundred yards of walking until she fully woke up, then began jogging. We would rest when she got tired, and then, we would repeat the same routine. After several rounds, Willow waspletely spent. She was too exhausted to even walk. She copsed on the grass motionlessly.

    Knowing she was wiped out, I carried her back to her room. I helped her shower after she cleaned herself up a little.

    Now dressed, Willow wisely dered, "I guess getting stronger isn''t something that happens overnight."

    Her serious expression made meugh. I tapped her nose yfully. "That''s right."

    She insisted, "But I''ll keep at it." Pumping her tiny fist, she said, "I''m going to be the strongest kid ever!"

    I encouraged, "You sure will be, Willow!"

    Only then did she take my hand happily as we headed downstairs. Spotting Zane in the living room, she tilted her head and asked, "Daddy, did you just wake up?"

    Zane could tell she wanted to brag. ying along, he asked, "I did. What about you?"Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Willow lifted her chin proudly. "I''ve been up forever! Mommy and I ranps and everything!"

    Zane gave me a surprised look.

    Willow lectured, "Daddy, beingzy isn''t good for you. Your health will be at stake." She took his hand. "I want you to be healthy, too."

    Her thoughtfulness warmed Zane''s heart. "What should Daddy do, then?"

    "You should exercise with us every morning and evening," Willow proposed. She then looked at him earnestly and asked, "Okay, Daddy?"

    Zane stroked her soft hair. "Okay."

    Willow jumped with joy. "Yay!"

    She happily sat down and had her breakfast after her mission was aplished. Maybe it was the exercise, but her appetite was better than usual. Watching her changes brought a smile to my face.

    ...

    As we dropped Willow at school, she kept turning back to look at us. I waved, and she waved back until she disappeared into the building. I felt oddly empty once she was gone. Just as I was about to turn and leave, Zachary stood in my path. His usual impatience was reced by a meek attitude. I stopped walking.

    He said with his head down, "Mommy, I know I was wrong. I''m sorry. Ms. Jessie always told me bad things about you...

    "She said you were too strict and were just trying to control me. Then, she''d let me do whatever I wanted. I was having fun, so I thought she was right."

    His tears started falling as he spoke. "But I realized that wasn''t true ever since you''ve been gone...

    "You monitored my diet because you didn''t want my stomach to hurt. You cared about me because you loved me and wanted me to live afortable life."

 Hapter 111

    For the first time, Zachary felt like such an idiot. Why did it take such a long time for him to realize what an amazing mom had been?

    He begged. "Can you please forgive me?

    Watching him cry hayes out, Telt numb for some reason. "Does forgiveness even matter at this point?"

    His sobs were cut off as he stared at nie, stunned.

    "Life''s about choices and consequences," Land calmly. "Some mistakes

    He wiped his tears frantically. "But I''m just a kid. "

    Treplied evenly, "Kids still need to own their choices."

    He tried to pull himself together but could not stop crying

    kes just can''t be undoneC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "I hope this teaches you something." I then continued calmly. Think before you act next time."

    Still sobbing, Zachary managed a weak "okay".

    I nced at Zane. "Let''s po"

    He nodded. "Alrigh

    Leaning against his car, Steven watched Zachary from afar. The poor kid was too proud to break down in front of his ssmates, but the tears just kepting. Do you feel bad for Zachary?" Jessica asked from inside the car while looking at Steven, who stayed quin She continued, "Are you thinking about getting back with Annaliu"

    Steven slid into the backseat without a wood

    Jessica''s stomach dropped

    Why wouldn''t be answer? Could he have guessed it correctly?

    Taking a deep breath to stay cool. Jessica started plotting her next move

    Then, Steven finally said, "No"

    Jessica leaned against the door with a smirk. "I didn''t think so, either. I mean, she''s hardly a saint. She slept with my ex-husband while you were still married. "She got herself filmed And now, she''s managed to seduce Mr. Husham."

    Jessica knew how Steven felt about Annalise, so she had to take every chance to poison that well. This was the only way to make him believe he was over Annalise But the felt that was not enough. She needed him to think she was the one he really loved "That cenough" Steven dearly felt ufortable hearing her words, turkling up, he added, "Jessica, we both know damn well why she slept with your ex

    He was not sure what was up with Annalise and Zane, but they definitely were not married. They were not even an item

    He had seen enough couples to know that pairs would usually have that spark, whether they were married or just dating each other. But Annalise and Zane felt like total strangers. That though lifted his mood a bit. jessica datdied her skier without realizing it. Was he seriously making excuses for Annalise?

    Siries concluded, "You''d better pretend nothing has happened."

    Seeing his expression, frutica looked away, stone-faced. Then, it hit het.

    The vibeod Casper and Annuliar was that are Jessica could finally be rathe easy

    the hole. As long as the video existed, Steven and Annalise would never get back together!

 Chapter 112

    Steven was upset when Jessica did not answer him. He pressed, "Well?"

    "Fine," Jessica muttered. Wanting to change the subject, she added, "Don''t forget about tonight''s party."

    Steven''s friend would be hosting the party. Truth be told, Steven could use the distraction, as his mood had been offtely.

    Lightening up at the thought of hanging with his friends, he asked, "Are youing?"

    Jessica shook her head before touching her belly. "No. Now that I''m pregnant, too much excitement probably isn''t good for the baby right now. You should go and have fun." Steven said warmly, "Take care of yourself, then."

    Jessica chuckled. "Such a worrywart! You''ll only be out for a few hours."

    Even though she was just after his money, his concern still gave her butterflies. "I''ll be okay. I promise."

    He was still concerned for her. "Call me if you need anything."

    She nodded. "Okay."

    Zane got held up in the parking garage by Eric, who said he had urgent business matters to discuss. So, I headed up alone.

    Stepping off the elevator, I spotted Rowena waiting by the office. What was she doing here? Did she want to talk to Zane?

    I slowed down, wondering if it would be inappropriate for me to head into the office now.

    Hearing footsteps, Rowena looked up, and her face instantly darkened. She strode over to me. "What''s a nanny like you doing here? Shouldn''t you be at home?"

    I exined calmly, "Mr. Huxham didn''t have time to take me home after dropping off Willow, so he brought me to the office."

    She frowned. "Couldn''t you catch a cab, then?"R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    I did not know how to respond.

    With a disgusted look, she continued, "You''re just distracting Zane from work by hanging around his office all day!"

    "Mom!" Zane heard Rowena trying to cause me trouble again just as he reached the floor. His cool voice cut in, "If you have something to say, say it to me." Rowena instantly forgot about me and rushed to Zane instead. "I found some lovely girls for you to meet!"

    Zane caught my eye and signaled me to slip into the office. And I did so when Rowena was not watching.

    ...

    Zane turned his attention back to Rowena while looking down at her.

    Eager to convince him, Rowena rushed on, "They can all ept Willow!" She pulled out her phone to show pictures. "And they''re gorgeous, too."

    Zane said tly, "I''m too busy to date around."

    "I don''t care!" Rowena hit the roof. "You''re making time for this!"

    Zane stayed silent, so she pleaded, "Zane, you''re almost 30 years old! When are you nning to settle down and have kids?"

    After a pause, he replied, "I don''t n to have kids."

    Rowena nearly choked. She suppressed her fury. "Are you really nning to just live with Willow forever?"

    He asked evenly, "Do you have a problem with that?"

    "Of course!" Rowena clutched her chest. "I won''t allow it, Zane!"

    In her world, marriage and having kids were everything.

    Zane maintained his cool. "Are you trying to control my life again? Seems like you forgot ourst conversation, Mom."

    Rowena''s face fell as she remembered. Her face was dark. "I''m just looking out for you."

    "I''ve got it handled," he dismissed her. "I don''t need your help."

    His coldness felt like a knife in her chest. "You!"

    "You should head back now," Zane simply said before turning toward his office.

    Rowena fumed but did not dare say more.

 Hapter 113

    into his office.

    - However, Rowena wanted to vent her ange. So, she followed Zane intoC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "Why ke you lounging around my son''s workce? The hostility in her voice was aimed straight at me.

    1 had batch set up myptop when I heard her Looking up, I answered, "I''m working on illustrations."

    Zane koew Rowena was just looking to pick a fight, so he had to stop het. "Mom"

    Duursted, she snapped, "What?"

    I wanted her gone.

    Rowena shot me a nasty look before storming out.

    leaving Husham Corporation did it hit Rowena. The building was full of empty offices Why did Zane insist on sharing with Annalise?

    Could be possibly have feelings for her?

    pened between my screen and Zame. Eve

    my screen and Zane. Ever since my divors, he and Willow had been so good to me. Now that I was paid such a huge bonus, I wanted to get them something

    Sotzing my distraction, Zane stopped working and asked, "Is everything day? Did my mom say anything to upset you just now?"

    "n norman.* 1 had not given Rowena''s words a second thought.

    Junes besitating. I decided work could wait. I nned to pick out some gifts instead. "I think I''ll do some shopping

    Bailing, be sold "Go ahead, then."

    "Alright." I grabbed my bag and said cheerfully, "See youter!"

    I was huge. Clothing stores

    ing stores upied the second floor through the fourth.

    my mind on my way there. Since Zame wore suits everywhere except at home-that was what I would get him.

    traded straight for the menswear section on the second floor, I checked the prices and nearly had a heart attack.

    de pt suits meae cheap, but their quality was not the best. They were nothing like what Zane wore

    On the other hand, the better ones were made with perfect fabric and would fit amazingly. However, I could not afford it even with all my bonuses.

    was it. Maybe I could get him a rie instead.

    deeves we at the mall with jessica to shop for Cody''s locket. It was then that he spotted Annalise in the suit store.

    Mas Annalise shopping for a suit for him? Had all finally realized she had been too cold? Perkaps she was worried about losing him, so she was trying to win him back with gifts. The theright of that made him feel relieved. He could not help grinning

    jeemed Hot Annalise still loved him, after all.

 Chapter 114

    Steven whispered to Jessica, "You should go ahead and look around. I just spotted someone I know, so I''m going to say hi. I''lle back and pay for it." Jessica was too focused on the jewelry disy. "Sure."

    Steven headed upstairs.

    ...

    Staring at the wall of ties, I thought it through.

    Zane usually wore ssic ck suits. Lots of ties would work, but knowing his style...

    I settled on a deep navy blue and reached for it to pay.

    "Pick another color. I don''t like that one."

    I turned, only to find Steven standing there, grinning.

    What did his preferences have to do with anything? It was not even for him.

    I gave him a weird look before heading to checkout. "How much?"

    "That will be 160 dors," the cashier said with a smile.

    It was pricey but affordable for me. I pulled out my card to pay.

    The cashier wrapped it up and handed me the bag.

    I then thanked her before making a quick exit.

    Steven''s smile widened as he watched Annalise walk away.

    Did she really think picking a color he hated would throw him off? He knew it was for him.

    After their divorce, Annalise had gotten quite adorable.

    Steven was practically beaming. Now, he just had to wait and see what excuse Annalise woulde up with to give him the tie.

    ...

    With Zane''s gift sorted, it was time to shop for Willow''s.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    There were all sorts of dainty dresses in the kids'' section. Imagining how Willow would look in them, I could not resist grabbing a few for her. I also got her some workout clothes.

    After paying, I checked my bnce. I had less than ten grand left. It would be enough for a nice dinner with them, and I still would have some leftover money. With that thought in mind, I headed back to the office with bags in my hands. Zane looked up when he heard the door opening. He saw the shopping bags I was holding. "What''d you get?"

    "I got some clothes for Willow." As I spoke, I set the bags on the couch. Then, I took out the tie and brought it to him. "And this is for you."

    Surprised, he asked, "For me?"

    "Of course!" I nodded. "To thank you both for everythingtely."

    Zane stared at the tie for a long moment before asking, "Would you mind tying it for me?"

    I was shocked. "Don''t you know how to tie a tie?"

    I walked to his side.

    He shook his head. "No. I usually just get them pre-tied at the store. I only slip them on when needed."

    I could not helpughing at the image. "That''s practical indeed."

    He loosened his current tie. "So, Annalise..."

    I opened the box of the new tie and draped it around his neck. Then, I adjusted the length before tying it around his neck. "Yeah?"

    His voice became low and alluring. "Would you tie my ties from now on?"

    "Sure," I said easily, finishing the knot and fixing his cor.

 Chapter 115

    I stepped back to look at Zane carefully.

    He stood confidently while letting me inspect. "Well?"

    With his sharp features, the ck suit made him look even colder and unapproachable. The navy tie added an air of mysteriousness and intensity. I gave him a thumbs-up. "It looks great on you!"R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    He was also clearly satisfied with the tie. "I''ve got a meeting to attend now. I guess I''ll keep it on since you think it looks good."

    I agreed, "Sure."

    He was almost at the door when he stopped. He turned back and looked at me. "Eric will drop byter to introduce you to your new editor."

    It was only yesterday that he mentioned they were almost done with the recruitment, but today, I already had someone assigned to me. I was astounded by their efficiency. Still, I nodded. "Sounds good."

    After he left, I went to my desk and dove back into my sketches.

    ...

    In the conference room, Zane faced Steven across the table.

    Recently, Huxham Corporation needed to work with Steven''s firm. They had no other options.

    Steven kept ring at Zane''s tie with a sour look.

    Noticing the stare, Zane remained expressionless. But his usually cool voice took on an amusing edge. He asked, "It''s a gift from Annalise. Do you like it?"

    Steven forced himself to look away. So, Annalise was not really trying to make up with him. She did not care about his feelings anymore!

    Maybe Annalise was really over him. The thought hit him like a punch to the gut.

    Still, he shot back, "My ex-wife does have good taste. She used to pick out all my and Zachary''s clothes."

    Something made him feel like he needed to prove Annalise had cared more about him than Zane.

    With a smirk, Zane said, "Is that so? Maybe I''ll have her help with my wardrobe, too. I''ve been needing someone''s eye for that."

    His casual tone made it sound like he and Annalise were already close.

    Steven clenched his fists. "Do you have feelings for her?"

    Zane did not say a word.

    To Steven, the silence was confirmation. His heart was gradually filled with fear.

    Zane was good-looking and sessful. If he wanted Annalise, she would probably gradually fall for him as they spent more time together. She would then forget about Stevenpletely. Steven blurted without thinking, "But she''s divorced."

    He figured pointing out Annalise''s "ws" would turn Zane off. Then, Zane would not consider marrying her. That way, Annalise would never find anyone better than Steven.

    She would realize he was the best she could get and regret divorcing him!

    Zane was clearly entertained by Steven''s reaction. "Does that matter?"

    Steven pressed, "She has a kid with me!"

    "When you truly care about someone, none of that matters," Zane said smoothly. "You just wish you''d found them sooner."

    Seeing Zane unmoved, Steven went for the kill. "But she slept with another man while married to me."

 Chapter 116

    Zane''s cold gaze turned sharp, and the lightness in his voice vanished.

    "I finally get why she chose to leave you," he said.

    That was also what Steven failed to understand. At that time, Annalise wasn''t in a particrly good state, so it would''ve been better for her to stay with him. However, she was determined to divorce him. Steven pretended to be indifferent about it. "Oh, you do?" he blurted.

    "Although I only started spending time with her not long ago, I know she isn''t the kind of woman who forsakes her dignity and honor," said Zane. "Therefore, she must have her reasons for betraying you." Steven stared at Zane, astonished.

    Zane continued, "But you chose to give me all this information when she had a better choice."

    He looked directly into Steven''s eyes and asked, "So, tell me. Are you afraid she''ll get together with me?"

    Steven fell quiet, to which Zane spected, "Do you still love her?"

    Without any hesitation, Steven shook his head and said, "Of course, I don''t! Quit joking!"

    "That''s good." Zane was content with Steven''s answer.

    On the other hand, Steven started feeling unsettled after hearing Zane''s response.

    Zane sensed something off with Steven but didn''t say anything about it. He simply assumed that the topic of conversation hade to an end.

    Taking out a file and cing it on the table, he said, "Tell me what yourpany''s needs are."

    ...

    Someone knocked at the door. Lifting my head, I said, "Come in."

    With a folder, Eric walked over, stopped right before me, and asked, "Can I get your number?"

    I had no idea why he would have such a request, but I still gave him my number.

    After adding each other''s numbers, he sat opposite me and tapped the screen several times before telling me, "I''ve sent you the number of the editor overseeing your work. Remember to add her."

    I looked at my phone. The editor''s name was Yvonne Frost.

    After I sent her an invite on WhatsApp, Eric said, "You can ask her if you have any questions regarding your work in the future. You can call me if she can''t settle the problem for you."

    I was a little surprised to learn that he was concerned about that. "Okay," I said.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Eric then told me he was worried I would run into some work-rted problems yet couldn''t find anyone to help me. He thought I might end up bottling up my emotions and bearing all the pressure alone, so he briefed me on what I could ask Yvonne for help with. I nodded from time to time to show my understanding and told him that I got it after he was done talking.

    After that, he looked at the door and, after making sure that Zane wasn''ting here, lowered his voice and asked, "What do you think of our boss?"

    Was he talking about Zane?

    After running the question through my mind, I answered, "He''s a generous and approachable boss?"

    Eric looked hesitant. "Just... a boss?"

    Without giving it a second thought, I responded with, "What else could he be?"

    Eric fell silent. He thought, "These days, Zane acted like he wanted to take Annalise wherever he went. How could she still see him as merely a superior? Can''t she be bolder and more ambitious?" "What do you want to tell me?" I asked after seeing that look on Eric''s face. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat.

    Eric wouldn''t tell me about it, though. Instead, he said, "I thought you''d see him as a friend at least."

    I found it rather amusing. "If he thinks I''m his friend, then we probably are."

    Eric lifted an eyebrow. Did that mean Zane took the lead in their rtionship?

    Questions nagged at Eric''s mind, but considering we weren''t close, he could only swallow his words.

    After some time, he mustered the courage and told me, "Let me add you to a group chat. It''s for the staff to gossip about whatever happens in ourpany." Humans were social creatures, after all! The more we chatted, the closer we got. By then, Eric could be frank and ask me what was on his mind.

 Chapter 117

    I opened WhatsApp after hearing that.

    With his voice still hushed, Eric told me, "Don''t ever let Mr. Huxham see this."

    "Don''t worry," I told him without even giving it a second thought. "He won''t check my phone."

    Eric had achieved his goal. With my reassurance that Zane wouldn''t find out about the gossip group chat, he finally heaved a sigh of relief and left the office to carry on with his work. I, too, continued my draft.

    Just then, a notification from my phone jerked me back from my work. I picked up my phone from the table to see that it was a message from Yvonne.

    Her message read, "Who are you?"

    Only then did I realize that I hadn''t properly introduced myself.

    So, I replied, "I''m the author of ''Days with My Daughter.""

    She replied soon enough, "I have a lot on my te these days. I need a few days before I have the time to go through your work. You''ll have to wait for a bit."

    I had my full attention on my draft of theic these days, so I didn''t have the time to think about anything else anyway.

    I responded to her message with, "No worries. There''s no need to rush."

    ...

    Jessica was enjoying herself scrolling on her phone in the living room when Yvonne called her. Surprised, she asked, "Why did you suddenly call me?"

    Yvonne stated inly, as if it was obvious enough, "I''m now aic editor at Huxham Corporation. Guess which visual artist''s work I''m in charge of?"

    As Jessica''s good friend, Yvonne knew everything that happened to Jessica like the back of her hand. Knowing that Annalise was Steven''s ex, she couldn''t help but feel like gossiping with Jessica about it. "Annalise?" Jessica shot up from the couch.

    "You heard me right! It''s her!" Yvonne confirmed. "I read her work before. It was more of the heart-warming type. It won''t be easy to be popr with that genre, but thepany provides her with lots of resources." When there was some good news, the first person that came to Yvonne''s mind was Jessica. "Jessica, you''re good at drawingics, too, right?"

    Jessica seemed to have a hunch about what was in Yvonne''s mind. "What is it?" she asked expectantly.

    "If you''re willing to start aic under me, I''ll shift a huge part of the resources over to you," Yvonne promised.

    Jessica didn''t respond to that offer, so Yvonne continued, "If youric gains poprity, you''ll make big money. You''ll earn so much more than what Steven could ever offer you."

    Jessica''s heart wavered at those tempting words. Yvonne was her good friend and knew her really well, after all.

    "You''ll have peace of mind with that money," Yvonne added. "So even if something happened to Steven, you won''t suddenly lose all your riches."

    The longer Jessica listened to Yvonne, the more she found the idea reasonable. "What does Annalise usually draw about?"

    Yvonne didn''t hesitate. "She draws what happens in her life with her daughter."

    Jessica narrowed her eyes. "It seems to me that aic like that is no fun. What if I start aic based on my very own experience? One where she''s a scheming woman who abandons her husband for wealth and power. What do you think, Yvonne?" She added forebodingly, "And when the readers find out who that character is based on, do you think they''ll all hate her?"

    Steven didn''t want anyone else to find out that Annalise slept with Gibson before, but Jessica wanted to make a fuss so that the whole world would know about it. Annalise''s life would be ruined by then.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Even though Steven loved Annalise with his entire being, he would not choose her over Jessica by then. When that happened, Jessica could officially and legitimately be Steven''s wife.

    Yvonne never thought Jessica would think of that. "That goes without saying!"

    "What would be of me by then?" Jessica asked gleefully.

    "You''ll be a good mother in Zachary''s eyes," said Yvonne. "His savior. And also a good wife in Steven''s eyes."

    Just thinking of it made Jessica beam. "It''s decided, then!"

    "Once you start working on it, I''ll tell my superiors that Annalise''s work isn''t well-received and advertised." Yvonne already had it all thought out. "I''ll rmend your work to them and say that it''s for the sake of thepany." She and Jessica started giggling right after that.

    Apany founded just for Annalise, huh? In the end, everything would have to go ording to their ns anyway!

 Chapter 118

    Ever since I decided to start a side hustle, I had been upied with drawing.

    After finishing the draft, I started coloring right away. Once that was done, I uploaded it online. This was the cycle I had to go through. The office door opened with a click. I instinctively raised my head and saw Zane walking into the office.

    I was about to bury myself in my work again when he stopped in front of me and asked, "I''m having coffee. What would you like?"

    After contemting my choices, I answered, "Tea."

    Zane prepared me a cup of tea after that. At first, he wanted to make himself some coffee, but the color of the tea in my pretty porcin cup was just too tempting, so he made himself a cup of tea, too.

    He then ced my cup on the left side of my table and sat down on the chair. "How''s work?" he asked.

    I took a sip from my cup, enjoying the bitter yet refreshing scent of tea. It made me rx instantly. In response to his question, I told him, "I''m as busy as a bee."

    "Seems like your day was really fulfilling."

    "Yes, and I''m d."

    When I got divorced, I had doubts regarding my ability toplete the tasks that Zane provided me with. I''d been away from work because I was a housewife for several years and wasn''t aware of the changes in the current job market. At that time, I had no idea what my future would hold. I felt lost and was anxious about the future.

    It was totally different now, though. Besides my monthly wage, I got a side hustle that I could potentially make a lot of money from. My future was bright, and I became less weary and more rxed. "You''re doing great," said Zane, his voice soft. "And I''m happy for you."

    He was so thoughtful toward me, and I was immensely grateful to him. I was lucky to have such a kind boss.

    "Thanks," I said earnestly.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "No worries," he said.

    ...

    The colored lights in a private room in a bar flickered and blinked as Steven sat on the couch in a corner, watching in silence as his friends chatted merrily.

    For some unknown reason, Annalise''s face couldn''t stop popping up in his mind. He told her he wanted to make it up to her, but she simply told him to pretend like she was a stranger to him in the future. Even the gift she carefully prepared was for Zane and not Steven himself.

    Steven wondered if she really did not love him anymore. With this thought in mind, he poured himself a ss of wine and gulped down the drink.

    Noticing that something felt off with Steven, one of his friends, Gavin Shaw, approached him and asked, "What''s wrong, Steven? Did you get into a fight with Jessica recently?" "No," came Steven''s curt reply.

    Jessica merely spent some of Steven''s money. He was rich, after all, so he couldn''t care less about that.

    Something was bugging him, making him confused. He couldn''t help but ask, "Didn''t you all say that women take rtionships seriously?"

    "Yeah. What''s the problem?" Gavin asked, puzzled.

    Steven proceeded to recount what Annalise had done for the past few days to his friends. In the end, he asked them, "Why is she so ruthless?"

    Realization dawned on Gavin, and he said, "Don''t you get it? She did all that because she loves you!"

    Steven was somehow d to hear that, but he thought it wasn''t possible. He decided to listen to Gavin''s exnation before making up his mind about the matter.

    "How so?" Steven asked, prompting Gavin to continue.

    "Because you and Jessica love each other and will eventually marry each other," Gavin pointed out with an expression that said Steven was clueless about women. "You abandoned Annalise."

    He continued, "Under these circumstances, you might find her annoying if she showed up and pleaded with you to reconcile."

 Chapter 119

    "Annalise must''ve been aware of this," Gavin said. "You two were married for six years. Even if she didn''t develop feelings for you, she must at least be possessive of you."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    He exined further, "To reconcile, she would try everything she could to trigger you. First, she pretended to no longer be in love with you by treating another man well. You''d feel upset because of that. "Then, you couldn''t help but miss her. If you couldn''t suppress the urge to meet her, she''d pretend to be close to other men."

    Steven never thought Annalise would do all that just to get back with him. His frustration gradually dissipated after hearing Gavin''s exnation.

    With a smile, he asked, "What should I do, then?"

    "Ignore her," said Gavin nonchntly. "She''ll eventually realize that those tactics don''t work on you, and she''lle back to you sobbing and asking you to get back with her."

    The image of Annalise crying, her eyes red and puffy, appeared in Steven''s mind, and he chuckled at it.

    If things really got to that point, he''d give Jessica some money, break up with her, and then get back with Annalise. Annalise gave birth to Zachary, after all.

    "If you don''t believe me," Gavin said mirthfully, "there''s actually a way to prove that what I said is true."

    "How do we do that?" Steven''s ears were pricked.

    "We''ll call her and tell her that you''re drunk and keep on calling her name. She''ll surely rush over to find you." Gavin seemed absolutely certain.

    Hearing that, Steven handed his phone to Gavin right away.

    Gavin found Annalise''s number and called her, but she didn''t answer.

    Noticing this, Steven reminded, "She blocked me."

    Gavin wanted to message her using Steven''s WhatsApp ount, but she''d blocked him there, too. That wasn''t a problem, though.

    Gavin then fished out his phone and dialed her number.

    "Hello?" Annalise''s voice sounded from the phone.

    ...

    I was busy adding speech bubbles to myic when my phone started ringing. Picking it up, I answered the call.

    "You are?" I asked. It was a stranger''s number.

    "I''m Steven''s friend," said the person. He didn''t beat around the bush.

    It was odd. I wasn''t close to any of his friends, so why would any of them call me?

    I was about to hang up when he said, "He''s in a foul mood today and called us to grab a drink at the bar. But he refused to tell us anything. He just won''t stop drinking. He''s already drunk, but he just won''t stop calling your name while crying." He continued, "We wanted to drive him back, but he said he wouldn''t leave unless youe."

    How touching! This friend of Steven had quite the silver tongue. Unfortunately for them, I wasn''t moved at all.

    "I''m busy," I simply told him.

    After a pause, I added, "Besides, I''ve made it very clear that he and I are divorced, so we won''t see each other again. You can just drive him home."

    I hung up right after that. My workload had increased tremendously these days, and I didn''t want to waste my time on someone of no significance.

    ...

    Gavin was stunned at how Annalise responded upon learning that Steven was drunk-it was totally different than what he''d expected.

    What was going on? Did she really not love Steven anymore?

    He stared at the screen for some time before turning to meet Steven''s hopeful eyes.

    "When is sheing to pick me up?" Steven asked, sure that Annalise woulde for him.

    Looking at Steven''s expectant face, Gavin hesitated, finding it hard to break the news to him. In the end, he resorted to shifting the topic of conversation. "We can''t let here to you," said Gavin as if he''d changed his mind.

    "Why?" Steven was bewildered.

    "You aren''t drunk yet. She''ll know that you''re lying." Gavin could onlye up with an excuse.

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    After giving it some thought, Steven concluded that what Gavin said was reasonable.

    He nned to drink a little bit more before Annalise came. If they were going to put on an act, he should make sure that everything seemed believable, after all.

    Still, he had lots of work to do in the afternoon. It was a shame he couldn''t see the worried look on Annalise''s face if she came. He wasn''t too bothered about it, though. After all, he already knew that she still loved him. Now that he''d gotten the answer he sought, he felt like going back to the office to settle his work.

    Steven got up from the couch and bid his friends goodbye. After he left, all the others in the room crowded around Gavin.

    Curious, they all asked in unison, "What happened just now?"

    "I think Annalise might not be pretending that she doesn''t love Steven anymore," Gavin said slowly after a while. "She might actually have lost her feelings for him."

    The others around him weren''t pleased with that. They said, "You should''ve just told him that!"

    Gavin rolled his eyes at them, annoyed. "Didn''t you guys see that look on his face just now? He looked so upset and listless when I said Annalise didn''t love him. But when I said she did, he smiled immediately." Everyone in the room stared at each other at the realization. A momentter, someone asked uncertainly, "Did he fall in love with her?"

    "That''s most probably the case," said Gavin, his expression grave.

    "Then, why did he... " someone muttered but stopped halfway through the sentence. They all fell silent when they recalled what Steven had done to force Annalise to divorce him. Eventually, Gavin stated what everyone was thinking, "He dug his own grave."

    "Indeed," everyone else agreed.

    ...

    It was about time to pick Willow up. Zane and I tossed our work aside and headed to the kindergarten to wait for her at the entrance.

    Seeing the first group of kidse out of the kindergarten, I turned to him and said, "Oh, right. You can tell Richard and the others to dig in first. They don''t need to wait for us." "Why?" Zane asked coldly.

    He spoke the same way he did when he spoke to his subordinates at thepany, but his tone became a little softer when he was around his family.

    It was new to me. I had never heard him speak in that tone. Still, I didn''t show the surprise on my face.

    "I want to treat you two to a meal," I said with a smile.

    "You don''t need to," said Zane. "You gave me a necktie today, so dinner''s on me."

    "We''re not strangers. You don''t have to repay me," he insisted.

    I knew he simply wanted me to save some money. I tried to persuade him by saying, "It''s not every day I get such a huge bonus. It''s something worth celebrating!" Seeing how persistent I was, Zane eventually gave in. He took out his phone to inform Richard about us eating out.

    When the younger children had all gone home, the older children started walking out of the kindergarten. Willow stood at the end of the line.

    When she saw me, she tried forcing a smile, but to no avail. I instantly knew that something unpleasant had happened to her at school.

    Willow walked through the opened gates, slowly making her way to me. She stopped in front of me and, after some hesitation, murmured, "Mommy..."

    Crouching next to her, I looked into her eyes and asked, "What''s wrong?"

    "I don''t know what happened, but the kids in my ss avoided me today." Willow''s voice was so soft, making her seem all the more pitiful.

    She continued, "I don''t mind it, though. I don''t like talking to them anyway."

    I nced at Zane, thinking if I should ask him to go and ask Holly about this matter. But before the words could leave my mouth, he''d already nodded and headed into the building. Sighing in relief, I patiently turned to Willow and asked, "Are you upset, Willow?"

    She thought long and hard about it before deciding that she would be frank with me. "Yes. They weren''t like this before. They all changed so suddenly."

    I ruffled her hair and asked, "Do you want to know why?"

    She bobbed her head at the question. At that moment, she looked so pitiful and fragile that my heart ached for her.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "Then, you have to work hard to ovee your challenges," I said to encourage her.

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    Willow lifted her head, staring nkly at me.

    I gently reassured her, "This way, we can directly ask the students what happened."

    She still looked down, listless. "Actually, I wanted to ask them today, but I..."

    She continued, "I just can''t push myself to ask."

    "It''s okay." I understood. Given her condition, it couldn''t be rushed. "We''ll take our time. One day, you''ll be able to do it."

    Willow nodded earnestly with a hum.

    In reality, what she hadn''t told me was that she really envied those other children with friends.

    Willow couldn''t help but secretly wish she had a friend. If she could talk to others, she could probably make some good friends, too.

    When Zane came back, he shook his head at me.

    I felt a little heavy-hearted. It seemed like Holly didn''t know the reason, either.

    I held Willow''s hand and led her to the car.

    Willow''s situation was unique. She couldn''tmunicate with anyone except with me and Zane. Even if someone bullied her, she wouldn''t tell the teacher.

    Under such circumstances, Willow would find it difficult to enter elementary or middle school. She would likely be isted and bullied without knowing how to speak up for herself.

    I had to guide her and help her get better as soon as possible to prevent her from getting bullied in the future.

    I sat in the backseat and tentatively asked Willow, "How about we try talking to others today?"

    Willow gathered her courage and said, "Okay!"

    I turned to Richard and said, "How about you say a few words to Mr. Cruze?"

    Willow had many questions she wanted to ask, like, "Mr. Cruze, have you eaten? Are you tired?"

    But even though her mouth opened, no sound came out.

    Willow''s eyes were immediately filled with tears.

    She knew I wanted her to get better. So, she felt like she had let me down. "I''m sorry, Mommy... I can''t do it."

    "Willow..." Iforted her gently, "Look. You were willing to try. That''s already very impressive."

    Willow thought I would be disappointed, but I encouraged her instead. She hesitantly asked, "Really?"

    I reassured her, "Yes!"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    Her mood brightened up a little.

    ...

    Zachary stood by the side of the road, watching the car disappear into the distance.

    Jessica crossed her arms and sneered, "Are you regretting it?"

    Cody had said he was going to the supermarket earlier, and Steven had followed him. So, Jessica stayed behind to apany Zachary. Once the car was out of sight, Zachary slowly answered, "Mm."

    Jessica felt like teasing Zachary, knowing that Steven wouldn''t find out, so she deliberately said, "But she doesn''t want you anymore."

    "I know," Zachary replied as he got into the car.

    Jessica was about to continue, but she swallowed her words as soon as she saw Steven return. She sat in the front passenger seat while Cody pulled Steven into the back seat. Cody eagerly shared his new toy with Steven, telling him how much fun it was.

    Steven smiled and nodded in agreement.

    "Daddy," Zachary suddenly spoke.

    Jessica instinctively gripped the seatbelt in her hand. Was Zachary about to tell on her?

 Chapter 122

    Zachary casually said, "Get Mr. Thompson to pick me up from now on."

    Steven was puzzled. "Why? What happened?"

    Zachary didn''t n to reveal his true thoughts. "I just think you have to buy gifts for us every day, and it costs a lot of money. So, you''d better focus on working hard at thepany. Otherwise, your ie won''t be enough." Steven didn''t expect Zachary to be so thoughtful. He was so happy that he hugged thetter and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Alright!"

    ...

    On the way, I took out the dresses I had bought for Willow and showed them to her, one set after another.

    Willow''s jaw dropped. The earlier gloom lifted from her face. She happily asked, "Mommy, did you buy all of these for me?"

    I nodded. "Of course!"

    Willow hugged the beautiful dresses and suddenly began to cry.

    I quickly wiped her tears. "Do you not like them?"

    "No!" Willow''s eyes were red. "I just didn''t expect you to buy me clothes, Mommy. I''m so happy."

    I hugged her. "When I get paid, I''ll buy you more."

    Willow immediately turned me down. "No, Mommy. It''s not easy for you to make money. Let''s save it up."R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    She looked up at me. "But maybe asionally, you can buy me one set. That''s fine."

    She was eternally happy to receive something from me.

    "Alright." I understood that Willow didn''t want me to spend too much money. "I have another piece of good news for you today."

    Willow''s attention waspletely captured. She excitedly asked, "What is it?"

    "I''m nning to take you and Daddy out for dinner." I gently tapped her nose. "Is there anything you''d like to eat?"

    Willow looked at Zane secretly, as if worried I might spend too much.

    She lowered her voice so that Zane wouldn''t hear us and said, "I want to go to the food market and see if there''s anything nice to eat." Zane looked at Willow in surprise.

    Willow buried her face in my arms, whispering, "Mommy, please say yes."

    I naturally sought Zane''s opinion. "Is it okay?"

    Zane didn''t expect that his properly raised daughter had been wanting to eat street food all along. However, he didn''t refuse. "Let''s go."

    ***

    The food market was a long stretch of street, bustling with activity. It was packed with people, and some stalls even had long lines of customers waiting to try their offerings. Willow looked at the long lines and instinctively thought that the food had to be very good. She nced at Zane with eager eyes.

    Because Willow was willing tomunicate with him, Zane felt that she was much livelier than before. He asked, "What''s up?" "Daddy, should we line up separately?" Willow didn''t wait for Zane to reply and had already assumed he would agree.

    Not knowing how to read yet, she pointed to the stall with the longest line. "You go to that one."

    Zane indulged her. "Okay."

    Willow took my hand. "I''m a little kid, so I need an adult with me. So, Mommy, you stay with me in this line."

    I naturally didn''t mind. "No problem."

    With Willow''s guidance, the three of us bought eight different snacks.

    Willow wanted to try everything she saw and urged us to keep buying when she felt it wasn''t enough.

    However, Zane refused, his tone unusually serious, "Let''s finish what we have first, or we''ll be wasting food."

    Willow reluctantly nced at the never-ending stalls and sighed. "Alright."

    After cing the snacks on the table, Willow tried a piece of grilled shrimp, her eyes widening in surprise. "It''s delicious!" She then used a toothpick to pick up a piece of shrimp and offered it to me.

    "Mommy, you should try it, too!"

 Chapter 123

    I leaned closer to Willow and took a bite, ying along. Upon meeting her eager gaze, I exaggerated my reaction and said, "Wow, this is so delicious!" Willow was satisfied with my performance. "Isn''t it?"

    She said this and was about to continue eating.

    Zane pretended to be jealous and said, "You''re only giving it to Mommy and not me?"

    Willow quickly took the shrimp she had almost eaten and offered it to Zane instead.

    She said seriously, "I''m just helping you blow on it so it won''t be too hot for you."

    Zane pretended not to notice her real thoughts. "Thank you, Willow."

    There were a lot of snacks, but the portions were small. They were just enough for the three of us.

    Willow patted her full belly, happily saying, "Good thing I listened to Daddy, or I wouldn''t have been able to finish them all!"

    Zane chuckled at Willow''s little grown-up act and said, "Let''s go for a walk."

    Otherwise, she might upset her stomach since she ate a little too much today. It would also be ufortable for her to sleepter.

    Though Willow thought staying here was morefortable, she knew Zane wouldn''t harm her, so she obediently got up.

    I walked beside her, softly asking, "What do you want to eat tomorrow?"

    I thought about treating them to a feast, but Willow insisted on eating street food. I knew she was considerate, not wanting me to spend too much, but I always wanted her to eat good food. Willow shook her head. "I have no idea."R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    I suggested, "How about barbeque?"

    She quickly agreed, "Sure!"

    She grabbed my hand, walking down the street with a confident stride.

    I looked down at her and smiled.

    Suddenly, I heard someone calling my name.

    "Annalise?"

    I turned toward the voice.

    Gavin''s gaze swept over Zane and Willow before he looked at me with discontent. "You''re really heartless, aren''t you?"

    "You just divorced Steven and already found someone else."

    Only after seeing this scene did he realize why Steven was so upset when he mentioned me. It was true that I had truly moved on.

    "Steven''s no better. He found a new wife even before the divorce," I replied, unaffected by their criticism of me.

    I even smiled as I responded, "If I''m not mistaken, Jessica''s baby is already a few months along.

    "Since you''re so righteous, speaking up for Steven when you see me with someone of the opposite sex and a child, you must have rushed over to chide Steven when you learned that he cheated on me, right?" Gavin remembered how I used to be. I was always gentle and amodating. I always put on a smile no matter how harsh their words were.

    He was taken aback. What was this about now? Was she actually arguing back?

    Zane spoke softly, "You make a good point."

    I was surprised that he agreed with me. I looked at him in disbelief.

    Zane continued, "Otherwise, do they have two different sets of standards? Steven is irresponsible and cheats, but they say nothing about his behavior. Yet they me you for not being faithful to a man you''re already divorced from?" I pretended to be surprised and asked Gavin, "You''re not this kind of person, are you?"

    At this point, Gavin found himself in a difficult position. No matter how he responded, it would appear wrong.

    If he admitted that he didn''t y favorites, he couldn''t criticize Annalise. But if he openly admitted he was being protective...

    Steven was in the wrong in this rtionship.

    Thus, leaving him no grounds to roast Annalise.

 Chapter 124

    Gavin fell silent.

    I had no intention of wasting any more time on him, so I withdrew my mocking gaze and continued walking with Willow.

    Frustrated, Willow grumbled, "Mommy, I really don''t like that guy."

    "When your ex-husband hurt you, none of them spoke up for you," she continued, her voice growing bitter. "And now that you''re doing better, they''re alling to criticize you!" She red back at Gavin, her anger evident. "Who do they think they are?"

    She was standing up for me. I couldn''t spoil the moment. "You''re right."

    Willow''s expression turned sad. "I really wish I could talk to other people. Then, I could defend you, Mommy!"

    I yed along with her words. "Then, you''ll have to try your best."

    Willow looked up at me.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    I pretended to be troubled and said, "Life is long, and there will always be people criticizing me. I really hope you can speak up for me one day."

    Willow''s face became serious as she said, "Mommy, I will never let you down!"

    "Really?" I beamed with joy.

    She nodded.

    I sighed, feeling touched. "That''s wonderful."

    The three of us continued walking aimlessly along the street. We didn''t head home until Willow felt less bloated.

    ...

    Gavin watched Annalise''s retreating figure.

    He couldn''t understand. Annalise had once loved Steven so much, so how could she get over him so easily?

    He stood there for a long time, then he decided to tell Steven about this encounter.

    "Hello?" Steven answered the phone, his voice filled with curiosity. "What''s going on?"

    Gavin knew that Steven had already fallen for Annalise, though he hadn''t fully realized it yet. If he told Steven this painful truth, he would certainly suffer. But at least Steven still had Jessica by his side.

    With Jessica''spany, Steven would probably get over the heartbreak quickly. Maybe he could even fall in love with Jessica again.

    Gavin paused for a moment before saying, "I ran into Annalise today at the food market."

    Steven perked up. "Which food market?"

    Gavin knew hearing about Annalise''s whereabouts would surely make Steven want to rush over to her-even if it was just to create a chance encounter.

    He continued, "She was with Zane."

    Steven respondedzily, "Oh."

    "I saw her, and..." Gavin slowed his speech on purpose, as if to make sure Steven heard him clearly. "She seemed to really enjoy her life now.

    "Steven, she''s probablypletely done with you now."

    It felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over Steven''s head, and he snapped to attention.

    So, his feelings were right. From the moment they divorced, Annalise had really stopped caring about him. However, he couldn''tprehend how she became so heartless. He didn''t understand how she could throw all those years of love away. Steven''s heart felt heavy.

    Gavin nced at his phone. Steven didn''t answer him, nor did he hang up.

    He pretended not to notice Steven''s feelings and cheerfully said, "You should be happy about this. Steven, this means she won''t bother you anymore. You can focus on enjoying your time with Jessica now."

    Gavin''s tone was light and casual.

    Steven thought for a moment.

    Gavin''s words made sense, but he still couldn''t smile. He tried, but the smile just wouldn''te.

    "Yeah."

 Chapter 125

    Gavin said, "We all know. Whether before or after your marriage, the one in your heart has always been Jessica." Steven still couldn''t understand.

    Why was it that now-when his dreams hade true-he felt no happiness? Instead, a hollow emptiness was inside him, as though he had lost something important. Steven opened his wardrobe.

    The neatly hung suits were all wrinkled. His clothes were always neatly pressed when Annalise was around, looking as fresh as new.

    He pushed open the bedroom door and walked into the living room.

    Jessica was watching TV, and when she noticed him approaching, she pouted andined, "The nanny took the day off, and no one made dinner. I had to order takeout." At this moment, Steven suddenly realized he hadn''t had takeout in a long time.

    When he was with Annalise, he was in the early stages of his career and had no time to cook, so he relied on takeout every day.

    At that time, Annalise was pregnant. She would always tell him that takeout wasn''t healthy. So, she cooked meals at home every day and brought them to his office.

    As hispany grew and stabilized, he gradually had more time to enjoy home-cooked meals.

    Every evening when he came home, he could always find delicious food on the table, along with Annalise''s gentle smile. It made him feel at peace.

    Jessica didn''t notice Steven''s expression. She leaned into his arms and coquettishly said, "Steven, how about we hire another nanny and a driver?"

    Steven only shot back, "Don''t we already have one?"

    "No. We''re still short of manpower." Jessica sat up and counted on her fingers. "Look. We only have one nanny at home. What if she takes a day off? Then, I''d have to eat takeout." She gently rubbed her belly. "That''s not good for the baby.

    "As for the driver... Zachary said he''ll start picking up the driver soon, but what if I want to go out and there''s no one to drive me?"

    Steven listened to her talk and wondered if she was this delicate only when she was pregnant. Or was this just how all women were?

    Unconsciously, his mind wandered back to when Annalise was pregnant with Zachary. Back then, no one took care of her. She did all the house chores herself. And she never onceined.

    When he came home, she always smiled and nestled in his arms, happily talking about their future.

    At that moment, Steven suddenly realized those times must have been hard for Annalise. But she didn''t want to worry him, so she never said anything.

    Annalise really loved him.

    Steven froze for a moment before replying, "Alright. We''ll do it your way."

    Jessica hugged his neck. "You''re the best!"

    Steven gently patted her back and hummed.

    ...

    Willow returned home and saw that Howard was still there. Her smile instantly vanished.

    Howard noticed the change in Willow''s expression and held back augh, waving at her. "Willow,e here. We''re about to start today''s training!" Willow tightly gripped my hand, feeling conflicted. After a long hesitation, she finally walked over to Howard.

    Howard praised, "You''re sticking to your training. Great job!"

    Zane and I decided to stay with her so she wouldn''t feel lonely. That made Willow smile again.

    Last time, Howard noticed how weak she was and let her rest after running 100 yards. This time, he increased the distance to 160 yards.

    Willow was drenched in sweat by the end of it.

    When the session ended, she copsed on the grass and didn''t want to get up.

    Zane saw this, picked her up, and carried her to the bedroom.

    Willow struggled to get washed up, and as soon as shey down on the bed, she fell asleep almost instantly. She didn''t even need me to put her to sleep.

    I smiled, shook my head, and adjusted her nket before leaving her room.

    Zane was waiting for me just outside of Willow''s room.

    When I came out, he walked toward the balcony, and I followed.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "I spoke to her teacher today..." Zane said.

    He was very protective of Willow and naturally didn''t want to see her being bullied at school.

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    Zane''s voice was cold as he said, "The teachers said that they had no idea about it either." My mood became much gloomier.

    In other words, Willow was being isted in kindergarten. Yet, they had no clue about it.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    I thought for a moment before saying, "Then let''s start with her ssmates. Since they''re the ones isting Willow, they must know the reason."

    Zane looked at me, replying, "Yeah, sure."

    "But then..." After thinking it over, I decided to make myself clear to him. "Before, I always thought we couldn''t force Willow to improve quicker and that we could take things slow.

    "However, things that have happenedtely have changed my view."

    I looked straight into Zane''s eyes, saying, "I think the most important thing to do right now is to help her learn to talk to others. What do you think?"

    Zane nodded. "I think so, too."

    "However, she has tried but just can''t seem tomunicate with strangers." I calmly concluded, "I have a feeling that if someone she likes is in front of her, she''ll be more likely to speak. Is there anyone else in the family she likes?" Zane, who had raised Willow single-handedly, naturally knew who she liked well. "Her maternal grandparents."

    I asked, "Then, should we bring her grandparents here tomorrow?"

    Without hesitation, Zane answered, "Sure."

    Now that we had reached an agreement, I nned to go back to my room to work overtime. Just as I turned around and took two steps, Zane grabbed my wrist.

    I looked back in surprise.

    Zane awkwardly let go. His ears turned red as he looked toward the stars in the sky. "Stay for a chat."

    I didn''t refuse and leaned on the railing. "Okay."

    Zane wanted to say something but could not find the words. When it came to work matters, he could handle it all, so there was no need to talk about it with me.

    As for matters concerning his feelings, he wasn''t sure when a certain someone would consider finding a new partner.

    After waiting a long time for Zane to speak, I realized that a man like him, who put all his focus on work, probably didn''t know what topics to bring up in a casual conversation.

    I took the initiative and asked the question that all the employees at thepany were curious about, "Why don''t you have a girlfriend yet?"

    When I first joined thepany, everyone suspected that I was his girlfriend. That showed just how much everyone cared about his love life.

    I continued, "Did you get your feelings hurt when you were younger or..."

    Zane straightened his back, awkwardly exining, "I''ve never been in a rtionship."

    I looked at him in disbelief. "That can''t be possible, right?"

    A man like him who was not only handsome but also smart should''ve been very popr in school!

    "When I was still in school, I only focused on studying. I didn''t have time to think about anything else." While he spoke, he made sure to watch for the reaction of the woman beside him.

    He continued, "Then, I took over the family business after graduation, and many people didn''t ept me. In order to gain their recognition, I had to put all my attention and time into work. After finally establishing myself in thepany..." That was when something unexpected happened. Zane didn''t think much of it now, but at the time, it was a very stressful period for him.

    He added with a smile, "Then, Willow''s parents had their incident. I had to work and raise a child, so I really didn''t have the time for dating."

    He undoubtedly had walked a long and hard road to be here.

    With one hand resting on the railing and my face propped on it, Izily asked, "Now that things have calmed down, shouldn''t you be able to date?" Hearing this, Zane nced at me instinctively before looking away. "I''m in no rush."

    "Anna, I think my life is pretty good just the way it is," he said.

 Chapter 127

    The next morning, I woke Willow ten minutes early again.

    Willow clearly had a good sleep, as her spirits seemed high. She opened the door, looking rather eager. "I''ve been waiting for this moment for so long!"

    Then, she trotted to Zane''s door before knocking. "Daddy, time to get up and go running with us!"

    As Zane opened the door, he couldn''t help but smile and pick up Willow. "Okay."

    Willow wrapped her arms around his neck, giggling discreetly.

    The intensity of the morning run was the same as the day before. When Willow started her run, she was still cheerful, but by the time she finished, she couldn''t even smile anymore. She returned to the living room, looking worn out.

    Since I was observing her expressions the entire time, I couldn''t help but want tough.

    Willow waved at me. "Mommy."

    I sat down next to her.

    Holding my hand, Willow kept encouraging herself, saying, "Running isn''t tiring at all. I can stick with it!"

    Zane was also amused by her determination. He sat down on the other side of her before asking, "So, do you want to eat at the kindergarten today or at home?"

    "At home," Willow replied without hesitation. "Daddy, let me rest a bit before I eat."

    Zane nodded. "Alright."

    Since Willow was a child, she was able to recover pretty quickly. After lying down for less than five minutes, she was already fine, happily going to the dining table to enjoy her breakfast. After she was done with her meal, Zane and I took her to the kindergarten together.

    ...

    After she entered the school building, Zane nned to meet with the teachers. However, Zachary suddenly blocked his way. "You want to know why Willow is being alienated, right?" Zane said nothing in response.

    Zachary then said slowly, "I know the reason."

    Zane could tell he wasn''t lying. "Is that so?"

    "Recently, some of the kids in the ss have been saying I''m pitiful for not having a mommy," Zachary exined seriously with his head down.

    "They''re also saying Willow is a bad person for taking other people''s mommies and should be hated. They''re all afraid their mommies will be taken by Willow, so they won''t y with her."

    Zane didn''t know who was spreading these kinds of rumors, but he was sure that the person had to be a malicious child.

    He asked, "Do you know who said this?"

    Zachary shook his head. "I don''t."

    Having gotten the information he needed, Zane already had a good idea of how to solve the issue. "Thanks."

    "You''re wee," Zane said while sneaking a nce at me. He then clutched his clothes and walked into the school with his head down.

    Zane was always calm and restrained, but knowing that someone used such tactics against Willow still made him furious. Not wanting his feelings to affect me, he took the initiative to say, "Wait here for me for a moment." "Okay."R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    He was gone for about three or four minutes before returning to my side.

    "What did the teachers say?" I asked while looking at him.

    Zane shook his head. "They said they''d like to handle this after school since they''re worried it might affect the children''s mood to study.

    "As for during ss, they''ll try to guide the other kids to treat Willow normally."

 Chapter 128

    I remained silent.

    Zane calmly said, "We should go."

    I was in a bad mood when we arrived at thepany. As such, I went to my cubicle, opened myputer, and buried myself in my drawings.

    I felt much better after finishing thest sketch. I then proceeded to color the sketches.

    ...

    Sitting in the meeting room, Zane opened several tforms to check Annalise''s data. He gathered that Annalise was not only dedicated but also very serious about her drawings.

    Although the story was lighthearted and slice-of-life, readers started following it even without promotion since there was a new mini-story each day. Some even leftments, saying they looked forward to her updates. Zane lightly tapped the table with his finger. Then, he took out his phone and messaged Eric. "We can have someone start nning promotional strategies for Annalise''sic."

    "Mr. Huxham." Yvonne knocked on the door before directly opening it without waiting for Zane''s response.

    She walked straight to Zane''s side. "Annalise''sic has no appeal."

    Zane didn''t say anything in response, merely looking at her coldly. He was always like this in thepany-reserved and aloof, exuding authority effortlessly.

    "It won''t thrive even if you throw resources at it," Yvonne said nervously.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Then, she mustered the courage to continue. After all, she needed to secure resources for Jessica. "And I just signed aic with great potential. If promoted well, it will undoubtedly make money for thepany." Yvonne let out a breath of relief after speaking.

    Even if the purpose of Zane''s founding of theicpany was for Annalise, a businessman would always choose to profit.

    Zane would definitely want to make money-that was what Yvonne believed.

    She thought that as long as she could ensure that theic she endorsed would bring great profits to thepany, Zane would surely-unconditionally-hand over all of thepany''s resources to her control. "Who allowed you toe to me?" Zane''s voice was emotionless, yet it exuded an inexplicable pressure. "Do I look free to you?"

    Yvonne froze.

    Zane looked at Eric, who had just entered. "Didn''t you tell the new employees that they shouldn''t disturb me during work hours?"

    Cold sweat began to drip from Eric''s body as he looked at Yvonne, mouthing a reminder for her to leave right away.

    Yvonne''s mind went nk for a moment. Then, she hurriedly left.

    "Mr. Huxham, I did tell them," Eric exined unprompted. "I told them that if there''s really something they can''t handle, they shoulde to me. Who knew that..."

    Zane shot him a nce.

    Eric immediately straightened up. "I assure you that this won''t happen again."

    Zane remarked, "It seems this new editor doesn''t like Annalise''s work."

    Theic publishingpany was created specifically for Annalise, after all.

    He added, "Moreover, she wants to promote someone else''sic."

    Eric didn''t know what to say about Yvonne. Zane had clearly stated that the focus would be on Annalise''s work, yet Yvonne openly went against his wishes. She was practically digging her own grave!

    He promised, "I will reprimand her. As for Annalise''s work, you can entrust it to me and my assistant. We guarantee we''ll promote it wholeheartedly."

    He just happened to need an opportunity to get closer to Annalise anyway.

    Zane gave him a sideways nce, saying, "Alright."

 Chapter 129

    Tired from work, I picked up my phone to read the readers''ments.

    The readers were saying that theic was very heartwarming and hoped the child would get better soon.

    I replied to eachment, "Thank you."

    There were also some negativements, but I ignored them.

    There was a knock on the door. It was Eric, and he entered right after.

    Puzzled, I looked at him. Usually, he would onlye to report something to me when Zane was around. What was he doing here today?

    Eric grabbed a chair, walked over to me, and sat down. "From now on, my assistant and I will be handling your work."

    Why the sudden change?

    Confused, I asked, "Wasn''t the previous editor doing just fine?"

    Eric muttered, "Yvonne doesn''t even want to promote you, and you think that''s fine?"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    His voice was so low that I didn''t catch what he said. "What?"

    Eric immediately switched to a professional smile. "Well, the main reason is that I really like your work."

    I hadn''t expected him to express his liking for my work so directly. ttered, I said, "Thank you for liking my work!"

    "You''re wee." Eric then lowered his voice and asked, "Have you seen what everyone has been chatting about in the gossip group chat recently?"

    I shook my head. "I''ve been really busytely, so..."

    Eric had initially nned to chat with me about the juicy gossip in thepany to get closer to me. However, he held back when he saw my confused expression. "If you have time, you should have a look." "Sure."

    Eric checked the time. "A client ising in five minutes to discuss business, so I''ll be heading off now."

    After he spoke, he quickly walked off.

    I took some time to rx before continuing my work.

    My speed had noticeably improved after a few days of getting used to it. Before, I could only create oneic strip a day, even if I worked really hard on it. Now, I can manage to produce three in two days. I was very satisfied with my current work progress.

    ...

    Sitting on the couch, Steven rested his arm on its side. Unconsciously, Annalise''s face surfaced in his mind.

    Since the divorce, he had been confident that she still loved him. Yet, based on what Gavin said and everything that had happened between him and Annalise, he suddenly realized that she had probably given up on him long ago.

    He thought he should be happy since he didn''t love her anyway. If she didn''t have feelings for him anymore, that meant she wouldn''t bother him anymore.

    Moreover, he had finally achieved his long-held dream, which was to marry the woman he had longed for and admired for years. Logically speaking, he should now be living a happy and peaceful life with Jessica.

    So, why did he still feel stifled?

    He couldn''t figure it out.

    As he decided to seek advice, he turned to Gavin. "I got rid of Annalise atst."

    Gavin could finally breathe a sigh of relief. "That''s great."

    Steven said with a confused look, "But I don''t feel happy."

    Gavin felt very bad for Steven. It had alreadye to this, yet Steven was still oblivious to his true feelings. Nevertheless, he didn''t n on telling Steven the truth-it would be too cruel to do so. "That''s because you''re not willing to let go." "Is that so?"

    Gavin nodded as he firmly said, "Yeah. Even if you didn''t love Annalise, she really did love you.

    "She even valued you more than her own life. But the woman, whom you were so certain would never leave you, has truly given up on you. Of course you can''t ept that."

    Steven mulled over it, wondering if Gavin was right.

    Gavin continued, "Steven, you''ve clearly already obtained the woman you once couldn''t have.

    "Wouldn''t it be better to just focus on spending your days with her in peace? Why keep thinking about an ex-wife who should no longer matter to you?"

 Chapter 130

    Steven was stumped by Gavin''s questions.

    After a long silence, he finally said, "You''re right."

    Gavin let out a sigh of relief.

    Steven then said, "From now on, I''ll focus all of my attention on Jessica. I''ll cherish every minute and every second with her. Maybe if I do this, I''ll stop thinking about Annalise, and my mood will improve as well." Gavin agreed, saying, "That''s the spirit!"

    ...

    After finishing today''s tasks, I packed up my things before walking over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, seriously pondering Willow''s current situation.

    Her autism was clearly quite severe. When asked to speak to others, she couldn''t even say a word.

    A while ago, I had nned to do things that would make her want to show off to others, hoping this might prompt her tomunicate with people, but that n failed as well.

    So the next approach to try was getting her grandparents to interact with her to see if she''d be willing to talk to them.

    If she still didn''t want to...Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Well, I actually had another idea in mind.

    Once I was done saving the finished drawings on my phone, I turned around and walked over to where Zane was.

    During work hours in the past few days, I''d never left my cubicle. Since I was feeling a little ufortable, I came over here to look at the view. Zane didn''t mind as well.

    "Do you have something to say?"

    Zane was still busy with work, as he didn''t even raise his head to look at me.

    I said with a smile, "Yes. It''s about Willow."

    Only then did Zane look up. "Oh?"

    I leaned on the table, seriously looking into his eyes as I suggested, "What do you think if we custom-made some dolls that resemble family members, ced them at home, and made her talk to the dolls? Would that be okay?" Zane considered the feasibility of this. "And then?"

    I continued, "We have her grandparents stay at home, and when Willow talks to the dolls, they can hide nearby and respond to her. When Willow asks why the dolls can talk, we''ll just say it''s a recording." Zane''s expression grew serious.

    I then said, "Aftermunicating this way for a while, we can have her grandparents appear beside her and talk to her. And since she''d already be used tomunicating with their voices, wouldn''t she be able to speak then?" Realizing this might help Willow, Zane replied, "Then, hurry and get the dolls custom-made!"

    "I already looked online. There are no shops that do custom orders." At this point, I revealed my true purpose of talking to him. "So, do you think you could find someone to help get a few dolls custom-made?" "Alright." Zane had always considered matters involving Willow of utmost importance.

    Thinking that Willow might get better this way, he got so excited that he walked over to me to hug me. "Thank you very much."

    I froze.

    It was then I realized he was just overjoyed at the hope of Willow getting better and wanted to share his happiness with me in this way.

    As such, I hugged him back while gently patting his back. "You''re wee, Zane. The two of us share the same goal in this."

    It was then Zane let go of me as he agreed with a hum.

    He didn''t bother to work anymore as he immediately contacted Eric, assigning thetter the difficult task of getting the dolls resembling Willow''s grandparents made.

    Only after a long while did Eric finally agree, responding, "Alright."

    ...

    Yvonne sat in her office, getting angrier the more she thought about what had happened.

    Zane actually thought she wasn''t worth his time!

 Chapter 131

    After much effort, Yvonne finally calmed down. She fished out her phone and called Jessica. "You need to submit your work as soon as possible." Jessica asked, "Why?"

    Yvonne took a deep breath before exining, "I want to promote your work as soon as possible to prove to Zane that my judgment is correct!" Jessica perceptively picked up on Yvonne''s bad mood. "He still wants you to prioritize Annalise''s work?"

    "No." Yvonne''s expression gradually turned fierce. "He won''t even allow me to see him in his office."

    Jessica didn''t know how to respond to that.

    Yvonne snorted. "I believe that if I produce a hitic, he''ll definitely recognize my abilities and might evene to me on his own!"

    Jessica stayed silent for a moment, then responded, "I''ll get started now."

    "Alright." Yvonne hung up the phone, feeling somewhat better.

    ...

    Zane nned to have Willow interact with her grandparents first, so he called Willow''s grandfather.

    "Oh, Zane."

    Willow''s maternal grandfather was Milton Johnson. He was only in his early 50s, but his voice sounded incredibly worn. "To be honest, if you hadn''t contacted us, we were thinking of reaching out to you. I heard your mother wants you to get married." Zane didn''t know how and when this news reached their ears. "Yes."

    Milton asked with a smile, "Then, you won''t have time to take care of Willow anymore, right? Why not send Willow to stay with us?"

    After all, Willow was Milton''s daughter''s only child, and he and his wife loved her, too.

    Zane didn''t give a straight answer. Instead, he stated, "Willow can nowmunicate with me normally."

    "Really?" Milton asked in disbelief. "Is she better now?"

    Zane calmly replied, "Not yet-she can only talk to me and her mother. She still can''t speak to others."

    Milton sounded a bit disappointed when he said, "I see."

    Only then did Zane state his purpose. "That''s why I can''t send her to you just yet."

    After saying that, he exined, "I''ve also made it clear to my family that I won''t be going on any more blind dates."

    If he didn''t need to date, he could continue to care for Willow.

    Milton let out a relieved sigh. However, upon recalling what Zane had just said, he suddenly had a feeling that something was off. "Did you just mention something about Willow''s mother?"

    "Yes." Zane wasn''t nning on keeping it from them. "Back then, when Willow suddenly started talking to me, she said she wanted Annalise Jamison as her mother.

    "So I granted her wish and brought Annalise home to be her full-time mom. Annalise has a gentle temperament and gets along with Willow, but the most important thing is that Willow is open to talking to her.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    "A while after that, Willow even started talking to me because Annalise encouraged her to."

    Milton tried to digest the information Zane had shared.

    After a pause, Zane continued, "Recently, Willow has been bullied at school. Since she can''t speak, she has suffered a lot. Annalise and I have been discussing ways to help her recover as quickly as possible.

    "We came up with the idea that, since she''s willing to talk to those close to her, like me, maybe she''d be willing to talk to you, as you also care about her deeply. So, I wanted to ask if you''d be willing toe over and chat with her."

    Milton quickly answered, "Of course I''d be willing. It''s just that my wife is in poor health and is in the hospital right now. I can''t leave her side."

    When Zane heard this, he decisively said, "Then, I''ll bring Willow to see you after school this afternoon. Which hospital are you at?"

    Milton hurriedly sent the hospital''s name and some other information to Zane.

    The truth was that Milton also missed Willow.

 Chapter 132

    After hanging up the phone, Zane walked over to me. "Can you apany us there tonight?"

    I inclined my head a little. "Of course."

    Zane sat down next to me, taking the initiative to talk about Willow''s grandparents.

    He talked about the past with a tone of reflection. "Ever since Willow''s mother passed away, her grandparents have been greatly affected. As such, their health deteriorated."

    I wasn''t sure how I couldfort him when I said, "Maybe if they spend more time with Willow, they''ll get better."

    A faint smile crossed Zane''s face. "I hope so."

    He got up, suggesting, "Let''s go have lunch."

    We didn''t go to the cafeteria at thepany today, either. Zane led me to a nearby restaurant and ordered a few dishes. He then remarked, "These are the restaurant''s signature dishes."

    Since he had worked in the area for years now, he was very familiar with the nearby restaurants.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    I was in a rare, lighthearted mood for once. So, I said, "I''ll give it a try."

    "Hey, Zane! You''re here for lunch as well? What a coincidence!"

    Hearing the familiar voice of a woman, I turned to look.

    Sasha had a hand covering her mouth, with a surprised look on her face. After she was kicked out of thepany thest two times she came to see Zane, she finally learned her lesson and no longer sought him out. Nheless, she had not given up on him yet. Recently, she had been lingering near thepany, hoping to run into Zane so that she could approach and engage with him.

    In her mind, she was such a high-value woman that Zane would definitely be drawn to her and fall deeply in love with her if they just had more encounters.

    Zanepletely ignored her.

    Sasha''s gaze shifted to me, and she warily sized me up. "Who are you?"

    "Me?" I was just about to introduce myself.

    She frowned. "I''ve noticed that you''ve beening in and out of thepany with Zane recently."

    That was indeed the case, so I didn''t deny it.

    Zane piped up, "Does that have anything to do with you?"

    "Of course it does!" Sasha snapped without hesitation. "Zane, I''m currently pursuing you. Yet, you''re getting so close to this woman! Have you ever shown me any respect?" Zane spoke in a much colder voice, "I''ve already made it clear to you that I''m not interested in building any rtionship with you."

    Sasha clearly did not expect such a response after all her efforts to pursue him. "Then, who do you want to build a rtionship with?" Pointing at me, she questioned, "Her?" Zane didn''t deny it, merely stating, "Willow calls her ''Mommy."

    "What?" It was obvious that she didn''t think Zane would reject someone like her and choose a woman with a lower status and position.

    She took two steps back as she dered, "Fine! Just you wait!"

    I turned to watch her leave before turning back to Zane.

    Zane seemedpletely unfazed. His expression was as calm as ever when he apologized, "Sorry, Anna. I dragged you into this just to make her stop bothering me."

    I didn''t really mind. "I mean, you weren''t lying."

    He just chose to share part of the truth.

    Zane lowered his gaze, a faint smile showing on his face. "Yeah."

    Once the dishes were brought to the table, he served me some food while exining the restaurant''s cuisine and the characteristics of each dish.

    I epted the food, sincerely asking, "Is there anything you don''t know?"

    Not only was he good at work and handsome, but he was also knowledgeable about food.

    "Maybe it''s because I have a bit of knowledge about everything that finding someone is challenging for me." Zane started to eat slower while I focused on eating. He then looked hesitant. "Anna..."

    Puzzled, I looked up. "Yeah?"

    Zane''s eyes were as dark as night. He opened his mouth, but just as he was about to say something, he stopped himself. "It''s nothing."

    I was a bit confused, but I didn''t dwell on it as I continued enjoying my lunch.

 Chapter 133

    After Sasha stepped out of the restaurant, she hid nearby, secretly watching the two people inside. Zane''s gaze seemed warm when he looked at Annalise, causing Sasha to wonder if he liked her. Sasha gritted her teeth. No, Zane was hers! She could not let anyone take Zane away from her!

    As she seethed with anger, a sudden chill swept over her.

    Sasha looked toward Zane instinctively.

    Zane had obviously noticed her presence and was now looking her way. The smile on his face had vanished, reced by an icy and dangerous look.

    Sasha felt a wave of panic. She quickly turned and walked a few steps away, only rxing once she was out of his sight.

    After she hurriedly took out her phone, she called Rowena. "I did as you asked and had been hanging around outside thepany every day to ''coincidentally'' run into him, but he still ignores me!" Rowena advised, "Women need patience when ites to pursuing a man."C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.

    "I want to be patient as well!" Sashained, "But your son''s fallen for the nanny he hired."

    "That''s not possible!" Rowena retorted without a second thought. "I know my son he has high standards for women. He wouldn''t be interested in just anyone!"

    Sasha let out a heavy sigh. "I saw it with my own eyes-how could it not be possible? The way he looks at her is different from how he looks at everyone else." Rowena was shaken by her words. "Really?"

    "Yes."

    Rowena had already suspected that Zane''s feelings for Annalise went beyond the surface. Hearing what Sasha said made her even more restless. "I''ll go to thepany this afternoon to see for myself." Sasha was about to respond when her phone was suddenly snatched away. She instinctively wanted to curse, but when she turned, she saw Zane standing behind her.

    His gaze was icy enough to freeze anyone, and his voice was equally as cold. "Mom, I told you not to interfere with my matters."

    Rowena was reluctant to admit it, but she had to acknowledge that as someone from the older generation, she shouldn''t interfere too much with Zane''s matters.

    Hearing the beeping from the phone, she looked at the screen.

    However, since Zane was clearly on the wrong path, she just had to step in.

    Taking a deep breath, Rowena decided to visit his home that evening to see if there was anything unusual between Zane and Annalise.

    If Zane had indeed gone astray and fallen for Annalise, then she was going to intervene, no matter what he said! But if the two of them were entirely innocent, then she would act as if nothing had happened. With that thought, Rowena finally felt a bit relieved.

    With her head down, Sasha did not dare meet Zane''s gaze. She asked in a low voice, "Can I have my phone back?"

    "Who I like is my business." Zane handed her the phone back. "It''s not your ce to interfere."

    Sasha felt like crying. "But I like you!"

    Zane didn''t think so, but he didn''t bother to waste his time lecturing her.

    "That''s not important, but I will tell you this-I have very little patience. If you keep following me every day, spying on me, I cannot guarantee I won''t do something about it."

    His tone was as indifferent as usual, but it made Sasha feel an inexplicable sense of pressure, leaving her trembling long after he left.

    Zane soon returned to the table.

    I looked at him curiously. "Was it really someone you know?"

    Zane nodded. "Yes. We just exchanged a few words."

    I casually asked, "Why didn''t you invite them to join us for lunch?"

 Chapter 134

    Zane had alreadye up with a reason. "He''s more introverted."

    Afterward, we returned to thepany together after lunch. Zane threw himself into his work while I continued to sketch.

    Although my drawing skills had improved significantly, I still wished I could work faster. This would give me more time to focus on other things.

    Zane and I arrived punctually at the kindergarten gate as the school day ended. We had something very important to resolve today.

    Zane approached Holly when she came out.

    Holly was aware of Zane''s concerns and proactively reassured him, saying that everything had already been taken care of and that he shouldn''t worry too much.

    Zane kept a stern expression, but he was clearly a bit more rxed.

    After most of the parents had left, the children from Willow''s ss finally emerged. Willow was in good spirits, waving vigorously at us.

    I quickly raised my hand to greet her.

    Willow dove into my arms and excitedly eximed, "Mom, let''s go! We''re going back to eat pizza!"

    I looked at her and said, "We still have some matters to handle, Willow. Please wait a moment."

    Willow looked a bit disappointed but replied, "Okay, then."

    Once most of the children from the ss had left, Holly squatted down and asked the remaining kids, "Has anyone recently told you that Willow likes to hog other people''s moms?" A little girl nodded, saying, "Yes."

    Holly found this hard to believe. The students were quite young. How could someone say something so malicious?

    She asked, "Who told you this?"

    Without hesitation, the little girl replied, "Cody."

    Seeing the little girl''s parent approach, Holly released her, and the girl happily ran to her parent.

    She asked Cody, standing in line, "Is your parenting today?"

    Jessica hadn''t arrived yet.

    "She should being," Zachary answered.

    In truth, he didn''t quite understand why, despite being in the same ss as Cody, Jessica was unwilling to bring him along when she came to pick him up. Sometimes, she even seemed afraid he would see her picking Cody up. She would arrive early to take Cody away before school was over.

    Cody red at Zachary. Did he ask Zachary to answer for him?

    Zachary noticed his driver walking over to him.

    Cody wanted to follow but worried that Jessica would panic if she couldn''t find himter. So, he could only stay where he was.

    Holly apologetically said to Zane, "Can we wait for his parent to discuss how to resolve this matter?"

    Zane maintained a stern expression, replying, "Mm."

    ...

    Zachary settled into the car, and the driver, Harry Thompson, nned to take him home.Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    "Don''t go back yet," Zachary said, leaning against the car window, watching Annalise. "I want to wait here for a while." Harry''s job was to pick up and drop off Zachary, so he naturally obliged. "Okay."

    Zachary watched Annalise standing next to Willow, chatting with her. Willow affectionately hugged her with a big smile.

    In the past, Annalise used to treat him so gently, but ever since, he has been spending time with Jessica every day...

    He began to feel disdain for Annalise. He even did many hurtful things to her.

    So now that Annalise no longer wanted him, it was all his own doing.

 Chapter 135

    Zachary had no one to me for this oue.

    Tears streamed down his face. All he wanted right now was to be with Annalise.

    ...

    Jessica arrivedte and saw Zane and me standing at the door. Her steps gradually slowed.

    She hesitated before walking over to Holly. "Cody, let''s go home."

    "Mom..." Cody hid behind Jessica.

    Noticing that something was off, Jessica tried to take Cody away.

    Zane blocked her path. "Your son has been spreading rumors in ss, causing the other students to iste my daughter."

    His expression was calm as ever but carried an inexplicable sense of pressure. "How do you n to resolve this?"

    Jessica felt Cody trembling behind her and quickly patted his arm to reassure him. She scoffed and asked, "How can you be sure my son said that?"

    I looked at Jessica in surprise. Was she really not going to admit it?

    Holly softly responded, "All the kids in the ss have stated that it was him."

    Jessica turned to look at Cody.

    He nodded gravely, his expression heavy.

    Jessica knew that Cody was indeed responsible for this. She took a deep breath. "So, what exactly did he say?"

    Zane enunciated each word carefully, "He said my daughter was hogging Zachary''s mother."

    Jessica scoffed derisively. "Isn''t that true?"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    I knew that Zane wouldn''t be able to answer that question, so I calmly interjected, "Jessica, you should know better than anyone that it was Zachary who first rejected me as his mother, right?" Jessica stared at me.

    I continued, "Later, I left the Pelham family and became Willow''s mom. No matter how you look at it, Willow is just sheltering a homeless me. Her actions can hardly be considered stealing."

    I chuckled softly. "And you, knowing the truth, are intentionally lying to clear your son''s name. Do you need me to recount what you did back then in front of all these people?"

    My voice was not loud, and it even sounded very gentle.

    Yet, Jessica''s expression darkened significantly, and she red at me.

    I met her gaze. "I forgot to remind you. I''m not a patient person."

    Jessica took a deep breath. "My son doesn''t understand much. He just said something wrong, but he''s just a little kid. How could he have any ill intentions? Can he evenprehend the consequences of his actions? "But you two are adults! Must you really lower yourselves to the level of a child?"

    Her intentions were very clear.

    So what if Cody was wrong? As adults, they should amodate the child.

    I was about to retort when Zane pressed down on my shoulder. "So, you''re saying you don''t intend to cooperate with us in resolving this matter?"

    Jessica replied like it was no big deal, "It hasn''t really affected your daughter that much."

    Zane nodded. "I see."

    Then, he took my wrist with one hand and held Willow''s hand with the other, leading us away.

    I was unhappy. "She hasn''t apologized to Willow yet! If we leave now, that wouldn''t be fair to Willow, would it?"

    As Zane got into the car and closed the door behind me, he said, "After causing such a big fuss, does she think a light ''I''m sorry'' will brush it all under the rug?"

    I was taken aback. "What do you n to do?"

    "Doesn''t she think these rumors won''t hurt the child?" Zane held Willow''s little hand.

    He wore a smile, but it was particrly cold. "I hope she can remain just as calm if the same thing happens to her son."

 Chapter 136

    I was a bit surprised.

    It turned out Zane had already considered how to deal with Jessica''sck of cooperation.

    Willow said softly, "But Daddy, being isted by the whole ss isn''t fun."

    Zane looked somewhat taken aback. Had Willow softened up? Did she not want him to use the same tactics to retaliate against Cody? He hesitated before speaking. "So, Willow..."

    Willow continued, "I think Daddy''s solution is great. Only by making him feel the same pain I felt will he learn to change."

    Zane felt a sense of relief. Although Willow was very young, she understood right from wrong. She wasn''t blindly kind.

    He gently patted Willow''s arm. "Trust me. Daddy will give you a satisfactory end."

    "Mm." Willow turned to look out the window. "But Daddy, where are we going?"

    She remembered they didn''t take this route to go home.

    Zane smiled as he exined, "We''re going to see your grandparents."

    Willow immediately dove into my embrace.

    I could feel her body trembling.

    It was strange. Didn''t Willow''s grandparents dote on her? So, what was she afraid of?

    "Could you please catch up with them?"

    Zachary asked Harry as he saw Annalise leaving.

    "Sure." Harry stepped on the elerator and followed behind.

    He nced at Zachary through the rearview mirror and asked, "But it''s sote. Aren''t you worried your family will be concerned?" "Mm," Zachary replied listlessly.

    Steven might still care for him right now, but it wouldn''t be long before the former became Jessica''s husband. By then, he would be Cody''s father.

    Slowly, Zachary would turn into a child that nobody wanted.

    ...

    Jessica returned home with Cody, still feeling pleased with herself. "Cody, did you see that?

    "Even if you did something wrong, you don''t need to be afraid because you''re just a child. Adults won''t stoop so low as to argue with you. So you can boldly cause trouble. No matter how big of a mess you make, Mommy will help you sort it out." Cody felt touched. "Thank you, Mommy."

    Jessica''s heart softened as she looked into Cody''s eyes, which glistened with tears. "Can you tell Mommy why you picked on Willow?"

    Cody confessed honestly, "I thought as long as Willow and Zachary disliked each other... Then, Zachary''s dad and Willow''s mom will surely also resent each other.

    "This way, Mommy won''t have to worry that Daddy will regret divorcing Willow''s mom and get back together with her."

    Hearing that Cody''s actions were out of consideration for her left Jessica feeling very conflicted. She cupped Cody''s face and kissed him several times before saying, "Thank you."

    Cody smiled bashfully. "You''re wee."

    Steven pushed the door open and walked into the living room.

    Jessica immediately stood up to greet him. "Steven, you''re back?"

    "Mm." Steven was surprised that he didn''t see Zachary around.

    For the past few days, Zachary preferred to hide in his room whenever he came home. Unless Steven sought out Zachary, he would hardly see him at all.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Steven brought forth arge bouquet he had been hiding behind his back and presented it to Jessica. "These are for you," he said.

    Jessica''s eyes widened in surprise.

    Just a few days ago, Annalise was all Steven could think about. What was going on today? He actually thought to give her flowers? She eagerly epted the bouquet, holding it close. "I love them!"

    "There''s also a gift inside," Steven said, sitting down on the couch with a smile.

    Jessica looked down and saw a card and a red velvet box hidden among the flowers.

 Chapter 137

    Jessica casually picked up the card and opened it.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Inside were only two words.

    "I''m sorry."

    Jessica sat beside Steven and asked, "Why are you apologizing to me?"

    "For the past few days, I''ve focused all my attention on Annalise." Steven held Jessica''s hand. "As a result, I neglected you." "Jessica, you are the woman I''ve loved since childhood. Even though I was married to Annalise, my heart only holds you."

    "I feel very guilty..."

    Steven paused for a moment. "I should cherish you and treat you well."

    Gavin said that as long as he focused all his attention on Jessica, he wouldn''t think about Annalise anymore. Steven wanted to see if this method could work.

    "It''s okay." Jessica shook her head. "Steven, I don''t mind."

    As she spoke, tears rolled down her cheeks. Her appearance, like a flower in the rain, was heart-wrenching.

    It was strange. Steven felt no pity whatsoever seeing her cry.

    In fact, Annalise''s face even shed through his mind.

    When Annalise cried, she said nothing, her eyes brimming with tears as she quietly gazed at him.

    Steven thought of this scene and felt a sharp pain in his chest. He forced himself to pull back his thoughts and then wrapped his arms around Jessica. "But I do mind. Jessica, I will make it up to you twice as great." Jessica bit her lip before realizing Steven couldn''t see her expression. She nodded heavily. "Okay."

    Steven furrowed his brows and let go of her.

    What was wrong? Why didn''t he feel happy holding Jessica?

    Not only that, but a voice in his heart reminded him not to get too close to her. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to go back.

    Jessica asked in confusion, "What''s wrong?"

    Steven didn''t want Jessica to notice his abnormality, so he smiled and said, "It''s nothing. I just haven''t seen Zachary. Where is he?"

    Jessica was caught off guard by the question and looked at Cody.

    Cody quickly replied, "He should have been back with Harry."

    "I''ll go check on him." Steven stepped away from Jessica, finally feeling a bit more rxed. "You two, think about what you want to eatter." Jessica smiled sweetly. "Okay!"

    Steven knocked on Zachary''s bedroom door. "Zachary."

    There was no answer.

    Steven opened the door and saw the bedroom was pitch dark. He turned on the light, and it was empty.

    Steven''s mind went nk.

    Wasn''t Zachary home? Where could he have gone?

    Steven immediately called Harry.

    Harry answered, "Mr. Pelham?"

    Steven babbled, "Where''s Zachary?"

    "He said he wasn''t feeling well and wanted to go for a walk," Harry exined. "So I took him out for a stroll."

    Steven sighed with relief after confirming that Zachary was not in trouble. "Please give the phone to Zachary."

    "Okay," Harryplied.

    Zachary took the phone. "Dad."

    Steven asked seriously, "Why aren''t youing home thiste? Can''t you at least give me a heads-up? Do you know..."

    "I miss Mommy," Zachary interrupted. "So I asked the driver to follow her car."

    Steven suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

    Zachary continued, "This way, I can spend more time with Mommy."

    It took Steven a long moment to regain his voice. "Do you need me toe and keep youpany?"

 Chapter 138

    "No need," Zachary refused firmly. "You stay home with Mommy Jessie and Cody. I can manage on my own."

    ...

    Zane and the others arrived at the busy hospital.

    Willow was very nervous. She held my hand tightly, her eyes fixed ahead.

    I asked, "Don''t you want to see your grandparents?"

    Without a second thought, Willow replied, "I do!"

    I could sense her tension.

    Zane had already parked in front of the hospital room.

    I squatted down and gently patted her back. "But you look like you''re not very happy."

    Only then did Willow turn to look at me.

    I asked softly, "Can you tell Mommy why?"

    Willow kept her head down.

    I smiled and said, "It''s okay if you don''t want to talk about it."

    "I''ll tell Mommy when we get home tonight." Willow''s voice was very soft.

    I''d get a better sense of the issue if she were willing to share, and it would be easier for me to help her open up. I ruffled her hair. "Okay."

    Zane waited until we finished our exchange before pushing the door open.

    Willow followed him inside, ncing at her grandfather and grandmother before hiding behind Zane.

    Milton waved at her. "Willow,e here! Let Grandpa take a good look at you. Looks like you''ve grown taller again!"

    Willow obediently walked over.

    Milton carefully examined her.

    She was still a little girl, with baby fat on her face and a pair of sparkling eyes that looked like shiny ck gems.

    As he scrutinized, he nodded. "Zane, you''ve raised Willow very well."

    Zane smiled and replied, "I treat her like my own daughter."

    "Very good." Milton started to tear up. He had wanted to call his wife, Dorothy Be, but she had been unwell recently and had trouble sleeping. Now that she was asleep, Milton wanted her to rest. His gaze remained fixed on Willow. "Thest time I saw her, she was so small, barely taller than my knee. In the blink of an eye..."

    He gestured. "And now, she''s grown into a big girl."

    Zane also felt a bit emotional. "Yes. Children grow up so fast."

    He looked at Willow. "Do you want to say anything to Grandpa and Grandma?"

    Willow nodded, then tried to speak but couldn''t get a single word out. She hung her head in frustration.

    Milton understood her situation and didn''t push her. He warmly said, "I''m already delighted that Willow is willing toe and see me."

    Willow looked at him in surprise.

    Milton''s eyes were filled with deep affection and reluctance. "I hope you can grow up safe and healthy."

    Zane reassured him, "Don''t worry. She definitely will."R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Later, Willow stayed in the ward with them for a while before leaving.

    ...

    Willow hugged me tightly in the car. "Mommy, I really want to tell Grandpa that I''m doing well with Daddy, so he doesn''t have to worry about me. But I just can''t say it." Her sad tone sounded somewhat innocent.

    I pondered seriously. "If you can talk to Daddy because you love him, then why can''t you do the same with Grandpa and Grandma?"

    "Because..." Willow buried her face in my embrace. "On the day Dad and Mom passed away, Grandpa and Grandma both fainted.

    "Grandma said it was all my fault... If it weren''t for me, Dad and Mom wouldn''t have had that ident. And Grandpa and Grandma wouldn''t be so sad, either."

 Chapter 139

    Since then, Willow felt that whenever her grandparents saw her, they would be reminded of her parents'' deaths. So, she no longer dared to speak to them. She was afraid that her grandparents would hate her. The more I listened, the more my heart ached. "But Willow, the ident wasn''t something you could control, was it?"

    Willow''s eyes were filled with tears.

    I continued, "You couldn''t have prevented the ident from happening, even if you were in the car. So it''s not your fault."

    I hugged Willow tightly. "You were a victim, too."

    "But..." Willow wailed, "Mom died to protect me."

    I helped her smooth her hair. "Your mom loved you very much, Willow. You must know that even if she had to do it all over again, she would still make the same choice." Willow stopped crying, focusing intently on me.

    I went on saying, "Even in her final moments, she would have been very grateful that her daughter survived."

    Willow asked, "Is that true?"

    "Yes." I slowed my speech. "Although she is no longer with you, she absolutely wishes for you to live well and not live in guilt like you are today."

    Willow remained silent for long before finally nodding. "I understand now."

    I kissed her forehead. "Good girl."

    Zane watched Willow silently.

    In the past, Willow had loved her grandparents the most.

    He was always curious about what Rowena had said to Willow, which made her refuse to go with her grandparents. Today, he finally understood the reason. Zane was radiating an uncontroble coldness.

    After all, Willow was still a child. Did Rowena, as an adult, not consider that Willow might be unable to bear the burden?

    ...

    "Mommy."

    As the car passed by a supermarket, Willow suddenly sat up. Her eyes fixed on the window. "Aren''t we having barbeque today? Let''s go buy the ingredients together!" With her mood lifted, I rxed as well. "Okay."

    Richard parked the car by the roadside.

    Willow took my hand. "I''ve always wanted to eat barbeque."

    On the way, she chattered nonstop.

    I listened quietly, chiming in with a few responses now and then.

    Zane''s task was to be the helper, pushing the small cart as he walked alongside us.

    Willow spotted ingredients that interested her and, without any hesitation, tossed them all into the cart. She picked out more meat than vegetables.

    Zane secretly added a few vegetables to the cart to ensure she had a bnced diet while she wasn''t paying attention.

    As they left the supermarket, Willow was busy imagining the scene of eating the barbequeter, and she smiled uncontrobly.

    After getting back, Willow was met with training. She looked at me, and I ced down what I held, signaling I would apany her.

    In the end, Willow still ranps afterps.

    After a few days of training, Willow''s health had noticeably improved. Despite today''s increased intensity, she managed to finish herps and still pushed herself to return to the living room. The rest of the family had already finished dinner. Only the three of us remained in the living room.

    Zane was in the kitchen preparing the ingredients.

    Willowy in myp and softly said, "Mommy."

    I gently brushed aside the hair that was sticking to her cheek. "Hmm?"Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    "Will Grandpa and Grandma hate me?" Willow suddenly asked.

 Chapter 140

    I realized that I had only focused on exining that the ident was not her fault in the car. But I had forgotten to tell her about the two elders'' feelings.

    I said slowly, "Do you remember what I just told you?"

    Willow nodded. "Of course, I remember."

    "Grandpa and Grandma were sad at that time because your mom was their biological daughter." I slowed my speech. "And she left them forever. Just like..."

    I took my time, gently stroking her cheek. "Just like you must have felt a lot of pain, too."

    Willow thought about what happened that day, her gaze dropping unconsciously.

    I continued, "But afterward, they would definitely be grateful that you survived."

    Willow stood up. "Really?"

    I nodded. "Of course."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Willow joyfully spun in ce. "That''s great!"

    I watched her and asked, "Now that you know Grandpa and Grandma have always loved and never med you, can you talk to them?"

    Willow paused. She pondered for a while with a serious expression.

    Then, she shook her head. "I still can''t do that right now."

    I didn''t push her. "Then, there''s no rush."

    Willow nodded vigorously. "Okay!"

    Zane had done preparing the ingredients, and the grill was scorching.

    After my encouragement, Willow''s mood was brighter than ever. Even though she was still little, she took the initiative to help out, eagerly adding vegetables to the grill.

    She chatted with me with a grown-up demeanor, "The meat is delicious, Mommy! You need to eat more meat to be strong!"

    I felt a wave of warmth as I watched her. "Yes, Willow."

    Willow added shrimp to the grill. "This one is good, too, Mommy!"

    I exaggerated my response. "Oh, really? Then, I must try it!"

    With every ingredient she added, Willow reminded me to eat.

    I knew that she cared about me, and I couldn''t help but feel happy.

    Zane, unable to hold back any longer, chimed in, "What about me?"

    "Ah?" Willow seemed to just remember Zane and added some corn to the grill.

    She said earnestly, "They say corn is gluten-free, Daddy. You are going to love it.

    Zane responded with a nk stare, "Why, thank you."

    Willow politely responded, "You''re wee."

    Zaneughed. "Did you really think I wasplimenting you?"

    Willow blinked her huge eyes. "Weren''t you?"

    As we chatted, the food was ready.

    I was just about to pick up some food when Willow hurriedly stood up, using a tong to put meat onto my te. "Mommy, you''re too skinny. You need to eat more!"

    I didn''t even have a chance to respond.

    She then gave Zane arge portion of vegetables. "Daddy, eat more vegetables. It''s good for your health."

    Zane did not know whether to be grateful that his child finally thought of him or frustrated that Willow never considered him when there was something delicious.

    Still, he offered his te willingly. "Since Willow served it for me, it must be delicious."

    The family chatted andughed together.

    The meal was very enjoyable. The only downside was that Willow had given me too much meat, and I couldn''t finish it. But I didn''t want to waste it, so I stared at the bowl with a conflicted expression. Suddenly, an extended hand reached in front of me and took the bowl away.

    I looked up and saw Zane proactively helping me out of the situation. "I haven''t had a piece of meat tonight. You won''t mind if I try some, right?"

    "Of course not." I was more than happy to have someone help me eat it.

    A smile blossomed in Zane''s eyes as he enjoyed the delicious food.

 Chapter 141

    Zachary sat in the car, staring at the brightly lit vi.

    What were they doing now? Were they having dinner? Or was Annalise gently holding Willow in her arms, watching TV together? Then, as the story unfolded, would she exin some profound lessons? Just thinking about Annalise, who had once unconditionally given everything for him, now pouring all her patience and love into others...

    It made his heart ache, as if it were being cut with a knife.

    Holding the steering wheel, Harry nced at Zachary through the rearview mirror. Noticing that Zachary was in a bad mood, he asked, "Shall we head home?" "Sure."

    By the time Rowena arrived at the vi, it was already 9:00 pm.

    Willow had finished washing up and was lying in bed on time. I was sitting at the edge of the bed, reading her a storybook.

    Rowena strode into the living room and saw Zane sitting there. She looked around as if searching for something.

    Zane put down the book in his hands. "Mom, who are you looking for?"

    "Where''s the nanny assigned to take care of Willow?" Rowena asked.

    She had heard from Sasha that Zane might have caught feelings for Annalise. Coupled with her suspicions about the two, she came over specifically to confirm whether a spark of love had ignited between them. Zane replied casually, "She''s putting Willow to sleep."

    This implied that Annalise was mostly at home apanying Willow, which meant they definitely didn''t have time to develop a romantic rtionship.

    Rowena let out a sigh of relief.

    "Mom." Zane pointed to the couch across from him. "Please sit. I have something to discuss with you."

    Rowena sat down, her gaze fixed on Zane as she contemted whether hisck of feelings for Annalise meant she could continue introducing more girls to him.

    Zane''s voice was calm as he said, "I remember I told you before not to say anything unnecessary in front of Willow."

    When he heard Willow talk about the time her biological parents passed away in the car that day... The things Rowena said to her made him want to have a serious talk with her.

    Since Rowena had approached him, he would take advantage of this opportunity.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Rowena asked in confusion, "I''ve been listening. I haven''t said anything since then."

    "Is that so?" Zane''s voice grew colder. "I want to know what kind of mindset you had when you said that to Willow... That her parents died because of her and that her grandparents hate her, too." Rowena was taken aback. How did he know these things?

    Zane stood up. "She''s only five years old. When her parents had the ident, she was only two or three, Mom!"

    Rowena, feeling guilty, retorted, "Was I wrong in saying that?"

    "Of course you were!" Zane raised his voice. "Did she cause the ident?"

    Rowena did not answer directly. "But she was the only one who survived."

    "So?" Zane looked at Rowena with disappointment. "You''re just going to ce all the me on her?"

    Rowena clearly hadn''t expected Zane to be this angry. She countered, "What else should I do? I''m honestly regretting things today. Why didn''t she die in that car ident?"

 Chapter 142

    Rowena had no idea of how harsh her words were. "This way, you wouldn''t have to take care of her, and maybe you would have found a girlfriend and gotten married by now. I could even have a grandson sooner!" "Humph!" Zane let out a coldugh, and the disappointment in his eyes gradually faded. It was reced by an icy chill-like snow in the winter.

    He articted each word carefully, "Since you still haven''t seen your mistakes, then don''te to my house anymore, and don''t seek me out in any situation."

    Rowena looked at him in disbelief. "What do you mean?"

    Zane replied calmly, "To me, Willow is my own daughter. If you indiscriminately ce all the me on her and scold her, it''s like you''re saying the mistake was mine and ming me. Wanting her to die means you want me dead as well." Zane''s face showed no emotion, yet his words were heavy. "You''ve treated me so maliciously, I naturally have to fight back. Otherwise, if word gets out, people will definitely think I''m easy to bully. Then, won''t everyone want to step on me?" Rowena stared at Zane in disbelief. "You..."

    Zane turned around, facing away from Rowena. "You can go. I don''t want to see you right now."

    Rowena hadn''t expected that her son woulde to this point because of a little girl. She didn''t n to indulge Zane. "You said that yourself. Fine! I''ll leave! Don''t regret it!"

    After throwing down her harsh words, Rowena stormed out.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Zane stood alone in the bright living room, his tall figure appearing particrly lonely under the light.

    ...

    After getting Willow to sleep, I left the bedroom and noticed that Zane was missing, which puzzled me.

    In the past few days, we had almost developed a routine. We would find a ce to chat around this time every day. What was going on today? Was he busy with work? As I wondered, I spotted Zane in the living room.

    I approached him, noticing that his mood was not good. I asked softly, "What happened?"

    "Anna." Zane didn''t answer my question, and he looked particrly exhausted. "Can you hold me?"

    He was feeling really down but didn''t want to tell me why.

    I hugged him and gently patted his back, not knowing how tofort him. "It''s okay."

    Zane buried his face in my shoulder and didn''t say a word.

    I didn''t know how long it had been when he finally returned the hug. He held me tightly as if trying to embed me into his body.

    I was a bit taken aback. It looked like this wasn''t just a regr problem.

    I gently stroked his hair. "It''s okay, Zane. I''m here."

    "Mm."

    Zane finally released me after some time, looking a bit apologetic. "Did I scare you?"

    "It''s fine." I didn''t mind. "Everyone encounters some bad things in life. But they will all pass."

    Zane looked at me intently. "I''ll remember that."

    "It''s alreadyte." I still had some sketches to finish, so I headed upstairs. "I''ll go rest now."

    The tension in Zane''s eyes dissipated, and his expression softened. "Go ahead."

    ...

    Zane watched Annalise walk into the bedroom, gently closing the door behind her before he averted his gaze.

    The first time he saw Annalise was at the hospital. She had just had a miscarriage, her face pale, and she seemed so fragile like she could break.

 Chapter 143

    Now, Annalise had be gentle yet strong.

    Even though Zane had been angry moments ago, holding Annalise made all negative emotions vanish. His heart felt incredibly calm. Once Rowena''s matters were settled, Zane wouldn''t bother with her anymore.

    He called Eric and said, "I want everyone at the kindergarten to know about what Jessica has done before school starts tomorrow."

    "Understood."

    ...

    Zachary pushed the door open and saw the living room''s lights were on.

    Steven immediately approached him. "Why are you back sote?"

    Zachary looked uninterested. "I already briefed you over the phone."

    Seeing the sadness on Zachary''s face, Steven didn''t know what else to say.

    Now that Steven was treating her better, Jessica knew she needed to seize the opportunity and run her act well. She supported her belly and stood up. "Zachary, do you know how worried we''ve been?" Zachary calmly nced at her before looking away again. He didn''t say anything, quietly returning to his bedroom.

    Jessica looked at Steven, and thetter spoke softly, "I know you''re worried he might get into trouble, but the child is just throwing a tantrum. You don''t have to mind him. Go to sleep first."

    Jessica walked to the bedroom door reluctantly. However, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to ask, "Will youe find me tonight?"

    Even when he didn''t love Annalise, he was unwilling to sleep in separate rooms with her. Since he loved Jessica now...

    Steven thought that if Jessica was pregnant and unable to do anything, he should feel happy just being in the same space as her. So, he nodded in agreement. "Mm."

    Jessica hid the smug look in her eyes and turned to walk into the bedroom.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Steven walked to Zachary''s room and reached his door. "Son."

    "Dad, I''m exhausted," Zachary replied wearily. "I just want to sleep right now. Can we talk about any problems tomorrow?"

    His tone indicated he was rejecting anymunication.

    Steven didn''t know what he had done wrong. But he could only leave.

    After hesitating, he still went to Jessica''s bedroom.

    Jessica had not yet fallen asleep. She sat on the edge of the bed, unable to contain her joy. "Steven."

    Steven sat down beside her. "What''s wrong?"

    Jessica candidly expressed her feelings, "You''ve been so indifferent to me these past few days. I keep feeling like you don''t love me anymore."

    Annalise had said the same thing before.

    He recalled how Annalise had looked down, hesitating and troubled, and he felt a wave of pleasure. And what did he do next? He held her hand and kissed her until her cheeks flushed, and she gazed at him with yful eyes. Only then did he stop teasing her. At that moment, he felt happy.

    But now?

    Steven felt impatient and even more confused. Wasn''t he in love with Jessica?

    Logically, he should feel delighted because Jessica''s vulnerability indicated that she cared about his feelings, too.

    He couldn''t figure out the reason. Yet, he could only force himself to suppress the annoyance brewing inside him, along with the faint sense of rejection toward Jessica.

    "How could that be, Jessica? Everyone says you are the woman I love most."

    Tears filled Jessica''s eyes. "That''s good."

    As she spoke, she cautiously leaned into Steven''s embrace.

    Steven instinctively wanted to push her away.

 Chapter 144

    Steven held himself back eventually.

    Jessica said softly and sweetly, "I''m so happy right now."

    Steven responded perfunctorily, "Me, too."

    ...

    As usual, I was up early to wake Willow.

    After Willow left her room, she immediately went to find Zane, and we ran severalps around the yard. Then, I apanied Willow to take a bath.

    After several days of training, Willow had gotten used to it. Now, though she was tired after running, she could still chatter with me.

    She stood obediently as I bathed her. "Mommy."

    I continued cleaning her up. "Mm?"

    "I feel like I''m differenttely," Willow said happily.

    I asked in surprise, "How so?"

    Willow gave me an example. "Before I started training, if someone said something terrible to me, I would sulk and feel really sad. Now, when they bully me, I just think that once my body is stronger and I know how to fight, I''ll beat them all up one by one." Willow said with a smile, "Then, I''d be happy."

    "That''s right." I helped her put on her clothes. Looking at her rosy face, I noticed her eyes were full of joy. "Our Willow is getting better and better!"

    Willow, feeling embarrassed, threw herself into my arms.

    I took the opportunity to give her a kiss.

    Willow''s eyes lit up like crescent moons, her face beaming with happiness.

    ...

    When we went downstairs, breakfast was already prepared.

    Willow''s body hadn''t fully recovered yet, so she couldn''t eat anything too greasy. Therefore, breakfast was kept light.

    She ate her meal seriously.

    Zane looked at me. "Wait for me in the car today. I''ll take her in myself."

    Before I had a chance to answer, Willow spoke up, "No, Daddy. I want Mommy to send me off."

    Zane didn''tpromise, simply staring at Willow.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    "It''s okay, Zane." I could roughly guess what Zane had done. "I''ve told you. The past is the past, and I don''t care about it anymore. So, you don''t have to worry. It won''t hurt me."

    Zane exined, "I''m just worried Jessica might cause trouble for you."

    I chuckled. "Do you think I''m afraid of her?"

    After repeatedly confirming that I wouldn''t be affected, Zane reluctantly agreed.

    I dropped Willow off at the school gate, and after watching her enter the ssroom, I was about to leave with Zane.

    Holly hurriedly caught up. "Mr. Huxham, are the rumors about Cody''s mother in the schooling from you?"

    Zane stopped and calmly replied, "Last time, when Willow faced the same issue, you said you were concerned about affecting the children''s studies, so you waited until after school to resolve it, right?" His tone was calm, betraying no hint of emotion. Holly paused and answered, "Yes."

    "Since that''s the case, then you should wait until after school to resolve it this time, too," Zane suggested. "Otherwise, it feels like you''re favoring Cody. And deliberately letting my daughter suffer."

    He emphasized thest part.

    Holly froze.

    Zane strode away, and I followed him.

    Zane''s expression was still cold when he sat in the car.

    I gently patted his arm. "It''s all been resolved now."

    "Mm." Zane closed his eyes.

    He didn''t want to talk, and I didn''t press him. I looked out the window at the passing scenery.

    But then, Zane suddenly spoke up, "Just thinking about how Willow had suffered a lot before she was unwilling to speak up and I didn''t know about it, it makes me feel like I''m failing as a father."

 Chapter 145

    "If Willow didn''t want to speak..." I chose my words carefully. "Even if you care for her, you couldn''t have known what she went through, let alone stand up for her."

    I slowed my speech. "So, you don''t need to me yourself. Besides, Willow is already doing better now."

    I repeated everything Willow had told me in the bathroom.

    Zane was silent for a long time before saying, "Anna, thank you.

    "It''s because you became her mom and gently guided her that she was able to slowly get better."

    Zane''s tone was sincere.

    "You gave me a job when I was at my lowest." I turned to look at him. "Logically, I should be the one thanking you."

    Zane ced his hand on my head. This was the second time.

    I looked at him helplessly.

    Not only did Zane not withdraw his hand, but he also gently patted my head twice. "You don''t need to be so formal with me."

    I smiled and retorted, "Same goes for you."

    Zane withdrew his hand. "Alright."

    Eric was already waiting at the door when I arrived at the office. He approached me and said, "Could you please head to the meeting room? We''d like to report the promotion n for yourics." I nced at Zane.

    His voice no longer carried the usual oppressive tone, and instead, it sounded more considerate. "Go ahead."

    This tough man-usually so serious and high up in thepany-could really be this easygoing?

    Eric stole a nce at Zane.

    Noticing his gaze, Zane looked at him coldly.

    Eric quickly averted his eyes.

    As expected! This cold, icy man was the boss he knew!

    Eric led the way, with me following behind.

    Once we were out of Zane''s sight, Eric immediately whispered, "Does Mr. Huxham always have a sour expression when he''s around you, making him seem hard to get along with?" I didn''t understand why he was asking that, but I still answered honestly, "No."

    Eric nodded in satisfaction, pleased with the answer. "That''s good."

    I was even more confused. "Hmm?"

    Eric broke out in a cold sweat. If he bluntly exined that Zane was always cold to everyone at thepany but acted differently with me, then his spections would be exposed!

    After hesitating for a while, Eric decided to lie through his teeth. "Mr. Huxham is always warm and friendly with everyone in thepany. And then, people started wondering if he might dislike you. So I wanted to check how he usually gets along with you." Eric said with a serious expression. "I''m d his behavior toward you is no different from how he treats us."

    I finally understood. "Oh."

    ...

    When we arrived at the meeting room, several young girls-fresh in their careers were already waiting around the table.

    I looked at Eric in confusion. "Who are they?"

    "They''re the promotion team I just set up." Eric smiled. "They''re responsible for promoting your work."

    I was stunned. "Huh?"

    Oneic book promotion shouldn''t need all these people to handle it, right?

    Eric continued, "They''ve already worked out the promotion n. We called you here specifically to see if there''s anything you''re not happy with. Feel free to bring it up so they can make changes."Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 146

    As soon as Eric finished speaking, one of the girls walked up to the front and began exining her understanding of my work and the direction for its promotion. Once she finished, she returned to her seat. Then, the next girl took the light and shared her thoughts.

    About two hourster, thest girl finished her report.

    Eric watched me with a smile. "What do you think?"

    I could honestly say I was clueless about promotion. However, after hearing their presentations, I realized that each person made valid points.

    I nodded in agreement. "It''s great."

    Eric asked, "Is there anything that needs to be changed?"

    I quickly shook my head. "No!"

    Eric turned serious and looked at the girls. "Since Ms. Jamison refuses to point out any problems, I''ll y the bad guy..."

    Then, he calmly pointed out each employee''s issues and gave them directions for revisions.

    Finally, he stood up. "I hope you can make the changes before work tomorrow and submit them to me for review."

    "Okay."

    After the meeting ended, the girls left.

    I looked Eric over. In the past, I only thought he wasid-back and somewhat gossipy. But after today, I realized his capabilities were impressive as well.

    Eric seemed to sense what I was thinking and smiled as he exined, "The position of Mr. Huxham''s secretary is highlypetitive. If you don''t have the necessary skills, you''d never be able to secure the position."

    ...

    Back in the office, I had just sat down at my desk.

    Zane walked over and asked, "What do you think of the promotion team this time?"

    I carefully chose my words. "They''re all very professional, but..."

    Zane asked in surprise, "Is there something you''re not happy with?"

    I shook my head. "I''m just worried that the value created by my work won''t be enough to support such arge team."

    Zane chuckled. "Anna, trust me. I wouldn''t make a losing deal."

    I was a bit surprised but still nodded. "Alright. I trust you!"

    Zane sat down. "Mm."

    Seeing that he had no other topics to discuss, I opened myputer and focused on drawing.

    ...

    Zane took out his phone and opened the online tforms where Annalise had published herics.

    Herics didn''t have a fast-paced plot, but they were heartwarming.

    Everyone enjoyed reading them. Manyments asked what would happen next. Even the tform with the fewest fans had over a thousand followers.

    He turned off the screen and looked at Annalise across from him.

    She wasn''t wearing any makeup. Yet he felt that she was more beautiful than any of the women he''d met, who wore borate makeup.

    ...

    Jessica had just returned home. She was furious, mming everything on the table to the floor.

    Damn Zane! How could he use such tactics against her?Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.

    Fine! When the opportunity came, she would make sure to ruin his reputation!

    Jessica dialed Yvonne''s number, her face expressionless. "I''ve sent theic to your email. Did you see it?"

    Yvonne was reading it as she said, "The quality is good, but you need to draw faster..."

    "I will!" Jessica gritted her teeth and said, "I''m telling you in advance. Not only do I want to portray Annalise as an evil woman who abandoned her husband and child, but I also want to paint Zane as a homewrecker!"

 Chapter 147

    Yvonne leaned back in her seat. "How did Zane provoke you?"

    Jessica was filled with anger after recalling what happened this morning. "He had people spread rumors at school, saying Cody doesn''t have a father and that I''m trying to find one for him." She took a deep breath, then continued, "And I targeted another student''s father."

    Yvonne asked, "And this student is Zachary?"

    Jessica was still seething with anger. "Yes! He even said that I thought Steven was a perfect mark, and knowing full well that he was married, I still tried to seduce him!

    "In just one year, I turned a happy, well-knit family into chaos. And it ended with a divorce. Finally, I took my ce."

    She clenched her fist tightly. "Originally, a few parents in Cody''s ss were close to me. But after dropping off the kids this morning, they all found excuses to distance themselves from me! Not only that, but they even had their husbands keep their distance from me! "They really think I''m some homewrecker trying to steal someone else''s husband!"

    Jessica gritted her teeth and continued, "I knew they must have believed Zane''s words."

    Yvonne could feel Jessica''s anger through the phone, but after all, she worked under Zane. Naturally, she didn''t dare offend him.

    After hesitating, Yvonne said, "But will drawing Zane into theic really solve the problem?"

    "No," Jessica replied without a second thought. "But it will make me happy."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Yvonne remained silent for a while before asking, "Then, how do you n to handle this?"

    Jessica was caught off guard by the question.

    She thought for a long time before responding, "I''ll ask Steven and see if he cane up with a solution."

    A child tried to approach Cody at the kindergarten and chat with him.

    Other children hurriedly pulled him back. "You still dare to talk to Cody?"

    The child was confused. "What''s wrong?"

    "They all say that Cody''s mom caused Zachary''s parents to divorce."

    "And then Zachary''s mom was kicked out of the house."

    "Now, Cody''s mom is with Zachary''s dad."

    The child was stunned and didn''t dare to go near Cody again, afraid that talking to him even a little bit would mean Jessica might take their dad away. He looked at Zachary and asked, "Is what they said true?"

    Zachary didn''t deny it. "Pretty much."

    After getting Zachary''s answer, the others instinctively kept their distance from Cody. Even their looks at him felt like they were gazing at a viin. Cody tried to pretend he didn''t care but still felt deeply hurt. He leaned on the table and cried loudly.

    Willow nced at him.

    Humph! Couldn''t he even handle being alienated by his ssmates for a while? She had endured it all long before!

    Willow lifted her chin, feeling quite proud. She was truly amazing!

    ...

    Jessica felt that exining things over the phone wasn''t enough, so she had Harry take her to Steven''s office.

    Steven was handling some business at that time. Hearing the door open, he frowned and looked up. "Didn''t I always say you must knock before entering my office?" When he saw it was Jessica, he was a bit surprised. "What are you doing here?"

    "They''re bullying me!" Jessica rushed into Steven''s arms, telling him everything that had happened earlier that morning.

    Steven felt his scalp tingle, unusually ufortable with the close contact.

    He was confused.

    Wasn''t he in love with Jessica? Then, why did he feel suffocated when she got close to him? Did he want to distance himself from her?

    Steven couldn''t understand why, but he forced himself to embrace Jessica. "So, you want me to step in and help solve this problem?"

 Chapter 148

    Jessica asked softly, "Is that possible?"

    Steven didn''t answer directly. He merely said, expressionless, "Have you thought about what would happen if I intervened? If people start investigating me, then my past with Annalise will no longer be able to stay hidden." If things really escted that far, the people who criticized Jessica would only get more numerous and malicious.

    Jessica gradually sat up, her expression bing serious.

    Meanwhile, Steven subtly pulled away from her.

    Jessica looked at him and asked, "Then, what do you think I should do to solve this?"

    "Simple," Steven said tly. "Keep an eye out on Zane''s attitude."

    Jessica was unwilling but couldn''t find another solution, so she reluctantly agreed, "Alright."

    ...

    I nced at the time after finishing today''s task. It was only 3:00 pm.

    The progress was faster than usual!

    I was a bit incredulous, so I quickly opened the draft and carefully checked it. Surprisingly, there were no issues at all.

    Zane noticed my actions and asked, "What''s wrong?"

    "I''m drawing too fast," I replied honestly. "I can''t quite believe it."

    Zane chuckled. "Then, you can take a break now."

    "No way," I said, already thoroughly in love with the feeling of being busy. "I need to find something else to do."

    Zane walked over to me. "You can''t put too much pressure on yourself."

    "Don''t worry." I originally nned to continue coloring the sketches, but seeing Zane''s stern gaze.

    I decided to hold back.

    I pulled out my phone andy back on the couch. "I won''t overwork myself."

    Still not at ease, Zane said, "I''ll be here watching you."

    I reluctantly stopped myself from continuing to work and opened my phone, looking through thements on various tforms.

    Most of them were asking me to hurry up with the next chapter. There were also a few discussions about the characters in theic.

    Since I had time, I decided to reply to each one. "Thank you for the support."

    What I didn''t expect was that some people were asking me for a coboration.

    I excitedly stood up, handing my phone to Zane. "Look!"

    Zane read through thement carefully. He smiled and said, "Not bad. People are already recognizing your work."

    "Yeah." I was happy as well, looking at it for a long time. The smile lingered on my face.

    Sitting back on the couch, I replied to thementer, "I''m honored you like my work, but sorry. I''m not epting ads for now."

    Thementer replied instantly, "If it''s a matter of price, we can discuss it."

    It seemed like they were worried I''d reject them just because of the low payment.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    I quickly exined, "It''s my issue. I just feel that once I start epting ads, the purpose of creating thisic will no longer be as pure." They replied, "But you need to earn money to provide a better life for your daughter."

    I looked at Zane.

    With Zane around, it didn''t seem like it was my responsibility to improve Willow''s living conditions, right?

    Zane looked at me with confusion.

    I averted my gaze and replied to thementer without any exaggeration, "Her current living conditions are already the best."

    Thementer expressed regret that we couldn''t coborate.

    I wished them the best of luck in finding better partners.

    After the conversation, I put my phone down andy back on the couch, staring at the ceiling.

    Zane asked, "Did you manage to finalize the coboration?"

    I shook my head. "No."

    Zane was shocked. "Hmm?"

    "I''ve decided..." I turned to look at him. "No matter how sessful thisic bes, I won''t ept a single advertisement!"

    Zane met my gaze, and after a long pause, it seemed like he understood my thoughts. He smiled and asked, "No regrets?" I nodded. "No."

 Chapter 149

    Rowena had been frustrated since returning homest night. She''d never thought Zane-her own son-dared to speak to her like that!

    After calming down throughout the night, her mood gradually improved. She dialed Sasha''s number and instructed, "Zane thinks of Annalise as a nanny. Don''t overthink it. He doesn''t actually like her." Sasha didn''t believe it. She had clearly seen it that day. The way Zane looked at Annalise...

    Usually, his gaze was cold when looking at people who weren''t important. But when he looked at Annalise, his eyes were filled with a warm smile.

    If that wasn''t love, what else could it be? Hate?R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Sasha was beautiful, and her family background was good. Many men liked her, but she was rarely interested in them. When she finally found someone she liked, she set aside her pride and took the initiative to pursue Zane. However, Zane remained indifferent!

    Sasha had already given up on him. "It has nothing to do with me!"

    She believed she would definitely find someone better than Zane. "In the future, don''t tell me anything rted to him. I''m not interested!"

    Rowena couldn''t believe her ears. "You''re giving up on Zane?"

    Sasha replied, "Mm!"

    Rowena still wanted to persuade Sasha, but thetter had already hung up the phone.

    ...

    Sasha stood across from Huxham Corporation, hiding herself and staring intently at the entrance.

    Although she had decided to give up on Zane, she still wanted to know. What was it about Annalise that made her better than her? Why did Zane choose Annalise over someone as outstanding as herself?

    ...

    With some time left before picking up Willow, I wanted to continue working. But Zane insisted that I rest.

    I knew he was concerned about me, but ying on my phone felt too boring. So, I suggested going downstairs for a walk.

    Zane was afraid I might secretly work while he wasn''t looking, so he had me bring him a cup of coffee.

    I was helpless, so I went downstairs and walked into the caf¨¦, ordering a cup of coffee for Zane.

    "I don''t understand..."

    I heard someone speaking and instinctively turned around.

    I saw Sasha size me up. "Why does Zane prefer staying in the office with you every day but won''t spend even a little more time with me?"

    I didn''t answer her question but smiled and asked, "Is love the only thing in your world? Don''t you have a career to work on?"

    Sasha was caught off guard by my question.

    I continued, "When ites to careers, hard work and consistency will lead to rewards. But love isn''t the same. Sometimes, you give your all to be with your partner, but will they be loyal to you for a lifetime? Will they love you forever?" Sasha''s gaze gradually became uncertain.

    At that moment, the coffee was ready.

    I picked it up, and I said seriously as I walked past Sasha, "You''re still young. You should really think about what you want."

    Sasha watched my retreating figure.

    It seemed like she finally understood what Zane saw in me.

 Chapter 150

    Although Sasha considered Annalise her rival and always held hostility toward her, Annalise never took it to heart. Even when she rudely ran up to Annalise to question her, Annalise remained gentle and courteous. Sasha had to admit she had started to like Annalise a little.

    ...

    I returned to the office and handed the coffee to Zane.

    Zane stopped what he was doing, took the coffee, and smiled. "Thank you."

    "You''re wee." I leaned against the desk and replied nonchntly, "No big deal."

    Zane took a sip and then frowned.

    Seeing his expression, I quickly asked, "What''s wrong?"

    He exined that he usually bought coffee from the caf¨¦ downstairs, which was the same one I had gotten. I had even added milk and sugar just the way he liked it, specifically reminding the server. There should be no difference from what he usually drank. However, judging by his expression, something seemed off.

    "It just tastes a bit better than usual." Zane took another sip, and indeed, the vor seemed richer and more aromatic. He looked at me and asked, "Did they switch to better coffee beans?"

    I shook my head. "I''m not sure."

    Zane thought for a while, then finally called Eric, asking him to get the same coffee and bring it up.

    About ten minutester, the newly purchased coffee was delivered to him.

    Zane first drank a sip of water, then cautiously took a sip of the other coffee. The taste was exactly the same.

    He took another sip of the coffee I bought, then looked up at me in surprise.

    I was confused. "Does it taste the same?"

    Zane nodded. "Mm."

    I finally let out a breath of relief, walked over to the couch, and immediatelyy down.

    Zane''s gaze remained fixed on Annalise. He had lied earlier about the coffee.

    How strange.

    Although both coffees were from the same shop, he felt the one Annalise bought tasted better. What did that mean?

    Zane recalled the little moments he had shared with Annalise. Then, the corners of his lips curled up. Had he gradually fallen in love with Annalise over time?

    Zane wasn''t sure, so he nned to test it out.

    ...

    When it was time to pick up Willow, I packed my things and walked over to Zane. "Let''s go."

    "Mm." Zane walked over to my side.

    I followed him, walking side by side.

    When we stopped at the elevator, I turned to look at him. "The whole school is spreading rumors that Jessica is a homewrecker. Once we reach the school gate, she''ll definitely find you. How do you n to handle this?" I really wanted to know Zane''s take on this.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Zane calmly replied, "I''ll just repeat everything she told me before, word for word."

    I was a bit surprised.

    Zane nonchntly added, "At the same time, the way I''ll solve the problem will be exactly the same as hers."

 Chapter 151

    "Jessica doesn''t think letting the rumors spread will have much of an impact on the child, does she? I hope she''ll feel the same way when the same thing happens to her son." I nodded in agreement. "Now that I know you''ve already decided, I''m relieved."

    Zane casually asked, "What if I can''t do anything about it?"

    I smiled lightly. "You''re so smart, and you care so much for Willow. There''s no way you''d just watch her suffer."

    At my words, even Zane''s usually cold eyes softened with a hint of a smile.

    ...

    Normally, Jessica would show upte to the kindergarten, but today, she was sure toe early.

    As soon as Zane and I arrived, she immediately rushed over to us.

    Jessica was furious, but she had to keep her attitude in check. "Mr. Huxham, my son has been shunned at school because of the rumors you spread."

    "It shouldn''t have much impact on him," Zane replied. He had one hand in his suit pocket, his eyes cold.

    Jessica shot back without thinking, "How so? The other kids won''t even go near him. He''s been crying, hunched over the desk, and feeling miserable!"

    Initially, Cody had a few ssmates he was close with. But after hearing the rumors that Jessica liked flirting with other people''s husbands, no one dared go near him. Jessica''s heart broke when she saw Cody all alone.

    "So..." Zane''s voice became even colder. "Your son is suffering, and now, I have to cooperate with you to solve the problem?"

    Jessica froze.

    Zane casually continued, "Then, when the same thing happens to my daughter, how can you react so nonchntly with such cold words?"

    Jessica remembered what had happened a few days ago, and her face turned pale.

    Zane averted his gaze, and his voice, slow and steady, seemed like a deration of Jessica''s fate. "What? Does your son think he''s above everyone else?" Jessica''s lips trembled. "No..."

    "Then, he can deal with it." Zane cruelly continued, "I believe your son can handle it."

    Jessica wanted to say something, but Willow came out of the ss at that moment. She saw us from a distance and waved excitedly, "Mommy! Daddy!"

    I was afraid she wouldn''t see me, so I stood on tiptoe and waved back at her.

    Holly allowed her to leave.

    Willow jogged toward me, running straight into my arms. "Mommy, let''s go home first. I have something very important to tell you!"

    "Alright." I took Willow''s hand and walked toward the car.

    Jessica, feeling for Cody, reluctantly blocked Zane''s path. "I know I was wrong. I hope you can overlook my oversight..."

    Zane was forced to a stop. His tone,ced with obvious disdain, came as a question. "Why should I? Are you anyone to me?"R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Jessica lowered her head. "I''m not."

    Zane was about to walk around her.

    Jessica, seemingly having made up her mind, raised her voice, saying, "Mr. Huxham, you''re an adult, aren''t you? Don''t you think it''s shameful to bully a child?"

    "Your son waspletely unapologetic when he bullied my daughter," Zane retorted, standing his ground. "I''m just helping my daughter fight back. Why should that be shameful?" Zane looked at Jessica and said, "On the contrary, I feel very honored."

    Because of Cody, he could finally stand up for Willow when she was being picked on.

    Jessica was furious. Her teeth were clenched tightly in frustration, but Zane showed no signs of backing down.

    He walked past her without any expression.

    Jessica took a deep breath.

    Cody walked out of the school gates, dragging his feet as he approached Jessica. "Mommy."

    "Where''s Zachary?"

    Jessica was in a bad mood but didn''t want to take her frustration out on Cody. So, Zachary naturally became the target of her anger. Cody softly tattled, "He''s still inside."

    Jessica snapped with a stern expression, "Zachary, I came all the way to pick you up, and you''re still taking your sweet time?"

 Chapter 152

    "What are you standing there for?" Jessica''s tone was harsh.

    Back then, Zachary would have felt aggrieved by this, but now, he had already gotten used to it.

    He walked out of the school gates with a pout. "You''re picking up your son, not me."

    Jessica didn''t want to lose herposure in front of the other parents. "Can''t I pick up both of you?"

    "Then, why didn''t you pick me up with Cody before?" Zachary retorted. "Now that a driver is picking me up, I don''t need to go with you." Jessica took a deep breath.

    But before she collected herself, Zachary had already gotten into his designated car. The car then quickly drove off.

    ...

    Harry saw Jessica''s grim expression through the rearview mirror and couldn''t help but feel a little afraid. "What will we tell Mr. Pelham when we get back?"

    After all, Steven paid him, and Jessica was his partner. Harry feared Jessica would badmouth him in front of Steven, and he might lose his job.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Zachary reassured him, "It''s fine. I''ll exin to my dad. Don''t worry."

    Harry still wasn''t at ease.

    Zachary had no choice but to call Steven in front of him. "Daddy, Mommy Jessie is in a bad mood, and when she came to pick me up, I didn''t dare to get in her car. You won''t me me, right?" Steven said with an indulgent tone, "Don''t worry. I won''t."

    "Great." Zachary looked out the window. "I''ll be getting homete today."

    Steven asked, "Still following your mom?"

    Zachary didn''t deny it. "Yeah."

    Ever since he realized that Jessica''s kindness was all an act, he felt empty inside, as if he had lost someone important.

    What Zachary hadn''t told anyone was that the only time he felt at ease now was when he was following Annalise, watching her.

    Steven didn''t stop him and just sighed. "Come home earlier."

    Zachary didn''t answer.

    Why should he go back so early? Jessica was really upset right now. If he went home, she would definitely vent all her anger on him. He wasn''t that foolish.

    Steven didn''t get a response from him, so he gently reminded him, "Did you hear me?"

    Zachary gave a perfunctory reply, "Mm."

    ...

    I sat in the backseat, watching as Willow swung her little legs and smiled happily. She was clearly in a good mood.

    I gently pulled her into my arms and softly asked, "Did anything happen at school today?"

    Willow looked at me, saying, "Today, all the kids stayed far away from Cody. Not a single one dared to go near him! Before even the first lesson was over, he was hunching over the desk, crying nonstop."

    "I was so proud at that moment. After all, when everyone ignored me, I only felt a little upset. I didn''t cry, though," she added, looking up at me with an expression that seemed to ask for praise.

    I gently pinched her little nose. "From the looks of it, our Willow has a pretty strong ability to handle pressure."

    Willow pouted. "Yeah! Don''t you see whose daughter I am?"

    I was about to reply when Zane interrupted, "Mine."

    Willow quickly snuggled into my arms. "Mommy''s."

    Zane raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

    Willow muttered in dissatisfaction, "Fine! Also Daddy''s."

    She buried her face in my chest and fell silent, fiddling with her hair.

 Chapter 153

    I looked at Willow and asked, "What are you thinking?"

    She softly said, "I just suddenly realized whether it''s Zachary targeting me or Cody bullying me, it always seems like you and Daddy are the ones who step in to help me handle it. I''ve never really solved any problem on my own." Zane took Willow''s little hand. "You''re still a child. Of course, you can rely on adults."

    He actually wished he could do more for Willow. After all, she would only be with him for about ten more years. When she went to college, she might go to another city. By then, he wouldn''t be able to help her even if he wanted to. "But I will grow up," Willow said, sharing her thoughts. "So, I need to work hard to be independent now."

    "To have such thoughts..." I focused on encouragement. "That means our Willow is growing up!"

    Willow giggled. "But there''s still one very important issue."

    I asked, "Hmm?"

    Willow''s voice was soft and barely audible. "I can''t talk to other people."

    She tried so hard to make a change. When she saw Holly at kindergarten, she told herself to greet thetter politely. But even though her mouth opened, no sound came out.

    She thought it might be easier if she talked to her ssmates, so she tried to join in when they were talking. Unfortunately, no matter what methods she tried, they all failed. Willow''s good mood disappeared instantly. She didn''t understand why this was happening to her.

    I could feel Willow''s disappointment, so I gently patted her back. "It''s okay. We''ll take it slow. But Willow..."

    Willow looked up. "Hmm?"

    "If you can''t talk to people, can you talk to dolls or toys?" If she could, my n to use dolls to help guide her would be halfway there.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    I looked at her.

    Zane''s gaze also fell on her.

    Willow thought seriously for a long time before shaking her head.

    This meant that the n we hadn''t had a chance to try had already failed.

    I remained silent.

    Zane''s expression also became more serious.

    Willow feared we''d misunderstood and hurriedly exined, "I don''t know yet. I have to try at home to see if it works."

    I sighed in relief. "Then, let''s go home and try."

    Willow nodded. "Okay."

    Zane lightly pinched Willow''s nose. "Someday, you''ll scare me to death."

    Willow pouted andined to me, "Mommy, look at Daddy."

    I swatted Zane''s hand away. "Little kids are afraid of pain."

    Zane looked thoughtfully at the spot where I swatted his hand.

    ...

    Jessica brought Cody home.

    The meal was already prepared, and she sat alone in the living room, growing angrier the more she thought about it. "How could there be a man like Zane?"

    Cody obediently sat beside Jessica.

    Jessica''s dissatisfaction grew. "I even lowered my head first, and he still refuses to cooperate with me to solve the problem." As she looked at Cody, all her other emotions seemed to vanish, leaving only her heartache.

    "Now, you''ll be isted by your ssmates tomorrow when you go to school. Sorry, son. It''s because Mommy is useless."

 Chapter 154

    Cody said thoughtfully, "It''s okay, Mommy. I can pretend that I''m the only child there. That way, I won''t feel upset if no one ys with me."

    Hearing this worsened Jessica''s mood, and her hatred for Zane deepened.

    ...

    When the car stopped at the door, I was surprised to see Willow''s grandparents standing there.

    I turned to look at Zane.

    Zane got out of the car to greet them. "What brings you guys here?"

    Thest time we visited, Willow''s grandmother, Dorothy, was still lying in the hospital bed, and she looked in poor spirits.

    Milton exined, "After she woke up a few days ago and heard that Willow came to visit her in the hospital, she felt much better. She finally got discharged today and wanted to meet Willow. Is this not a good time?" Milton was a bit concerned. "If it''s inconvenient, we''ll leave right away."

    Seeing that Milton was about to usher Dorothy along, Zane quickly said, "Let''s go inside first, and we''ll talk."

    Although Willow had begun to open up emotionally, she still couldn''t speak to her grandparents.

    It seemed like she felt guilty toward them, so she got out of the car silently and followed them. Her round little face looked serious.

    I walked over to Willow''s side.

    Willow took my hand and smiled at me.

    I smiled back at her.

    It seemed like her mood had improved a little, and her eyes brightened into a smile.

    ...

    Harry pulled over by the side of the road.

    Zachary watched from a distance, looking at Annalise''s back, his eyes filled with longing and affection.

    Willow couldn''t speak. So, Annalise would always find ways to stand up for her when she was bullied. Not only that, Annalise always thought of solving the problem at its root. She wanted Willow to be able tomunicate with others. That was how Annalise had always been. She genuinely hoped for the best for her child.

    Zachary''s eyes welled up again as he thought about it.

    Annalise was no different when she was with him. No matter their problems, Annalise never once got angry with him. She was always so gentle, teaching him how to solve the problem.

    Back then, how did he not notice how good Annalise was?

    He was foolish to be deceived by Jessica. Thinking that Jessica was the one who truly cared about him...

    Zachary regretted it deeply.

    He covered his face, unable to control his sobs. "Mommy, I''m really sorry. Please forgive me."

    ...

    Just as Steven opened the door to his room, Jessica eagerly approached him.

    She leaned in and hugged his arm. "I tried your advice and worked with Zane to solve the problem."

    Steven was very repulsed and instinctively tried to pull his arm away. "Hmm?"

    "Zane said it wouldn''t have too much impact on Cody," Jessica said, lowering her head.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    She noticed that Steven''s body would stiffen noticeably at her touch. In this situation, if she kept pushing and continued to create intimate moments, it wouldn''t be long before Steven realized he didn''t actually like her. Ultimately, Steven would surely find a way to break up with her.

    Jessica began to sense a looming crisis.

    Lately, the money she had received from Steven wasn''t enough to satisfy her desires. She needed to find a way to keep Steven believing he liked her.

 Chapter 155

    So Jessica thought that the first step was not to do anything that would make Steven dislike her. For example, keeping a distance from him and not touching him.

    She released Steven.

    Steven sighed in relief. "Jessica, I know you''re outraged right now."

    Jessica walked to the couch while speaking in a considerate tone, "But I know..." She sat down and looked at Steven. "I''ll have to endure this."

    Steven stood opposite her. "I''m sorry that you''ve been wronged. What kind ofpensation do you want?"

    Jessica noticed that Steven''s attitude toward her had softened when she gave him space. She finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed like her spontaneous decision was right on. "You know what I like. So, just get it for me."

    "Okay." Steven casually asked, "Cody''s recent school life must be tough, right? What are you nning to do about it?"

    Jessica honestly couldn''t think of a solution.

    Tears welled up in her eyes, yet she refused to let them fall. "I don''t know, either."

    Steven watched her cry and said, "I have two solutions."

    Jessica sat up, instinctively trying to hold Steven''s arm, but stopped herself. "What is it?"

    Steven said seriously, "He can transfer schools. If he goes to a new school where no one knows him, he can live like a normal kid. Or he can take a few days off. By the time he returns, the other kids will have forgotten about it." Jessica thought for a long time before finally making a decision. "Let''s have him take a few days off."

    Cody would have to adjust to a new environment if they transferred him. She was afraid he wouldn''t be able to cope.

    Steven nodded. "Okay."

    ...

    When they got into the living room, I figured the elderly couple finally had a chance to spend time with Willow, so I decided to give them some time alone and went upstairs. After Dorothy saw me leave, she took Willow''s small arms and couldn''t stop admiring her. "Our Willow has grown so big in the blink of an eye."

    Willow obediently stood before her, and a voice in her heart told her to answer Dorothy. But she just couldn''t speak, unable to make any sound. In the end, she could only nod. "That''s so wonderful." Dorothy had been hospitalized because of heart problems, but when she saw Willow, she instantly felt better. "Are you happy living with your dad?" Willow nodded again.

    The elderly couple continued to ask about Willow''s health, and she nodded or shook her head in response, never showing any impatience.

    ...

    I stood on the stairs, looking at them and feeling a sense of relief. Suddenly, my sleeve was tugged.

    I turned my head and saw Zane gesturing for me to follow him. I looked back at Willow, but thinking that Zane had something to say to me, I retracted my gaze.

    I followed him to the balcony and asked, "What is it? Do you have something to say?"

    "Mm." Zane smiled and shared the progress with me. "The dolls modeled after her grandparents will probably be ready the day after tomorrow."

    I sighed. "I really hope our n works. That way, she''ll be able to chat normally with her grandparents, and she can tell them openly that she''s always loved them."

    Zane chuckled. "It will work, Anna. When I first brought Willow to my side, I thought to myself, I don''t need anything else. I just want her to be able to speak to me. You see? Now my wish hase true." I leaned back against the railing. "It has."

    Zane''s eyes were filled with emotions I couldn''t understand. "Anna, don''t worry. Everything will be okay."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    I nodded. "Exactly."

    "Then, after Willow falls asleep tonight, how about we have a drink?" Zane had been building up for this exact question. "Life has been too tense recently. We need to rx a bit."

    He also hoped to use this opportunity to confirm his feelings.

 Chapter 156

    I looked at Zane.

    In my eyes, he was very capable when it came to work. No matter what happened, he could always handle things calmly and with restraint.

    I naturally thought that he lived afortable and carefree life. So, I was somewhat surprised to hear that he also needed to relieve stress.

    Zane didn''t wait for my answer and said nervously, "You don''t want to?"

    He didn''t want to force me. "If that''s the case, never mind."

    I shook my head. "No. I do."

    Zane smiled. "Then, I''ll wait for you tonight."

    "Okay."

    ...

    "Mommy! Daddy!"

    The sound of footsteps and Willow''s clear voice echoed simultaneously.

    I walked out to the balcony. "I''m here."

    Willow hugged me. "Dinner''s ready. Let''s eat!"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    Even though Willow still loved her grandparents, she seemed ufortable staying with them for an extended time after not being around them for a while. At that moment, she seemed a little uneasy. I picked up Willow. "Let''s go."

    She wrapped her small hands around my neck, her big eyes staring at Zane behind me.

    Zane smiled and asked, "Do you have something to say?"

    Willow hesitated and said, "Daddy, you seem to smile more recently."

    Zane''s steps slowed down. "Oh?"

    "When you used to take care of me, you always had a serious face. It was kind of scary," Willow said, still puzzled. "Did something good happen?"

    Zane didn''t answer her question but asked, "Really?"

    Willow nodded heavily. "Yes!"

    Zane paused in his steps.

    So, had he already changed so much without realizing it?

    ***

    The meal was ready, and Zane wanted to invite the elders to stay for dinner, but they refused.

    Milton exined that since Dorothy had just been discharged from the hospital, her body hadn''t fully recovered, and the doctor had advised her not to eat much. Therefore, he needed to go home and cook for Dorothy himself. Since he said that, Zane could only watch them leave.

    Back at the dining table, Willow was still looking listless.

    I asked, "Why aren''t you happy?"

    "When Grandpa and Grandma talk to me, I really want to answer them," Willow said.

    She usually loved the homemade meals, but today, she had no appetite. "But I''ve tried several times, and I failed."

    I could feel that she really loved her grandparents. I gently held her hand and said, "There''s a saying that goes ''Every setback is a setup for aeback."

    Willow asked confusedly, "What does that mean?"

    "It means failure isn''t scary, but you must learn from your failures. Understand the reasons behind your failure, and try a different approach next time. Over time, you will seed."

    Willow still looked confused and asked, "Is that really how it works?"

    Zane gave her some food and added, "We certainly wouldn''t lie to you."

    Though Willow was still slightly confused, she trusted Zane. "Then, I''ll give it a try!"

    After resolving her concerns, Willow felt the food tasted better and happily ate two portions.

 Chapter 157

    Today, Howard gave her a day off to rest, so Willow didn''t have to do any training. After finishing her meal, shey on the couch, her little head resting on myp, happily watching cartoons. Not wanting to miss out on Willow''s growth, Zane also put down his work and sat beside me to watch TV with her.

    "Daddy," Willow said, dissatisfied that Zane had interrupted her one-on-one time with me.

    She sat up and looked at him. "You still haven''t finished your work. You don''t need to stay here with me. Otherwise, you''ll have to workte again!"

    Zane already had an excuse prepared. "It''s fine. I can handle things at the office tomorrow. It''ll be the same."

    "I know you''re worried I''ll be alone," Willow said, wanting to be alone with me. She added firmly, "But Daddy, I have Mommy with me.

    "I won''t be lonely."

    "No," Zane firmly countered. "Both parents should be present in a child''s education. Only then can one develop a healthy and well-rounded character."

    Willow pouted in anger. Her cheeks were puffed out as she looked at Zane. In the end, she reluctantlyy back down on the couch.

    Willow''s TV time was only half an hour each day. After turning off the TV, she bargained with me. "Mommy, can I watch one more episode?"

    She blinked, looking so sweet, and I couldn''t help but feel a rush of motherly love.

    I ced the remote aside and squatted down to look at her. "No."

    Seeing that I wouldn''t give in, Willow pouted but didn''t say anything. She drooped her shoulders and slowly walked upstairs, ncing back at me every few steps.

    I followed her upstairs.

    Children''s attention spans always shifted quickly. After I spent some time ying with her in her bedroom, she was noticeably happier.

    She hugged me and said, "Mommy, I really love you."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    "I love you, too," I said, hugging Willow and giving her a kiss.

    Willow let go of me and went to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth while I helped her find clothes to change into.

    "Hello, my name is Willow."

    I heard Willow''s voice and was puzzled about who she was introducing herself to. When I walked to the bathroom door, I saw Willow standing on a stool to see herself in the mirror.

    She was very nervous, her little face full of unease. But she still mustered up the courage to improve and said, one word at a time, "Nice to meet you."

    Seeing her practicing, I didn''t want to disturb her, so I quietly left.

    After taking a shower, Willowy on the bed, her eyes filled with confusion. "Mommy, is it true that as long as I''m willing to keep trying, I can definitely seed?"

    "Of course, Willow!" I gently stroked her hair.

    Willow finally rxed. "Mommy, thank you."

    "You''re wee." I knew Willowcked confidence, so I picked a story about how hard work led to rewards.

    As I read, she smiled slightly, and my mood also lifted. By the time I finished the story, she had already fallen asleep.

    I quietly left her room and gently closed the door behind me.

    Zane was waiting by the door. Seeing mee out, he spoke softly, "Let''s go."

    ...

    The light on the balcony shone on the white round table, creating a particrly cozy atmosphere.

    I sat on the stool, and Zane poured me a ss of wine.

    I took a small sip, then unconsciously frowned. The taste was too spicy for me to handle.

    Zane extended his arm, holding his ss toward me. "Come on. Cheers!"

    I clinked sses with him. After he chugged his drink, I had no choice but to finish mine out of courtesy, even though it was bitter.

    Zane looked at me. "Now that I think about it, I haven''t rxed like this in a long time."

 Chapter 158

    When Zane felt the urge to speak, all I needed to do was listen and guide him to continue.

    However, my head was spinning.

    I propped my head up with my hand. I''d never drunk alcohol before, so I couldn''t believe that my tolerance was so low.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Zane looked at me. "Since I made it to this position, I''ve had to put all my focus on work every day. The future nning and development of thepany, how to handle crises, and such. Otherpanies are watching closely, waiting for mine to copse so they can take over." On top of that, there was the situation with Willow.

    He had a lot to think about every day. Only after he asked me toe home and take care of Willow did he feel a bit more rxed.

    I tilted my head and looked at him. "That''s definitely a lot of pressure."

    Zane smiled and then poured me another ss of wine.

    I waved my hand. "I can''t drink anymore."

    Zane sighed. "Alright, then. Even though I can only truly let my guard down and have a calm conversation when I''m with you..."

    He had said all that, and it seemed inappropriate for me not to drink. So, I took a deep breath and downed my drink in one go.

    My throat felt like it was on fire. Everything around me felt like it was spinning.

    I leaned on the chair, slowly sat down, and closed my eyes. Only then did I feel a little more at ease.

    While I still had some rity left, I said, "I''m drunk. You should go rest first. I need to wait until I''m a little better before heading back." "Okay."

    ...

    Zane pulled the chair closer to Annalise''s side. Seeing her expression, he felt a bit guilty.

    If he had known that she would feel so unwell after drinking, he would have found another way to confirm his feelings.

    Zane gently touched Annalise''s head and carefully let her lean on his shoulder.

    The strong smell of alcohol mixed with her unique fragrance made his heart feel unusually at peace. Was this what it felt like to like someone? Zane looked ahead.

    If it truly was, then he didn''t mind.

    He took another sip of his drink. Unfortunately, he still didn''t know just how much he liked Annalise.

    However, it didn''t matter. They still had plenty of time. As long as he kept trying, he would eventually know.

    If he confirmed that he loved Annalise and wanted to marry her, he would do everything in his power to pursue her until she agreed to be his wife. The wind was just right, and the person he liked was right beside him.

    Zane unexpectedly felt light and satisfied. He stayed on the balcony for a while, and when he stood up, Annalise had already fallen asleep.

    He picked her up and gently ced her on her bed.

    Zane stared at her without looking away.

    Annalise didn''t like wearing makeup, but her skin was wless-fair and delicate. Her face was gentle and graceful, with an elegant air about her. He caressed her cheek and said, "I''m sorry."

    ...

    Jessica sat at a distance from Steven, and even their conversation revolved around casual topics between friends.

    Steven was a little distracted. He nced at the clock on the wall. It was already 10:00 pm.

    He hurriedly stood up and said, "I''m leaving now."

    Jessica didn''t understand. Instead of staying home at this time, where was he going?

    Before she could ask, Steven had already rushed out the door.

 Chapter 159

    Steven drove back to the house where he had lived with Annalise for six years. He pushed open the door to the living room. The house was pitch ck.

    Steven instinctively said, "Honey, I''m home! Why didn''t youe to greet me? Are you not feeling well?"

    He took a couple of steps, then suddenly remembered that he and Annalise had already divorced.

    Steven was disoriented. He sat down on the couch, looking around the room.

    He told himself that he shouldn''t be sad. After all these years, the one he loved was always Jessica. Now that he got what he wanted, he should feel happy. But why couldn''t he feel any joy deep down? Steven''s hand rested over his chest.

    He couldn''t figure it out.

    Steven''s phone rang. He picked it up absentmindedly.

    It was a call from Jessica.

    In the past, when he came homete, Annalise would call him. Although he never said much, he always looked forward to what she would say, and he would always unconsciously smile.

    But now, he only felt impatient. "Is there something you need?"

    "Where have you been?" Jessica asked, sounding concerned.

    He replied indifferently, "I''m working overtime."

    He walked into the bedroom andy down. Even though it had been a long time, it seemed like he could still smell Annalise''s scent.

    Steven finally felt at ease and closed his eyes.

    His past rtionship with Annalise had been good. Every time after putting Zachary to sleep, Annalise would return to the bedroom, affectionately lying in his arms, always taking the initiative to start conversations with him about everything under the sun. Back then, every day had been like that. It was ordinary but happy.

    However, he hadn''t cherished it.

    Now, all he could do was reminisce.

    ...

    When I went to wake up Willow the following morning, she didn''t respond.

    I pushed open the door and saw that she had already woken up. She was looking in the mirror, practicing speaking seriously.

    "I really like you.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

    "Can we be friends?

    "Hi! What did you have for breakfast?"

    Such simple topics were things that an ordinary person could easily say. But for Willow, they were as difficult as running a marathon. She could not speak at all to anyone other than me and Zane, let alone make a sound. I leaned against the doorframe, watching her.

    Willow finished her practice, cleaned up, and turned around to see me. She quickly ran up to me. "Mommy!"

    I took her small hand and asked, "No one woke you up this morning? You got up by yourself?"

    "Mm!" Willow raised her chin proudly. "Because before I go running, I have other things to do. Then, I guess I''ll have to wake up earlier."

    She said it so naturally.

    I felt both heartbroken andforted. I squatted down and cupped her little face, nting a kiss on it.

    Willow''s chubby little hands also cupped my face, and she kissed me back. She then released me and went to wake up Zane.

    The three of us went running together. This time, Willow made a lot of progress. She ran more than 320 yards without stopping.

    After returning to the bedroom, I gave Willow a bath, just like usual.

    Willow said seriously, "Mommy, I''ve set a goal for the month."

    I asked in confusion, "Oh?"

    "And when the time is up..." Willow spoke with determination. "I must be able to speak andmunicate with people other than you and Daddy."

    I could feel Willow''s determination. I asked softly, "Won''t that put too much pressure on you?"

 Chapter 160

    Willow thought momentarily and then said, "Maybe I didn''t express myself clearly. My goal isn''t to suddenly be a normal person who can talk to everyone."

    She emphasized, "My goal is to have one more person I can talk to."

    I realized I had misunderstood. "I understand now."

    As I spoke, I helped her get dressed.

    Willow took my hand, and we went downstairs.

    A rich and nutritious breakfast had been prepared by the chef.

    While eating her meal, Willow looked around the room. When it was time for milk, she walked up to Richard, wanting to speak with him. The words were on the tip of her tongue, but unfortunately, she still couldn''t say anything. Willow thought that perhaps she simply didn''t want to talk to Richard, so she moved to someone else.

    Others watched her in confusion.

    What was she doing?

    After trying with everyone, Willow returned to her seat and sighed. "Why can''t I talk to anyone?"

    She couldn''t understand.

    Talking to Annalise and Zane was fine. It didn''t affect her at all. But why couldn''t she do it when it came to others?

    Upon hearing her words, Zane understood what Willow had been trying to do. He chuckled. "No need to rush, Willow. You need to believe in yourself. You''ll definitely seed one day." Willow nodded seriously. "Okay."

    I had finished my meal and smiled as I gently rubbed her head. "Rx. Don''t put too much pressure on yourself."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Willow didn''t know why, but when she heard Zane, she felt calm and at ease. But whenever she heard me speak, she inexplicably felt a sense of grievance.

    Seeing her dejected face, I hugged her tightly. "Willow, you need to know that no matter what, Mommy will always love you."

    Willow asked softly, "What if I never get better?"

    "You will always be my daughter." I gently patted her back. "I will always love you."

    Willow''s mood finally lifted a little. "Okay."

    After dropping Willow off at kindergarten, she seemed to be in a good mood. She waved at us while walking away.

    I waved at her, too.

    A little girl walked up to Willow and started talking to her. Willow paused for a moment, then nodded.

    I didn''t know what the little girl said, but Willow shook her head in response.

    I looked at Zane in surprise. "Does this mean she made a friend?"

    Zane seemed just as surprised. "Let''s ask her when shees home."

    I fastened my seatbelt, still a bit incredulous. "Do you know? Last night and this morning, she was practicing talking to others in front of the mirror." Zane spoke with tenderness, "She really wants to improve."

    I spoke with determination, "She''s working so hard. She will definitely seed."

    Zane agreed, "She will."

    I gazed out the window. The sunlight was beautiful.

    The scenery shed by as we went.

    ...

    Sasha''s mind was full of Annalise. She hadn''t slept all night, and in the end, she called Rowena to ask, "Do you have Annalise''s contact?"

    "Why?" Rowena asked. "Are you nning to find her? I''m telling you. Zane doesn''t like her at all. You don''t need to waste any more time on this."

    Sasha no longer cared who Zane liked. "Stop changing the subject. Just answer me. Do you have it or not?"

    There was a long silence from Rowena.

    Sasha thought Rowena didn''t want to tell her and was about to hang up the phone.

    Then, Rowena spoke, "No."

    As soon as the words fell, she heard the busy signal on the line.

    Sasha threw the phone aside andy on the bed, but she still couldn''t fall asleep. She could only force herself to ignore her drowsiness and took a taxi to Huxham Corporation.

 Chapter 161

    The receptionist smiled and stopped Sasha. "Hello, do you have an appointment?"

    She had witnessed the moment when the security guard carried Sasha out. She naturally knew that Zane did not wee thetter, so she couldn''t let her go up. Sasha yawned. "I''m here to see Annalise."

    The receptionist froze.

    Without waiting for a response, Sasha stepped into the elevator and pressed the close button.

    By the time the receptionist came back to her senses, the elevator had already gone up. Her face turned pale. What should she do?

    Sasha pushed the door open and walked into the office.

    Before Zane could say anything, Sasha proactively exined, "I''m here to see Annalise."

    I had just turned on myputer and was about to start working on a diagram when I heard Sasha''s words.

    I turned around in surprise.

    Sasha directly sat next to me. "Can we add each other on Instagram?"

    Wasn''t she treating me as a rival just a few days ago?

    Though I was puzzled, I still handed my phone to Sasha.

    After adding me as a friend, Sasha leaned against me and said, "I''m so sleepy. Let me take a nap."

    I felt utterly helpless.

    Why didn''t she sleep at home if she was tired? And why did she specificallye to Zane''spany?

    I shook my head and continued with my work.

    Zane stood in front of me, his voice full of disdain. "I''ll have the security guard throw her out."

    "It''s fine."

    After all, Sasha was a girl. It would ruin her image if she were thrown out onto the street. So, I disagreed with Zane''s suggestion. "She''s just here to sleep. She hasn''t disturbed us." Zane was left speechless.

    Since he hadn''t returned to his office yet, I whispered, "Once she wakes up, I''ll have her leave."

    "Okay."

    ...R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Zane went back to his desk, looking at Sasha from a distance.

    Yesterday, he made up many excuses just to get Annalise to drink with him.

    When Annalise got drunk, it was still him who took the initiative to get closer, gently supporting her, and only then did she lean on his shoulder.

    But Sasha could just walk in, exchange contact information, and then casually have intimate contact with Annalise?

    Zane felt it was unfair.

    Suddenly, he heard his phone''s notification sound. Opening Instagram, he saw Annalise''s message.

    "You''ve been staring at Sasha for a while. Did you suddenly realize that you actually like her?"

    ...

    Zane turned his head, and he just happened to meet my gaze.

    I was afraid of waking up Sasha, so I didn''t make a sound. Instead, I mouthed to him, "Do you need me to give you two some alone time?" When Zane frowned, I realized he probably didn''t understand what I was saying, so I quickly sent the message to him.

    Zane replied instantly, "No. I just want her to leave quickly."

    I realized I had misunderstood Zane''s intentions. I immediately put my phone down and went back to working on the sketch.

    But maybe it was because I had drunk too much yesterday. I still felt a bit ufortable.

    I rubbed my temples.

    Then, arge thermos containernded in front of me.

    I looked up in surprise.

    Zane stood before me, his usual cold and stern expression now carrying a touch of gentleness. "Hangover soup. Drink it."

 Chapter 162

    Sasha was sleeping soundly.

    I didn''t want to make any big movements and disturb her, so I carefully helped her lie on the couch, making sure she settledfortably.

    Then, I picked up the thermos container and followed Zane out of the partition.

    My voice was still very soft. "Where did thise from?"

    "I made it at home this morning," Zane replied, standing beside me with a straight face.

    His tone carried a hint of guilt. "If it weren''t for spending time with me, you wouldn''t have drunk so muchst night. And you wouldn''t have this headache today." "Mm..."

    I opened the thermos and took a sip. The hangover soup was still hot.

    After hesitating, I finally spoke, "Next time, if you want to talk about something and rx, let''s not drink. We can just have some juice. That''s good enough." Zane agreed, saying, "Okay."

    I sat down and began sipping the scalding soup slowly, blowing on it to cool it down.

    Zane stood behind me, gently massaging my temples. His movements were tender.

    Although the difort in my head eased somewhat because of his touch, the intimacy of the contact made me feel slightly overwhelmed.

    I was about to move away.

    However, Zane firmly pressed down on my shoulder. "Don''t overthink it, Anna. Since I was the one who did something wrong, I should make it up to you."

    Only then did I feel at ease, enjoying his care. "Thank you."

    Zane chuckled. "We don''t need to be so formal with each other."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Sasha opened her eyes, looked at the unfamiliar surroundings, and nced around in confusion.

    It wasn''t until she saw the two people in the office that she remembered. She seemed to have been thinking about how good Annalise was. She felt like she had to be friends with Annalise, so she had tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Finally, she was unable to resist any longer and came here to befriend Annalise. Only then was she able to sleep soundly.

    She rested her hand on the couch, propping up her head. She watched Zane with great interest.

    Zane always seemed like a mountain of ice in front of others, cold and distant. A nce from him felt like the edge of an ice de. But he waspletely different in front of Annalise.

    His entire demeanor seemed to unconsciously soften, and even his gaze became impossibly gentle.

    Was this the power of love?

    Sasha shook her head, yawned, andy back on the couch to continue sleeping.

    ...

    After finishing the hangover soup, I was about to clean up.

    But Eric entered and spoke to Zane, "Mr. Huxham, I''m here to report to Ms. Jamison about the data on her work before the promotion."

    "Okay," Zane replied, covering up the thermos. He then left the office, giving space to Eric and me.

    Eric smiled as he opened the folder and began his report. "As of 9:00 am today, your ount has reached 2,000 followers across all tforms."

    "That quickly?" I was a little surprised. "Thest time I checked, I think it was only a little over a thousand?"

    Eric stood in front of me. "If the quality of the work is good, the follower count will increase quickly, even without any promotion. The key is whether you''re willing to update every day."

    It was just a part-time gig I initially took up to pass the time. I never thought that people actually liked it.

    My mood improved as well.

    Eric, not being able to see the data from the backend, asked with a smile, "Would you mind letting me look at your phone?"

    I handed my phone to him.

    Eric switched between different apps, picked up a pen, and started writing down something on paper.

    He finally put the pen in his pocket and said, "The average views before were 10,000. Now the average views are 20,000, showing a very significant increase in data."

    I had rarely paid attention to these statistics before, and it was only after hearing Eric''s report that I realized how many people were actually viewing myics.

 Chapter 163

    Eric noticed my astonishment and smiled. "This is actually still on the lower side. Once they finalize the n for promoting you and thepany starts investing resources, your followers could increase by tens of thousands in a single day." Eric was ustomed to this and continued, "In less than a month, you could be a writer with a million followers. At that point, people will envy you and scrutinize your life with a magnifying ss.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    "If you don''t want people finding faults, it''s best to start controlling your actions and words now."

    He patted my shoulder, his tone full of sympathy. "So, enjoy these days when your fanbase is still small. This might be one of the few times you have freedom in your life."

    With that, he left the office.

    I sat there quietly, and my mind was upied with Eric''s words.

    So it turned out that being liked by many people wasn''t always a good thing.

    ...

    Zane, having washed the thermos, was waiting outside for Eric.

    Eric saw him and instantly wiped the smile off his face. "Mr. Huxham."

    "Has the promotion n for Anna''sics been finalized?" Zane asked calmly, walking with him to a quiet spot away from others.

    Huxham Corporation had many important projects that were crucial to thepany''s future. But Zane had never cared about them. He never inquired about the establishment or development of newpanies, either. Yet today, he specifically asked about Annalise''s project.

    What did this mean?

    It meant that Zane definitely liked Annalise!

    Eric suppressed his curiosity and replied seriously, "They submitted it for my review yesterday. There are still some issues, so I had them revise it. But I''m overseeing everything, so you can rest assured." Zane was very satisfied with this progress. "You have my trust."

    Eric watched Zane leave, but what he didn''t say was the fact that he was more eager than both Zane and Annalise for her to be a writer with millions-even tens of millions of followers.

    Once Annalise became famous, she would be followed wherever she went.

    He could also observe, through the Inte, how the rtionship between Zane and Annalise would develop.

    Thinking of this, Eric quickly opened the gossip group chat, his fingers tapping rapidly on the screen. "Big news!"

    The people in the group immediately asked, "What?"

    Eric wore a mysterious smile.

    "Mr. Huxham has someone he likes."

    As soon as the message was sent, the group exploded in excitement.

    Zane was notorious in thepany for being a workaholic. He focused almost all of his attention on work. As soon as he arrived at the office every day, he buried himself in business matters. He never gave himself even a moment of rest. As a result, even the hardest workers in thepany felt inferior when they saw him.

    There was nothing they could do. Zane was simply too dedicated.

    The most important thing was that, apart from business partners, he rarely interacted with women. Over time, everyone began to suspect that his mind was solely upied with his career, and there was no room for anything else. But today, Zane''s most trusted secretary actually said in the group that their boss had feelings for someone.

    Everyone immediately began to ask, "Who is it?"

 Chapter 164

    Just as everyone was discussing heatedly, a message popped up.

    "I want to know, too."

    When Eric saw these four words, he suddenly had a bad feeling. He looked at the person''s name. "Zane."

    Then, he looked at the group''s name at the top of the chat.

    "Huxham Corporation."

    It was over! It was all over!

    Wasn''t he supposed to send this to their gossip group? How did it end up in thepany''s internal group chat?

    Eric shakily held his phone. He wouldn''t get fired, would he?

    "Is it that obvious?"

    Eric heard Zane''s voice and-terrified-turned around.

    Zane''s expression was as calm as usual. "Hmm?"

    Eric nodded. "Yes."

    He took a deep breath. "Anyone who''s worked here long enough could tell."

    Zane, seeming to reflect, said, "I always thought I was hiding it well."

    Eric lowered his head.

    "The people in the group are still waiting for your answer." Zane, gripping the office door handle, spoke in a cold voice that seemed to carry a hidden meaning, "Don''t forget to reply." Once the office door closed, Eric felt like he''d dodged a bullet. He took a deep breath and, seeing that Zane wasn''t upset, he finally answered in the group, "Annalise." After sending the message, he carefully thought back on Zane''s behavior.

    It didn''t seem right. Zane usually only allowed work-rted discussions in the office group. Anything else was strictly forbidden.

    Logically speaking, he should have been angry at Eric for gossiping in the office group, especially since it was about him. But judging by Zane''s behavior... Eric furrowed his brows, staring at the office door.

    Not only was Zane not angry, but he also seemed pleased. Could it be that Zane actually wanted everyone to know about his feelings for Annalise?

    As Eric realized this, he couldn''t help but shake his head.

    He never expected Zane to be this kind of person!

    ...

    Jessica was upset, so Steven promised to give her a gift.

    However, he didn''t know what kind of things women liked, so he asked a personal shopper to help him select a gift and told him his requirements.

    He sat outside the shop the whole time, waiting.

    The items the shopper brought were mostly diamonds.

    The shopper even took the time to exin that most women liked shiny gemstones, which is why diamonds were almost always chosen for wedding rings. Few considered other materials. Steven didn''t know why, but he suddenly thought of Annalise.

    When Annalise was with him, he was just starting his business. All the money he had went into thepany, and he didn''t have enough to buy her a ring.

    She never minded. She would just hold his arm, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, and say, "Steven, I don''t need anything. I just need you to love me." Annalise loved him back then. Her pure, clear eyes seemed more beautiful than any gemstone in the world. And he clearly shouldn''t have let Annalise down.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    But he foolishly believed Annalise''s considerate words and thought he didn''t need to give her anything. It wasn''t until after the divorce that he realized Annalise never wore a ring from him. The shopper had returned several times, still unable to find a gift that satisfied Steven. He had to ask once again for Steven''s requirements. Steven said, "The most expensive item in the store. Get me a ring as well."

    "Okay."

    This time, the items selected by the shopper were exactly what Steven was happy with. He paid for the items, sat in the car, and watched the gemstones sparkling in the natural light.

 Chapter 165

    Steven couldn''t stop thinking.

    If he and Annalise hadn''t gotten divorced and if he had given this ring to Annalise, she would surely have been thrilled. But sadly, it was toote now. There was no going back. He lowered his gaze, feeling more lost by the second.

    Wasn''t he supposed to like Jessica? Then, why had he been thinking about Annalise so oftentely?

    It was time for lunch.

    The elevator reserved for the CEO just so happened to be broken, so Zane and I had to take the public elevator. Unfortunately, it was exactly rush hour.

    As the elevator descended, the number of people inside increased.

    I stood in the corner, but due to the crowd, I kept getting bumped into from time to time.

    Zane was concerned that I might feel ufortable, so he moved closer to me. He then ced his arm in front of me, creating a safe space.

    I no longer had to worry about being identally hit by someone''s iling arms. I finally sighed in relief. "Thank you."

    "You''re wee."

    ...

    Zane practically shielded Annalise with his body. He even felt lucky that there were so many people today, allowing him to make closer contact with her.

    More people continued to board the elevator, and the space between him and Annalise was reduced to almost nothing.

    Zane also caught a whiff of Annalise''s fragrance. He lowered his head, watching as she tried to distance herself from him but ultimately failed.

    Her cheeks, whether from the thin air or from anger, were slightly flushed.

    Zane seemed to understand why so many people wanted to get married, walking into the halls of marriage with the person they loved. It gave them a legitimate reason to be intimately close forever. It was truly something to yearn for.

    ...

    Zane''s mood unconsciously became more pleasant. He lowered his voice and called out, "Anna?"

    I looked up at him. "Hm?"

    Zane asked with a teasing tone, "Are you upset?"

    "No. Not really," I answered honestly. "If I got angry every time I took the public elevator, what about them? They''re crammed in here every day. Wouldn''t they be angry all the time?" Zane just smiled. "True."

    The elevator reached the second floor, and everyone else exited, leaving only Zane and me.

    Zane, aware of the situation, kept his distance from me.

    I finally rxed a bit.

    This time, Zane didn''t take me directly to the restaurant. Instead, we walked around the area first. He talked to me about the general types of food served at each restaurant and what they tasted like. I looked at him in surprise. "Have you tried food from all the restaurants?"

    Zane answered with a smirk, "Mm."

    I was impressed. "That''s amazing!"

    Zane looked at me. "From now on, we''ll try new ces together."

    "No problem!"

    ...

    Steven bought the gift and immediately called Jessica. He wanted her toe to thepany because he had a surprise prepared for her.

    As soon as the call ended, Jessica eagerly asked Harry to take her to Steven''s office. It had been half an hour by the time she arrived.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Fearing that Steven might dislike her again, Jessica kept her distance from him. "What did you get me?"

    Steven handed the gift box to Jessica.

    She opened the box, and when she saw the gemstone inside, she was utterly stunned. She had been studying jewelry over the past few days. So, she knew just how expensive Steven''s gift was. "This..."

    "Do you like it?" Steven leaned back, smiling as he watched Jessica.

    Jessica nodded vigorously. "I really like it."

    At that moment, she even felt that Steven''s previous rejection and resistance were just an act.

    How could he bear to spend so much money on her if he didn''t like her?

 Chapter 166

    "That''s good." Steven liked their current interaction of keeping a distance between them. "I still have some work to handle. You can go back now."

    Jessica ced the gift box into the bag, unable to hide her joy. "Okay."

    Steven watched Jessica''s retreating figure, and his frown deepened.

    Wasn''t it said that you only spent money on someone you like? He had spent so much money on Jessica. Logically, that should mean he liked her, right? But he couldn''t bring himself to be intimate with her. Steven fiddled with the diamond ring in his hand.

    He couldn''t understand why.

    ...

    After lunch, Sasha had already woken up when I returned to the office.

    While eating before, I had already thought about how to depict today''s events in theic and how to maintain the storyline while also adding some fun elements to make it more interesting.

    So, after sitting back on the couch, I nned to continue drawing.

    "Don''t work just yet." Sasha wrapped her arms around mine, her body almost pressed against mine. "Talk to me for a while." Her voice was soft and sweet.

    I turned to look at her and asked, "What do you want to talk about?"

    Sasha''s expression became serious. "Didn''t you suggest that I should focus on my career?"

    I nodded.

    Sasha looked troubled. "I think what you said makes sense, but I don''t know what I should do." She put on a ttering expression. "So I was wondering if you have any suggestions for me."

    I thought about it seriously. "Why not think about what you''re really interested in?"Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Sasha shook her head. "No. There are so many things I like."

    "Find the one thing you like the most."

    Sasha fell silent.

    I continued, "Just think carefully. Among all those hobbies of yours, is there one that you simply can''t let go of? One that you can''t abandon?" Sasha hesitated before saying, "Yes."

    I patted her hand. "Then, go for that one."

    Sasha stared at me long before saying, "Okay!"

    Zane casually flipped through the documents, but his attention was constantly on Annalise in the partition.

    Before Sasha arrived, it had just been him and Annalise in the office, and he enjoyed the time they spent alone together.

    But with Sasha''s arrival, she would find reasons to talk to Annalise, and Annalise no longer had time to chat with him.

    No. He needed to figure out a way to get Sasha to leave!

    It was 5:30 pm, and it was time to go pick up Willow.

    Sasha insisted oning with us. But halfway through, she received a phone call.

    After talking to the person on the other end, she turned upset and said goodbye to us.

    I sat in the car, ncing at Zane beside me.

    Zane smiled and leaned toward me. "What''s wrong?"

    I thought for a moment, then decided to ask, "Do you dislike Sasha?"

    "Mm," Zane openly admitted. "She''s tried to get close to me a few times before. I''ve never had a good impression of people like her."

    Zane thought for a moment, taking the opportunity to address the issue.

    Maybe cutting off her connection with Sasha would be a good choice. "I even feel like her approaching you might be part of her attempt to get closer to me."

    I understood. "You''re worried she''ll bother you?"

    Zane nodded.

    I stayed silent for a moment, then finally looked at him. "In that case, I''ll go downstairs to find her next time shees looking for me. That way, it won''t affect you." If he didn''t like someone, I wouldn''t force him to tolerate it.

 Chapter 167

    Zane didn''t answer me directly. Instead, he said, "It seems like her attitude toward you isn''t that great. Why are you still willing to be friends with her?"

    "She doesn''t have much malice toward me," I answered after thinking seriously. "Mainly because I suddenly realized I don''t really have any friends in this city. Sasha is the first." Zane was shocked.

    "You probably don''t know, but I came to thispletely unfamiliar city for Steven," I exined calmly. "Then, I married him. I never had the chance to work or make friends, and then I got pregnant. "Afterward, like most housewives, all my energy went into taking care of the child and doing housework. I never had any free time."

    All my time was filled up. Naturally, I didn''t have the mood to consider other things.

    I looked at Zane. "So, I''m really happy that Sasha is willing to be my friend."

    Zane listened, suddenly feeling that Annalise was trapped at home like the girl in the seashell-living a repetitive and monotonous life as days passed.

    Now that she had finally stepped out, everything was starting to improve.

    He knew he couldn''t selfishly ruin her friendship with others.

    Zane looked out the window. "Since you really cherish her as a friend, then let here to the office."

    He had clearly been unwilling just a moment ago.

    I was confused. "Doesn''t that affect your work?"

    Zane said, "I can handle it."

    ...

    Willow was in an exceptionally good mood today, hopping and skipping as she left the school gates.

    "Willow!"This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Before she had even reached me, a little voice called her name.

    Willow turned around.

    A little girl in a pink dress waved at her. "See you tomorrow!"

    Willow nodded and waved back.

    It wasn''t until the little girl had left that Willow continued walking toward us.

    I took her small hand and asked, "Is she your friend?"

    "Yes!" Willow was thrilled. "She came up to me as soon as I entered the school gate today and asked me if I needed a friend. I nodded. Then, she asked if I would mind if she wanted to be my friend. I shook my head. Then, she leaned in close and said that we''re good friends now."

    Willow happily climbed into the car. "Mommy, I just realized today that there are kids my age who want to y with me."

    She sat down, her face full of joy. "It makes me so happy! In the future, I''m going to work hard to ovee my condition! That way, I can just say hi to whoever I like, and we can be good friends!"

    I gently rubbed her chubby little cheek. "Keep going!"

    Willow theny in my arms. "I will!"

    Zane was more concerned about Willow''s progress. He asked, "Has the practice in these past few days been helpful?"

    Willow didn''t answer right away. She thought for a long time, then shook her head. "Although it hasn''t worked yet, I believe it will definitely work if I keep going."

    Zane looked at Willow, suddenly realizing that she had changed a lot in this time.

    The old Willow had always been delicate. But because she had trouble speaking to others, he often felt sorry for her and indulged her.

    She didn''t have her own opinions back then. She just followed what others said.

    Zane had always thought she was just young and would improve as she grew. But now, she was only five years old and already starting to form her own opinions. She could judge what was good for her, and she would stick with it no matter how difficult or tiring it was. Zane smiled with pride. "Our Willow is growing up."

    Willow''s eyes widened. "Daddy, what are you talking about? I''m only five years old! I''m still a little kid!"

 Chapter 168

    Willow looked serious, almost like an adult.

    Zane pinched her cheek, trying not tough. "But you''re not a toddler anymore."

    Willow was still quite young. She tilted her head thoughtfully, struggling to find a way to argue her point. Thus, she turned to me for assistance.

    I gently lifted her onto myp and said, "But sweetheart, you''re still in kindergarten."

    Willow nodded in agreement, saying, "Mommy, you''re right."

    ...

    When Steven arrived to pick up Zachary, he noticed Jessica standing quietly nearby with her hair half tied up. For a moment, he felt transported back to the time before he divorced Annalise. During that period, he would take Zachary to school before work. He would also pick him up after his shift, while Jessica managed her responsibilities in much the same way.

    Naturally, this routine brought them into contact. As time passed, they gradually set aside their past animosity and began to reconnect.

    Steven approached Jessica and asked, "Didn''t Cody skip school today?"

    "I worry that you''re preupied with work." Jessica smiled.

    Jessica had considered her approach carefully. She realized that since Steven wasn''tfortable with close interactions just yet, she decided to start by connecting with Zachary to help him develop a better impression of her.

    Despite having treated Zachary poorly in the past, which made him fearful and resistant, he was still a naive child. She believed that if she softened her attitude and was kind to him, he would eventuallye to love her again and help her get closer to Steven. Jessica lovingly caressed her belly and remarked, "I know you''re busy and might not be able to get Zachary, so I took the initiative to pick him up."

    With a look of vulnerability, she asked, "You don''t mind, do you?"

    Steven briefly met her gaze before diverting his eyes. "I understand, but your priority right now is your pregnancy and the baby. You shouldn''t stress about picking up Zachary. The driver can handle it."

    As Zachary left kindergarten, he saw Steven and Jessica talking but showed little excitement. He approached Steven and said calmly, "Daddy, I''ll ask Mr. Thompson to take me out."

    Jessica inquired tentatively, "We''re bothing to pick you up today. Don''t you want to join us for some fun?"

    Zachary cast a puzzled look at Jessica, questioning what had caused her change in behavior. Just a few days prior, she had bullied him and vented her frustrations on him. Now, he couldn''t help but wonder why she was being so kind today. Zachary resolutely responded, "You and Daddy should enjoy your date. I have my own ns to tend to."

    Immediately afterward, he climbed into the car. Before Jessica could even utter a word urging him to stay, Zachary had already instructed Harry to hit the road.

    Jessica bit her lip and asked, "Steven, does he not like me?"

    Steven watched Zachary leave. For once, he didn''t dismiss Jessica''s coquetry. "Forget about him. Let''s go wherever you want since I have time today."

    Jessica pondered for a moment, lightly tapping her lips with her index finger. "Hmm. I''m not sure, either. If that''s the case, I''ll follow your lead. Just take me wherever you want to drive."

    Steven nodded in agreement, gripping the steering wheel with both hands as he focused intently on the road ahead.

    In the backseat, Jessica gazed at Steven''s reflection in the rearview mirror, her mind flooded with memories of their shared past.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    It felt odd that they had been close even before Steven divorced Annalise. They often took the kids out to y after school and on weekends.

 Chapter 169

    Despite the absence of any physical intimacy between her and Steven, Jessica sensed that his feelings for her were slowly rekindling.

    Back then, she was confident that once Steven was single again and free from moral constraints, their rtionship would quickly develop. They would fall in love and grow very close, with Steven bing obsessed with her. However, after employing every tactic to sabotage Steven and Annalise''s marriage, she discovered that the reality was far from what she had envisioned.

    Jessica was annoyed. Each time she expressed a wish to deepen their rtionship, Steven would pull back. He seemed more at ease sticking to a friendship or a more distant connection.

    Jessica rubbed her brows. She wondered if things would have been better if she had waited for Steven to love herpletely before trying to get him to divorce Annalise.

    The car was parked outside the vi. However, Zachary didn''t even dare to roll down the window, anxious that Annalise might spot him.

    He eagerly observed Annalise, who wore simple casual clothes and had a calm,fortable expression he hadn''t seen at home for a long time. Zachary felt a surge of envy.

    At that moment, he realized he had never treated Annalise well in the past. He had met her secretly before, but he only spoke to her harshly.

    Yet, Annalise was excessively patient with him. She didn''t understand the reasons behind his temper. She believed he was simply unhappy and consistently tried to soothe him. Yet, beneath her smiley a persistent sadness that she kept hidden, worried it might impact him.

    In contrast, Annalise now radiated joy. Her eyes sparkled with happiness. She had to be living her best life now.

    Mist clouded Zachary''s eyes as he heardughter and joy from the gate. Tears streamed down his cheeks,nding softly on the car seat.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Annalise hadn''t spoken to him recently. Thinking of this, Zachary quickly wiped his tears. He hoped that Annalise would want to talk to him one day.

    Annalise had resolutely decided to sever ties with him and would not engage in conversation anymore. Consequently, when he next saw Annalise at the school, he had to take the initiative to speak with her.

    Willow was a determined girl. After running, she was sweaty and went upstairs to wash up. Then, she practiced a different speech than the one she had practiced yesterday.

    She looked in the mirror and said resolutely, "I''m really happy to have you as my friend. Can we hang out this weekend? I struggle to speak, but I''ll keep trying. As long as you want to be my friend, I know I''ll be able tomunicate with you someday." As I gazed at her, a flicker of respect stirred within my heart.

 Chapter 170

    Many adults found themselves ensnared in various dilemmas. However, despite being a child, Willow understood that running away wouldn''t solve problems. With determination and persistence, anyone could ovee challenges and start anew.

    My eyes gradually grew more tender.

    After finishing her practice today, Willow approached me, visibly not in a good mood. "Mommy, am I a bad kid?"

    Recognizing her thoughtful and considerate nature, I couldn''t help but smile and inquire, "What makes you say that?"

    "Because someone is willing to be my friend..." Willow said as she opened her arms to me. I scooped her up into a warm embrace.

    Willow leaned on my shoulder and said sadly, "But I couldn''t talk to her."

    I took the initiative to offer guidance. "You''re not intentionally leaving her alone or ignoring her. You simply haven''t managed to ovee your condition at this moment, right?"

    Willow hummed in response.

    I added, "Once you can engage in normal conversations with people, you''ll undoubtedly find it easier to express your feelings for her."

    Willow asked listlessly, "But how long will it take for me to get better?"

    I couldn''t provide her with a clear answer. "With hard work, this moment could arrive at any time. By the way, didn''t you mentionst time that you would make an effort to connect with someone besides your dad and me within the month?" Willow started the day confidently, but now, she was doubting herself. "Yeah. But can I really do this?"

    After descending the stairs, I ced Willow on the dining table, locking eyes with her intently. "I''m sure you can do this."

    Willow tightened her fists and motivated herself, dering, "That''s right. I can do this!"

    Zane presented her with the meal, asking, "What would you like to eat, Willow?"

    "Chicken noodle soup," Willow responded promptly.

    She appeared to be in a better mood. Noticing the delicious food on the table, she eximed, "I''ve realized that I need to eat to have the energy to study and change. I must eat more now."

    Zane grinned and agreed, saying, "I can even serve you three bowls, as long as you can finish them."

    Willow patted her belly and eximed, "That''s going to make my stomach hurt. Daddy, I''m not that greedy."

    She had a serious expression as she spoke to Zane.

    Zane''s face radiated gratitude as he said, "I''ll remember this. Thank you, Willow."

    Willow lifted her chin and replied, "I''m d that you understand."

    Zane couldn''t help but shake his head.

    ...

    Steven took Jessica to the park. This was the first time they took the kids to y after they reunited back then. Zachary and Cody had a st ying together.

    Steven reflected deeply on the whirlwind of events that had unfolded in a heartbeat. His wife, with whom he had a harmonious marriage for years, unexpectedly divorced him.

    Atst, he was living out his long-held dream of being with his unforgettable first love, someone he had admired from afar for years. He believed this was the key to his happiness. Yet, reality proved otherwise.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Steven sat on a bench by the roadside, gazing serenely at the distant river. He found himself uncertain about his feelings for Jessica, prompting the thought of taking a break from their rtionship. This time apart would provide him the opportunity to reflect on his true desires and needs.

    Jessica sat beside him, maintaining a respectful distance. "Do you still remember?"

 Chapter 171

    "Hmm?" Steven asked absentmindedly.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Jessica could sense Steven''s recent indifference. She could tell he was trying to distance himself, slowly turning them back into strangers. Yet, she hadn''t gotten everything she wanted from him, so she couldn''t let that happen.

    She needed to keep Steven from leaving her, so she spoke with nostalgia in her voice, "This park''s been here since our college days." Recalling those innocent, youthful years seemed to ease the heavy weight on Steven''s chest, as if someone had lifted a burden.

    Steven smiled. "Yeah. Back when we were just broke students with no money for anything else, we''d oftene to the park together."

    Seeing his willingness to engage, Jessica continued, "Anytime we walked together, everyone would tease us. They''d say we were made for each other and destined to be together. They even tried to set us up."

    Jessica looked up at the sky. There were no high-rises nearby, leaving the space open and allowing a clear view of the stars.

    Steven remained silent, not responding to her words.

    Jessica turned to him, her voice gentle yet firm. "Steven, did I ever tell you? I really did like you back then."

    "Is that so?" Steven looked surprised. "I didn''t know."

    Jessica''s fingers fidgeted nervously as she went on, "But I was too young and too influenced by the lure of money to know what I truly wanted. I thought money was the most important thing. That''s why I left you and went with Casper."

    That memory had never left Steven''s mind. Even now, he could vividly recall the crushing disappointment he felt upon hearing that Jessica had left town. He felt as though he had been struck. He saw it as a betrayal.

    After all, he thought he and Jessica shared something special-an unspoken bond. They had never openly admitted to it, but he was already nning their future together, thinking about how to start a business and earn enough to give Jessica a good life. But all of that shattered when she boarded that ne and disappeared.

    Steven chuckled softly. "I was so bitter after you left."

    Jessica immediately apologized, "I''m sorry."

    Steven continued, as if lost in his own thoughts, "You know, you were my first love. I truly loved you then. Even after I married Annalise, I still wanted to ask you why you left. But as the time passed, I began to find peace."

    Maybe it was because he had a caring wife waiting at home, an adorable son, a warm, inviting living room, and a delicious meal always ready. His youthful regrets slowly faded into the background, and he thought a lifetime with Annalise seemed more than enough. Steven''s eyes grew distant, memories swirling within them.

    "Steven..." Jessica bit her lip,posing herself before speaking earnestly, "I know I made mistakes. But I''ve changed. I''ve realized the wrongs of my past. Can you let go of the past and ept me?"

    Steven simply looked at her. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her simple white dress made her look just as he remembered untouched by time.

    Steven felt even more uncertain. He wondered. Was leaving Annalise for Jessica really worth it?

 Chapter 172

    No one responded to him.

    Jessica sniffled, "Are you still mad at me?"

    Steven shook his head. "No."

    Tears hung from Jessica''s longshes. "But you keep your guard up around me."

    "I don''t even know why, Jessica," Steven admitted honestly.

    "Whenever I get close to you, there''s this ufortable feeling in my heart."

    It felt as if he was betraying someone.

    Jessica blinked, a tear tracing down her cheek. She wiped it away and stayed silent.

    She knew that if she allowed Steven to dig deeper, he would eventually realize that he genuinely loved Annalise, not her. That would make it harder for her to get what she wanted. So, she stayed quiet.

    Today, Willow was up even earlier than yesterday.

    When I went to her room, she had already finished practicing talking to herself in the mirror and was now holding a book, reading with determination.

    Her voice was bright and cheerful, full of that youthful energy only kids had.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    I stood by the door, watching her.

    After a while, Willow''s face started to pout.

    I walked over, sitting beside her. "What''s wrong?"

    Willow set the book down and hugged my waist. "When I was talking to myself in the mirror this morning, I didn''t know what to say. So, I thought maybe I could read a book and find something to talk about.

    "But then, as soon as I opened the book, I realized I couldn''t read. I don''t know any of the words." She started to cry, genuinely upset.

    I gently soothed her, "That''s because you haven''t started learning yet."

    With teary eyes, Willow looked up at me. "Then, what should I do?"

    "If you want to learn, I can teach you." I found a phonics book from the bookshelf and ced it in front of her. "Before we start with words, we have to start with phonics."

    Willow immediately wiped away her tears. "Mommy, I want to learn!" She looked so serious.

    Seeing her enthusiasm for learning, I couldn''t help but support her, so I began teaching her phonics, one sound at a time. When it was time for her exercise session, she looked back reluctantly, saying, "Mommy, when Ie back after my training tonight, can you skip the bedtime story?

    "Teach me more phonics, okay?"

    I agreed, "Of course."

    Zane, who hadn''t seen the whole scene, looked puzzled.

    "Willow wants to learn to read," I exined.

    He seemed concerned about adding more work for me. "Maybe we could hire a teacher for her?"

    "No way!" Willow jumped in before I could respond.

    "If I have a teacher, I can''t practice speaking freely. That wouldn''t work, Daddy."

    Zane turned to me. "What do you think?"

    Willow looked at me with hopeful eyes. "Mommy..."

    I ruffled her hair and said with a smile, "Willow is so eager to learn and listens so well. As long as you don''t mind that I''m not a professional, I''d be happy to teach her."

    Zane quickly rified as he worried I''d misunderstood, "I just don''t want you to overwork yourself."

    This felt new to me. Back when I was married to Steven, I did all the housework-mopping,undry, cooking, and everything. Yet, Steven never thought I was overworked.

    But here, in the Huxham residence, all I had to do was spend time with Willow, yet Zane still worried it might be too much for me. I had to admit that Zane was a truly considerate person.

    I was about to respond when Willow suddenly squeezed my hand tightly and spoke in a rush, "I''m sorry, Mommy. I was being selfish.

    "I only thought about learning to read quickly and forgot that you need rest after a long day, too."

    I gave Zane a yful re. "Look at what you did! You scared Willow."

    Then, I crouched down to Willow''s eye level. "Willow, I know you love me and care about my well-being."

 Chapter 173

    "But to me, teaching you to read is resting," I told Willow gently. "Do you understand?

    "So, don''t worry. You won''t wear me out. Mommy isn''t that fragile."

    Willow still looked uncertain. "Really?"

    I nodded. "Of course."

    Finally reassured, Willow smiled, grabbed my hand tightly, and pulled me outside to join her for a run.

    Zane followed behind us. His usually cold gaze softened with a hint of warmth.

    ...

    After our exercise, we all freshened up and then took Willow to school. She entered the school gates but didn''t head straight for the ssrooms. Instead, she stood at the entrance, as if waiting for someone.

    A few minutester, a girl with pigtails got out of a car. Willow immediately ran over to her. The two girls held hands and bounced around happily.

    The little girl was chatty, talking nonstop, while Willow listened coolly, responding with asional nods or shakes of her head.

    I felt relieved upon seeing that Willow had made a friend and was getting along well. I got back into the car with Zane, and we returned to thepany.

    At my desk, I powered on myputer but didn''t start drawing immediately. Instead, I found myself reflecting on Willow''s behavior these past few days-the way she set goals and knew what she wanted to work on.

    That gave me an idea for my nextic. I wanted to draw Willow''s determination, hoping it would inspire others who might be feeling lost or uncertain.

    Maybe, through this, I could help others find rity and purpose within themselves for them to see through their own fog and follow their dreams.

    For the first time, I felt that myics could have a purpose beyond simply recording life. I could use them to inspire people to be better versions of themselves.

    With this in mind, I dove into my work with a new sense of focus and diligence.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    ...

    Zane noticed how focused Annalise was on her work, and it seemed to put him at ease, too.

    When Eric walked in, Zane stepped away from his desk and left the office, heading to the conference room.

    Eric realized Zane wanted to avoid disturbing Annalise and couldn''t help but smile to himself. Having worked with Zane for years, it was surprising to see the usually stoic boss being so considerate.

    Eric then handed Zane a file. "The custom plush toy you asked for is ready. The factory says it will be shipped tomorrow."

    Zane nodded lightly. "Good."

    As Eric briefed him on the significant partnerships and ongoing projects within the Huxman Group, Zane listened with his usual demeanor.

    Knowing Zane would be particrly interested in the next update, Eric subtly observes Zane''s reaction.

    "The proposal has been finalized. Only minor adjustments are needed."

    Zane tapped his fingers on the table and said, "Do you have a copy? Let me take a look."

    Anticipating this request, Eric pulled the proposal from his folder and handed it to Zane.

    Zane skimmed through it and then looked up.

    "Anything you''d like to change?" Eric asked respectfully.

    "No," Zane replied calmly.

    "It''s clear you put a lot of effort into this. You''ve also set high expectations for the team."

    Zane added, "For neers to perform at this level is impressive. Make sure they all get a bonus next month. That includes you, too."

    Eric nodded and responded, "Thank you, Mr. Huxham."

    Eric knew that paying close attention to Annalise''s projects would lead to good oues.

    Just then, his phone chimed with a message notification.

    "Emergency assistance needed. She''s here again. Do you want us to intercept?" the message read.

    Eric opened the attached photo and let out a quiet sigh, already feeling a headacheing on.

 Chapter 174

    Eric looked at the message he received from the reception desk, wondering why it was Sasha yet again.

    He looked toward Zane, who said slowly, "If you have something to say, just say it."

    Eric hesitantly replied, "Ms. Weston... is currently downstairs. Reception is unsure as to whether they should have security throw her out."

    If this happened before yesterday, they could be very sure that Zane didn''t like Sasha, and therefore, she absolutely could not be allowed upstairs.

    But yesterday...

    After Sasha had broken in, she''d ended up remaining in the CEO''s office for the entire day without being kicked out. Thus, they weren''t certain about his attitude toward Sasha. So, naturally, they didn''t dare make a hasty decision. Zane exined calmly, "She''s now Annalise''s friend."

    Eric understood immediately.

    No matter how much Zane disliked Sasha, he could still put up with her for Annalise''s sake.

    Eric then replied to reception, typing, "Let her upstairs."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    With nobody stopping her, Sasha made her way in unhindered.

    ...

    When I felt the section of the couch next to me sink down, I turned and looked at Sasha, asking, "Why are you here?"

    Sasha wrapped her arms around my waist and rested her chin on my shoulder.

    "Of course, it''s because I miss you!" she said with a smirk. She certainly didn''t hide her feelings.

    I continued to draw, a smile on my face.

    Seemingly afraid of disrupting my work, Sasha released me andy down lopsidedly on the couch, acting as if she were right at home. She turned her phone''s volume down to the lowest setting. Then, she started ying games with a look of concentration.

    Perhaps because I was quite practiced at drawing, but after a session of intense focus, I found myself finishing up earlier than ever before. I inspected the lineart, finally deciding to rx for a bit after determining that there were no problems with it. Stretching, I nced Sasha''s way. She had excitedly mentioned wanting to start her own career yesterday. If she had been sessful, then she should have been pouring all her focus into her career at the moment and wouldn''t have had the time to visit me. I asked, "What''s wrong? Did you encounter some difficulties with your work?"

    "How did you know?" Sasha responded, looking incredibly surprised.

    Iughed lightly, replying, "I just guessed."

    She said shyly, "I''ve indeed run into a lot of problems..."

    She then went on to exin the project she''d chosen and the difficulties she encountered trying to move i forward.

    I remained silent for a long while after she finished speaking.

    She evidently felt a little afraid as she asked fearfully, "Why aren''t you saying anything? Don''t tell me this project is unsalvageable?"

    "Your idea of starting a career is first asking your family for money, then dragging in a bunch of friends to..." I trailed off, feeling more and more incredulous, before finally ending with, "coborate on it?"

    As if she thought it waspletely natural, she answered, "Isn''t that how things are done?"

    I gazed at her with aplicated expression. "I finally understand why children of wealthy families like you always fail to start their own careers."

    She looked as if she''d taken a huge blow, uttering in confusion, "Huh?"

    "First of all, your biggest problem right now is that you have zero understanding of the industry you''re interested in," I dered, taking it upon myself to point out the problems for her.

    "If you''re serious about wanting to continue developing your business in this industry and not just doing this on a whim, then the best course of action is for you to find apany in a business simr to what you''re aiming for and work there as an employee for some time. "Then, get to know how this kind ofpany continues to survive amidst fiercepetition and how it solves the types of problems it encounters."

    I patted her on the shoulder.

    "It''s not toote to ask your family members for capital, with which to start your business, only after you''ve managed to reach that step."

 Chapter 175

    "But my friends have already agreed to invest in my project," Sasha objected in a small voice. "If I suddenly tell them I''m going to work at anotherpany for a few months, they''ll definitely be upset with me." She basically meant that she didn''t want to do as I''d advised. At any rate, I didn''t intend to force her to listen to me, either.

    "If you aren''t willing to dy the project''s progress and wish to enter the industry immediately after obtaining your capital... Well, it''s not undoable. However, once you encounter a problem, you''ll have to gather your friends to discuss a solution together." That happened to be the greatest taboo in starting up a business-too many people were involved in decision-making, which led to an unclear division of power.

    But I didn''t intend to tell her all this directly. She woulde to understand this when she inevitably got into conflict with her friends due to business matters in the future.

    Looking as if she only half-understood what I had said, Sasha asked again, "Is that so?"

    "That''s right," I replied before proceeding to give her an example, "Just like now when you''vee asking me for help after encountering a problem. I can of course help all of you with the problem, but would your friends acknowledge the solution I provide?" She answered uncertainly, "Probably?"

    "Since you''ve said as much..."

    I turned on myputer. My fingers tapped away at the keyboard, and very quickly, a clear proposal was drawn up. I printed it out and handed it to Sasha.

    "You can pass this to your friends and have them take a look at it."

    She nced through the document.

    The content wasn''t lengthy, but it was enough to clearly define the direction of development, even going so far as to mention problems that would be encountered during the process and how they should be resolved. Everything was written out clearly.

    Her eyes shone. "Aren''t you just way too awesome?"

    She hurriedly stood up, ran out without even remembering to excuse herself, and yelled over her shoulder, "I have to share this great news with my friends immediately!"

    I looked away as the office door closed.

    Zane approached me, asking, "Could you let me take a look at the proposal you wrote up for her?"Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    I let him have my seat at theputer, replying, "Feel free. It''s not some top-secret document."

    Zane sat down and scrolled to the top of the page, reading carefully.

    After a good while, he finished reading and looked at me.

    Feeling confused, I asked, "Is there a problem?"

    "There isn''t," he replied, aplicated expression on his face. "I just think that your proposal is more put-together than what most of the employees at ourpany cane up with." He asked in uncertainty, "Have you learned about this industry before?"

    Sasha was still young and just wanted to have a good time, so thepany she wanted to establish was a gamingpany, with its main goal being to develop games that she and her friends liked to y.

    "More or less," I answered honestly. "Steven''spany has been in charge of simr projects before. Back then, I also looked up some relevant information in order to have somemon topics of conversation with him." Zane sighed with feeling,menting. "You really loved him back then."

    I felt that I really no longer cared for Steven, as my heart didn''t waver even when the topic of our past was brought up.

    In fact, now I could even jokingly retort, "Who says I don''t?"

    Seeing as I remainedpletely unaffected, Zane decided it was safe to stick to the topic.

    "But now that you''ve finally made a friend, you told her about all the problems she might encounter on thepany side all at once. If herpany does really begin to grow, she''ll be really busy every day, and she''ll have no time to spare for you. "But if you hadn''t written things out in such detail or only exined some things... Well, then she might stille back to visit you now and then."

    Zane gazed at me, seemingly wanting very much to know whether my actions were born out of a sincere desire to see my friend doing well or simply from temporarily failing to realize the consequences of wearing my heart on my sleeve. After all, many people these days would be jealous after seeing their friends thriving rather than sincerely feeling happy for their sess.

 Chapter 176

    "Since I know where her problems lie, of course I''ll let her know directly," I said, looking incredulously at Zane. "Compared to having her glued to my side all the time, I''d rather hope for her to do well in life. "Whether it''s in terms of enjoying her career or just life in general, as long as she''s happy, that''s enough for me."

    Zane raised a surprised eyebrow, asking doubtfully, "Really?"

    I returned his question with one of my own, "What else are you expecting?"

    He fell silent for a while before answering, "You''re right."

    Zane had to have lunch with his business partners today. He even asked if I wanted to tag along, but it wouldn''t be convenient for them to discuss business matters with an outsider present, so I turned down his offer.

    ...

    Zane felt that it was quite a shame that Annalise wouldn''t be joining him, but he still headed for his appointment alone.

    The meeting ce was at a nearby restaurant that mainly served dishes light on the stomach.

    Steven had evidently arrived some time ago.

    When Zane arrived, he was going through the menu. Hecked the warmth he disyed when he was with Annalise, instead reverting to his past icy self.

    Zane asked calmly, "Have you decided on what to order?"

    "You''re the guest," Steven replied, handing him the menu. "Of course, you should be the one to decide."

    Seeing as the person he wanted to see was absent, Steven leaned back in his chair, asking, "Why didn''t Annalisee?"

    Zane epted the menu from him, replying, "She doesn''t like this restaurant."

    "How''s that possible?" Steven retorted without even a moment''s thought. "She never cooked heavy dishes even when she was at home before."

    "Then, do you think it''s because she liked to eat light dishes herself that she kept the vors mild?" Zane countered.

    Steven replied with yet another question, "Isn''t that the case?"

    Zane shook his head, his cold eyes full of ridicule. "Seriously, who would''ve thought that after being married to Annalise for so many years, you still don''t understand her at all?" Steven''s expression gradually turned ugly. "What do you mean by that?"

    Zayn elegantly closed the menu booklet.

    "I''ve been taking her to eat at different ces all this while, but I noticed that her preferences arepletely different from what you said.

    "She only eats more mild-tasting dishes when she''s with children, but when we''re alone, she very much likes to eat really spicy food."

    He continued steadily, "That''s why I feel bad for her. In the six years she''s been married to you, she''s been silently dedicating herself to you and your child, yet you''ve never even noticed her efforts." Steven''s expression turned darker and darker, but he was unwilling to admit that he had indeed overlooked Annalise a lot. Therefore, he desperately wanted to prove that Zane wasn''t any better than himself.

    "I may be in the wrong, but you didn''t even bring her along to meet with your business partner, either. Doesn''t that just show that your rtionship isn''t that good?" he used.

    Zane scoffed, replying, "You certainly make it sound as if you two are really close with each other."

    "Rtionships are nurtured," he continued, not at all angry. "As long as I''m willing to put in the effort, she''ll fall for me one day. As for you..."

    He looked Steven up and down.

    "You''ll get together with Jessica once after your divorce. Annalise isn''t going to consider you at all."

    Steven still wanted to retort but was interrupted when Zane raised a hand to call a waiter over to give her his order.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    He then proceeded to look at Steven and say, "Let''s talk about business matters."

    Steven could only follow his lead and change the subject.

    After dinner, Zane left.

    Steven sat alone in the restaurant, gazing at the barely eaten dishes in front of him while Zane''s previous words rang in his mind.

    It turned out that Annalise had been constantly makingpromises in the six years she''d been with him. She had even stopped eating the types of food that she liked. And yet, he had never noticed any of it... On the other hand, Zane, who hadn''t known her for long, already knew her preferences like the back of his hand.

 Chapter 177

    Steven asked himself whether he was really that unqualified as a husband, feeling an intense ache in his heart at the realization. He felt as if he was suffocating. He didn''t understand. Didn''t he hold no love for Annalise? If so, then why was he suffering so much?

    "Steven?"

    Gavin had rushed over as soon as he received Steven''s message. He sat down opposite him and asked in concern when he saw Steven''s lowered head, "Are you alright?" "I''m fine," replied Steven, wrestling his emotions back under control before raising his head. "I have a very important question to ask you."

    Gavin said casually, "Go on."

    Steven then asked a question that had been troubling him.

    "You all say that I like Jessica, but why is it that I can only treat her as a friend? The moment I try to take things further and attempt physical contact, I feel terrible." "That''s because..." Gavin trailed off.

    Naturally, he knew that Steven didn''t love Jessica. However, now that Annalise had a new life of her own, it was impossible for her to get back together with him. If he let Steven know that the person he actually liked was Annalise, he would definitely suffer a lot from the knowledge.

    Therefore, in order to let Steven live with peace of mind, Gavin had to lie.

    "You think that Jessica is someone unattainable," he bluffed.

    Steven gazed intently at him.

    Gavin continued expressionlessly, "You can''t bear to monopolize her and sully her, so you''ve always rejected intimate contact with her."

    "Is that so?" asked Steven.

    Gavin was firm in his stance. "That''s right."

    In response, Steven simply turned to look elsewhere.

    ...

    After lunch, I returned to my cubicle and started coloring in theic, fully focused.

    Zane stopped in front of me, asking, "Guess who I met just now?"

    I raised my head to look at him, letting out a questioning hum.

    Zane sat down slowly before answering his own question. "Your ex-husband."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    "He looked very regretful," he added.

    I calmly refuted his im, "Impossible."

    He didn''t seem satisfied with my answer, asking hesitantly, "Then, what if he realizes that the person he truly loves is you?"

    I didn''t expect him to be such a gossipper, but I still replied seriously, "Having gotten to where I am today, I''ve finally truly started to live for myself. I feel at ease every day, Zane. Most importantly, I really no longer feel anything for him. "So why do I have to return to his side, only to fight for an uncertain future?"

    I smiled, saying with finality, "I don''t like taking risks."

    "That''s true," said Zane, his mood improving after confirming how I felt about the situation. "Are you free recently?"

    I didn''t understand how he could switch topics so quickly, but I responded honestly nheless, "Yes. What''s up?"

    "Then, would you mind helping draw some posters for the games department?" he asked.

    My career inics was on the right track, so I always ended work really early and thus could also spare quite a bit of time.

    It just so happened that I didn''t have anything else to do, either, so I nodded and replied, "I don''t mind."

    After getting my agreement, Zane returned to his office desk and sent me the requirements for the posters.

    As soon as I opened up the document, I could roughly tell what sort of effect the other party wanted to go for. I then turned on myputer and continued to draw.

    ...

    Zane observed the woman sitting in the cubicle, his expression gradually bing gentle.

    For the past few days, he had been working hard to create opportunities to be in close proximity to Annalise. He wanted to make use of those opportunities to verify to what extent he liked her. However, no matter how close he got to her, there was a voice within him that would mor that it was still far from enough!

 Chapter 178

    Zane picked up a folder on his desk.

    In his own opinion, his feelings for Annalise had reached far deeper than he himself had imagined.

    ...

    Willow seemed to especially like the new friend she''d made.

    Most of the other children had already gone home. However, she was still reluctant to walk out of the school gates, her small hand holding tightly onto another girl''s even as she stared fixedly at her. I was also happy that she had made a new friend, so naturally, I didn''t press her.

    "Ms. Annalise, Cody was bullying Willow in school again."

    At the sound of the familiar voice, I lowered my head to look.

    Zachary''s hands clutched tightly at the hem of his shirt as he looked up at me, continuing, "But I stood up to him for Willow, so he didn''t seed."

    As if I was just speaking to another one of Willow''s ssmates, I replied calmly and politely, "Thank you."

    He stood frozen on the spot for quite a while before finally replying, "You''re wee."

    As he spoke, he started backing away. "I''m leaving first. Goodbye."

    "Goodbye," I echoed.

    ...

    Zachary practically flew back to the car. Once the door was closed behind him, he burst into tears. His tears flowed uncontrobly, and he hurriedly wiped them away with his hands.

    He didn''t understand. He''d already fulfilled his wish and spoken to Annalise, so why was he still so upset?

    Was it because the moment he called her "Ms. Annalise", it was as if the mother-son rtionship between them was abruptly severed? Or was it because the way she spoke to him sounded like how she would speak to an unfamiliar child? Harry watched him crying miserably and made an attempt to console him by asking, "Since calling her such makes you so upset, then why still call her that?"

    He replied through hups, "She won''t pay any attention to me at all when I call her ''Mommy."

    Harry sighed, feeling sympathy for the child in front of him.

    Zachary leaned against the car window, staring unblinkingly at Annalise as he murmured, "Mommy... I miss you so much."

    The little girl''s mother arrived, upon which Willow finally made her way over to me slowly.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    She said quietly, "Mommy, Cody was really bad today. He suddenly ran up to me and told me that he hated me and that he would still bully me in the future." Her voice became even quieter as she continued, "It was Zachary who helped me."

    I picked her up in a hug.

    Willow wrapped her arms around my shoulders, adding, "But I''d rather be bullied by Cody than let Zachary help me."

    I took the initiative to ask, "Why?"

    "Because he hurt you before," replied Willow before she suddenly started to cry. "I don''t want you to be sad."

    Zane opened the car door.

    I got into the car and put her down, gently helping her wipe her tears. Of course, I was really happy that she was so considerate of me, but I also wanted the best for her.

    So, I said, "But Mommy thinks that no matter who it is, it''s good enough that they''re willing to protect our little Willow and allow her to spend a happy time in school." She gazed at me.

    In response, I simply cupped her face and gave her a kiss.

    Still down, she said, "You''re so kind, Mommy. I love you."

    I hugged her as I responded, "Me, too."

    ...

    Zachary was in a bad mood today, but when he saw Annalise''s car leaving, he still asked Harry to follow after them.

    Harry asked in confusion, "Won''t you be even more upset if you see her now?"

 Chapter 179

    Zachary didn''t argue back. Instead, he simply said, "But if I don''t go see her, it feels like there''s this empty space inside me... Like something''s missing." Harry sighed.

    Worried that he might forgetter, Zachary took the initiative and said, "Make sure to drop me off at Grandma''s ce tonight."

    Harry was confused. "Why?"

    Zachary exined, instantly distracted from his tears, "Think about it-Cody picked on Willow, and I helped Willow out. Cody felt wronged, so he''ll definitely tell his mother what happened. If I go home, I''d be walking right into a trap, right?" Harry nodded thoughtfully. "You''re right."

    ...

    Just as Zachary predicted, Cody wasted no time telling Jessica what happened at school the moment he got home.

    Jessica had noticed Cody''s sour expression on the way home, but she hadn''t known why. After hearing Cody''s story, her anger red.

    Someone dared mess with Cody? Did they think she would do nothing?

    Her expression darkened as she made a n to coax Zachary home and then give him a good talking-to. She called him, pretended she didn''t know anything, and said, "Why aren''t you home yet?"

    Zachary already knew why Jessica called him, but he yed along. "I''ve been getting homete for days, and you never cared. What''s so special about tonight?"

    Jessica''s voice didn''t waver as she lied, "Your father said he''d like all four of us to spend some time together. You know, do something fun as a family."

    "You guys go ahead," Zachary replied, unfazed. "I''ve got things to take care of."

    Jessica stared at the phone in disbelief as the call ended. She nearly smashed it to the ground in frustration.

    Just then, the front door swung open, and Steven walked into the living room.

    Jessica suppressed her anger as she switched gears and softened her voice. "Steven."

    If Zachary wouldn''t listen to her, he would surely listen to his father, right?

    Jessica hoped Steven would be able to convince Zachary toe back, so she recounted Cody''s story to him. She even embellished the details as she went. Frustrated, she said, "Can you believe Zachary? Instead of sticking up for his own brother at school, he sided with someone else!"

    Steven didn''t reply immediately, and Jessica gradually calmed down.

    Finally, he said, "This is the second time Cody''s been picking on a little girl in kindergarten, right?"

    Jessica''s heart sank.

    Steven continued, "As his mother, you know Cody''s behavior isn''t right. Instead of guiding him to do better, you''re ming the person who stopped him? Jessica..."

    Jessica didn''t want a lecture. She cut him off and raised her voice, "I know you''re right, but Cody is just a kid! He''s being alienated by his ssmates because of Willow. It''s not like he actually did anything to her. He just said a few harsh things. That''s all. Is that really so bad?" Steven looked at Jessica and didn''t reply.

    Jessica knew perfectly well that Cody was acting that way to defend her, which made it hard for her to see his behavior as wrong.

    She went on, "The teacher talked to me today. She said Cody''s behavior is starting to affect other kids, and she suggested transferring him to another ce."

    "Then, transfer him," Steven said calmly. "A new school without Willow around might help him settle down a bit, right?"Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Jessica was stunned, and it took a while before she replied, "I guess it would."

    After getting her agreement, Steven started making arrangements and called a new kindergarten. The new kindergarten had an excellent reputation and was one of the best in the city. However, it was far-about an hour and a half from the vi. Jessica was stunned as she watched Steven. "But won''t driving Cody there and back daily be a bit inconvenient?"

    "I''ll buy you a ce near the new kindergarten." Steven almost sounded relieved when he said those words. "You can stay there with Cody during the week."

    Jessica shot to her feet after hearing his words. "No way! I won''t live apart from you!"

    She had to live with Steven and see him every day. That was the only way she could keep convincing him that she was the one he loved and the one worth spending his money on.

    If they started living apart, it would take less than a couple of days for Steven to figure out who he really liked!

 Chapter 180

    Steven just smiled. "And what about Cody?"

    The question left Jessica speechless. She stood there, thinking over it for a long time, but no solution came to mind.

    Cody was her son, and Steven was her cash cow. There was no way to choose between them.

    Jessica pursed her lips, her expression troubled. She stayed silent, and Steven didn''t push her. He waited patiently for her toe up with a solution.

    Finally, Jessica made up her mind. "Let''s do as you say."

    She realized that Steven had been keeping a subtle distance from hertely. In a situation like this, it was best to go along with what he wanted. Perhaps by moving out, she could use this time apart to her advantage. Once they weren''t together every day, maybe Steven would remember what he saw in her.

    Having sorted it out, Jessica smiled softly at Steven. "Make sure to take care of yourself properly since I won''t be around."

    "You, too," Steven replied with a smile.

    To make sure Cody wouldn''t miss his first day at a new kindergarten, Steven hired a movingpany that evening to transfer all of Jessica''s and Cody''s belongings to the new house.

    Now, only Steven remained in therge, empty vi.

    With Jessica and Cody gone, he felt lighter and more at ease. But as he nced around, he was struck by a sense of loneliness.

    It was something he hadn''t felt before, not when Annalise and Zachary were around.

    ...

    At home, Willow joined her coach, Howard, for her usual run. Afterward, she was about to go off on her own when Howard stopped her.

    He told her that she had built up enough strength, and it was time to start working on martial arts basics.

    Willow''s eyes sparkled. She eagerly took my hand and practically pulled me toward Howard excitedly.

    Zane trailed behind us.

    What started as a one-student job for Howard turned into teaching three of us, but he didn''t seem to mind one bit. In fact, he was thrilled, and he carefully corrected each of our movements with extra dedication.

    By the end of the session, I was drenched in sweat. When I looked at Willow, I saw her clothes were also soaked through. Her soft hair clung to her cheeks, and her dainty face was flushed red.

    Shey sprawled on the ground, taking in air with big gulps. "Mommy, I can''t go anywhere right now. Just let me lie here and rest."

    I chuckled and scooped her up. "Let''s go rest in the living room."

    Willow was so worn out it was hard to even answer. "Okay."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Zane had something to discuss with Howard, so the two of them stayed outside and talked in the yard.

    Kids recovered fast. Within ten minutes, Willow was her usual, lively self again. Seeing that I hadn''t quite caught my breath, she turned to me with a considerate smile. "Should I continue practicing in front of the mirror, Mommy?"

    I followed behind her. "Go ahead."

    Determined to get better, Willow stared at her reflection and focused hard.

    "Hello. Could you please be my friend?"

    I stood by the doorway and watched her. Willow was still just a kid, but there was resolve in her eyes that most adults didn''t have.

    My eyes softened, filled with pride and admiration.

    When she had run through everything she wanted to say, she turned and walked over to me. "Mommy, can we practice my spelling now?"

    I took her hand and walked to the living room, where I picked up her workbook and started going through it with her.

    Willow was smart, learned quickly, and was very focused. She seemed afraid of forgetting what I taught her, so she jumped off the couch with her textbook and kept reciting it. Finally, confident she had it down, she handed me the book and said, "Mommy, test me!"

 Chapter 181

    I randomly pointed to words, and Willow, with both little hands sped behind her back, answered quickly and confidently. After going through everything we had learned today, I realized she had mastered all the words she needed to learn the spelling of in just one day. Looking for praise, Willow snuggled into my arms. "How did I do, Mommy? Did I get anything wrong?"

    "Not a single one!" I praised her wholeheartedly. "You got everything right, Willow!"This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Willow blinked. Her face lit up in surprise. "Am I really that good?"

    I cupped her cheeks in my hand and gently squeezed. "Yes, you are!"

    She smiled shyly, then grabbed her book and nestled back into myp. "Then, let me see if I can read them out."

    I watched her intently. "Go for it."

    Willow leaned over the table, her chubby little finger pointing to each letter as she enunciated them. After spelling out the word, she read it out loud.

    Worried she might have pronounced it wrongly, she looked back at me and asked, "Is that right, Mommy?"

    I nodded and answered with absolute certainty, "Yeap!"

    Willow didn''t expect to get everything correct, and she beamed with pride, feeling even more motivated.

    Seeing how focused she looked, my heart softened.

    This was my daughter. She wasn''t perfect and had her own little quirks, but she was trying her best to be better.

    And that was enough.

    ...

    Willow kept reading the letters and words out loud.

    After a while, I noticed her voice growing hoarse, yet she kept flipping through the pages. I reached out and gently closed the book.

    Willow looked up at me in confusion. "Mommy, what''s wrong?"

    "If you keep reading out loud like this, you''ll wear out your voice," I exined softly. "Your health matters more, Willow."

    When Willow heard this, she slid the book away. "You''re right."

    Then, she leaned back against me and said happily, "I guess all this practicing and exercising is actually paying off. When my body gets stronger, my mood gets better, too. And I''ve been practicing in front of the mirror every day and studying, so it feels like speaking to others won''t be so hard anymore."

    Willow paused, then added with a shy smile, "It''s just that I still can''t actually say anything yet."

    I reached out and gently tapped her nose. "At this rate, it won''t be long before you conquer autism, huh?"

    Willow cupped her face in her hands, her eyes sparkling. "When that happens, I''ll have lots of kidsing up to me and wanting to be my friend."

    After saying that, she couldn''t help but burst outughing.

    I held her close and said, "I really hope that dayes soon."

    "Me, too," Willow agreed.

    ...

    Zachary arrived at Chloe''s house. Chloe looked at her grandson in disbelief.

    "Why are you here?"

    Zachary grinned and replied, "I missed you, Grandma."

    Chloe''s expression brightened with joy as she quickly ushered him to the table. "Have you eaten?"

    Zachary shook his head. "Not yet."

    Hearing that Zachary hade on an empty stomach, Chloe hurriedly said, "I''ll make you some food."

    "Thanks, Grandma," Zachary''s gaze wandered toward the kitchen.

    Before his parents'' divorce, whenever he came home and said he was hungry, no matter how busy Annalise was, she would always stop what she was doing and make him something to eat. However, since Annalise had been kicked out and Jessica moved in, he never enjoyed the same treatment again.

    The thought of it made Zachary feel a lump in his throat. Before he could stop it, tears welled up in his eyes. Chloe heard him sniffle and rushed back to his side. "What''s wrong?"

 Chapter 182

    The more Zachary cried, the more devastated he felt.

    "I miss Mommy."

    Chloe wrapped her arms around him. "Why don''t you call her? Maybe she''lle back to see you."

    Zachary sobbed and said, "She doesn''t want me anymore."

    Chloe''s face darkened with frustration. "No matter what, you''re her biological son. How could she be so heartless?"

    Zachary winced at her words. It was because he had done things to disappoint Annalise. In the past, he didn''t realize the consequences of doing such things. But now, seeing how Annalise treated Willow so well and how she treated him indifferently... It stung deeply.

    He couldn''t help but feel guilty. How much had Annalise suffered when he had hurt her?

    Chloe was so angry that she started to curse Annalise.

    Zachary gently tugged on Chloe''s sleeve. "Grandma, it''s not Mommy''s fault."

    Chloe tapped Zachary''s forehead. "Things are already at this point, yet you''re still defending her?"

    "I''m not," Zachary mumbled, but he knew Chloe wouldn''t believe him. So, he shifted the topic quickly. "Grandma, I want to study. Could you hire me a tutor?"

    It would be best if he could learn to read and write. That way, Zachary could write down all his thoughts, feelings, and guilt about Annalise. If he didn''t do that, he feared he might go crazy. Chloe smiled at the suggestion, feeling overjoyed. "I''ll arrange it tomorrow."

    Zachary nodded, then excused himself to head upstairs. In his room, he flicked on the light and got ready for a shower. Just as he was about to step into the bathroom, his phone buzzed. It was a call from Steven.

    Steven asked, "Are youing home tonight?"

    Zachary didn''t hesitate to answer, "No, I''m not."

    He knew if he went back, all he would hear was Jessica''s scolding. He wasn''t an idiot.

    Steven knew what Zachary was thinking, and he exined without being prompted, "I just bought them a new house and had them move out."

    Zachary was as sharp as ever, and he grasped the key point. "You bought them a house? Did you just give it to them?"

    Steven didn''t understand why Zachary would ask such a question, but he still answered, "Yes."

    Zachary didn''t know how to respond. It was only now that he truly realized his father loved Jessica, not Annalise.

    His parents had been married for six years, and in all that time, Steven never once thought to give Annalise anything. But now, Steven had bought Jessica an expensive house andvish jewelry. Zachary felt a pang of unfairness for Annalise. "Daddy, could you also buy me a house?"

    Without hesitation, Steven replied, "Sure. Do you have a house in mind?"

    Zachary''s voice was calm but resolute. "The house that I lived in with Mommy."

    ...

    Willow must have been exhausted today. She didn''t even wait for me to finish the story before she copsed into bed, fast asleep.

    I tucked her in gently, making sure the nket covered her snugly, and then tiptoed out of her room, quietly shutting the door behind me.

    Zane was waiting just outside the door. When he saw me, he took a step forward. "Do you want some coffee?"

    I followed behind him and smiled as I turned him down. "Not tonight. I won''t be able to sleep if I have coffee thiste."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    "Well, how about some milk, then?" Zane offered. "It''ll help you sleep."

    As he spoke, he made his way downstairs. He warmed two sses of milk and handed one to me.

    "Thank you," I said as I epted the cup.

    Zane sat down across from me with a thoughtful expression. "Before, I always felt so tired. It was as if no matter how hard I tried, I couldn''t change the status quo. But since you came into our lives, everything started turning around." I took a sip of milk and said, "Before I came here, I was at rock bottom. It felt like nothing would ever get better. But now, everything is falling into ce."

    I looked at him. "I guess we''ve helped each other, right?"

    Zane nodded. "Yeah. I''d say so."

 Chapter 183

    I wasn''t feeling tired yet, so I went upstairs and grabbed myptop. Then, I settled down and started focusing and sketching the designs Zane''spany needed.

    When Zane saw what I was doing, he went to his study and got his ownptop. Then, he began working on the files he needed to review.

    Since I already had the concept in my mind, it only took me half an hour to finish the initial sketches. But I still wasn''t satisfied, so I created three alternative options. Once I was done, I let out a sigh of relief and turned to Zane, who was sitting across from me. "I''m done with the sketches. Who do I submit them for review?"

    Zane stood up and walked over to my back. He leaned down and took my mouse in one hand, while his other handnded on my keyboard.

    It felt like I waspletely trapped within his arms.

    Zane calmly said, "First, log into this site and upload your sketches. Then, just submit them."

    He clicked through the process smoothly before ncing at me with an apologetic look. "Did I overstep?"

    He was so casual about it that if I said he did, it would sound like I was reading too much into it.

    I shook my head. "No. It''s fine."

    Zane straightened up. "You''ve been working hard for a while. You should get some rest."

    "Okay!" I quickly packed up myptop and headed upstairs.

    ...

    Zane watched Annalise''s retreating figure with a soft smile forming at the corner of his lips.

    ...

    Knowing Willow would wake up early, I made sure to get up half an hour ahead of time. I opened her bedroom door quietly and was surprised to find her already practicing in front of the mirror.

    Then, she practiced her spelling. Finally, she picked up her book and recited the words carefully. After making sure she had the pronunciation right, she read the whole sentence aloud.

    She was confused about some of the words, so she looked up at me. I took the time to exin each once. Once she understood, she continued her practice.

    Today felt a little different from before. Willow showed some restraint. After reading for more than ten minutes, she stopped. She realized that if she continued, her throat would start to hurt, so she set the book down. I took her hand and led her downstairs.

    Zane was already up. The three of us gathered in the yard for our usual morning exercise routine. After Willow finished her run, she shed me a bright grin.

    "Mommy, I''m so d I have you."

    I squeezed her little hand. "I feel the same way, Willow. Meeting you has been the greatest blessing of my life."

    Zane calmly said, "Enough of these sentimental talks for now. We need to add some basic training to our routine from now on."

    Willow and I both turned to him in surprise.

    Zane''s expression left no room for argument. "Come on. Follow me."

    He led us to the training room, where he stopped and turned to face us. "Start with the basic moves Howard taught you."

    Willow gritted her teeth, determined to push through. I had no choice but to follow suit.

    Zane''s hand gently pressed against the underside of my arm, lifting it slightly. "Your arm is too low."

    I nodded and lifted my arm higher, following his instructions.

    Then, he moved on to correct my leg position and so on.

    After more than ten minutes of this, Zane left. I couldn''t help but steal a nce at him.Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    Did he hate me?

    As if on cue, Zane turned and met my gaze.

    I quickly looked away.

    ...

    When the training finally ended, I was drenched in sweat. I led Willow upstairs and helped her clean up before I went to shower.

    After I changed into fresh clothes, I headed downstairs. I found Zane sitting at the dining table, his face unreadable as he said, "If you do each move precisely, you''ll get twice the result with half the effort." "Is that really how it works?" I asked in confusion.

    Zane nodded. "Of course. So, don''t take it personally when I''m tough on you. I''m only doing it because I want you to do better."

 Chapter 184

    I reluctantly epted his exnation. "Alright, then."

    Zane let out a lightugh.

    ...

    Steven opened his eyes and immediately noticed the absence of Jessica, who had always been beside him just days ago. His mood lifted at the sudden emptiness.

    He got up and walked to Zachary''s bedroom door, knocking lightly. "Time to get up! I''ll take you to school today."

    There was no answer.

    Steven casually opened the door, only to find the room empty.

    It was then he remembered that Zachary had spent the night at Chloe''s house.

    Steven made his way to the living room and sat down. It felt like everything had changed since he and Annalise had separated. The house no longer felt warm. Instead, it was cold and distant, the silence more suffocating thanforting.

    ...

    Today, the little girl arrived earlier than usual. When we dropped Willow off, we saw her standing at the door, waving at Willow.

    Willow didn''t even say goodbye to us before she ran over to the little girl. The little girl took Willow''s hand, chatting as they walked forward together.

    As Willow had done the other day, she listened patiently and focused entirely on her new friend.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    I felt a surge of relief. Though Willow still couldn''t speak with others, it was reassuring to see her make a friend. I turned to Zane and said, "Let''s go." Zane nodded. "Okay."

    Even though he didn''t need to drop Zachary off, Steven still found himself at the kindergarten. He leaned against his car, watching Annalise from a distance.

    He instinctively wanted to tell her that Jessica had moved out of the house, but he hesitated as he took a step forward.

    He and Jessica were just living apart for now their rtionship wasn''tpletely over.

    What would telling Annalise even aplish? What if she wanted to get back together with him? And if that happened, how would he exin things to Jessica? Steven''s mood grew inexplicably heavy.

    ...

    After I arrived at the office, I immediately set myptop down and opened Instagram.

    The head of the game department had already sent me a message. "We''ve received the four sketches you sent over. We had a meeting and decided to go with this one." Then, a picture appeared.

    I opened it to find it was the first draft I had done.

    I quickly replied, "Alright."

    Since my work on the game department posters was just a side project, I couldn''t let it interfere with my main job. I turned on myputer and got back to sketching the line art I needed for theic.

    By the time I finished, I was exhausted. Iy back on the couch and pulled out my phone. Since it was my break time, I decided to check theic''s performance on all the tforms.

    To my surprise, the growth in followers had been rapid in the past few days. Just yesterday, I gained over 500 new followers.

    At first, I thought it was just one tform. But after checking all of them, I was stunned to find that every tform had seen a simr increase.

    I opened the backend and checked the viewer data. That was when I realized the videos I had made by turning theic into short videos had worked surprisingly well.

    Each video had at least 5,000 views. I had posted more than ten videos, and the total views for yesterday alone surpassed 50,000 views.

    Finally, I checked my earnings.

    Across all tforms, it amounted to just over 500 dors.

    It wasn''t a huge amount, but I was still satisfied.

    I held my phone and couldn''t help but smile.

 Chapter 185

    Meanwhile, Zane sat in the conference room.

    Eric stepped forward to report, "Annalise''s advertising n has been finalized."

    He handed a folder to Zane. "Mr. Huxham, please take a look and let me know if anything needs to be changed."

    Having worked closely with Zane for many years, Eric knew that anything rted to Annalise was extremely important to him and always required his review. On the other hand, everything else could be left aside Zane cared only about Annalise. Eric had learned to prioritize with precision.

    Zane took the folder. He had already reviewed it once before, but now that it had been revised, he couldn''t find a single issue.

    He rarely showed satisfaction, but this time, he nodded. "It looks good."

    Eric smiled. "Great. Should I have them start the advertising today?"

    Zane nodded again. "Yes."

    With Zane''s approval, Eric quickly left the office and headed to the gamepany, eager to share the news. "Our n''s been approved!"

    The team cheered in unison. "That''s fantastic!"This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Eric continued, "We can start promoting it ording to the n now. Mr. Huxham is very generous. Once we show results, he''ll definitely give us bonuses."

    The mention of money sparked immediate enthusiasm. Without needing any more prompting, everyone jumped straight into work.

    Zane returned to his office and was about to step into the cubicle to chat with Annalise and get closer to each other.

    But before he could, the door swung open, and Sasha strode in with purpose.

    Zane didn''t even try to hide his annoyance.

    Noticing the look of impatience on his face, Sasha huffed loudly and red at him.

    Her judgment had always been questionable. How could she have overlooked someone as great as Annalise and ended up fixating on someone as insufferable as Zane? She quickly looked away and marched over to Annalise''s side.

    ...

    Meanwhile, I was busy coloring theic.

    "Annalise..." Sasha''s voice was tinged with a hint of frustration.

    I turned to look at Sasha. "What''s wrong?"

    "After I brought your n back yesterday..." Sasha buried her face in my shoulder. "They all said it was tooplicated and pulled out their funding. No one wants to work with me anymore.

    "But if they just followed your n, the gamepany could have quickly gotten on track and developed well."

    I calmly ask, "So, you''re saying you''re the only one left in the gamepany?"

    Sasha''s voice dropped even lower. "Yeah."

    "Well, maybe that''s not such a bad thing," I said, keeping my tone steady as I helped her analyze the situation. "At least if anything goes wrong with thepany, you can make the decisions yourself. You won''t have to argue with anyone anymore." Sasha knew I was right. "But being in charge, with all the responsibility on my shoulders, just feels so overwhelming. It''s like I''m an adult now, and I don''t really like it.

    "Annalise, you might not understand, but I still feel like a kid sometimes, even though I''m in my 20s."

    Sasha didn''t want to grow up. She liked her current situation.

    I remainedposed as I continued, "But you have to grow up. You have to take charge eventually."

    Sasha straightened up and looked at me.

    I kept going, "Think about it-right now, your family is there to protect you. So, while you''re learning to grow, they can still help you out even if you fail. But if something happens at home one day and you have to stand on your own... "Well, the environment for growing up won''t be asfortable, will it?"

    Sasha thought about it carefully, realizing that I was right. She lowered her head. "Yeah, I guess."

    I gave her a light pat on the shoulder, signaling for her to take her time with her thoughts. Then, I went back to my work.

    Sasha sat in deep thought for a long time before suddenly speaking up, "How about we go grab lunch together?"

    Before I could even answer, Zane interrupted, "No."

    I looked at him, surprised. "Why not?"

 Chapter 186

    Sasha narrowed her eyes and studied Zane, her face filled with wariness. She had been nning to set aside the heavy conversation and just go out and rx with Annalise. But why was Zane stopping them? Zane raised a finger and lightly tapped on the desk in front of him, calmly considering how to respond.

    Right now, Annalise and Sasha were on good terms, so Annalise would definitely prefer to go out for lunch with Sasha. Zane didn''t really have a solid reason to stop them.

    The best he could manage was to try to tag along with them.

    After a moment, he seemed toe to a decision and smiled-though it didn''t quite reach his eyes. "You two don''t even know where the good restaurants are. Besides, neither of you is exactly rolling in cash." He paused, then smoothly said, "So, let me treat you."

    Sasha didn''t even try to hide her dislike, but after thinking about it for a moment, she realized Zane had a point.

    "Fine," she conceded reluctantly.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Zane gathered his things and led the way, walking confidently ahead.

    As they stood in the elevator, Zane couldn''t help but nce at Sasha. Honestly, the more he spent time with her, the more he felt she was starting to interfere with his time with Annalise.

    Sasha noticed the look and gave Zane a re, clearly annoyed.

    ...

    I followed behind Sasha and Zane and tapped my chin as I watched their exchange thoughtfully.

    Wasn''t Sasha into Zane just a few days ago? What had changed? Now, it seemed like she could barely tolerate him.

    I couldn''t make sense of it, and frankly, I didn''t want to dwell on it.

    We sat down at the restaurant. Zane took the menu and quickly ordered a few of the house''s signature dishes with familiar ease before handing it to me.

    I wasn''t picky when it came to food, so I let Sasha order first.

    Sasha was sitting on the same side as me. She ced the menu in the center, her body nearly pressed against mine. Her voice became overly sweet, almost sickeningly so. "Do you like spicy food, or do you prefer something milder?" Was she really thinking about me? Was she worried I wouldn''t be able to enjoy my favorite foods?

    I smiled and said, "Anything''s fine. You can order what you like."

    "Alright." Since it was Zane''s treat, Sasha didn''t order too much just a couple of dishes-and then turned to chat with me, thanking the waiter as he left.

    Zane tried to start a conversation several times. But each time, Sasha interrupted him.

    I nced between Zane and Sasha. It was pretty clear now that Sasha was deliberately going against him.

    On the other hand, Zane kept taking the hits in stride. After a few failed attempts to engage, he finally just fell silent, staring coldly at Sasha.

    Sasha acted like she didn''t even notice.

    Zane was a domineering andmanding man in the business world. This was the first time I had seen him make such a face. I couldn''t help but find it amusing, and I had to bite back augh.

    But Zane caught it anyway. "Are you enjoying this?"

    I quickly tried to press my lips into a straight line. "No."

    The moment I said that, the irritation on Zane''s face seemed to evaporate. His eyes softened, and there was a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "If I made you smile, then it''s my honor." I was a bit taken aback.

    Wasn''t Zane always so distant and serious? I never expected him to make a joke!

    Realizing I might have misunderstood, he quickly added, "After all, you''re Willow''s mom. If you''re in a good mood, you''ll be able to take better care of her."

    So, was he afraid I would misunderstand?

    I nodded. "Yeah."

    Just then, the food arrived. As Sasha ate, her gaze remained fixed on me.

    I met her gaze.

 Chapter 187

    Sasha grinned widely, showing off her perfect white teeth, and then went ahead and piled more food onto my te.

    Seeing that, Zane wasn''t about to back down, either.

    Before long, there was more and more food being piled onto my te. It soon looked like a small tower.

    I could see they were still trying to outdo each other, so I couldn''t help but ask, "Do you two really have to y Jenga with food on my te?"

    That made Zane pause, but Sasha still wasn''t satisfied and dropped two more pieces of meat onto my te.

    Iughed helplessly. "Do you think I can eat all of this?"

    Sasha smiled encouragingly. "I believe in you. You can do it!"

    I crushed her enthusiasm with a smile. "You can believe in me all you want, but I''m not turning into a bottomless pit!"

    Zane calmly said, "You can ignore the food she gave you, but you''d better finish what I gave you."

    I didn''t expect Zane-the grown man-to show such a childish side. "That''s impossible."

    After I made my frustration clear, they both reluctantly retrieved some of the food from my te.

    As Sasha ate, it was clear she still felt dissatisfied and hadn''t given up. However, I shot her a look that made her think twice.

    Ever the tactful one, Zane noticed Sasha had backed down and quietly returned to his meal.

    ...

    Steven spun slowly in his office chair, a thoughtful frown crossing his face. With Jessica gone, he finally had the space to think-really think-about his feelings for both Annalise and Jessica.

    His friends all said he hated Annalise, but was it really true?

    Living with Annalise had always felt so... grounded. He never felt uneasy around her. In fact, he didn''t mind any of the intimate moments they shared. Nothing about it bothered him, not even sharing a bed at night. Whether his eyes were open or closed, Annalise''s face was always there, and he didn''t mind it one bit.

    As for his feelings for Jessica...

    Just as Steven was about to take a moment to reflect-really think about whether, as his friends suggested, he truly loved Jessica-his phone rang.

    It was Jessica.

    He answered the call absentmindedly, and her cries of grievance came through.

    Steven knew his thoughts were interrupted, but he knew he had to be patient. "What''s wrong?"

    Jessica pitifully said, "I''m alone at home, and I''m scared."R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Steven''s mind flickered back to Annalise, a sudden pang hitting him.

    When Annalise was pregnant with Zachary, he was so caught up in work. He left early in the morning and didn''t get home until nearly midnight. He remembered that Annalise had always seemed so stable andposed then, like she never let anything rattle her. In his mind, that had made her strong and independent. And that was why he often neglected her.

    Steven felt a deep, indescribable frustration.

    Jessica cautiously asked, "Can I visit you at the office?"

    "Yeah," Steven replied. But as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized how distant his tone sounded. He quickly added, "I''m free anyway."

    Jessica sighed in relief and smiled. "You''re the best."

    After hanging up, Steven leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. Ever since Jessica returned, it felt like he had been swept up in the attraction. He found time to see her every chance he got. From then on, there was no turning back.

    An hourter, Jessica arrived at his office. She stood before him, eyes reddened from crying. "Since yesterday, I just... I feel so insecure."

    Jessica was heavily pregnant, and Steven was worried she might be overexerting herself. He thoughtfully grabbed a nearby chair and pulled it over for her to sit in.

    Jessica settled into the chair, and Steven suddenly froze.

    When Annalise was pregnant with Zachary, Steven didn''t recall ever being concerned about whether she was suffering.

    Jessica didn''t notice Steven''s shift in emotions and quietly said, "I even can''t help but wonder... Do you still want me and the baby?"

 Chapter 188

    Jessica looked up at Steven, her tearful eyes fixed on him. Her right hand instinctively rested on her stomach.

    "Steven, think about it. It seems you don''t really love me or this all that much. Maybe I should just get rid of the baby," she said, her toneced with a sob.

    Steven felt a surge of irritation, though he concealed it with aforting smile.

    "Why would you think that?"

    He held her hand, resisting the difort that physical closeness with her brought.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    "Jessica, I''m a straightforward person. I''m not used to saying how I feel. I care about you and the baby in my own way. So, stop worrying and just focus on resting at home."

    Steven then took out a card and handed it to her. "If you want something, go ahead and buy it."

    Jessica''s eyes widened in surprise, glistening with emotion. "Is this really mine?"

    "Yes."

    Things had gone too far now, and with a child on the way, Steven knew he couldn''t just walk away from her. Yet, for reasons he couldn''t quite exin, the idea of spending a lifetime with Jessica felt suffocating. He found himself picturing Annalise, her image inexplicably lingering in his mind.

    Jessica tucked the card away in her purse.

    Steven offered a few more reassuring words, waiting for her to calm down before excusing himself, citing work that needed his attention.

    Jessica left obediently, but instead of heading home, she made her way to a nearby mall, where she shopped until her car was filled to capacity with bags.

    Feeling somewhat appeased, she settled into the car.

    "Take me to the Huxham Corporation," she told the driver.

    Since Steven and Annalise''s divorce, Jessica had been eager to see Annalise. She had been too busy to arrange a meet-up until now, but today was her chance. With some time on her hand, she was determined to have a little talk with Annalise.

    ...

    I had just wrapped up my work for the day, even finishing the final touches on the game department''s poster coloring, when I got a call from Jessica.

    I answered casually, "Hello?"

    "Annalise." Jessica''s tone held none of its usual fragility. "Let''s meet."

    "I''m not interested," I declined.

    She scoffed. "Are you afraid of me?"

    Since the divorce, I hadn''t had any contact with Jessica. Her request made me reluctantly recall everything that happened before the divorce.

    As I thought over it, I realized that fear wasn''t the right word-disgust was more urate.

    I replied calmly, "Why would I be afraid of you?"

    Jessica sounded smug. "I took your husband and your son."

    She clearly took pride in breaking apart someone else''s happy family, ruining a marriage, and taking another woman''s husband to prove her charm.

    "Anything that can be taken away was never truly mine to begin with," I replied casually.

    "And I''ve never resented you for it."

    Jessica responded quickly, "That''s impossible."

    "The only thing I hold against you is that you killed my child," I continued.

    Jessica fell silent.

    "And now that you''re pregnant, too. If anything happened to that baby during our meeting, everyone would assume I had something to do with it. I''m not willing to take that risk," I added on.

 Chapter 189

    The most important thing was that I wanted to see Jessica''s baby be born more than anyone.

    Even though I no longer had feelings for Steven. In fact, he was as good as a stranger to me. But I couldn''t deny the satisfaction I felt imagining the scene where Jessica and Steven-the aplices who yed a part in the death of my own child-would finally turn on each

    other.

    "We can meet somewhere with surveince," Jessica tried to convince me. It was obvious she was very eager to see me.

    But I wasn''t interested. "Surveince can fail, too," I replied.

    Seeing that her reassurances weren''t working, Jessica smirked and taunted, "You''re just jealous. Jealous because Steven is with me now, so you''re afraid to see me." Her attempt was clumsy and obvious.

    "Provocation won''t work on me," I said calmly.

    Jessica threatened, "I''m downstairs at Huxham Corporation. If you don''te out, I''ll spill everything that happened between you and the Pelham family.

    "That includes everything between you and my ex-husband."

    I stared at my phone screen as Jessica delivered her ultimatum. "You have ten minutes. I''m at the coffee shop downstairs. If you don''te, you''ll deal with the consequences!"

    ...

    While I exchanged these messages, I submitted thepleted poster to the gaming department, and it was immediately approved.

    Since I didn''t have anything pressing to do, I decided to head downstairs and see what Jessica was plotting.

    I shut down myputer and headed downstairs.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Sasha was on her phone and looked up as I stood up. "Where are you off to?"

    "Someone I barely know wants to meet up. I''m going to see what she wants," I exined.

    Sasha rxed back onto the couch. "Alright. Just don''t be too long."

    "Will do."

    ...

    As the office door closed, Sasha turned to Zane. "Do you know who Annalise is meeting?"

    "I do." Zane seemed to know everything about Annalise''s matter.

    Sasha''s curiosity grew. "Who is it?"

    "Jessica," Zane replied calmly.

    Sasha looked puzzled.

    "The same Jessica who took Annalise''s ex-husband," Zane added, his face expressionless.

    Sasha''s temper red immediately. "Annalise has already divorced him ages ago! What''s the mistress doing,ing here now?"

    "Maybe to show off how well Annalise''s ex is treating her?" Zane guessed, his distaste for Steven evident that he wouldn''t even say his name. Sasha tapped her chin. "Was her ex even that amazing? Good enough for two women to fight over?"

    "How good could a cheating man possibly be?" Zane''s voice was cold.

    "Annalise was just young then and hadn''t yet learned how to see through those who are shy on the outside but rotten within, so she got deceived." Sasha picked up on Zane''s contempt for Steven. She raised an eyebrow and leaned against the couch as she asked, "You''re really into Annalise, aren''t you?"

    Zane nced at her. "If you already know, then stop butting into our time together."

    "Oh, please," Sasha scoffed. "Maybe Annalise would rather spend time with me."

    In the coffee shop downstairs, Jessica stirred her coffee with a small spoon, moving with an elegance that made her seem like ady of high society.

    She looked down at me with a mocking smile. "I heard you''re working as a nanny for the Huxham family?"

 Chapter 190

    When Jessica had first heard this rumor from Yvonne, she was utterly shocked.

    Hearing Willow call Annalise "Mommy" made Jessica think that Zane was nning to marry Annalise, which unsettled her.

    How could Annalise, after leaving Steven, still meet such an outstanding man?

    But thankfully, it seemed Zane wasn''t interested in Annalise, after all, making Jessica very pleased.

    ...

    "Is there a problem?" I asked as I took a seat across from her.

    Jessica propped her chin on her inteced fingers. "Before you divorced Steven, you were a wealthy woman, after all. Every gift he gave you must''ve been worth a fortune.

    "Even if things went south after the divorce, surely selling just one of those items would''ve been enough to keep youfortable. There''s no way you''d have to resort to working, right?" It didn''t take me long to understand why she had asked me to meet.

    She just wanted me to know that Steven treated her better than he ever treated me.

    Then, she wouldpare her life with mine, making herself look smart for making the right choice and living well while portraying me as foolish for ending up as someone''s employee. I leaned back in my chair.

    Jessica feigned an exaggerated surprise. "Or are you telling me he never gave you anything at all?"

    I had no interest in ying along. "You probably should know that better than anyone."

    Jessica put on a mock look of concern. "I just don''t get it. How is it that he''s so stingy with you, yet he''s been so generous with me?

    "You two haven''t divorced that long, and he''s already gifted me a luxury vi and jewelry worth millions of dors, maybe even tens of millions of dors.

    "Annalise, do you think that he never loved you?" Jessica asked maliciously.

    I nodded. "Exactly."

    Jessica hadn''t expected me to admit it so easily, and she was stunned.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    I looked at her with a hint of amusement.

    If her rtionship with Steven was truly going well, she would be busy enjoying her romance, not here trying to get under my skin.

    Feigning indifference, I said, "But what about you? Why did youe all the way here to tell me this? Did Steven do something to make you feel insecure?"

    "Let me guess," I added.

    I wasn''t the type to just sit back and take it, so I nned my counterattack. "Could it have something to do with me?"

    "Absolutely not!" Jessica shot back without hesitation.

    I raised an eyebrow, watching her as she hastily added, "Steven ispletely devoted to me now. Unlike you, do you still believe that Steven would hurt me because of you? That''s ridiculous! Could it be that you haven''t gotten over him?" Without giving me a chance to respond, she mmed her hand on the table and stood up.

    "Let me warn you. Don''t go after someone who never belonged to you in the first ce."

    With that, she grabbed her purse and stormed out.

    Her reaction didn''t make me angry, and I even found it rather amusing.

    If I had been wrong, she wouldn''t have acted so flustered. But I wasn''t about to y the homewrecker and interfere in their marriage.

    As she walked away, I called after her, "Mrs. Pelham, you''re a wealthy woman with status now. Surely you wouldn''t make someone as poor as me pay for your coffee, right?"

    Jessica rushed to pay the bill.

    "And maybe two more coffees and a milk, while you''re at it?" I added, strolling up beside her at the counter.

    I ordered Zane''s favorite drink, then a house special since I wasn''t sure what Sasha liked.

    Then, the cashier nced at me, and I gave Jessica a pointed look.

    "Surely, a wealthy woman like you can afford three drinks?"

    "I''m not that broke," Jessica snapped, though it was clear that she didn''t want to pay for mine.

    She pulled out her phone, brought out the payment code, and handed it to the cashier.

    The cashier aimed the scanner at Jessica''s phone and scanned it. "Payment sessful."

 Chapter 191

    Jessica put away her phone and stormed off in a huff.

    I turned around, leaning against the counter as I watched her pick up her pace. "Jessica, a wise horse never doubles back to graze."

    "Since I''ve divorced him, I won''t have anything to do with him again," I shot back. "You can rest assured on that."

    Steven was my ex-husband, and we had spent six years together. However, from the moment our divorce was finalized, it felt like I had erased him from my lifepletely.

    I only ever thought about him when someone else brought him up. Otherwise, he barely crossed my mind.

    "Excuse me. Your drink is ready."

    The cashier handed me a bag. After a moment''s hesitation, curiosity got the better of her. "What''s your rtionship with her?"

    I took the bag with a smile. "She''s my ex-husband''s current girlfriend."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Back at the office, Sasha immediately came over. "What did she say to you?"

    "Looks like their rtionship is hitting a rough patch," I said. "Jessica''s clearly worried I might get back together with Steven. She went out of her way to remind me how much he loves her." Sasha scoffed. "How desperate is that?"

    I handed her a cup of coffee. "Honestly, I''m rooting for them. The happier they are, the better."

    Sasha nced at me and curiously asked, "Why''s that?"

    It was simple. The more in love they were, the bigger the fallout when the truth about Jessica''s baby being Casper''s eventually came out. Their conflicts would blow up, and I could just sit back and enjoy the show. Yet, I wasn''t about to tell anyone that. Instead, I handed another cup of coffee to Zane. "It''s a secret."

    Sasha looked over at Zane, but he was just as clueless. He took the coffee and offered, "How much do I owe you? I''ll reimburse you."

    Zane never liked epting free stuff from anyone.

    "Jessica paid," I replied. Since I hadn''t spent any money, I wasn''t about to let Zane pay for me.

    Sasha instantly lost interest in her coffee. "If that woman bought it, I''m not drinking it!" she said, taking my side without hesitation.

    "It took some serious effort to make her foot the bill."

    I took a sip of my milk. It was scalding hot and tasted just like regr milk, but it cost several times more.

    Suddenly, I felt a bit duped. "Don''t waste my good intentions."

    Reluctantly, Sasha sighed, "Fine."

    Back at my desk, I set my milk down and got back to work.

    Meanwhile, Sasha went right back to scrolling on her phone.

    On the other hand, Eric had something to report to Zane.

    As Zane left the room, he made sure to take his coffee with him.

    When they reached the meeting room, Eric''s eyesnded on the coffee in Zane''s hand.

    Zane''s face remained neutral. "Did you know Annalise went downstairs to meet someone, yet still remembered to bring me coffee?"

    Eric didn''t know, but he understood how to act to make Zane happy. He feigned surprise and asked, "Really?"

    "Of course," Zane replied. He walked over to the window. "So, what did you want to tell me?"

    Eric said, "The dolls you ordered have arrived."

    When the front desk notified him, he even went downstairs to pick them up and ced them on the desk to his left.

    Eric casually picked them up and handed them to Zane.

    Zane unwrapped them.

    The stuffed dolls weren''t veryrge. They were about 1.6 feet tall and resembled Willow''s grandparents.

    Zane stared at the two dolls, feeling curious if these dolls might help Willow improve.

 Chapter 192

    Zane listened patiently as Eric went over the work arrangements.

    When Eric finished, Zane spoke up, "You''ve been doing great at worktely. What reward do you want? A raise, or..."

    Eric''s smile almost gave him away. "A raise, of course."

    After all, no one would say no to more money.

    Zane replied calmly, "Alright."

    ...

    Zane walked into the office with a doll tucked under his right arm and another doll in his hand. On the other hand, he held his coffee cup.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    When he entered, he noticed Sasha was already gone.

    "Where is she?" Zane asked in a slightly surprised tone.

    After finishing my work, I stretched out on the couch, casually ying on my phone. Without looking up, I said, "She went out with friends."

    Zane walked up to me and ced the dolls on the desk. "Here. The dolls have arrived."

    I immediately sat up. "That was fast."

    My gaze fell on the dolls. This time, they were made with more care and closely matched the image I had drawn.

    Even the clothes were specially customized in an elderly style.

    I clicked my tongue in amazement. "Aren''t they amazing!"

    "What''s our next step?" Zane still didn''t know the exact details of my n.

    I looked up. "It''s simple. First, we''ll have her talk to the dolls. Once she''sfortable with that, we''ll hide a walkie-talkie inside. When she suddenly hears her grandparents'' voices, she''ll be shocked. At that moment..." I paused before continuing, "We''ll tell her the voices were pre-recorded. That should ease her concerns."

    I had already nned how to help Willow recover using the dolls. "Once she''sfortable talking to the dolls, we''ll bring her real grandparents to the house, turn off the walkie-talkie, and let them speak to her directly." After exining, I asked for Zane''s opinion. "What do you think?"

    "I think it''s a great n," Zane said. He''d never considered this method as a way to help Willow.

    "If you need their cooperation, just let me know," he added.

    "Got it," I replied casually. "You might want to set aside some time to prepare the walkie-talkies. At the rate she''s progressing, she''ll probably befortable talking to the dolls within a couple of days." Zane didn''t hesitate. "No problem. I''ll take care of it."

    With the details settled, we headed to the kindergarten to pick up Willow.

    ...

    The little girl''s parents were runningte, and Willow had been patiently keeping herpany without a singleint.

    It was about an hourter when the parents finally showed up. Even as we left, Willow kept looking back at the little girl, as if she were reluctant to part ways.

    Once we were in the car, Willow sat in her booster seat, sneaking nces at me.

    I smiled. "Do you want to tell me something?"

    Willow nodded eagerly. "Mommy, can you and Daddy pick me up a littleter tomorrow? I want to spend more time with my friend."

    I looked over at Zane.

    He didn''t refuse. Instead, he calmly suggested, "How about we bring your friend home with us instead?"

    Willow''s eyes lit up, and she almost jumped out of her seat. "Really? Can we?"

    Zane reached over and ruffled her hair with a big hand. "Of course. As long as it makes you happy."

    "That''s awesome!" Willow cheered, waving her little fists in excitement. "I can''t wait to share this great news with her!" However, I stayed quiet.

    Willow''s excitement faltered, and her fists slowly dropped. She lowered her head. "I still don''t know how to talk to her..."

 Chapter 193

    I held Willow''s hand. "You can''t rush things. As long as we keep trying, we''ll seed one day."

    Willow looked up at me with a doubtful expression. "Really?"

    She slumped against the car window, falling silent for a long while.

    I leaned in and gentlyforted her.

    It was only after a while that Willow''s attention shifted.

    ...

    Zachary followed behind, watching Annalise patientlyfort Willow.

    He couldn''t help but recall how, when he was upset, Annalise would always hold him and gently soothe him. He wished he had appreciated her back then.

    When he had Annalise''s love, he hadn''t truly valued it. It wasn''t until he lost it that he realized only Annalise, with her gentle and steady nature, could offer the unconditional love he needed. Zachary couldn''t understand how he had lost someone like her.

    Just then, his phone rang.

    Zachary casually picked it up.

    Chloe''s cheerful voice came through, "Zach, I''ve arranged a tutor for you, just like you asked."

    "Thanks, Grandma." Zachary kept his eyes fixed on Annalise''s car. "I''ll make sure to study hard once I get back."

    Chloe chuckled, her eyes narrowing with a smile. "What time will you be home?"

    "I''m not sure yet." Zachary often found himself lingering outside Annalise''s ce, watching her. It gave him an odd sense of peace, as if she had never really left.

    He asked, "Can the tutor wait?"

    Chloe quickly responded, "Of course."

    ...

    When they got home, Willow was full of energy. She ran around, worked on her basics, and practiced speaking in front of the mirror. Then, she focused on learning phics.

    After all that, Willow copsed on the couch. Her chubby face showed exhaustion beyond her years. "I''m so tired."

    I smiled at her.

    "Willow." Zane ced the custom-made doll in front of her. "Look at this."

    Willow immediately sat up, holding the doll tightly. She stared at it for a while before asking, "Is this Grandma?" Zane nodded and handed her the other doll. "What about this one?"

    "Grandpa!" Willow eximed happily.

    Then, she asked, "Did you make these for me because you know how much I love Grandma and Grandpa?" Before either Zane or I could answer, Willow''s tears began to fall. She stared at the dolls and fell silent.

    I took the initiative to exin the dolls'' purpose to her. "Don''t you have a lot to say to Grandma and Grandpa, but it''s hard to say it in front of them? Now, you can share your thoughts with the dolls, as if they are Grandma and Grandpa, listening to you." Willow gently touched the doll''s face, but when she tried to speak, no words came out.

    She sighed in frustration. "It feels so embarrassing to talk to the dolls in front of Mommy and Daddy. It''s just too childish!"

    In her mind, only toddlers who didn''t understand anything would do something so silly.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    However, Willow had so much she wanted to share with Dorothy and Milton.

    After a moment of hesitation, she hugged both dolls and headed upstairs. "I want to spend some time alone with Grandma and Grandpa."

    I couldn''t help butugh as I watched her run up the stairs.

    Zane asked, "Since she''s talking to the dolls, Milton and Dorothy won''t be able to hear, right? They won''t know her thoughts."

    I was surprised by his question. "Who says they can''t hear?" I replied.

 Chapter 194

    Zane asked calmly, "Hmm?"

    I was a bit confused. "Didn''t I mention it? I put a small recorder inside the dolls."

    It was clear that Willow didn''t want us to hear what she was saying to Dorothy and Milton.

    Naturally, I respected her privacy. I had no intention of listening to the recording myself. When the time was right, I would just have Zane pass it on to Dorothy and Milton for Willow.

    Zane was surprised to learn I had prepared so much in advance. "When did you do this?"

    I replied, "Just earlier, when Willow was upstairs talking to herself in the mirror."

    He asked again, "When did you buy the recorder?"

    "Quite a while ago," I answered calmly. "Before I divorced Steven, they did too many awful things. I just wanted to record everything they said and did. One day, I''ll release all the recordings and videos. It''ll be my way of getting back at them." Zane looked at me with admiration. "Not bad."

    "Would you mind if I did this?" I hadn''t considered Zane''s feelings, as I was focused on what was best for Willow. "If you think kids need privacy, and I shouldn''t have recorded it, I''ll remove the recorder."

    "No need," Zane replied, clearly on my side. "Right now, our goal is to help Willow get better. Besides, she''s only five years old-she doesn''t have any real privacy yet. When she gets older and needs space, we can respect that then."

    Willow carefully ced the two dolls at the head of her bed and stared at them. For some reason, she couldn''t bring herself to speak when she thought of the dolls as Dorothy and Milton. She even avoided looking into their eyes and instead focused on her small, chubby hands.

    She took a deep breath, reminding herself over and over that they were just ordinary stuffed toys, not real people. Gradually, her tense emotions began to ease.

    After a long silence, she finally said, "Grandma and Grandpa, I''m sorry. After Daddy and Mommy''s car ident, Grandma Rowena told me you''d hate me. I..."

    Willow didn''t fully understand why, but as soon as she mentioned the past, tears started to fall. "I''m scared you''ll hate me. I''m afraid that when you look at me, all you''ll see is disgust."

    After a moment, she continued, "That''s why I''ve been avoiding you. I didn''t dare face you. Last time, I told Mommy about it. She said you love me and wouldn''t me me. Is that true?"

    As Willow poured out her thoughts, it felt as though the heavy weight on her chest had lifted, and she felt much lighter.

    Finally, she added, "Grandpa and Grandma, I love you."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ...

    Willow ran downstairs with joy. As soon as she saw Zane, she beamed and asked, "Daddy, why are you so handsome?"

    Zane usually shrugged offpliments from others as he was fully aware of his own appearance. When it came from his daughter, it made him feel like his entire world brightened. With a smile, he replied, "You''re pretty cute, too."

    Willow grinned and leaned toward me. "Mommy, you''re beautiful, too."

    I smiled and said, "Thank you."

    Willow took a deep breath. "The air feels so fresh today, and the living room looks especially nice..."

    She went on,plimenting everything from the living room to the yard, every nt, every dish, and even the small decorations. She found something good to say about everything. I asked in surprise, "Are you really this happy today?"

    Willow nodded enthusiastically. "It''s the happiest day of my life!"

 Chapter 195

    "As a celebration, we should have a nice meal," Zane said, looking at Willow. "What would you like to eat?"

    Willow thought seriously for a moment. "Hmm..."

    She had tried many delicious dishes recently. Unfortunately, she didn''t feel like eating anything at the moment. "What do you think, Mommy?"

    I knew a few restaurants Willow would enjoy, but I didn''t make a decision right away. Instead, I told her about the specialties of those ces.

    Willow made up her mind. "How about we go to the restaurant near Daddy''s office on Saturday?"

    Then, she turned to Zane. "Is that okay?"

    Zane smiled and agreed without hesitation, "No problem."

    ...

    Zachary silently waited outside the vi, watching them train in the yard. He saw Willow teasing Annalise yfully, and then the whole family headed into the living room together.

    At that moment, he suddenly realized that the roles of him and Annalise had unknowingly switched.

    When Steven brought Jessica home, he would take her and Cody out to y, leaving Annalise behind. At that time, Annalise would watch them having fun together.

    Zachary wondered if she felt the same way he did now-lonely and abandoned. He finally understood Annalise''s feelings, but it was toote. She had moved on from her previous marriage. Now that she had a new child, she no longer needed him as her son. "Mommy..." Zachary murmured, his eyes filled with longing. Unfortunately, it was alreadyte. "Mr. Thompson, it''s time to go home."R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Harry took him to Chloe''s house.

    Chloe greeted him warmly at the door, already knowing he hadn''t eaten without needing to ask. "What would you like to eat? I''ll make it for you."

    "Anything is fine." Zachary smiled at her, then added, "Where''s the tutor? I want to study."

    Chloe quickly called over the tutor she had hired at a high price.

    Zachary sat quietly and obediently while the tutor, Hannah Ludwig, taught him phonics.

    After a while, Hannah told him to take a break. Zachary suddenly had an idea. "Ms. Ludwig, could you have the driver pick you up tomorrow and go to the kindergarten to pick me up?"

    Hannah wasn''t sure why Zachary asked, but she nodded in agreement. "No problem."

    "Thank you," Zachary said.

    ...

    The breeze on the balcony was particrly cool. I tended to sit for long hours in the office, so in the evenings when I wasn''t working, I made it a habit to stand.

    Zane leaned against the railing. "If we follow your method, it might take less than a year for Willow to recover."

    "I agree," I said.

    As I reflected on everything that had happened recently, it almost seemed too good to be true. It felt like I was living in a dream.

    First, I became Willow''s mother. Then, as I spent more time with her, I began to understand the extent of her autism. Later, she was bullied in kindergarten for not being able to speak. Now, she was slowly but surely improving. It all felt like a dream.

    Zane suddenly had an idea. "What if we made a custom doll of one of her friends?"

    I looked at him in surprise and thought carefully about how practical it was.

    Excited, Zane continued, "Once the doll is ready, we can use it to help her talk to her friends, just like we did with her grandparents."

    I paused, considering the idea. "Her grandparents are family, so it''s clear they want Willow to get better, but her friends might not be as willing to cooperate," I said, voicing my concern.

 Chapter 196

    Zane also understood what I was worried about.

    He ced his hands on my shoulders, saying seriously, "You don''t have to worry about it. Leave it to me, and I''ll handle it." His eyes shone with a firm determination to seed.

    I, too, understood that everything he did was for Willow''s sake.

    "Alright," I said in agreement.

    He let go of me and walked off to the side, making some calls to people in order to fish for information on the little girl.

    It turned out that her name was Penelope Summers, and her parents operated a smallpany.

    He obtained Penelope''s father''s phone number and proceeded to call him. When the other side picked up, he got straight to the point, exining the purpose of his call.

    Penelope''s father, Liam Summers, didn''t reply immediately.

    Zane understood that as a parent, Liam was sure to be incredibly cautious in fear that his child maye to harm, so he exined that Penelope''s family could record something for her from home instead, then hand it to her when it was time for school.

    He could refrain from directly approaching Penelope, and in return, he also offered to coborate with Liam.

    Still, Liam didn''t immediately provide him with an answer.

    Zane was in no hurry either, so he offered to give Liam a few days to think it over.

    Just as he was about to hang up, Liam responded, "Alright."

    Zane was evidently really happy about sessfully convincing Liam.

    He walked over and picked me up, saying joyfully, "Anna, Willow is going to get better really soon."

    I stared at him in shock, feet dangling in the air. Had he always been this strong? He could actually lift a grown person so casually?

    It didn''t take long for me to digest the fact. I knew he had forgotten the boundaries between us due to his happiness, but I didn''t want to remind me and ruin his mood.

    So instead, I simply replied, "That''s right, and she''ll only get better and better in the future."

    Zane let go of me, the smile in his eyes deepening. "How wonderful!"

    ...

    After returning to his bedroom, Zaney down in his bed. He always used to have no problems sleeping, but he just couldn''t seem to fall asleep this time. His mind was filled with thoughts of Annalise. In the end, he picked up his phone and sent her a message.

    "Goodnight."

    ...

    I looked at the single-word message on my phone screen, feeling inexplicably puzzled. Huh, even a big shot CEO like him had the time to send these pleasantries before bed?

    In the end, I still replied with a message of my own, "Goodnight."

    Having worked overtime to finish my lineart, Iy in bed, thinking seriously about work matters.

    After the games department approved the poster I had drawn, the pay for the poster was immediately transferred to my bank ount. The amount I received was over a hundred thousand dors, simr to the previous time.

    In my eyes, such figures were, without exaggeration, exorbitant. I had originally intended to return the money and tell Zane that it was enough to pay me the normal sum for my work. There was no need to give me so much more.

    I lightly pped myself on the forehead.

    Unfortunately, I had forgotten to mention it when I was speaking to him just now.

    My sry for taking care of Willow had also already been transferred to my ount-the amount equally significant.

    A whole 80,000 dors.

    He was giving me way too much for this job, too, so I''d best return it to himter as well.

    As for myics, the followers and views I was getting were both steadily increasing.

    I stared up at the ceiling.

    Even if I didn''t turn on advertisements, every tform would give me a cut of the profits from views, but the good news was that even views were worth good money nowadays. Therefore, once I gained a substantial follower count, I might be able to get quite a lot of money.

    Who would''ve thought?

    In just a few months, I had already be a rich woman.

    With that thought, I closed my eyes, still feeling happy.

    Steven returned to the house that he and Annalise had lived in for six years, feeling a little dazed at all the familiar sights.

    Didn''t he not like her?R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

 Chapter 197

    Steven wondered why it was that his restless heart seemed to settle down when he felt Annalise''s presence throughout every corner of the house. Why did he feel like this if he didn''t like her? He took a seat in the living room.

    He couldn''t even understand what exactly love was anymore.

    His friends all told him that he loved Jessica. She had be his, and he''d even had a child with her. However, the moment he imagined living out his future with her, he would feel as if he was suffocating.

    It wasn''t until Jessica moved out with Cody that he felt as if he could breathe easier. People would always say that it was the onlookers who could gauge a situation with the most rity, but he couldn''t help questioning his friends'' opinions. Was his situation with Jessica really what love was supposed to look like?

    ...

    Willow must have been really tired out yesterday. When I went to wake her, I had to call out to her several times before she finally responded drowsily.

    After opening the door for me, she shuffled off into the bathroom to wash up, still half-asleep.

    What followed next was her daily routine.

    Practicing speech in front of the mirror, reciting phonics, going for a morning run, and finally, taking a shower.

    After each task waspleted just around mealtime, she hurriedly ran back into her bedroom. As if afraid that we would see what she was doing, she even closed the door behind her.

    I looked toward Zane, who was sitting opposite me.

    He didn''t hide his smile as he said, "It seems we made the right decision."

    Equally d, I replied, "That''s right."

    After Willow finished speaking with her plush toys in the bedroom, she finally came running downstairs to sit at the table with us and started enjoying her food.

    I stood up, telling her, "I''m done, so I''ll be going upstairs for a bit."

    Willow hummed agreeably, already very independent for a child. "You can go do your work, Mommy. No need to worry about me."

    While she wasn''t paying attention, I slipped into her bedroom and retrieved the small recorder pen we had nted inside, switching it out for a new one.

    After all this was done, I finally returned to Willow''s side with a straight face.

    Willow didn''t eat much for breakfast, so when she saw me approaching, she held my hand and asked, "Mommy, are you going to bring Penelope home as well when you fetch me in the afternoon? Remember to say hello to her family, or they''ll definitely worry." Naturally, I wouldn''t object when she was being considerate to her friend.

    "Alright."

    ...

    By the time we arrived at the kindergarten, Willow had already caught sight of Penelope and happily rushed up to her.

    Seeing me still standing where I was, Willow, who used to nce back to make sure I was still there every few steps, started urging me to leave instead.

    "I''m already in my final year of kindergarten, mommy!" she yelled from where she was, standing still and waving her hand at me. "You don''t have to worry about me. Don''t be afraid to just do your own thing! I exercise every day now and even take the time out to study." She clenched her little fists before continuing, "I have the brains and the brawn. Nobody would dare bully me."

    Having said her piece, she walked into the school building hand-in-hand with Penelope.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Imented, "Back when I just arrived at the Huxham residence, she was still really clingy with me. She would insist on following me no matter what I was doing, as if afraid that I would run away. It''s barely been much time since then..."

    Zaneforted me calmly, saying, "This just goes to show that you give her enough of a sense of security."

    He added amusedly, "She understands that she can go off and do whatever she wants without worrying that you''ll leave her."

    "That''s true," I replied, conceding his point. "Let''s go and give Willow''s recording to Milton and Dorothy."

    "Let''s go."

    ...

    Zachary stood to the side, mouth open, but before he managed to utter a word, Annalise had brushed past him and gotten into the car.

    He watched her leave,forting himself over and over by mumbling, "It''s alright. As long as I treat Mommy''s daughter better, she''ll be willing to talk to me one day."

 Chapter 198

    Zachary''s voice gradually quietened as he murmured, "But who''s going to treat me well in turn?"

    Annalise didn''t want him anymore, and Steven didn''t care for him either.

    He looked at the ground. He hadn''t wanted to cry, yet tears fell steadily down his face against his will.

    ...

    Steven didn''t need to send Zachary to kindergarten, but he still arrived at the kindergarten entrance when it was time for parents to send their children there.

    When he saw Zachary''s pitiful appearance, he approached, asking, "Do you need my help?"

    Zachary raised his head to look at Steven, then shook his head as he replied, "I don''t."

    "Why?" Steven asked in confusion. "Don''t you secretly follow her every day just so you can spend more time with her? Won''t it be great if I found you opportunities to have some alone time with her?" Certainly, it sounded wonderful.

    However, Steven was the culprit who had made Annalise give up on him in the first ce.

    If Steven hadn''t sneakily brought him to meet with Jessica, he wouldn''t have been foolishly tricked into thinking that she was a great woman. He wouldn''t have consequently started to hate Annalise more and more, even going so far as to bully her.

    Annalise treated him as little more than a stranger now, so she was even more likely to ignore Steven. He understood all this clearly, but he didn''t intend to let Steven know, because Zachary could tell that Steven remained unaware of his feelings and still thought that he liked Jessica.

    A sh of vindictive joy crossed Zachary''s face.

    He thought cruelly that if Steven one day realized that his true love was Annalise, yet he had driven her out of his life due to his own foolishness, he would definitely suffer greatly.

    He replied seriously, "I''ll be responsible for my own matters, so just focus on your work, Daddy."

    "Otherwise, the money you earn won''t be enough to keep up with Jessica''s spending," he concluded inwardly.

    Why should he have to live each day in regret while Steven, the instigator, acted like he had nothing to do with the situation, despite both of them making the same mistake? He lived every day in a carefree manner, either taking his new sweetheart Jessica shopping or ying with Cody. Hence, he hoped that Steven would be so busy every day that he had no time to think about the situation with Annalise. This way, when he finally realized his true feelings, it would be toote for him.

    When that time came, Steven would suffer even more than him!

    Zachary finally felt a little better at the thought.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    "I''m going to ss. See you, Daddy."

    Without waiting for a reply, he turned and walked into kindergarten.

    Steven stared nkly at his retreating back.

    Unbeknownst to him, Zachary seemed to have be a lot more independent. Even if he encountered problems, he no longer asked him for help.

    Long after Zachary had entered the school building, he finally remembered that he hadn''t given an answer.

    "Okay," he said uselessly.

    ...

    Once I was in the car, I buckled my seat belt properly before turning to look solemnly at Zane.

    He was still the picture of calm as he asked, "What''s wrong?"

    "The sry and bonus you paid me are too much," I answered honestly.

    Willow was constantly around me during breakfast, so I hadn''t had the opportunity to speak with him about this.

    However, the opportunity had now presented itself.

    "We never discussed my sry for taking care of Willow before," I said, continuing to try and return the extra money I had received. "But even the most expensive nanny in the industry should only ask 10,000 to 20,000 dors a month, right? "Giving me 80,000 dors at once is too much. I''m returning you at least 60,000 dors."

    I had never liked epting money beyond my level of contribution.

 Chapter 199

    Zane gazed at me in amusement, asking, "Did you not ask around about the sries of the other people in our family''s employ?" His question had me stumped.

    "None of their monthly sries fall below 30,000 dors," he continued. "Furthermore, Willow has autism and doesn''t really like tomunicate with others, so the difficulty involved in raising her is higher than that of ordinary children. "That said, it''s within reason for me to increase your sry. But of course, what''s most important is that she''s gotten better under your diligent care."

    Still not done, he added calmly, "Originally, I even thought of giving you a bigger bonus, but as I was afraid you wouldn''t be willing to ept it, I eventually settled for giving you 80,000 dors. In my eyes, that''s already the very minimum." I countered his argument, saying, "But that''s all within my job scope."

    "Based on my principles, as long as one does their job well, they should be rewarded," he said in return, eyes sparkling with mirth.

    He sessfully convinced me.

    "Alright, then," I said in resignation. "But didn''t wee to an agreement on the matter of the posters? Just pay me the normal rate."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    In response, he replied patiently, "But the gamingpany''s budget happens to be 100,000 dors per piece."

    "That much? You aren''t lying to me, are you?" I asked, staring at him in disbelief.

    "Yes," he replied slowly. "Games are one of the more popr industries at the moment. As long as they are made well and are able to attract yers, they''ll be able to bring in a huge amount of profit."

    I didn''t fully understand it, but Zane continued to analyze things slowly.

    "So, how does one make a good game?" he asked.

    Without waiting for my reply, he continued to answer his own question.

    "I don''t understand games, but what I do understand is that as long as I''m willing to invest money into hiring professional talent, they''ll be able toe up with a product that I''m satisfied with." Now, I understood what he was getting at.

    He finally concluded by saying, "Therefore, you don''t have to feel uneasy about us giving you too much money, as we offer every artist the same rate."

    I could finally sigh in relief at that, saying simply, "That''s good."

    ...

    When we arrived at Milton''s house, I sat in the car while Zane knocked on the door, recording pen in hand. After a short while, the door was opened by Milton, who was evidently surprised to see Zane. "Why are you here?" he asked.

    Zane replied expressionlessly, "The plush toys we had custom-made based on you and Dorothy arrived yesterday. Willow was incredibly happy to receive the plush toys and immediately brought them to her bedroom. "She then told the plush toys everything she''d been wanting to say to you two, yet found herself unable to. We were worried you wouldn''t be able to hear her heartfelt thoughts, so we ced a recorder pen in the room." As he spoke, he handed the recorder pen to Milton, who epted it solemnly.

    "Thank you," Milton said dazedly.

    Ever since Willow stopped talking to anyone due to her autism, he''d thought that there was no longer a way for him to hear her call him "Grandpa" or share her inner thoughts with him.

    He felt moved, as he truly didn''t think he''d actually live to see the day that she got better. He also didn''t expect Zane and Annalise to have actually been considering Willow''s needs this whole time.

    Zane was forthright in exining their n to help Willow recover to Milton, who nodded through the whole exnation, expressing that he and Dorothy would cooperate. After all, they hoped more than anyone else that she could get better quickly. Zane still hadpany matters to take care of, so after exining things to Milton, he got back in the car and drove off.

    Milton returned to the living room, where he hurriedly shouted, "Quick! Come listen, wifey!"

    "What is it?" Dorothy asked, walking over to him.

    In response, Milton simply pressed the y button on the recording pen.

    "Grandpa, Grandma..."

    Willow''s voice was crisp and clear, yet still carried the sweet innocence of a little girl.

    Dorothy shed tears as she listened to the recording.

    "The silly child was actually afraid that we''d hate her. She''s going to break my heart at this rate."

 Chapter 200

    Milton was feeling upset as well. However, Dorothy had only just recovered, so he evidently couldn''t let her get too worked up and subsequently cause her condition to worsen.

    "She was still young back then, yet she suffered such a huge blow," he said hurriedly infort. "Furthermore, Rowena was kicking up a fuss about it in front of her, so it''s only normal that she would worry." His words made Dorothy feel even more hatred toward Rowena.

    "I say, how can that damn olddy say all that nonsense in front of such a young child?" sheined.

    Milton couldn''t wrap his head around it either, replying, "It just proves she''s a terrible person!"

    "Exactly!" said Dorothy, gritting her teeth. "Once I''ve recovered, I''m definitely going over to her house to give her a good scolding and exact justice for our dear Willow!"

    Milton chimed in agreeably, "Alright!"

    After returning to the office, I turned on myputer. Remembering that Zane wanted to have a plush toy custom-made in the image of Penelope to aid in Willow''s recovery, I decided to forego drawing myics in favor of sitting on the couch and carefully recalling Penelope''s appearance.

    Once I had an idea of how the plush toy would look, I focused on drawing the lineart for it. After the lineart came coloring, and very soon, the drawing was done. I saved the image, promptly sent it to Zane, and then walked over to him.

    "You should find someone to make the plush toy," I said.

    Surprised by my words, he asked, "You finished the drawing so quickly?"

    I arched an eyebrow at him as I replied, "Of course. I''ll always prioritize matters concerning Willow."

    Zane nced at me a couple more times before sending the image to Eric, instructing him on what kind of plush toy needed to be made.

    At the sound of knocking on the door, Zane returned to his usual aloof expression.

    "Come in," he ordered.

    Eric entered the room, saying, "Mr. Huxham, I''ve ordered the plush toy once before, so I have experience with it now."

    Zane had been working with him for years, so he naturally understood Eric''s capabilities and didn''t doubt his words.

    Eric then proceeded to report to him on his work as well as the ongoing progress of important projects while Zane listened patiently.

    After finishing his report, Eric walked over to me and asked, "Would you mind turning on your phone and looking up our promotion results from yesterday?"

    "Huh?" I asked in confusion. "Has it already begun?"

    Eric replied smugly, "Please have faith in my efficiency."

    So, I pulled out my phone and navigated to one of my publishing tforms. I was shocked to discover that my ount had already amassed up to 5,000 followers.

    I had gained at least 3,000 followers in a single night, and even the number of views myic received had shot up to 50,000 from the low of 20,000 views that it had been at yesterday.

    I blinked dazedly, unable to believe that the numbers could increase by such arge margin.

    Seeing my stunned expression, Eric offered me a reminder, saying, "Don''t forget to take a look at the other tforms."

    Upon hearing his words, I fumbled to open up another application, once more shocked to see that the same thing had happened. Both my follower count and view count had increased exponentially. Eric seemed very satisfied with my stunned expression.

    He slowly sat down opposite me before saying, "Of course, today''s growth is rtively slow because the people promoting you are neers that thepany hired specifically to promote you.

    "They don''t have that many followers, so your ounts didn''t see that much of an increase in follower count. If we had spent money to hire well-known Inte celebrities to help advertise for you, then you''d probably have seen an increase of several hundred thousand followers."

    I hurriedly attempted to exin, "I''m actually already very satisfied with such growth."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    "I don''t feel the same," said Eric in reply, automatically moving on to describe his ns. "So, moving forward, their main objective will be to first increase their own follower count. Every time they reach a certain milestone, they''ll promote your ounts once. As for why we''re doing this..."

    Eric trailed off purposefully before continuing, "It''s because yourics are one of ourpany''s featured products. We have to be able to promote them to be bestsellers across the Inte before we''ll be able to meet our expectations."

    Finally, he added in a businesslike manner, "Besides, we''ll also be able to obtain a sessful oue by doing this. When we want to promote our nextic, we''ll be able to know exactly what measures to take. Do you understand?" I nodded.

    As expected of Zane''s secretary! He possessed long-term vision. While I was still focused on my own work, he was already starting to consider thepany''s future development prospects.

 Chapter 201

    Eric continued, "Your video views will keep growing, so..." He beckoned with his finger, signaling me to hand over my phone.

    I did as he asked.

    Eric expertly tapped a few times on my phone before looking at me and saying, "You mentioned you didn''t want to run ads, so we''ll just link some of our products on your homepage.

    "Huxham Corporation belongs to Mr. Huxham, which means it belongs to Willow''s dad. Think of it as helping her dad promote his business. And when the products sell, you''ll get a cut. You can make some extra ie." I just stared at him nkly.

    Noticing my silence, Eric lowered the phone. "You don''t like this arrangement?" he asked hesitantly.

    I shook my head. "I just didn''t expect to have such a great boss and a supportive superior."

    They really were putting in so much effort to help me earn more.

    Eric didn''t argue. "I think Mr. Huxham is great, too."

    "Do the colleagues who help promote also get this benefit?" I looked at Eric.

    Eric turned to nce at Zane.

    Zane understood that I always thought of others first, so he nodded.

    Eric said, "They do."

    Smiling, I replied, "That''s really nice."

    At that moment, I truly realized how lucky I was to be working at Huxham Corporation. Such a great opportunity meant I had to work even harder.

    I bent over to continue drawing.

    Eric stood up and said to Zane, "I''ll head to theic publishingpany now."

    "Okay," Zane responded briefly.

    ...

    Though they called it apany, it was actually just another department within Huxham Corporation that upied a separate floor. Eric pushed open the office door.

    Everyone stopped and turned to look at him. Whenever he came, he always brought good news. Would this time be any different?

    Knowing everyone was making money, Eric was in a good mood. "Thanks to the efforts of theic creators, we''ve managed to get a little perk for everyone. You can now feature some of Huxham Corporation''s products in the showcase on your homepage." Someone raised their hand. "Can we feature products from otherpanies?"

    "No," Eric responded firmly. "If something goes wrong with Huxham products, we can take responsibility. But we can''t guarantee the quality of products from otherpanies."

    Even so, this was still great news for everyone.

    A cheer broke out.

    Eric had more work to do, so he quietly slipped out of the office. He contacted the doll-makingpany and sent them Annalise''s design so they could create the doll based on it.

    ...

    Zane sat at his desk, thoughtfully reflecting on everything that had happened recently.

    The newpany was mostly running smoothly, and Willow was doing better. But his rtionship with Annalise...

    Zane turned to look at the woman in the cubicle.

    It seemed like they were stuck in ce.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Whenever he tried to initiate a more intimate moment, Annalise would always pull away.

    What did he have to do to take their rtionship to the next level?

 Chapter 202

    Zane crossed his long legs gracefully and leaned back in his chair. As he stared up at the ceiling, he deeply pondered about ways to improve his rtionship with Annalise.

    He had no experience in dating. Should he seek advice from someone more seasoned?

    But who could he possibly ask?

    Yvonne stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, scrolling through Annalise''s social media ounts one by one.

    Just a few days ago, Annalise''s follower growth had been normal. Even the likes andments were nothing extraordinary. So, why had there been such a dramatic spike yesterday? Had thepany started promoting Annalise already? Yvonne was confused. She was Annalise''s editor. If promotions for Annalise''s work had begun, why hadn''t anyonee to ask for her input?

    She wanted to find Zane and ask what was really going on. But the memory of his disdainful expression in the conference room made her stop in her tracks.

    After much deliberation, Yvonne decided to approach Eric instead. She knocked on the door to his office.

    "Come in." Eric nced up and saw Yvonne. "What''s up?"

    "I noticed a huge spike in Annalise''s followers recently." Yvonne went straight to the point. "What''s going on?"

    Eric pped his forehead. "Ah, my bad! I forgot to update you. You mentioned before that you didn''t think her work was worth allocating too many resources to, right?

    "I gave it some thought and decided you had a point. Since you weren''t willing to invest much energy into Annalise''s work, we didn''t want to force you."

    His tone was actually quite polite. "So, we created a dedicated marketing team for her. She''ll be under me now."

    Yvonne felt like she''d been struck by lightning. She''d been hired primarily to work on Annalise''sics. And now, she was being sidelined?

    Her mind went nk. "What about me?"

    Instead of answering, Eric asked, "Didn''t you say you signed a high-qualityic recently? You can focus on managing that."

    Yvonne felt that something was off. "But-"

    "No buts." Eric gestured toward the door. "You can leave now. I have work to do."

    It was clear he wasn''t interested in continuing the conversation.

    Yvonne had no choice but to leave. Back in her office, she took a deep breath.

    So Annalise didn''t need her anymore? If that were the case, how could she redirect Annalise''s resources to benefit Jessica now?

    After much internal conflict, Yvonne dialed Jessica''s number.

    Jessica answered, puzzled. "Why the sudden call? Haven''t I been sending you myic updates on time?"

    "I know." Yvonne knew Jessica was struggling with her rtionship with Steven. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn''t push, but her current situation was dire. "Can you speed up your work on theic?"

    If Jessica could match Annalise''s pace, Yvonne could funnel her own money into promoting Jessica''s work, even if thepany didn''t allocate any resources.

    If the results looked good enough, she could prove to everyone that her instincts were right.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Jessica hesitated. "I''m still pregnant, Yvonne. And I need to keep an eye on Steven."

    Her voice softened with apology. "I just can''t find the time. But why are you suddenly bringing this up? Did something happen?"

 Chapter 203

    Yvonne stayed silent.

    Jessica had been going through a lottely, yet she still managed to submit her work on time every day. That wasn''t easy. Yvonne didn''t want to pile more stress on her.

    After some thought, she chuckled and said, "No. Nothing''s wrong. I just got a little anxious seeing how fast Annalise is updating her work."

    Jessica sounded relieved. "Oh, I thought something serious was up."

    ...

    Maybe it was because of the rising stats, but my drawing speed this morning improved significantly. What would normally take me until the afternoon was surprisingly finished by midday.

    Though my body felt drained, lounging on the couch and watching the follower count climb made it all worthwhile.

    "Anna!" Sasha and I were pretty close. She didn''t even knock before entering my office anymore. Walking straight up to me, she said, "I''ve got some good news for you."

    I stretchedzily. "What is it?"This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    "After I went home yesterday, I realized you were right." Sasha picked up a strand of my hair and twirled it around her finger. "No friends are willing to join me in starting a gamingpany. But since I love ying games, I figured I might as well go solo." I straightened up to look at her. "That''s a great idea!"

    "But before jumping in, I''ve decided to take your advice." Sasha then exined, "I''ll work at a gamingpany first, learn the ropes, and then start my own business once I''ve got it all figured out."

    I was a bit surprised but still agreed with her decision, saying, "That''s great! Sounds like you''ve thought it through."

    Sasha grinned sheepishly and updated me. "I''ve been sending out r¨¦sum¨¦s to all the major gamingpanies, hoping someone will take a chance on me. But I think the chances are slim."

    I studied Sasha for a moment. She seemed to have been well shielded by her family, untouched by hardship. Her eyes were always clear and innocent. She had a great personality, too-straightforward and bold.

    I couldn''t understand why shecked confidence. "Why do you think so?"

    Sasha murmured under her breath, "I don''t have any work experience." Then, she flopped onto my shoulder like a defeated puppy.

    Just then, I patted her on the shoulder.

    "What?" she asked.

    When she looked over, I pointed toward Zane outside the cubicle and whispered, "Huxham Corporation has a game department, remember?"

    Sasha''s eyes lit up as the realization hit her. She jumped up. "Thank you, Anna!"

    Without hesitation, she marched right up to Zane.

    Zane barely concealed his irritation. "What do you want?"

    "Step outside for a second. I''ve got something important to tell you." Once Sasha realized she could get a job through Zane, a brilliant idea popped into her head. Zane eyed her warily.

    Sasha sped her hands and said, "You''ll definitely regret it if you don''te."

    Curious to see what trick Sasha was pulling, Zane followed her out of the office.

    They finally stopped at the end of the hallway.

    Once she was sure they were alone, Sasha leaned in and asked in a lowered voice, "You like Anna, don''t you?"

    Zane''s cold gaze locked onto her. "You want an internship in our game department?"

    Did he realize she could help him in his rtionship with Annalise and decided to give her special treatment?

    Sasha couldn''t help but beam, though she was still nervous that things might fall apart. She decided to double down. "That''s right."

    Zane pulled out his phone and called Eric, asking him to arrange an internship for Sasha.

    Sasha tilted her chin proudly. "Thanks, Zane!"

    She''d known this n would work like a charm.

 Chapter 204

    Zane barely acknowledged Sasha''s gratitude with a nonchnt hum. He then added, "But I''m still working on winning Anna over. Keep it cool when you''re around her. Don''t expose me."

    Sasha immediately understood. "I get it. You don''t want me telling Anna you have feelings for her, or she''ll distance herself, making it harder for you to pursue her, right?"

    Zane gave her an approving look and nodded. "Exactly."

    After saying that, he scrutinized Sasha for a moment before hesitantly asking, "Can I ask you something?"

    "Me?" Sasha pointed at herself in disbelief.

    Zane replied seriously, "Yes."

    Sasha leaned against the wall with a smug smile. "Go ahead."

    Zane didn''t beat around the bush. "Do you know how to pursue someone?"Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    She had pursued him before, so she must have some experience. Zane decided to humbly learn from her.

    At once, Sasha''s smile faded, and the way she looked at Zane shifted. "Are you messing with me right now?"

    Zane didn''t understand what she meant. "Why would you say that?"

    Sasha wanted to snap at him. However, she didn''t want anyone to overhear, so she lowered her voice as she said, "I''ve only ever pursued you. And I failed! Now you want to learn from me? Isn''t that just rubbing salt in my wound?" She red at him.

    Realizing her point, Zane fell silent for a long moment before asking, "But you must have a lot of admirers, right?"

    Sasha responded sarcastically, "Oh, plenty."

    When she noticed Zane''s look of genuine curiosity, she continued before he could ask, "If any of the guys who pursued me were actually nice, do you think I''d still be single?"

    Zane thought about it for a second and couldn''t argue with her logic.

    While he mulled it over, Eric walked toward them.

    Zane calmly introduced, "This is Sasha Weston, the new intern in Game Department."

    Sasha greeted Eric with a smile. "Nice to meet you."

    Zane turned back to Sasha. "This is my secretary, Eric Fowler. He''s incredibly capable. If you ever run into trouble while starting yourpany, you can ask him for advice, as long as he''s not too busy." Smiling, Eric replied to Sasha, "Nice to meet you, Ms. Weston. As Mr. Huxham said, I''m pretty good at solving problems. If it''s so tough that even I can''t crack it, there''s probably no one in the city who can." Sasha raised an eyebrow. "You''re that capable?"

    Eric smiled confidently. "Of course!"

    Sasha then asked casually, "So, why don''t you start your ownpany? Why work for Zane?"

    Unbothered, Eric responded with a shrug, "Maybe because my sry here is higher than the profits of mostpanies?"

    Sasha turned to Zane, eyes wide. "Seriously?"

    Zane didn''t deny it. "At Huxham Corporation, you earn what you''re worth."

    Sasha''s mouth dropped open in surprise.

    "Ms. Weston, follow me." Eric led the way.

    Sasha followed closely behind, ncing at Eric and then at Zane.

    Originally, she had nned to start her own gamingpany and pursue her passion. But after hearing about the perks at Huxham Corporation, she began to reconsider. Maybe she could stay and work at Huxham Corporation and work for Zane. Eric first helped Sasha with her onboarding, then took her to Game Department to get a feel for the environment. After that, he showed her to her desk.

    He casually mentioned, "Our internship sry is 8,000 dors a month, and it increases after conversion to a full-time position."

 Chapter 205

    Sasha seemed to finally understand why Zane''spany had grown so big.

    The benefits were incredible! No wonder everyone worked so hard!

    Eric continued, "We provide three meals a day, housing, and allowances."

    Sasha was speechless. She felt like she was dreaming. How could there be such a goodpany in this world?

    ...

    After they left the office, I kept working. I finished today''s drawings, then sat in front of myputer, turning the coloredic into a short video to post online.

    Watching the growing number of followers andments made me smile. They were all so supportive of me. Maybe I should release a little bonus scene today. Excited, I opened the folder, only to be surprised to find more uncoloredics piling up.

    It seemed like I couldn''t ck off. I buried myself in work again.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    "Are you tired?" Zane''s voice came from behind me as he walked into the office. "Want me to give you a massage?"

    "Just a bit." I leaned back on the couch. "I''d be more than happy to receive a massage."

    Zane''srge handnded on my shoulder, and he started gently massaging.

    Surprised, I turned to look at him. "You''re serious?"

    "Yeah." His voice was as cold as usual. But this time, it carried a hint of emotion. "You''ve been so busytely. You haven''t had much rest."

    I didn''t deny it. I worked onics during the day, and at night, I took care of Willow. It wasn''t easy.

    But all that exhaustion was physical. When I saw the results, it made all the effort feel worthwhile.

    Zane spoke slowly, "How about we skip work on Saturday and spend some time with Willow?"

    Since Willow didn''t have kindergarten that day, I was nning to spend the whole day with her. "Sure!"

    Feeling Zane''s hand lift from my shoulder, I turned to face him. "Do you have somewhere you want to go?"

    "My n is to invite Penelope over to the house to y with Willow," Zane said. "We''ll just watch over them and make sure nothing goes wrong." Spending time with friends would also help Willow recover.

    I liked Zane''s idea. So, I smiled and agreed, "Sounds good!"

    ...

    Sasha took a break and quickly ran from Game Department to Zane''s office.

    Upon hearing the door open, I turned around and was surprised to see Sasha. "What are you doing here?"

    "I overheard a juicy gossip outside Game Department!" Sasha plopped down beside me and drank several long gulps from my water bottle.

    Her eyes were sparkling. "I just had toe and tell you!"

    I usually didn''t care much about other people''s business, but hearing Sasha this excited piqued my interest. "What is it?"

    Sasha quickly began, "There''s this weird guy in Game Department. He broke up with his girlfriend and made her pay back all the money he spent on her. At first, I thought that if he had spent a lot, asking for it back wasn''t too unreasonable. But then..." Sasha paused dramatically. "Guess what kind of money he wanted his ex to return?"

    I hesitated. "Rent?"

    "No." Sasha shook her head. "Guess again."

 Chapter 206

    I wasn''t sure if my guess was too exaggerated. But Sasha''s expression showed that it was an absurd situation that no one could imagine.

    After hesitating, I tried to y down my guess. "Boba tea?"

    Sasha spoke mysteriously, "Nope! It''s for a two-dor bottled water and a one-dor tissue paper."

    I could hardly believe my ears. "Really?"

    "Yeah." Sasha then said with disdain, "He calcted every penny he spent on her. In the five years they were together, he spent just over a thousand dors on her."

    I blinked in disbelief.

    Sasha continued with a touch of schadenfreude, "Seeing him go so far, the woman couldn''t be bothered to tolerate him any longer and decided to burn the bridges. She made a list of all the money she''d spent on him.

    "Looking at the total, she realized she''d spent no less than 200 thousand dors on him. She was furious and pped the bill in his face, demanding that he pay her back."

    I had never heard of such a thing. "Did he agree to pay her back?"R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    "Of course not!" Sasha was still enjoying the drama. "He just bought her flowers, hoping she''d take him back. But the woman had already seen through him, so she refused."

    Just then, her expression turned strange. "Then, he tried to give the flowers to me. I could tell from his character that if I epted the flowers, he''d probably count the cost of them against me and ask for reimbursements."

    Pursing her lips, Sasha didn''t know how to express the frustration she was feeling. "Everything was in his favor. If he won her back with the flowers, he didn''t have to repay that 200 thousand dors. If he failed, I''d be the one picking up the tab for the flowers. He doesn''t have to pay a single cent."

    Sasha was still in disbelief. "I''m not stupid, so I didn''t take them. Still, there was this woman, Joanna Robertson, who actually took them. She said she admired this weird guy.

    "I warned her, telling her what would happen if she epted the flowers. But she said I was just jealous that someone gave her flowers."

    As Sasha repeated the line, sheughed in exasperation. "What''s there to be jealous of? It''s just flowers! I can buy them myself if I want!" Saying that, she grabbed her phone, ready to ce an order.

    I quickly stopped her. "I''ll buy them for you."

    Sasha looked at me, surprised.

    I picked up my phone and began carefully selecting. "What kind of flowers do you like?"

    "Roses, I think." Sasha rested her chin on my shoulder. "A big, huge bouquet."

    I smiled. "No problem."

    Sasha wrapped her arms around my waist. Her voice was filled with unmasked gratitude as she said, "You''re so good to me."

    "It''s nothing," I said as I ced the order for the most expensive bouquet at the shop, then ruffled her hair.

    Sasha smiled and checked the time on her phone. Realizing she was runningte, she hurriedly got up. "I''ve got to get back to work!" She then rushed out the door.

    After she left, Zane finally spoke up, "You really spoil her." He seemed puzzled. "Can you tell me why?"

    Instead of answering directly, I asked, "Don''t you think she''s young and full of energy?"

    He looked at me. "But aren''t you young, too?"

    I froze for a moment, then realized I was only in my 20s as well. But I''d been through so much that my mindset had matured.

    I didn''t deny it. "True."

    ...

    The vi''s yard wasrge. Jessica sat under the shade of a tree, leisurely sipping coffee.

    Yesterday, she had visited Annalise, who had made it clear that she wouldn''t get back together with Steven.

 Chapter 207

    Although Jessica didn''t interact with Annalise much, she could tell Annalise was a very decisive woman from the fact that thetter hadn''t contacted Steven at all after their divorce.

    She most probably wouldn''t go back to a past rtionship. On the other hand, Steven was deeply in love with Annalise, even though he didn''t realize it. So for now, she felt safe. Jessica had originally nned to drop Cody off at school and then seek Steven out. That way, even if Steven realized who he truly loved, she could guide him. She could make him believe that the person he loved was her.

    But now, she couldn''t be bothered to go after Steven. After all, she had the card he had given her. She could buy whatever she wanted with it. Her life now was carefree and easy. There was no need to find Steven and make thingsplicated for herself. As Jessica thought about this, she nced at her cup of coffee.

    She couldn''t tell if it was the coffee she''d bought or something else, but it seemed unusually rich in aroma.

    ...

    Steven sat in his office, trying to focus on work, but Annalise''s face kept floating into his mind. He stopped his work and leaned back to stare at the ceiling.

    His friends had all told him that he didn''t love Annalise and that he only had possessiveness toward her. But was that true?

    If it were, then why did he always think of Annalise when he was alone?

    Steven looked around the room.

    When he first moved into this building, he had taken Annalise and a two-year-old Zachary to tour the ce. At the time, Annalise had held Zachary''s hand as they marveled at the details of the interior. Her voice had been full of admiration for him as she said, "You''re really amazing, honey!" Her praise had felt so genuine.

    Inspired by her, Steven began to see endless possibilities in life. He was motivated in his work.

    But now, Zachary was at Chloe''s, and Annalise was no longer by his side. Both of them were gone.

    Just thinking about it made Steven feel as though his heart was being squeezed painfully. He even began to question whether his feelings for Annalise were really just possessiveness.

    If they were, he should have gotten used to losing Annalise after all this time. Seeing her again should have been something he could handle calmly. So, why did it hurt more every time? Steven couldn''t understand, so he called a friend. "Want to grab a drink tonight?"Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    "Sure."

    ...

    "Is Sasha Weston here?" A delivery man shouted Sasha''s name as he brought over the flowers. "Your roses are here!"

    Holding her head high like a proud swan, Sasha quickly walked over to the delivery man. "That''s me!"

    She took therge bouquet of roses from his hands and dramatically sniffed them. "Smells so good!"

    Her colleagues crowded around, asking, "Who sent them?"

    Sasha replied proudly, "My best friend, Annalise Jamison!"

    Joanna noticed the flowers in Sasha''s hands as well. They were muchrger and clearly more expensive than her own. Annoyed, she remarked, "It''s not even from a man. What''s there to be so proud of?"

 Chapter 208

    Sasha was visibly annoyed. She stepped closer to Joanna and said, emphasizing each word, "I love flowers, and someone sent me flowers. Isn''t that good enough?

    "Why does it have to be from a man? Do flowers from men smell better? Or are they more valuable?"

    Sasha couldn''t wrap her head around Joanna''s mindset.

    Unable to hide her coy smile, Joanna replied, "Because if a man is willing to send you flowers, it means he loves you."

    Sasha was rendered speechless.

    She nearly rolled her eyes but stopped herself. Instead, she forced a smile and said in a calm tone, "My friend sent me flowers because she loves me, too. Otherwise, why would she bother spending the money?" With that, Sasha hugged her bouquet and returned to her desk.

    ...

    At lunchtime, just as I was tidying up my desk, Sasha burst into my office.

    She nced stealthily at Zane to confirm he was still engrossed in work before leaning close to me and whispering about some gossip she had just overheard.

    I stared at her, incredulous. She had only been at Game Department for a few hours, yet she already knew so much.

    I was impressed. "You''re really something."

    "It''s nothing, really." Sasha grinned sheepishly.

    Zane finished up his tasks and approached us, saying, "Let''s grab lunch."

    "Sure." Sasha nodded and grabbed my arm. "Anna, I haven''t had the chance to ask. What do you like?" She put on a mischievous expression and asked, "Can you tell me?"

    I thought about it seriously for a long time before finally replying, "I think I forgot."

    From a young age, I had always lived for others. I worked hard to be the kind of daughter Mom wanted. Later, as a wife and mother, I strived to be what others considered "perfect". I''d never stopped to think about what I wanted or liked. Sasha didn''t seem surprised. "No worries. Life''s long. We can figure it out as we go."

    "Yeah," I agreed with her words.

    Before we could leave the office, there was a knock at the door.

    "Come in," Zane said indifferently.

    The door opened, and a delivery man stepped inside. "Is Annalise Jamison here?"

    I looked at him, puzzled. I hadn''t ordered anything. "That''s me."

    The delivery man handed me a bouquet of flowers. "These are for you."

    I didn''t know many people in this city, and those close enough to send me flowers were even rarer.

    "Who sent them?" I asked, baffled.

    The delivery man replied honestly, "I have no idea."

    Not wanting to hold up his work, I epted the flowers.

    Sasha turned to Zane, mouthing, "Was it you?"

    "Yeah," Zane mouthed back.

    When he saw Annalise buy flowers for Sasha, he suddenly felt that Annalise herself deserved a bouquet as well. Without overthinking it, he went ahead and bought one. But now...

    "Just say they''re from you," he mouthed to Sasha.

    Sasha raised an eyebrow but didn''t refuse. Nudging me gently with her shoulder, she asked, "Do you like them? I bought them for you."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    "I love them," I said earnestly with a nod.

    Thest time I''d received flowers was from Willow, and it had deeply touched me.

    Now, I felt inexplicably happy receiving another bouquet from Sasha.

    Inhaling the fragrance of the flowers, I felt a wave of contentment wash over me, as if the day''s exhaustion had vanished.

 Chapter 209

    The restaurant for lunch was Sasha''s pick. It was a trendy spot heavily advertised on a popr social media tform.

    Before we ate, Sasha confidently assured us that all her friends had tried it and raved about how good the food was. When the dishes arrived, the presentation and aroma were impable-vibrant colors and tantalizing smells. After the meal, we walked out of the restaurant in silence.

    Zane, expressionless, finally broke it, saying, "I''ll choose the ce next time."

    Sasha had to admit that while Zane might oftene across as an aloof iceberg, his restaurant choices were always solid.

    Her picks, however... not so much.

    Reluctantly, Sasha surrendered. "Fine."

    Back at the office, Sasha waved us goodbye.

    As I watched her bounce away, my spirits were lifted as well.

    Zane walked beside me, matching my pace.

    When I saw a man standing at the office door, my steps faltered.

    Steven looked up. Noticing me, he took the initiative to approach. "We need to talk."

    "I don''t have anything to discuss with you," I replied firmly.

    His eyesnded on the roses I was holding. His expression grew noticeably tense. "I just have a few questions."

    After a moment''s thought, I handed the roses to Zane. "Can you put these on my desk?"

    "Sure."

    I sat across from Steven at a caf¨¦. He had ordered coffee, while I opted for watermelon juice.

    Steven didn''t rush to speak, and I had no intention of urging him. I sipped my drink slowly. The juice was excellent-not overly sweet, yet incredibly refreshing.

    I made a mental note to bring Willow here on Saturday to try this watermelon juice. She''d probably love it.

    Finally, Steven broke the silence. "What do you think of how I treated you?"

    "Not great," I replied without hesitation. "Before Jessica came back, you were indifferent. After she returned, your treatment of me could only be described as awful." I said it all calmly, without a trace of anger.

    Steven continued asking, "Do you think I loved you?" He was feelingpletely lost and desperately wanted a satisfying answer from me.

    I thought for a while before answering, "At first, I thought you must have loved me. Otherwise, why would you stay with me for six years?" Steven''s mood instantly lifted the moment he got the answer he was looking for.

    "But then," I continued, "when Jessica came back and I saw how many times you made me suffer for her sake, I realized something. "From the moment we got married until the day we divorced, you never loved me. You never did for the entire six years." Steven lowered his head. "Really?"

    He couldn''t quite understand the reason, but hearing what I said, he felt an overwhelming sense of pressure in his chest.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Steven almost urgently asked, "So, what do you think is the true way to show love for someone?"

    The question caught me off guard.

    I''d assumed someone as infatuated with Jessica as he was would understand this better than anyone. So, I turned it back on him. "Don''t you know?" Steven didn''t answer right away. After a long pause, he finally muttered, "No."

    I leaned back in my chair. "For me, love is simple. It''s about truly wanting to make someone happy while hating to see them upset.

    "When you find something amazing, you''ll want to get it for them if you think it''ll bring them joy. You''d do anything to make them feel better."

    Steven kept his head down. "Since I don''t love you, why do I feel so upset every time I think about you?"

 Chapter 210

    I didn''t answer Steven immediately. Instead, I kept my gaze steady and calm.

    He slowly looked up and met my eyes.

    After a brief moment of thought, I decided it was better to clear things up now and end this conversation quickly. "Maybe it''s because I loved you with all my heart.

    "We were together and lived side by side for six years. Even if you didn''t love me, your possessiveness made you subconsciously see me as yours.

    "You believed I wouldn''t leave you. But in the end, we still ended up divorced, so you''re probably struggling with the change," I said calmly, with no emotion fluctuating in my tone.

    "But that''s normal. Even if a vase that''s been in the house for years suddenly breaks, people will get upset. How much more so with a person?"

    After saying this, I stood up to leave.

    When I reached the door, I was surprised to see Zane standing there. I paused and asked, "Aren''t you busy with work? Why are you here?"

    Zane sighed in relief. "I was worried he might give you trouble."

    "Give me trouble?" I chuckled. "His old me came back, and I voluntarily stepped aside. He got what he wanted. He''s with his first love now. He should be thanking me. He shouldn''t be giving me trouble, right?" Zane seemed to agree. "True."

    He turned around and nced back at Steven.

    Steven couldn''t quite understand why, but he felt like Zane was subtly challenging him, even though thetter''s face showed no emotion.

    Why did he think that? He couldn''t figure it out.

    He stared at Zane from a distance.

    Later, as Zane and Annalise crossed the street, he suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him.

    Annalise looked up at him in surprise, and he muttered something that Steven couldn''t quite hear. She gave him a strange look but then turned her gaze away.

    To Steven, their interaction felt like a sharp needle, cruelly piercing his heart.

    As Annalise''s ex-husband, he never cared if she was in danger. But Zane always seemed to be looking out for her.

    An absurd thought suddenly hit Steven.

    It turned out that the woman he had always ignored, dismissed, and even found unattractive was able to find someone who actually liked her after leaving him. The thought gnawed at him. He felt a deep, frustrating pressure in his chest.

    Just then, his phone rang, and he answered without thinking. "Hello?"

    "Hey, we''re all here. Where are you?" Gavin asked.

    Steven lied without hesitation, "Traffic''s bad. Give me a minute. I''ll be there soon."

    ...Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.

    The agreed meeting spot was a private room at a bar. The room was full ofughter and chatter as Steven''s friends yed and joked around.

    But Steven was alone in a corner, drinking one ss after another, as if only this could soothe the difort inside him.

    Gavin snatched the ss from his hand. "What''s going on?"

    Steven leaned back into the couch. "I talked to Annalise just now."

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    Gavin asked, "And then?"

    "I asked her if she thought I loved her." Steven was truly confused. He believed he loved Annalise, yet everyone around him, including Annalise, seemed to think he loved Jessica. Gavin, clearly annoyed, responded, "She probably said you loved her."

    He hated Annalise and instinctively assumed she would do something he found detestable.

    "No." Steven''s eyes were distant. "She said I loved Jessica."

    Gavin couldn''t believe his own ears.

    Steven asked, "Am I really that bad of a husband? Six years together, and I never made her feel my love."

    The room fell silent. Everyone exchanged looks, unsure of how to respond. Objectively, it was clear that Steven had been at fault. But as his friends, they instinctively sided with him.

    As everyone struggled to find the right words, Gavin seemed to have made up his mind on how tofort Steven. "Honestly, I''d say it''s Annalise''s fault. She knew you loved Jessica, yet she still married you."

    Unsure whether it was the alcohol or guilt, Steven''s voice trembled as he said, "Actually, before we got married, she didn''t know I was still in love with someone else. She always thought I loved her.

    "When I wanted a divorce afterward, I made up excuses and created problems on purpose to push her away. But she solved all of them just to stay with me."

    As he spoke, he felt like more and more of a failure. He had hurt Annalise''s sincere love.

    Gavin had always believed that Annalise had interfered in Steven and Jessica''s rtionship, which was why he had always disliked her. But hearing Steven''s words now, he felt his resentment fade. He began to understand how hard Annalise''s situation must have been. The youngdy, freshly graduated and full of dreams about love, resolutely left behind everything familiar to be with the love of her life. She gave selflessly to him without regret, only to end up hurt and divorced.

    For the first time, Gavin felt that Annalise deserved better.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Uncertain how to console Steven, he finally muttered, "No matter the result, she made her choice. She''s responsible for it."

    Steven didn''t respond. He poured himself another drink and downed it all in one go. He continued to drink until he was heavily intoxicated.

    Seeing Steven sprawl on the couch like a broken man, Gavin called Jessica. "Hello?"

    "What''s wrong?" Jessica asked politely.

    "Steven''s drunk," Gavin replied honestly. "Can youe pick him up?"

    Jessica calmly declined, "I''m pregnant. I don''t think I should go. You''ll have to manage him yourselves."

    As Gavin listened to the beeping sound on the phone, he looked at Steven helplessly.

    He remembered the first year Steven and Annalise were together, Annalise was pregnant with Zachary. Steven was in the early stages of his business back then, so he was often out drinking. Whenever he got drunk, Annalise would be the one-despite her growing belly ing to pick him up.

    At that time, Annalise didn''t show any contempt. There was only concern and love for Steven in her eyes.

    Now, Steven had finally achieved his dream of being with his first love, but she didn''t seem to care for him at all.

    Gavin finally understood why Steven was regretting things.

    Back in the office, Zane casually asked, "What did Steven say to you?"

    "I thought he wanted to discuss unresolved issues from our divorce," I said, sitting down on the couch. "That''s why I went out to meet him. But he actually asked me if I thought he loved me."

 Chapter 212

    I couldn''t help but feel speechless when I thought about that moment. "Did he forget why we got divorced in the first ce? It''s specifically because he loved Jessica." Zane remained silent.

    Suddenly, something urred to me. I hesitantly asked, "Do you think..."

    Zane raised an eyebrow, curious. "What?"

    "Do you think he came over just to show off how well he and Jessica are doing?" I couldn''t think of any other reason for Steven toe and talk to me.

    Zane nodded thoughtfully. "It''s possible."

    I rolled my eyes. "How childish!"Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    At the end of the workday, Sasha rushed into the office to tell me that her friend had invited her out to hang out, so she was leaving.

    Before I could respond, she was already out the door.

    Looking at her back, I shook my head. After I gathered my things, I followed Zane out to pick up Willow.

    ...

    Willow got out of school on time. As for Penelope, her parents didn''t show up again.

    Zane called her parents, telling them that Willow was very fond of Penelope. He suggested that when we picked up Willow, we could also take Penelope home with us. We had expected them to refuse, but to our surprise, they agreed immediately. Zane, taken aback by how smoothly everything went, put his phone away and told Willow, "Her parents agreed. Let''s go."

    Willow happily grabbed Penelope''s hand. Though she couldn''t speak, she excitedly pulled her forward.

    Penelope happily climbed into the car with her.

    The two kids sat in the backseat with me, while Zane sat in the front passenger seat.

    Penelope chattered nonstop, talking to Willow. Though Willow couldn''t respond verbally, she kept nodding, showing she was listening.

    I couldn''t help but smile as I observed their interaction. It seemed like for a child as young as Willow, being with peers made her much happier.

    Back at home, Willow followed her usual routine and began her training with Howard. Before starting, I asked Penelope if she wanted to join. Penelope nced at Willow, then at me, and said, "Sure."

    So, the training group gained another member.

    After the session, Willow returned to her room, quietly practicing speaking and reading.

    Meanwhile, I sat with Penelope in the living room. Since we weren''t very familiar with each other yet, I tried to bring up topics to talk to her about.

    "Why do your parents alwayse sote to pick you up? Are they really that busy with work?"

    Penelope responded sweetly, "No. Their jobs are easy. But after my dad and mom divorced and he remarried, they just don''t care about me as much anymore."

    I was surprised. "If they don''t care about you, why do they still send you to such a good kindergarten?"

    Penelope answered without hesitation, "That''s because my mom paid for it. At first, my mom gave the money to my dad directly. My dad enrolled me in a cheaper kindergarten. "When my mom found out, she was pissed. Then, she was afraid my dad might keep the tuition for himself, so she paid the teacher directly."

    Despite being so young, Penelope seemed to understand everything that happened between her parents. "My dad was fed up, so he purposely started picking me upte every day.

    "He wants me to feel upset and tell my mom. Once she steps in and talks to him about it, he''ll surely tell her that if she doesn''t give him the money, he won''t take care of me." Penelope lifted her chin proudly. "I know what they''re thinking, so I won''t let them get what they want."

    I hugged her gently. "You''re so smart."

    Penelope smiled smugly. "Of course!"

    "Do you miss your mom?" I looked into her eyes.

    Penelope didn''t speak right away. After a long pause, she nodded. "I do."

    I cautiously asked, "Should we take you to your mom''s ce tonight?"

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    Penelope stared at me, her eyes full of hope. "Can I?"

    "Of course," I replied.

    ...

    A car came to a stop not far from the vi.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Zachary was in the car. Hannah was also with him, seriously giving him a lesson.

    Zachary nced toward the vi, then returned his focus to the lesson.

    For some reason, being near Annalise''s house gave him a sense of peace. It felt as if she were close by, even if she wasn''t.

    He decided that from now on, he would learn whatever Willow learned. He convinced himself that this was part of the n Annalise had made for him. As a well-behaved child, of course, he would study hard and not disappoint her.

    The lesson covered a lot. Zachary was quick to grasp everything. Hannah was very pleased and wanted to continue teaching him.

    Then, came the sound of knocking on the car window.

    Zachary turned to see Steven standing outside. He opened the car door, stepped out, and told Harry, "Take Ms. Ludwig home."

    Harry nodded, replying, "Okay."

    Zachary added, "Don''t forget toe back and pick me up."

    "Sure."

    Zachary watched as they drove off. He then turned and walked over to Steven. "Why are you here, Daddy?"

    Steven didn''t have the answer to that question, either. All he knew was that he had drunk a lot, and his mind was oddly clear. He felt as though his heart had been emptied out, and he was desperately lonely. He needed to be close to Annalise to feel better. As Steven leaned against the car, he said, "I want to ask you something."

    "What is it?" Zachary asked.

    "Do you think I love your mother?"

    His friends said he didn''t love Annalise. He didn''t believe them.

    Annalise herself said he didn''t love her, but he couldn''t ept that either.

    The only person he trusted was Zachary.

    Zachary hadn''t expected Steven to ask him such a question. He lowered his head, not wanting Steven to see the mockery in his eyes.

    He didn''t n to tell Steven the truth. "When you like someone, you should want to be with them all the time. But didn''t you kick Mommy out of the house for Jessica?"

    Zacharyposed himself before lifting his head. "That''s why I think you don''t really love Mommy."

    "Is that so?" Steven didn''t like the answer. It left him feeling frustrated, yet he didn''t know how to argue against Zachary''s words.

    All he knew was that he felt abandoned by everyone. He felt incredibly lonely and needed someone to be by his side-anyone at all.

    Steven said, "Zach, I''ve been alone at home these past few days, and it''s really quiet. Why don''t youe home with me tonight?"

    "I can''t," Zachary rejected firmly. His youthful voice sounded ruthless. "I have to go to Grandma''s house to study. You can always go to Jessica''s house. There are lots of people there." Steven stared at Zachary, and thetter met his gaze.

    ...

    By 9:00 pm, it was time for Penelope to go home.

    She wanted to go to her mom''s ce, so I decided to call her mother.

    "Hello?" The woman''s voice sounded professional. "Who is this?"

 Chapter 214

    "Is this Penelope''s mom?" I introduced myself. "My daughter is Penelope''s ssmate. No one came to pick her up after school, so we brought her to our home."

    Suzy Lane quickly responded, "Where do you stay? Should Ie to pick her up?"

    "It''s okay." I could tell she was concerned about Penelope. I continued, "Just tell me your address, and we''ll drop her off."

    "Okay."

    ...

    After we dropped Penelope off at Suzy''s house, the little girl was thrilled to see her mom. She hopped over to Suzy, eximing, "Mommy, I made ns with them! I''m going to their house tomorrow for ytime!" Suzy looked at me in surprise.

    I exined, "Tomorrow''s Saturday. We won''t be working, so we can take care of the kids."

    Suzy was relieved that she wasn''t imposing. "Then, I''ll bring her over tomorrow."

    I quickly added, "You''re busy with work. We cane pick her up."

    After a long pause, Suzy finally said, "Thank you."

    As we walked away from Suzy''s house, I nced at Zane. Ever since he saw Suzy, he had seemed a bit off.

    I asked, "Are you very close to her?"

    Zane chose his words carefully. "She''s very capable at her job. She''s someone ourpany has been trying to recruit for a while."

    I was taken aback. "Really?"

    "Yeah." Zane was quick to exin, saying, "No matter what offers we made before, she didn''t want to join us. But now, seeing her and Penelope''s situation, I''m almost sure she''ll be working with us." I was confused by his conclusion. "What makes you so sure?"

    Zane exined calmly, "Herpany recently had a change in leadership. The new boss is nning on firing people.

    "He prefers employees who know how to tter him butck real ability. The ones beingid off are all employees who excel at their jobs but aren''t good at sucking up to him."

    I couldn''t believe it. "No way!"

    Zane chuckled lightly. "There are plenty of bosses like that."

    I didn''t know what to say, so I remained quiet.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Zane didn''t want to miss this opportunity. After thinking it through, he called Eric. "Make sure HR continues to scout Suzy Lane."

    Eric was aware of Suzy''s situation. He didn''t hesitate to agree. "Got it."

    After hanging up, Zane turned to me. "Do you know why I''m sure she won''t choose any otherpany?"

    I shook my head. "Why?"

    "Because ourpany offers great benefits. We don''t work overtime, and we have weekends off," Zane said, smiling. "If she joins us, she''ll have plenty of time to spend with Penelope."

    It was clear Suzy cared deeply for Penelope. Of course, she would consider a higher-paying, less demanding job that allowed her to be with Penelope more.

    ...

    Back home, it was time for Willow to watch cartoons. She brought both her dolls down from upstairs, set them on the couch, and sat beside them.

    When she saw meing, she patted the spot next to her. "Mommy, sit here. This is the spot I saved just for you."

    I smiled and sat next to her.

    Lately, Willow had been enjoying talking to her grandparents. Even while watching cartoons, she would pause to introduce the characters and describe the story.

    She didn''t forget to add her own opinion. "It''s not really great." But she still couldn''t stop watching. Her big eyes were glued to the screen.

    I observed her, wanting to memorize every little thing about her actions. This way, when I drew Willow, I could capture her cuteness exactly as it was.

 Chapter 215

    Zane pulled out his phone, switched to camera mode, and aimed it at Annalise and Willow. He quickly snapped a photo.

    In the picture, Annalise looked serene and gentle, while Willow was adorable.

    Zane stared at the photo for a long time before setting it as his wallpaper.

    ...

    "Are you trying to take a picture of Willow?" I noticed Zane fiddling with his phone. I leaned back, giving him more space. "Go ahead."R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Zane didn''t want me to realize who he was actually photographing, so he quickly shifted his focus back to Willow. He snapped several more pictures of her in a row.

    ...

    Harry returned, and Zachary left in his car.

    On the dark street, Steven was left standing alone. He gazed at the brightly lit living room in the distance, his emotions incredibly conflicted.

    Everyone insisted he didn''t love Annalise. But when he was near her, his heart felt inexplicably calm.

    Why was that?

    In the car, Zachary watched Steven''s shrinking figure in the rearview mirror.

    He pulled out his tablet and sent Jessica a message. "Daddy''s hanging around Mommy''s ce. Don''t you think you should do something to bring him back?"

    Jessica stared at her phone for a long time. Even though she was confident Annalise no longer wanted Steven, if she let him linger near Annalise, it was only a matter of time before he realized who he truly loved.

    And when that day came, he''d take back the cards he''d given her and wouldn''t give her any more money to spend.

    Jessica took a deep breath and dialed Steven''s number. "Steven, where are you?"

    Steven didn''t answer directly. "What''s wrong?"

    Jessica''s voice softened to a delicate whimper. "I''m home alone, and I''m so scared. Can youe over?"

    "Okay."

    "Mommy." Willow, who hadn''t finished her show, suddenly turned off the TV with the remote. "I''m going out with Penelope tomorrow. What should I wear?"

    Upon seeing her worried expression, I replied with a smile, "I don''t know, either. How about we go upstairs and pick something out?"

    Excited, she grabbed my hand. "Okay!"

    She pulled me into her walk-in closet. As she threw open the wardrobe doors, it revealed rows of clothes.

    From fancy dresses to simple sportswear, she had it all.

    Willow took down a dress and held it against herself. "What do you think of this one, Mommy?"

    "It''s beautiful," I said, helping her think it through. "But we''re probably going to an amusement park. Do you think a dress is practical?" I didn''t give her the answer directly. Willow pondered for a while before deciding. "Then, I''ll wear sportswear instead."

    She eventually chose a pink set, then moved on to pick shoes and a matching bag. After putting together the perfect outfit, she hopped downstairs and eagerly shared her excitement with her dolls. I felt a wave of contentment as I watched her.

    When we first brought the dolls home, she had been too shy to talk to them in front of us. But today, she had already made so much progress. She brought them downstairs and chatted with them openly. Now, what was the next step?

 Chapter 216

    The n was simple-install a walkie-talkie inside one of Willow''s dolls so she could directly chat with her grandparents through it. It wouldn''t take long before Willow feltfortable speaking to them without any intermediaries.

    The thought brought a smile to my face.

    Watching this little girl, whom I cared for with all my heart, gradually open up filled me with indescribable joy.

    After sharing her excitement, Willow cheerfully said, "Mommy, I''m heading to bed now."

    I stood up with her, but she exined earnestly, "Grandpa and Grandma are keeping mepany tonight. So, you can take a break."

    I watched as she hugged her two oversized dolls and huffed her way upstairs.

    She was still just a little girl, and the dolls were almost too big for her to carry at once. But she didn''t ask anyone for help.

    Willow''s independence warmed my heart even more.

    Knowing we had ns with Penelope and Willow tomorrow, I turned to Zane and said, "I think I''ll need to workte tonight."

    Zane nodded. "Go ahead."

    "Okay." I carried myptop to the living room and got to work.

    Over time, I had be much more efficient at drawing. Whether it was sketching or coloring, my speed had improved, and the quality of my work was noticeably better.

    After finishing my immediate tasks, I continued pushing forward, trying to get ahead.

    Zane sat across from Annalise, watching.

    She waspletely absorbed in her work. Her serious and dedicated demeanor exuded an indescribable charm.

    Zane couldn''t help but think about everything Annalise had been through since he first met her.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    She had been betrayed by her husband and child. Though deeply hurt, she hadn''t let her past define her. She found a way to move on and build a new life.

    He admired that about Annalise.

    He wasn''t ready for her to notice his feelings, so he forced himself to look away.

    But at that moment, he made up his mind. He had to pursue Annalise and make her his wife. To ensure Annalise wouldn''t face trouble from his family after marrying him, Zane thought he should probably have a word with them in advance.

    ...

    Meanwhile, Steven had arrived at Jessica''s home and sent the driver away.

    As Jessica looked at Steven, her eyes glistened with subtle tears. She seemed unwilling to let him see her looking so vulnerable. She lowered her head and said, "I know you''re busy. I shouldn''t have bothered you."

    Steven gazed at Jessica. She had always been bright and confident, yet his irresponsibility had gradually turned her into someone timid and hesitant.

    "It''s fine," Steven replied.

    Jessica looked up.

    "I''m sorry, Jessica," he suddenly said.

    Jessica was confused by his sudden apology.

    "I''ve been questioning myselftely," Steven exined. "I kept wondering if the person I truly love is Annalise. To figure it out, I asked a lot of people for their opinions. And they all said that I love you."

    He didn''t know why, but after he said those words, a heavy frustration weighed on his chest.

    Jessica blinked, clearly surprised that so many people were siding with her.

    Steven continued, "But I''ve been ignoring you, and that''s not fair."

    Jessica shook her head quickly. "I don''t mind."

    "But I do." Steven chuckled softly. "Jessica, from now on, I promise to focus on us. I''lle home every day starting tomorrow."

    Jessica had found their recent separation surprisingly peaceful. But she couldn''t reject Steven''s decision outright.

    After all, she needed time to convince him-slowly but surely-that she was the one he truly loved.

 Chapter 217

    Jessica was certain that only by convincing Steven that she was the one he loved would he be willing to keep spending money on her.

    After much deliberation, she put on a considerate tone and said, "But this ce is so far from your office. Commuting back and forth every day must be exhausting. I hate seeing you wear yourself out, Steven." She paused, as if hesitant, then added, "How about this? Youe over on Friday nights and head back on Sundays."

    This arrangement gave Jessica the best of both worlds. She could have a few days of freedom each week without the need to cater to anyone while still keeping Steven close enough to maintain her influence. It was a win-win situation for her. "Sounds good," Steven agreed. "I''m exhausted. I''m going to bed first."

    He had thought that after talking to Jessica, he''d feel a weight lifted off his chest. But to his surprise, an overwhelming sense of suffocating despair washed over him instead.

    Stumbling, he made his way to the bedroom.

    Jessica watched him until he disappeared inside. Only then did she sink onto the couch, a faint smile ying on her lips.

    ...

    Zacharyy alone in his dark bedroom. The room was silent. He suddenly missed Annalise.

    Back when she was here, she would read him stories and sing lubies to help him sleep. When something upset him, she''d patiently coax him into opening up.

    Unlike now, every day felt miserable, and there was no one he could turn to.

    Tears soaked his pillow.

    He med Steven for everything that had happened. As an adult, he couldn''t figure out what he wanted. As if that wasn''t bad enough, he had to mess around with someone else despite being married, which ended up costing Zachary his mother. He hated Steven.

    ...

    Weekends were Howard''s designated rest days for Willow. During these two days, she didn''t have to train and could fully rx.

    I woke up and nced at the clock. It was barely past 6:00 am, but I didn''t feel like going back to bed. Quietly, I got some work done until 8:00 am, then went to wake Willow.

    Still groggy, she dragged herself out of bed, freshened up, and practiced speaking in front of the mirror. By the time she was done, she was much more awake.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    She quickly changed into the pink sportswear she''d carefully picked out the day before and ran over to her two dolls. She exined she''d be out all day and that they shouldn''t miss her too much.

    Finally, she grabbed my hand. "Let''s go, Mommy!"

    "Alright."

    Just as we finished getting ready, Zane announced he''d given the entire household staff the day off, so he''d be driving us himself.

    I didn''t mind, but Willow was thrilled. She ran over and hugged him. "Does that mean it''s just us? Like, a family outing with Penelope, too?"

    Zane nodded. "Exactly."

    Willow''s face lit up. "That''s awesome! It''s been forever since it was just us!"

    Her excitement was contagious, and I couldn''t help but feel a little lighter, too.

    When we arrived at Suzy''s house to pick up Penelope, Suzy opened the door. She looked a little surprised to see us. But something urgent hade up at work, so she had no choice but to hand Penelope over. After that, Suzy left in a rush. Her face was filled with apologies.

    Penelope, however, seemed to have already gotten used to it. She quietly climbed into the car. Willow sat beside her. Though she couldn''t speak, her eyes sparkled as she looked at Penelope.

    It was like Penelope could read her mind because she asked tentatively, "Do you think I''m cool?"

 Chapter 218

    Willow nodded vigorously.

    If her mom suddenly said she had to leave and handed her over to someone else, Willow would have cried her eyes out. But Penelope seemed so unfazed. Thus, Willow couldn''t help but admire her. Penelope puffed out her chest with confidence. "I think so, too."

    Then, she grabbed Willow''s hand and started showing off how much Suzy loved her. She talked about how Suzy couldn''t let go of herst night, hugging her the whole time and showering her with kisses. Penelope sighed. "My mom says she''s working hard to make money, so she can buy me a house and save a few million dors for me. That way, even if I don''t find a good job when I graduate, I''ll still have an easier life. But..." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I just wish she wouldn''t put so much pressure on herself. If she tires herself out, it''ll break my heart."

    Willow''s expression turned sad, too.

    I sat beside them, propping my chin in my hand as I watched their interaction.

    The way kids talk was so simple and direct. It was quite interesting.

    Neither Willow nor Penelope had eaten breakfast, so Zane decided to spoil them a little and took them to their favorite restaurant.

    The two girls, still new to reading, couldn''t make sense of the menu, so they pointed at the pictures.

    Penelope wasn''t shy at all. "I want this and this..."

    Meanwhile, Willow pointed at a picture, nced at me, then pointed at another one before looking back at me again.

    I couldn''t help butugh. They were both so young and didn''t have big appetites. If they really ordered this much, they definitely wouldn''t be able to finish it.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    But I couldn''t bear to say no to them, so I handed the problem to Zane.

    Zane put away the menu, stopped the two kids'' actions, and said calmly, "Two kids'' meals."

    Penelope and Willow both expressed their displeasure in their own ways.

    Zane remained unmoved and sat beside them. "You can order more once you finish what you have."

    Brimming with confidence, Penelope said, "I''ll have no problem finishing mine!"

    Willow tilted her chin up, as if to say she could finish hers, too.

    When their meals arrived, Zane ate his breakfast with graceful precision, all the while keeping an eye on the two girls.

    As expected, they were indeed full as soon as they finished the kids'' meals.

    Willow patted her belly with a pout.

    Meanwhile, Penelope sighed dramatically. "Why are you so weak, little belly?"

    I couldn''t hold back myughter.

    Both girls turned to look at me. I immediately wiped the smile off my face and asked seriously, "So, do you two want to y at home or go somewhere else?" Penelope raised her hand eagerly. "I want to go to an indoor amusement park!"

    Willow nodded in agreement.

    I nced at Zane.

    He stood up. "Let''s go!"

    The amusement park was filled with kids about Willow''s age.

    Usually, Willow would want me to go with her to y, but with Penelope around, she didn''t need me anymore. She pulled Penelope toward the rides that caught their interest. Other kids approached to join in, and they didn''t turn them away.

    Seeing that they didn''t need me to have fun, I felt at ease and ced my bag with all the essentials on a nearby shelf.

 Chapter 219

    Zane sat beside me.

    I casually said, "I think there are two things we need to rify right now."

    Zane raised an eyebrow. "What are they?"

    I slowly exined, "The first thing is that Willow''s already gotten used to talking to the dolls when she wants to talk to her grandparents. I think it''s time we get her walkie-talkies. And the second thing. When will the other doll be ready?" Zane wasn''t sure, either. He stood up and said, "I''ll call Eric."

    ...

    Zane took the elevator up to the fourth floor. His eyes scanned the electronics before he dialed Eric''s number.

    Eric answered, "Yes, Mr. Huxham?"

    Zane got straight to the point. "Is the doll ready?"

    "If everything goes as nned, it should be delivered to thepany on Monday," Eric calmly reported.

    Since Zane had gotten an answer, he was about to hang up, but Eric spoke again, "We''ve also contacted Suzy as you instructed."

    Zane understood that Eric mentioning it meant there was likely some significant news. "And?"

    "She..." Eric hesitated for a long moment before saying, "Actually got fired."

    Zane wasn''t surprised. "The new executives at herpany are clueless. They don''t even know who has any real talent."

    Eric fully agreed with Zane''s assessment and added, "Severalpanies have already made offers to her. Afterparing, she decided to join ourpany."

    Without hesitation, Zane said, "Double her current sry."

    "Understood." Eric knew Zane was generous when it came to sries.

    He hung up the phone and immediately reached out to HR tomunicate Zane''s wishes.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Zane went to a store selling walkie-talkies, carefully selected two pairs, and paid for them right away.

    Instead of going back to Annalise, he drove directly to Milton''s house to give them an update on Willow''s progress.

    Zane''s voice was as cold as ever. "She''s now able tomunicate with the dolls in front of others. Annalise said it''s time to rece the recorder pen in the doll with a walkie-talkie, so you''ll be able tomunicate directly with her." After saying that, he handed Milton two walkie-talkies and thetest recorder pen. Then, he showed him how to use the devices.

    Milton''s eyes welled up with tears. "This is amazing."

    "Yes," Zane exined calmly. "After a while, once Willow gets used tomunicating with you all through the walkie-talkie, we might bring you to our home to help her recover faster. You''ll be able to speak with her directly." Zane''s eyes locked with Milton''s. "We hope you''ll cooperate with us."

    Milton quickly replied, "Don''t worry. We''ll definitely cooperate."

    Willow had been ill for so long. But only recently, with Annalise''s help, had Milton been able to hear Willow''s voice.

    He would finally be able tomunicate with her through the walkie-talkie. Milton was already deeply satisfied.

    But if there was a way to help Willow recover, of course, he would support it unconditionally.

    Zane slowed his speech. "That''s good to hear."

    ...

    Willow was drenched in sweat from ying, and she was thirsty. She came over to me and asked, "Where''s Daddy?"

    I pulled out a water bottle from my bag, opened it, and handed it to her. "He''s in the bathroom."

    Willow didn''t seem bothered. "Oh."

    "Willow." I had been sitting there, thinking for a long time. "There''s something very important I need to discuss with you."

    She turned to look at me with curiosity. "What is it?"

    "You really like Penelope, don''t you?" I said slowly. "But her dad and stepmom aren''t nice to her, and they don''t want to take care of her. How about we bring her to our house during the weekdays so she can hang out with you?" Willow''s eyes lit up like fireworks. She nodded eagerly. "Yes, please!"

    "Well, since you agreed, let me talk to your dad when he''s back." After all, Zane was Willow''s guardian. I had to get his approval. "We''ll see if he agrees."

 Chapter 220

    It was Saturday. Zachary didn''t need to go to school. He was unsure of where Annalise was. In order to be closer to her, he had Harry follow her around. Just then, his phone rang.

    He casually picked up the phone. "Hello?"

    "They''re at an indoor amusement park," Harry reported.

    Upon hearing that, Zachary was excited. "Come pick me up at Grandma''s ce now!"

    The amusement park was a public space and open to everyone, including him. Just the thought of being in the same ce as Annalise made Zachary''s heart flutter with excitement. In order to make a good impression on Annalise, he opened the closet door and picked out a sharp little suit.

    Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he felt quite pleased with himself.

    After finishing all that, he went downstairs to find Harry waiting at the door. He notified Chloe about going out and only got in the car once he was sure she had heard him.

    Once at the amusement park, Zachary saw Annalise, but he acted as if he hadn''t noticed her. Only after Harry helped him buy the tickets did he head in to y.

    As he was having fun, he suddenly realized that although the suit made him look cool, it wasn''t very convenient for running around.

    Zachary nced at Annalise, but she waspletely focused on other things.

    A pang of disappointment hit him, but he convinced himself that Annalise hade out to spend time with him.

    He decided to keep ying with the toys.

    Annalise had been taking care of Willow every day. Now that she had a chance to rx, he didn''t want to interfere.

    ...

    Steven made the decision to be a good husband. Despite the heavy feelings weighing on him, he woke up early to prepare a nutritious meal for Jessica, catering to her pregnancy cravings.

    As he stood in the kitchen, watching the steam rise from the pot of soup, he couldn''t help but think of Annalise.

    When he was with Annalise, he never really did anything for her.

    He shook his head, trying to push the thought away. He shouldn''t be thinking about Annalise.

    When Jessica woke up, Steven served her the meal he had prepared. "Eat first. I''ll finish up here."

    Jessica stared at the meal in surprise. "Okay." She hadn''t expected Steven to cook for her.R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Steven didn''t pay attention to whether she was eating or not. He went on with his chores-sorting out theundry that the family had changed out of the previous day and putting it into the washing machine. Finally, he moved on to mopping the floors.

    Jessica watched him, puzzled. Why was he suddenly being so helpful?

    By the time Steven finished all the housework, it was almost 10:00 am. He immediately left to buy groceries from the market, then came home to prepare a big meal.

    When everything was ready, it was precisely noon.

    Suddenly, Steven remembered how Annalise had done all the household chores back when they were together.

    Was she always this busy?

    Also, he realized that his own days were much less stressful than Annalise''s. He didn''t have to take care of kids, whereas Annalise had to look after Zachary every day.

    It felt like a heavy ax had struck Steven''s heart. The pain was unbearable.

    Jessica said, "I never thought you''d actually cook for me. I''m so touched."

    As Steven listened to Jessica''s words of gratitude, the pain, which had already numbed him, began to stir again.

    Annalise had silently done so much for him all those years. Steven wondered if he had ever properly thanked Annalise.

 Chapter 221

    Zane returned to the amusement park.

    I told him about my idea, "Zane, how about we bring Penelope to our ce when we pick up Willow on weekdays? I think having her around might help Willow recover faster."

    "That''s actually a good idea," Zane agreed. "But there''s an important issue to consider."

    I listened patiently.

    Zane slowly exined, "Suzy was dismissed from her oldpany and received arge severance package. She''s also decided to join ourpany."

    I was a little surprised. But recalling how much he had always admired Suzy, I smiled and said, "Well, congrattions!"

    Zane gave me a thoughtful look. "Her working hours will be nine to five, with weekends off, so she should be able to spend time with Penelope. That means, even if we were willing to help by picking her up, she probably wouldn''t agree." I felt a bit disappointed. "I see."

    Zane gently patted my shoulder. "I know you''re doing this for Willow''s sake, but she''s recovering so quickly these days. I think we can afford to slow things down a bit. Patience is key."

    His words made sense. "You''re right."

    Just as our conversation ended, Suzy reached out to us, saying she didn''t have work today and wanted to take Penelope out for a while.

    We asked Penelope how she felt about it.

    Penelope expressed that, although we were very kind to her, she still preferred being with Suzy.

    Upon hearing this, Suzy quickly arrived to pick up Penelope, and the two left together.

    It was lunchtime, so we decided to take Willow to enjoy a meal near the office.

    Zane ordered, and I sat beside Willow, asking her gently, "Are you sad that she didn''t stay with you?"

    "Why would I be sad?" Willow asked, looking confused. "Kids always like their moms. I''m the same. She''s been apart from her mom for so long.

    "Now that she finally has a chance to be with her, of course, she''ll want to stay close. If the same thing happened to me, I''d cling even more than she does." Listening to Willow, I realized she was already considering how others felt at such a young age.

    How wonderful.

    "But I know you''ll never leave me," Willow said sweetly while hugging me. "Because you love me."

    I smiled and hugged her back. "Of course."

    Willow beamed. "And I love you, too."

    At that moment, Zane chimed in, "What about me?"R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Willow immediately responded, "I love Daddy, too!"

    "Good." Zane seemed satisfied.

    Without Penelope around, Willow wasn''t in the mood to y outside, so we all went home.

    Willow was eager to go upstairs and share her day''s experiences with her dolls. But just as she took her first step, Zane pulled her back.

    She looked at him, clearly frustrated. "What is it, Daddy?"

    "We made some changes to your dolls." Zane thought it would be better to inform Willow. "We''ve installed a program inside your dolls so they can talk to you." Willow thought for a moment, then asked seriously, "So, no matter what I say to them today, they can answer me?"

    Zane nodded. "Yes, but they''re still just dolls."

    Willow''s lips curled into a smile. "I need to go try out the new feature!"

    Only then did Zane let her go.

    Willow ran into the bedroom. Gazing at the cotton doll, she tentatively asked, "Grandpa?"

 Chapter 222

    "It''s me," came a reply from the doll.

    Willow''s mouth dropped open in shock as she heard Milton''s familiar voice. Zane hadn''t lied to her! The doll could actually talk!

    Willow''s eyes sparkled with excitement. She quickly turned to another doll. "Grandma?"

    "I''m here," came the reply.

    Willow gasped. "Wow! This is amazing!"

    As soon as she spoke,ughter echoed from the dolls, so lifelike that it felt as if Milton and Dorothy were sitting right across from her.

    Willow thought that since she was just talking to her dolls, no one else would know what she said. So, she cleared her throat and solemnly said, "I love you both very much." The two replied in unison, "We love you, too."

    Feeling shy, Willow rocked back and forth on the bed. "I think it''s been a long time since Ist talked to you. Has it been two years? Maybe even three. But I actually have so much to tell you." "Then, go ahead," Milton encouraged her.

    Willow giggled softly. "I''ve been really goodtely. I practice speaking in front of the mirror every morning. Sometimes, I run out of things to say mid-practice, so Mommy started teaching me phonics.

    "She''s super patient, and I''ve been really serious about learning. I''ve already memorized all the letters! So now, I can read some simple books on my own. Not only can I read them, but I can also spell and pronounce words!"

    She paused briefly before continuing, "After practicing speaking, I''ll move on to reading. I''ve kept at it for so long that my pronunciation is super clear now. The only thing left is speaking to other people." Dorothy quickly praised her, "You''re really impressive, Willow!"

    Willow lifted her chin proudly. "Of course! Back when some kids at school were bullying me, Daddy and Mommy stepped in for me. But they realized it wasn''t helping much.

    "Those kids just kept targeting me. I was stuck feeling miserable without being able to fight back. So, they hired a martial arts instructor for me.

    "They said that once I get stronger, I can just knock down anyone who bullies me with one punch. That''ll show them I''m not someone they can mess with."

    Willow giggled as she recounted, "They told me that''s the best way to solve the problem at its root."Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Milton agreed wholeheartedly, "They''re absolutely right."

    Willow shyly continued, "But when Mr. Lardon came, he wanted to start me on basic moves, but he realized I was too weak. So, he made me start with fitness training first. "I''ve been super diligent. Every day after practicing speaking and reading, I go for a run. Now, Mr. Lardon says I''m fit enough, so he''s finally started teaching me the basics." Dorothy asked, "Doesn''t working so hard every day make you tired?"

    "Maybe I''ve gotten used to it," Willow replied without hesitation. "I think it''s fine."

    Afraid they''d worry, she quickly added, "Besides, Mr. Lardon gives me the weekends off to rest."

    It was only after she finished speaking that Willow remembered she was talking to dolls, not the real Milton and Dorothy.

    She chuckled to herself. She''d gotten so carried away that she''d started treating them like the real thing.

    She truly was still just a kid.

    Upon hearing her reply, Dorothy rxed. "That''s good to hear."

    Willow smiled. "Oh, and I recently made a new friend in kindergarten."

 Chapter 223

    "She''s truly extraordinary!" Willow eximed. "I can''t speak in front of her, but she just keeps chatting away like it''s nothing. I really admire her." She then said wistfully, "I hope I can talk to people like that one day." "You will," Milton assured her gently.

    Tired of sitting, Willow flopped onto her stomach on the bed. Propping her face up with her hands, she looked at the two dolls and asked, "How have you two beentely? I heard Grandma wasn''t feeling well before. I was really worried about you both." Dorothy''s voice was filled with warmth. "Before you came to visit me, I was constantly in and out of hospitals and never truly recovered. But when I heard you hade to see me, I started to feel better.

    "When I went to Zane''s house and saw how much he loves you, treating you like his own daughter, that''s when I felt I''d finally healed."

    "Really?" Willow asked in amazement.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    "I wouldn''t lie to you," Dorothy replied patiently. "Willow, do you like your current mom? How are you getting along with her?"

    Dorothy was eager to hear Willow''s honest thoughts about Annalise.

    Willow carefully chose her words. "If I say this, you and Grandpa might get upset."

    "Oh?" Dorothy''s curiosity piqued.

    "Mommy is really good to me, and I love her a lot," Willow said shyly. "Sometimes, I feel like I was her real daughter."

    She tentatively added, "You wouldn''t be mad, would you?"

    Milton chuckled. "Why would we be? We''re just happy she''s good to you. Willow, all we ever want is for you to be happy."

    "Really?" Willow''s energy returned.

    "Of course," Milton reassured her.

    Willow said in her innocent voice, "I''ve always wanted to share what''s been happening in my life with you, but I couldn''t find a way to say it. It made me feel stuck, like there was something heavy in my heart. "When you couldn''t talk back, speaking to you helped a little, but not enough. But now that you can reply, even if it''s not real, it makes me feel much better."

    Milton quickly interjected, "You can think of us as real."

    Willow giggled. "Then, I wouldn''t be able to talk to you like this. You''re so silly, Grandpa."

    Milton chuckled indulgently. "Yes. I''m not as smart as you."

    Willow beamed at the praise. "Of course! I''ve been studying really hardtely."

    ...

    I nced at the tightly shut door upstairs and stood up. "Didn''t the chef take the day off? How about I make dinner tonight?"

    Zane replied calmly, "Don''t tire yourself. We can eat outter."

    "I know you don''t like me doing housework." After spending some time with Zane, I hade to understand the kind of person he was. I exined, "But honestly, I actually enjoy doing housework." Cooking gave me a sense of aplishment. Cleaning the house brought me peace of mind.

    Zane looked a bit surprised.

    I rified further. "I''m always busy and don''t have time for these things every day. So when I do have some downtime, I''d love to cook a meal or two. Is that okay?" After understanding how I truly felt, Zane walked over to the fridge and asked, "What are you nning to make? Want me to prepare the ingredients for you?" "Roast beef, mashed potato, and garden sd." I added, "Oh, and a soup."

    "Got it." Zane took out some beef, greens, and a few potatoes. For the soup, he retrieved a chicken from the morning''s groceries and headed to the kitchen. I followed him, intending to help, but Zane stopped me at the entrance.

 Chapter 224

    Zane calmly said, "You''re going to be tired from cookingter, so leave these tasks to me." His tone was firm and left no room for refusal. Without arguing, I returned to the living room to catch up on some work.

    After Zane finished in the kitchen, he called me over. Standing by the kitchen counter, I was surprised to see that he had already prepared all the necessary ingredients, like onions, celery, and garlic.

    I looked at him in the living room, impressed. I hadn''t expected someone like Zane, so sessful in his career, to be so attentive in housework.

    Zane shed me a smile.

    It brightened my mood. I went ahead and ced the chicken into a pressure cooker with the onions, celery, and garlic to simmer.

    Zane''s kitchen had three stoves. I used the second one to cook the roast beef and the third to prepare the potatoes.

    By the time the mashed potatoes were ready, the chicken was nearly done. I carefully released the steam from the pressure cooker, added salt, and let it simmer some more. Then, I focused on reducing the sauce for the roast beef and ting it. Finally, I tossed the garden sd.

    With the dishes all set on the table, I called out, "Willow, time for dinner!"

    "Coming, Mommy!" Willow''s footsteps echoed as she rushed into the living room. She sat down at the dining table and asked in surprise, "Did you make all this, Mommy?" Zane handed her the cutlery. "Yes, she did."

    Willow eagerly took a bite of the roast beef, and her big eyes instantly widened in awe. She was surprised at how delicious it was.

    She picked up another piece.

    Then, as though remembering something, she added, "Daddy, Mommy, can you not talk to me right now? I want to finish eating first."

    Without waiting for a response, she dug right in.

    ...

    Willow asionally nced up at Annalise while eating. She wondered if thetter was the legendary perfect woman. She was amazing at work, emotionally stable, and gentle. Most importantly, she could cook! Willow felt even more fond of her.

    ...

    Willow had a bit too much roast beef and felt it was getting too rich, so she took a bite of the garden sd. The refreshing taste made her think she could eat a bit more.

    Next, she tried a spoonful of mashed potatoes. She squinted in delight. "Mommy, I want to be your child forever."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    I smiled warmly at her. "No problem."

    Willow slowed down as she ate. "Mommy, could you cook for me again when you''re free?"

    I was happy that she liked my cooking. "Of course!"

    Zane sat quietly beside us, enjoying his meal without saying a word. He loved this atmosphere.

    The family was gathered around the table, with their daughter joyfully sharing her feelings while his wife responded with warmth.

    Zane thought that the only regret he had at the moment was that Annalise still wasn''t willing to be his wife.

    ...

    Meanwhile, Zachary, looking dashing in his outfit, sat in his car and stared at the vi from a distance.

    He wondered what Annalise was doing. Was she ying with Willow? Or watching TV with her?

    Zachary couldn''t figure it out. All he knew was that he felt miserable.

    Harry was afraid Zachary might feel hungry, so he asked, "What do you want to eat? Should we order some food?"

    "Order some oatmeal," Zachary replied slowly. "I''m still a kid. I need something light and easy to digest."

    Back when Annalise was still at home, she used to remind him every day that his health wasn''t great, so he shouldn''t eat anything too heavy or unhealthy.

 Chapter 225

    Zachary had never listened to Annalise''s advice.

    Now that she no longer wanted him and had be someone else''s mother, he was finally starting to follow her words.

    Harry had initially nned to ask Zachary what kind of oatmeal he wanted. But when he nced at him, he sighed and decided to take the initiative to order for Zachary.

    He ordered in oatmeal and got some for himself, too.

    Harry handed Zachary his phone. "Here. Take a look. Anything else you want?"

    Zachary took the phone, opened WhatsApp, and found Steven''s contact. He sent a voice message. "Daddy, I''m eating out. Mr. Thompson is paying for it. How about you transfer some money over? I''m worried his sry won''t be enough to support me." Less than ten minutes after sending the message, Steven transferred 5,000 dors.

    After receiving the money, Zachary thanked him and returned the phone to Harry. "Just order those. Thanks."

    Harry stared at his phone for a while before finally starting the payment process.

    Meanwhile, Zachary''s gaze seemed glued to the vi in the distance. He wondered when he would be able to go inside and live with Annalise under the same roof.This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ...

    Once Willow had truly gone for dinner, Milton let out a sigh of relief. "This is great. Willow is so lucky to have met someone who truly cares for her."

    "Yeah." Dorothy also felt a weight lift from her chest. "With how Willow''s been recoveringtely, it won''t be long before Zane moves us to his ce to help her recover. Do you think we should get them a gift?" Milton agreed, "Sure."

    "What should we get?" Dorothy walked to the storage room and looked through the more expensive gifts.

    Suddenly, her movements slowed. It hit her that all the valuable things had been prepared for her daughter when she was still alive.

    As Dorothy looked at the items, memories surfaced, and she felt a pang of sadness.

    "Don''t be upset," Milton gentlyforted her. "It''s all in the past. As one of Willow''s few remaining rtives, we should gather ourselves and treat her well."

    Dorothy wiped away a tear and forced a smile. "Right."

    She closed the cupboard and said, "Let''s get her something else."

    "Okay."

    ...

    Dinner at home was prepared by Steven. After Jessica and Cody finished eating, Steven quietly cleaned up.

    Carrying the dishes into the kitchen, he looked at the dirty tes and felt the inconvenience. After turning on the faucet, he suggested, "How about we buy a dishwasher? It would save the nanny some time, too." Jessica instinctively replied, "Aren''t we paying them to do these tasks? Why bother saving them time?"

    Steven turned to look at her.

    Jessica didn''t understand why he was looking at her like that. "Did I say anything wrong?"

    "No." Steven looked away. He silently washed the dishes, but his mind wandered to thoughts of Annalise.

    When Annalise was at home, they didn''t hire help very often. In his memory, there was only one time, during her postpartum recovery.

    Back then, Annalise always tried to figure out ways to help the nanny save time and make things easier. She never acted like Jessica, thinking that spending money meant others should be busy doing all the work. Steven forced himself to shift his focus. He couldn''t keep thinking about Annalise. After all, he still had to make things work with Jessica.

    But for some reason, his heart felt weighed down, making him uneasy and restless.

 Chapter 226

    After dinner, Willow''s stomach was bloated. I took her for a walk in the yard to help her digest.

    Willow tightly held my hand and said, "Mommy, I feel so happy."R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    "Why?" I asked.

    She rubbed her tummy and continued, "I have you, and you love me so much. You''ll make me delicious dinners with love, then you''ll take me for a walk."

    Walking through the yard and feeling the cool breeze blowing toward her, Willow felt a deep sense of contentment.

    I smiled and agreed, "That does sound nice."

    Feeling left out, Zane calmly reminded Willow, "What about me?"

    Willow added quickly, "Oh, and Daddy, too!"

    The takeout Harry ordered finally arrived. Not wanting Zachary to be alone, Harry sat beside him to keep himpany.

    Zachary boasted, "You know, my mom used to treat me so well. She was always worried I wouldn''t like the food at school, so every morning, she would wake up and make me something delicious. "She''s an amazing cook. Every time she served me food, I''d eat it all up!"

    Harry could tell from the smug look on Zachary''s face that he was trying tofort himself by pretending everything was fine. He didn''t want to burst his bubble. "I really envy you." Zachary smiled sheepishly. "I envy myself, too."

    Harry chuckled and asked, "But won''t you get tired of following her around like that?"

    Zachary lowered his head. "Well, if I follow her, I can tell myself that she didn''t abandon me and that she''s always here. But if I stop following her, then I''d really have no mom." Harry sighed. The more he listened, the more he felt for Zachary.

    ...

    After Steven finished the housework and washed his hands, he sat down beside Jessica and began massaging her legs.

    Jessica was pleased. She stole nces at Steven.

    Recently, he had been treating her so well. Had he believed his friends'' words and thought that the person he loved was her?

    If that was the case, then Steven''s money would be hers to spend as she wished.

    "Daddy."

    As Jessica was enjoying herself, Cody walked out. He stood in front of Steven and whispered, "I didn''t eat enough earlier. I''m hungry again." Smiling, Steven asked, "What do you want to eat? I''ll make it for you."

    Cody answered seriously, "Fried eggs and instant noodles."

    "Alright."

    Steven walked to the kitchen and turned on the stove. Once the pan was hot, he added oil and waited for it to heat up before cracking in the eggs.

    As he watched the eggs bubble in the pan, it hit him. He''d never cooked a meal for Annalise and Zachary. Even when Zachary was hungry at home, it was always Annalise who made extra food for him. But now, he was willingly cooking for Jessica and Cody. Steven couldn''t quite put his feelings into words. A mix of sadness and regret, tinged with a bit of frustration, swirled inside him. All these emotionsbined felt overwhelming, nearly driving him crazy.

    He didn''t understand. He was living with the person he loved and her child, yet it felt so suffocating.

    ...

    Once Willow''s stomach felt better, she returned to her room and continued chatting with Milton and Dorothy.

 Chapter 227

    There were many things that Zane and Annalise knew. Thus, Willow didn''t want to repeat herself again, as she feared that the two might think she was being too talkative. But Milton and Dorothy hadn''t heard her stories yet.

    Excitedly, Willow shared everything that had been happening with hertely.

    Milton and Dorothy, true to their robotic nature, responded with great enthusiasm.

    As Willow talked, it got closer to bedtime, and she started to feel sleepy. Yet, her heart was light and content. She realized it was such a wonderful feeling to be able to talk freely to others. With a smile on her face, she said, "Grandpa, Grandma, I''m going to bed now. Make sure you rest well, too."

    Milton and Dorothy answered together, "Good night."

    "Good night," Willow replied cheerfully.

    Instead of going to sleep right away, she rushed out of her room. She stood by the railing and called out, "Mommy, I want you to put me to sleep tonight."

    I had been drawing. But hearing Willow''s request made me immediately set down my work. I walked upstairs to her side. "Alright."

    Willowy in my arms. Her eyes were heavy with sleep, but she still insisted on saying, "When you''re with me, I''m the happiest little girl in the world."

    I leaned down and kissed her forehead. "That''s right. You are."

    ...

    Zachary returned to Chloe''s house. As soon as he opened the door, Chloe came over and asked, "Why are you alwaysing home sote?"

    "I have my things to do." Zachary knew Chloe didn''t like Annalise, so he didn''t intend to tell her what he was up to. Otherwise, she would surely try to stop him.

    He said casually, "Mr. Thompson is with me, so you don''t need to worry."

    "Alright, then," Chloe replied. Since he said so, she didn''t press the matter, though she did remind him, "If anythinges up that you can''t handle, make sure to tell me." "Okay," Zachary replied absently.

    Chloe watched as he walked toward his room, then picked up her phone and dialed Steven. "Zachary just got home."

    "Okay." Steven''s voice was neutral, showing no sign of emotion.

    Chloe hesitated before asking, "Do you know what he''s been doing outside every day?"

    Steven, though aware, kept the truth from her. "He didn''t tell me. But he''s rarely got his own ns, so just leave him be." Although Chloe was still a little dissatisfied, Steven''s words left her with no choice but topromise. "Alright."

    It was Sunday. Willow didn''t have to practice, so she spent the entire day ying joyfully.

    All three meals were eaten out, and all the restaurants were ones Zane had rmended, so the quality was guaranteed.

    I couldn''t tell if my cooking was just that good or if it was the extra touch of motherly love, but Willow kept shaking her head after every dish she tried. "None of these are as good as Mommy''s cooking."

    Then, she smiled at me and added, "Your food is the best I''ve ever had."R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    I casually asked, "How about we go home, and I''ll cook for you?"

    Willow wavered. Her eyes were fixed on me, clearly tempted.

    But in the end, she held back and said, "You work so hard every day. It must be tiring. You finally have a chance to rest today. You should just rx. I can''t be selfish and make you do more work just because I want to eat your food." I was taken aback. I hadn''t expected Willow-at just five years old to be so thoughtful of others.

    "You''re so considerate, Willow," Zane praised with a gentle smile.

    Willow beamed. "Of course!"

    The joyful time always seemed too short.

    Before we knew it, it was time for school again. Willow woke up early. Seeing the two dolls on her bed, she seriously said, "Grandpa, Grandma, good morning." Surprised, they asked, "You''re up this early?"

    "Yeah, I need to practice," Willow answered matter-of-factly. "Do you want to hear?"

    Milton quickly responded, "Yes."

 Chapter 228

    Willow picked up her dolls and ced them on a small desk beside the bathroom door. She then stood on a little stool.

    Gazing into the mirror, she began to practice her greetings, "Hello. I''m Willow. What''s your name?"

    After practicing in front of the mirror, she didn''t forget to inform Milton and Dorothy, "The mirror practice is over now. It''s time to read."

    She picked up a storybook and carefully enunciated each word phically before reading the words. Once she was familiar with all the words, she read the entire sentence aloud.

    After finishing a short story, she put the book down.

    "Willow."R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Hearing Annalise''s voice, Willow quickly ced Milton and Dorothy on the bed and said, "I''m going to jog now. Bye, Grandpa, Grandma!"

    "Goodbye!"

    Willow opened her bedroom door and called, "Mommy!"

    I stood by the railing. Hearing her call, I turned around. "Let''s go. It''s time to exercise."

    Willow jogged over to me eagerly. "Okay!"

    The morning''s workout followed the n we had set on Friday. It was clear that Willow''s stamina had be much stronger. She ran a full mile without stopping. Though she sweated like mad, she never paused for a break. After the jog, the three of us practiced the basic moves of martial arts together.

    Willow seemed to feel the fatigue then, as she was breathing heavily. I was about to pick her up and carry her back to the living room, but she pushed me away. "I can do it myself, Mommy!"

    She seemed to be bing more independent with each passing day.

    I smiled, feeling proud of her. "Alright. You go ahead."

    "Okay," Willow said, then quickly ran up the stairs. She stopped at her room''s doorway and looked back at me. "Mommy, I want to shower by myself today."

    After spending so much time with her, I had gotten to know her well. I knew she probably had something to say to Milton and Dorothy, so I didn''t stop her. Instead, I smiled and returned to the living room.

    Willow closed the door behind her. She wanted to tell Milton and Dorothy how amazing she was, but then realized she was covered in sweat. Milton and Dorothy wouldn''t like that.

    So, she went to the bathroom, took a refreshing shower, and changed into a beautiful dress.

    She stood in front of the dolls and twirled in her new outfit. "Grandpa, Grandma, do you think this dress is pretty?"

    Milton and Dorothy both praised, "You look like a little fairy! So adorable!"

    Willow giggled, clearly pleased with herself. "I think so, too." She wasn''t shy about it at all.

    The elderly couple spoiled her, agreeing with her.

    Willow beamed, saying, "You know, I just finished running. I ran a whole mile today without stopping. Pretty impressive, right?"

    Milton praised her sincerely, "That''s very impressive! Some adults couldn''t even do that, let alone a kid."

    "Of course!" Willow lifted her chin proudly. "And I also practiced my martial arts basics. I believe that if I keep this up, by the time I start elementary school, I''ll definitely be one of the best in my grade." She continued proudly, "I''ll be able to protect myself and never be bullied! Anyone who dares to mess with my friends will have to deal with my fists!"

    Milton sounded worried. "But you can''t start trouble, Willow."

    Dorothy asked with a sharp tone, "Do you really think she''s the type to start trouble?"

    Milton thought for a moment. "You''re right."

    Listening to them, Willow felt a warm glow in her heart. "I really have to go now. Bye, Grandpa, Grandma!"

 Chapter 229

    Milton and Dorothy reluctantly said, "Study well, Willow."

    "Don''t worry!" Willow patted her chest confidently. "I need to arm my brain with knowledge to be a smart kid!" Milton and Dorothy couldn''t help but chuckle.

    ...

    I watched Willow run down the stairs with her backpack and asked, "What would you like for breakfast today?"R¨şAdt??St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

    Willow thought seriously for a while before finally saying, "How about some chicken noodle soup?"

    "Okay." The temperature of the soup was just right. I poured a small bowl for her.

    Willow immediately dug in and finished it quickly. Then, she handed the bowl back to me. "Another bowl!" Smiling, I said, "Alright."

    Willow had a small appetite before. Since starting her exercises, her meals had gradually increased, and her energy levels had improved as well.

    I was happy with the progress.

    After she finished eating, Zane and I had our meal as well. We both stood up to take her to kindergarten.

    When we arrived at the kindergarten, we saw Penelope standing inside, peering eagerly through the gate toward us.

    Now that Suzy was taking care of her, she looked clean and energetic. Her happiness was genuine this time, unlike the forced cheerfulness from the other day. When Willow spotted Penelope, she immediately waved goodbye to us. "Daddy, Mommy, you can go to work now."

    She then ran toward Penelope.

    Penelope took Willow''s hand and spoke seriously to her. Meanwhile, Willow''s eyes sparkled like lightbulbs as she nodded at Penelope''s words.

    I watched them from a distance, feeling content. "Willow is improving day by day, and Penelope''s situation is also getting better. This is great."

    Zane smiled lightly and said, "It will only get better from here."

    I nodded in agreement. "Right."

    Zane''s hand-a habit by now-rested gently on my waist. "Let''s go."

    ...

    Zachary sat in a car not far away, secretly watching them.

    Annalise was so nice. She sent Willow to school every day.

    A feeling of jealousy rose in Zachary''s heart.

    This was all Steven''s fault. He said it was easier to drop him off at school on the way to work, so Annalise never got to drop him off.

    Zachary stared longingly at Annalise''s retreating figure.

    At that time, Annalise loved him so much. If she had dropped him off at school, she would have looked at him with more warmth than she did at Willow. But now, he would never experience that again.

    With a sigh, Zachary sluggishly opened the car door and walked toward the kindergarten.

    ...

    In the morning, Steven drove Cody to school. He sat silently in the car, both hands gripping the steering wheel.

    Cody stared at Steven for a long time before finally speaking. "Daddy, Mommy really likes you.

    "She always told me that pregnancy and childbirth can affect her health, and she didn''t want a second child. But for you..."

    He slowed his pace. "She still chose to hurt herself to have a child for you. You really need to cherish her. Be good to her." His tone was serious. Steven nced at Cody through the rearview mirror.

    After not receiving a reply from Steven, Cody became anxious. "Did you hear me?"

 Chapter 230

    "Yeah," Steven mumbled. Lately, his mind had been a mess. Everyone around him kept insisting that he had feelings for Jessica.

    Since that was the case, he decided to ept their ims as truth.

    "I will," he said firmly.

    Even though he was trying to get along with Jessica, he still felt uneasy. It was stifling, like nothing was quite right.

    Only then did Cody seem at ease.

    ...

    When I arrived at the office, I barely had time to open myputer before Sasha barged in. She stormed up to my desk. "Do you remember the Joanna I told you aboutst time?"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    "Of course," I said. "She''s the one who got those roses from the guy, Cheap Charlie, right?"

    "Exactly!" Sasha said, jumping in with an update. "Now Cheap Charlie wants Joanna to help him pay off the debt he owes his ex-girlfriend, but she''s not having it."

    "Even though Joanna earns a decent sry, 200 thousand dors is still a significant amount of money she saved through hard work," Sasha continued, rolling her eyes. "Does he really think he can just ask for it? Dream on!" "Unbelievable," I said, nodding in agreement.

    Sasha scoffed in disgust. "When Joanna refused, he actually suggested they break up."

    I was dumbfounded. "Is he seriously that shameless?"

    "Oh, it gets even more ridiculous," Sasha said, visibly annoyed. "That bouquet of flowers? I told you-he first tried to give it to his ex-girlfriend, but she didn''t want it. Then, he offered it to me, and I turned it down too. Finally, he gave it to Joanna, and she epted." She continued, "Now, he''s demanding that Joanna pay him back for the flowers! When she refused, he started spreading rumors, calling her a gold digger. In the end, she had no choice but to transfer him the money just to keep the peace." Sasha nearly rolled her eyes as she continued, "After he got the money, he actually came to me and said that since I''d seen the flowers, I should pay for them, too. I was so furious that I almost pped him a few times. I just can''t stand people like him!" Even I was left utterly astonished.

    Sasha continued, "He couldn''t get money from me, so he tried asking his ex-girlfriend for the cost of the flowers."

    I hesitated and asked, "Didn''t she refuse?"

    "Of course, she refused!" Sasha answered without hesitation. "Why would she pay for something she didn''t even ept? That would make her a fool!"

    I let out a relieved sigh.

    After Sasha finished ranting, she flopped onto myp.

    I asked, "After how she treated you the other day, aren''t you angry?"

    "It''s a small thing," Sasha replied casually. "I didn''t think much of it."

    Seeing she wasn''t affected, I felt a bit lighter. I absentmindedly yed with Sasha''s hair.

    Suddenly, Sasha fell silent, staring at me with something unsaid in her eyes.

    I casually asked, "What''s wrong?"

    Sasha sighed in frustration. "A friend I''ve been close to for a while suddenly confessed to me. I never imagined he liked me, so itpletely caught me off guard."

    She continued, "I was considering whether or not to date him, but then, he found a woman who looks just like me and said he wanted her to rece me."

    Sasha muttered softly, "My friends keep saying he''s so devoted and telling me I should cherish him, but I don''t see it that way. He somehow disrespected me with his actions, and they don''t respect that girl, either. I just couldn''t stand him anymore." Sasha voiced her confusion, "They say I''m ungrateful. What do you think?"

    I said seriously, "I think you''re right. So, Sasha, don''t doubt your judgment." "Exactly!" Sasha instantly rxed. "I knew it!"

 Chapter 231

    Sasha felt much better after receiving the approval. In high spirits, she quickly got off the couch and returned to work. Once she left, I resumed drawing.

    After taking two days off for the weekend, I only managed to catch up on a bit of work during the nights when Willow was asleep. As a result, I had fallen behind on my progress. Now, I had to find a way to catch up. Zane walked over and asked, "Do you want me to hire an assistant for you?"

    "No need," I replied, continuing to work. "I can handle these tasks myself. It''s not a problem."

    Zane didn''t press further. Instead, he sat nearby, watching Annalise. To him, she was someone who knew exactly what she wanted and had a clear goal in mind, which he admired.

    He gave a light chuckle.

    However, there were some downsides.

    For one, Annalise had grown to enjoy the freedom of being single and no longer had any desire to get married. That certainly made it more difficult for him to pursue her, but Zane didn''t mind that. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

    Zane coldly said, "Come in."

    Eric stood in the doorway. Normally, he would report directly to Zane in the office. Since Annalise was there, they had moved all work discussions to the meeting room to provide her with a quieter workspace. Zane noticed Eric and got up. The two of them walked into the meeting room.

    Eric closed the door behind them.

    "Mr. Huxham, the doll you ordered has arrived," Eric reported. "The factory wants to know if you''d like to order more dolls."

    "I''m not sure," Zane replied. "I need to discuss this with Annalise first."

    Eric exined honestly, "The factory is struggling, and it might shut down. They asked me to contact you because if it closes, no one will be able to make these dolls anymore."

    As soon as Eric finished, Zane came up with a solution. "Buy out their factory. Keep the employees on as well."

    Eric stared at him in disbelief. "Just for dolls?"

    Zane gave him a pointed look. "You should think long-term."

    Eric was confused. "Like what?"

    Zane casually exined, "Why did we create aicpany and spend so much money on promotion in the first ce?"

    Eric hesitated before answering. "To make theic a hit?"

    Zane continued, "Yes, and then we can start selling merchandise, like dolls. It''s better to own the production process ourselves rather than going through the hassle of negotiating with other manufacturerster." Eric finally understood Zane''s real intention.

    Zane went on, "Most importantly, we''ll have more hitics in the future."

    Eric put on a serious expression and said, "I''ll get on it right away."

    Zane felt it was time to have Annalise design the key characters from theic. This way, the factory could begin production early, ensuring they wouldn''t be overwhelmed if theic became a hitter. "Alright," Zane concluded.

    ...

    When Zane returned to the office, I had just finished the artwork for Sunday and was nning to rx a bit before starting today''s line drawing.

    Zane walked up to me. "Can you spare some time soon?"N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    Iy on the couch, looking up at him. "Hmm?"

    "Thepany needs the main characters from youric turned into dolls, so we need you to draw full-body sketches of them and give them to us," Zane exined. "Is it urgent?" I asked.

 Chapter 232

    Zane thought for a long time before answering, "It''s not that urgent."

    I asked, "Can I finish the drawings for the next two days ande to you afterward?"

    Zane nodded. "No problem."

    With his confirmation, I buried myself in work until 3:00 pm, finally catching up on everything I had missed.

    After stretching out a bit, I started on the tasks Zane had assigned to me, beginning with Willow...

    She was undeniably the female lead of theic.

    Perhaps because I had a soft spot for Willow, the drawing turned out delicate and adorable. One nce was enough to make anyone fall in love with her.

    Once I finished, I found myself wondering who to draw next.

    I nced at Zane, who was seated at his desk, diligently handling work matters. After a moment of hesitation, I walked up to him. "I just wanted to confirm-when you say ''main characters'' for the dolls, do you mean..."

    "Our little family," Zane replied without thinking.

    "Got it." I returned to my desk and continued working.

    ...

    Meanwhile, Steven was at the office, trying to figure out what was bothering him. Whenever he stayed away from Jessica, his mood always seemed to improve, no matter where he was.

    He felt like he should reach out to her and check on her, but the moment that thought crossed his mind, he instinctively resisted it.

    In the end, Steven forced himself to pick up his phone and contact Jessica. "How are you doing?"

    Jessica gently ced her hand on her belly. "I''m fine. Don''t worry about me."

    Steven was left speechless, his mind consumed by a single thought.

    If he had treated Annalise the way he treated Jessica when they were together, would they have ended up divorced? Even if things had gone wrongter and they reached that point, perhaps Annalise would have still cared about him and wouldn''t have walked away so easily. A sharp pain twisted in Steven''s chest.

    Sensing his silence, Jessica quickly said, "You should focus on work. I won''t keep you."

    "Mm," he muttered.

    After the call ended, Steven tossed his phone on the desk and stared nkly at the ceiling.

    The weight of the pressure seemed to increase within him. He didn''t know how to fix things. He only knew that if this continued, he might just lose his mind.

    I didn''t finish the tasks Zane assigned until it was time to clock out. After sending them all to him, I packed up my things.

    Zane nced at the drawings, then looked at me in surprise. "That was fast."

    "I figured if I finished it sooner, it''d be easierter on," I replied as I got up. "Let''s go."

    Zane waited until I was by his side before moving forward. "Mm."

    When we picked up Willow, we noticed Suzy there. She didn''t look too happy. Upon seeing us, she handed Penelope over and said, "You two can take her home for a bit. I have some things to take care of."This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Zane knew Suzy was highly capable at work. She always managed to solve any problems that came up. Whatever was troubling her now had to be rted to her ex-husband, Liam Summers.

    Zane nced at Penelope and had a hunch. "Is it rted to your ex-husband?" Suzy nodded. "Mm."

    At that moment, Willow came running out of kindergarten and grabbed my hand. Zane spoke up, "We''lle with you. If anything happens, we''ll have your back." Suzy didn''t answer right away. Instead, she looked at me.

 Chapter 233

    I asked in confusion, "You don''t want us to get involved?"

    Once she was sure I wasn''t against Zane helping, Suzy finally said, "I''d love that."

    ...

    When we arrived at the restaurant where Liam had arranged to meet, Zane and I led the two children to a window-side table.

    Neither of them knew what was about to happen. They were busy flipping through the menu, pointing at the pictures of food, and discussing which ones to pick. Penelope said, "I think this one looks good."

    Willow nodded in agreement.

    Zane patiently helped the children ce their orders, while I turned my attention to Suzy.

    ...

    Suzy sat there quietly, saying nothing.

    Liam sat across from her. As Suzy''s ex-husband and Penelope''s father, he knew her better than anyone else. He knew exactly how to handle her.

    Liam was the first to speak. "What gives you the right to take Penelope?"

    Suzy stared at him. "Don''t you already know why?

    "I''ll tell you, then. It''s because you didn''t pick up Penelope."

    Liam hurried to exin, "It''s because I''ve been busy with work."

    "Ha!" Suzy scoffed. "You don''t have a job now, do you?"

    All the household expenses fell on her.

    Most of the time, Suzy med herself for not being able to keep Penelope with her and for not spending enough time with her. She believed that by providing Penelope with more material things, she could make up for theck of a father''s love. As a result, she never trulyined. Yet, Liam was mistreating her daughter.

    After learning that Penelope had been mistreated in Liam''s household, Suzy was determined never to let her stay with him again.

    Liam tried to exin, "I''ve been looking for work. Besides, my entire family is against you taking Penelope. Suzy, if you were more reasonable, you''d return her to us."

    Liam threatened, "Otherwise, we''ll sue you."

    "Go ahead and sue," Suzy replied calmly. "The court will ask Penelope how she feels and investigate both households to see which environment is better for her. Clearly, my ie is higher than yours, and Penelope prefers me. So, you won''t win this battle." By the end, Suzy''s tone turned sharp and resolute.

    Liam knew Suzy was right. Realizing his approach wasn''t working, he softened his tone. "You promised to let us raise Penelope."

    Suzy didn''t argue. "At that time, I was busy with work and couldn''t care for her properly. I thought you would take good care of her. Who would have guessed you''d be so irresponsible?

    "You drop her off at school and never check on her. Every other child has a parent pick them up, while she''s left waiting alone."

    Suzy''s anger grew. "If you''d just shown a little care, Penelope would have hesitated before leaving with me. You should really think about your own behavior."

    With that, she grabbed her bag and prepared to leave.

    Liam grabbed her wrist. "You''re not going anywhere if you don''t return Penelope to me!"

    Zane stepped forward, coldly pulling Liam''s hand away from Suzy. "Didn''t anyone tell you it''s illegal to interfere with someone''s personal freedom?"

    Suzy quietly thanked him before rushing to Penelope''s side.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Liam red at Zane, but Zane stood firm with his hands in his pockets, meeting his gaze without fear.

 Chapter 234

    Liam eventually couldn''t hold out any longer and left in defeat.

    Zane sat down next to me. "He''ll definitely keep bothering you."

    Suzy silently tended to Penelope, not responding to Zane.

    Zane continued, "After all, you send them a decent amount of money every month. Without that ie, their lives would be in trouble."

    Suzy finally spoke, "I know..."

    Zane offered a suggestion, "The security in your neighborhood is excellent, so you don''t need to worry about that. Thepany''s also strict, and you can feel safeing and going from work." Suzy paused and looked up at Zane.

    Zane added, "Be cautious when you go out. They might find something to trouble you over."

    Suzy nodded thoughtfully. "I''ll be careful."

    Zane then asked, "Would you like thepany to hire a bodyguard for you?"

    Suzy looked at him in disbelief. "Is that possible?"

    "Of course," Zane replied calmly. "You''ve brought thepany a lot of profits. It''s only right that thepany invests a little in you."

    Suzy was deeply grateful. "Thank you so much."

    "You''re a great boss. I''ll work at yourpany for the rest of my life!" she joked.

    Not far away, Zachary sat in the car, watching Penelope quietly lean into Suzy''s arms. A wave of envy washed over him.

    He bitterly thought about how different things might have been if Annalise had taken him when she had divorced Steven.

    His gaze darkened as memories of the past flooded his mind. He now realized how foolish he had been to choose Jessica over Annalise. Even if Annalise had fought for custody, he likely would have rejected her.

    ...

    Willow climbed into the car and asked in confusion, "How could there be such men?"

    She was still young, and in her mind, a child''s biological parents should always treat them kindly. But Liam had shown her otherwise.

    Her fear grew. "I don''t want to get married! What if I end up with a husband like that? I''d be miserable."

    Her thoughts were simple-like all children''s.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    I didn''t argue, instead giving her a gentle smile. "If you understand the consequences of not marrying and you''re okay with that, I''ll support you. The same goes for marriage."

    Willow curled into my arms. "Okay."

    At home, the three of us happily followed Howard on a jog. Afterward, Howard said it was just a warm-up and began practicing the basics.

    ...

    As Zachary watched the family through the car window, he silently decided to start exercising, too. After all, he would do whatever Annalise had Willow do. That way, he could pretend Annalise was still by his side. Zachary could no longer see Annalise through the thick walls once they entered, so he reluctantly turned his gaze away and resumed studying phonics with Hannah.

    Hannah patiently taught him, and Zachary listened intently. Even though Annalise had pushed him away, he still wanted to be a child she could be proud of. Once the lesson was over, Zachary got out of the car. He turned to Harry and said, "Mr. Thompson, you can take Ms. Ludwig home now. I''ll just jog for a bit." Harry was concerned about Zachary, thinking it wasn''t safe for a child to be out alone.

    Hannah shared the same worry. "You don''t need to. We''ll stay with you."

    Zachary understood their concern and felt touched by their care for his well-being. He nodded earnestly. "Alright."

    He began to jog, with Hannah and Harry following behind him.

 Chapter 235

    After finishing her basic exercises, Willow went upstairs to practice speaking, leaving only Zane and me in the living room.

    Suddenly, Zane remembered the new doll in the trunk. He quickly headed toward the garage. "Let me grab the new doll and give it to her."

    "We should talk to Penelope first," I exined. "If she''s willing to help Willow, only then can we give her the doll."

    I paused, then added, "If we just hand it over without preparing her, what will we say when Willow finds out the grandparents'' dolls can talk back, but her friend''s can''t? How do we exin that?"

    Zane considered my suggestion and nodded. "You''re right. Should I hide the doll for now and take it out once Penelope agrees to y along?"

    "Exactly." I paused to think before adding, "It''d be best to wait until Willow canfortablymunicate with Milton and Dorothy first."

    Zane agreed, "Even if things don''t go smoothly with Penelope, at least Willow will have two more people she can talk to."

    I smiled. "That''s exactly what I was thinking."

    After her practice, Willow excitedly brought her dolls back to her room. "Grandpa, Grandma, guess what? I can read so many words now!" she eximed proudly.

    Just a few days ago, she had to sound out each word slowly. Yet today, some words came to her instantly.

    At first, she doubted herself, thinking she might have made a mistake. She spelled them out loud to check, and they matched perfectly with what she remembered. "Wow!" Milton was genuinely impressed. "You''re still in preschool and already learning to read?"

    Willow proudly nodded. "Yep!"

    Dorothy chimed in, "You''re so smart!"

    Willow grinned. "Thank you."

    Milton shook his head in disbelief. "Most kids I know don''t start learning to read until first grade. You''re ahead of the curve."

    Dorothy added with admiration, "Willow, you''re going to be extraordinary when you grow up."

    Willow epted the praise with a confident smile. "Of course!"

    ...

    Steven didn''t return to Jessica''s side that evening.

    He didn''t understand why the thought of being in the same space as her made him feel suffocated, even though he had decided to be with her and had mentally prepared for it.

    It was only when he was in the spacious apartment he had shared with Annalise for six years that his restless mind began to settle.

    He reached out to Jessica first. "I''m really busy today. So, I won''t being home."

    His calm voice carried a hint of subtle maism. "Are you scared of being home alone?"

    "No," Jessica replied understandingly. "You''ve had a long day. I get it."

    Only then did Steven rx. "That''s good."

    Jessica''s voice softened. "Don''t worry. I''ll take care of myself. As long as you spend time with me on the weekends and remind me you still love me, I''ll be fine."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    She deliberately emphasized the word "weekends" as she was worried Steven would return during the weekdays and affect her mood.

    "That''s good," Steven replied gently. "If you need anything, just buy it yourself. The card''s with you. Don''t worry about saving money for me." Hearing this, Jessica couldn''t help but chuckle. "Alright."

    Steven stared at the phone screen. The truth was, his rtionship with Jessica wasn''t particrly intimate. In fact, it felt somewhat distant. Jessica wasn''t nearly as caring as Annalise had been.

    Even though Steven no longer loved Annalise, he could still feel the depth of her unreserved love through their everyday interactions.

 Chapter 236

    Annalise poured all her energy into managing the home. Even though Steven earned money, she was careful never to spend it frivolously. In fact, she was always focused on saving, ensuring they had enough set aside for emergencies. Sadly, all the money Annalise saved never ended up being used by her. Instead, it was spent on Jessica. Even Steven found himself putting more effort into Jessica than he did with Annalise.

    Aplex, indescribable emotion surged within Steven.

    Annalise had given her heart, yet she had never been repaid.

    When Jessica noticed Steven''s silence, she ended the call.

    Steven couldn''t stop thinking about Annalise''s gentle smile, and his heart ached uncontrobly.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    Zane sat in the living room, waiting for Willow toe downstairs. When she didn''t, he sighed and said, "Ever since she started talking to Milton and Dorothy, she barely talks to us anymore." I was working on a drawing at the time. After hearing Zane''sment, I looked up at him with a smile. "Are you jealous?"

    Zane looked puzzled. "Aren''t you bothered by it?"

    "Hmm..." I thought carefully about how to answer Zane''s question. "When I first became a mother, I did feel a strong sense of possessiveness. I wanted my child to be the closest to me." Zane raised an eyebrow.

    "As I watched my child grow, meeting new people and ying with others, I saw how lively and happy he was. It made me realize something."

    I turned to Zane. "If you keep your child too close, they can''t grow. It''s important to give them space and respect their independence."

    Zane chuckled. "You really havee to terms with it."

    I raised an eyebrow. "I''ve always been like this."

    After finishing her chat with Milton and Dorothy, Willow skipped downstairs, heading toward us. "Mommy, Daddy, time to eat!"

    Like a little whirlwind, she quickly finished her meal and dashed back upstairs.

    Zane didn''t try to hide his envy.

    I continued working on myic, adding color to the details.

    After catching up on work progress during the day, I spent time drawing full-body sketches of the three main characters. As a result, I didn''t finish the coloring work that day. Once I got home, there was still a lot to do.

    Zane sat next to me, casually flipping through a book. "Don''t you think your days have started to feel repetitive? All you do is spend time with the kids and draw," Zane said.

    "Isn''t that what daily life is all about? Besides, I actually enjoy it. Even though every day feels the same, theic''s story keeps progressing, and the fan base is growing, too. I believe that if I keep working hard, I''ll have a great future, right?" I said with a smile. Zane calmly responded, "Yeah, I guess."

    ...

    Zane was careful not to let Annalise see what was on his mind, so he turned his gaze elsewhere.

    What troubled him now was how to move forward in his rtionship with Annalise.

    After finishing her work, Annalise bid him farewell and went upstairs to bed.

 Chapter 237

    Zane walked slowly to the floor-to-ceiling window. The lights in the yard were on, casting a calm, serene glow. He dialed Rowena''s number.

    Zane decided it was best to give Rowena a heads-up now. He didn''t want her to make things difficult for Annalise if he eventually ended up with her. Rowena curiously asked, "Why are you calling sote? What''s going on?"

    "I''m in love with someone," Zane replied, not intending to hide anything. "Mom, when I bring her home, I hope you''ll treat her well."

    Rowena sounded surprised. "When did you get a girlfriend?"

    Zane answered casually, "I haven''t even asked her out yet. I''m just giving you a heads-up."

    Rowena suddenly had a bad feeling. "This wouldn''t happen to be your nanny, would it?"

    Zane corrected her, "She''s not a nanny. She''s Willow''s mom."

    The confirmation made Rowena bristle. "Absolutely not! I won''t agree to this!"

    "You don''t get a say. It''s my choice," Zane replied calmly.

    Rowena continued to argue, "She''s been married with a child. Her family situation isn''t great, and she''s not right for you!"

    "I don''t see it that way," Zane replied coolly.

    After a pause, he added, "Let me warn you don''t cause her any trouble. If you do, I''ll cut off everyone''s allowance."

    Rowena was taken aback by how firmly Zane stood by Annalise. "Is she really worth it?"

    "Yes," Zane said without a hint of hesitation.

    Rowena heard the beep of the phone and set it aside. After thinking it over, she was sure that her good son shouldn''t be wasted on someone like Annalise.

    She silently decided to arrange a meeting with Annalise tomorrow, where she would make it clear that Zane wasn''t someone she should be interested in. She was determined to make sure Annalise understood her ce. With that thought, Rowena''s mood lifted slightly.

    ...Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    When Zachary returned home, Chloe immediately rushed over. "Did you eat outside?"

    Zachary forced a smile. "Mr. Thompson ordered takeout for me. I''m full. Don''t worry, Grandma."

    Chloe watched him closely, sensing something was off. "You''ve been looking downtely. What happened?"

    Zachary shook his head. "Nothing."

    "No. Something''s off," Chloe pressed. "You and Jessica used to be inseparable. You''d rather be with her than with your mother. Now that your mother''s out of the picture, shouldn''t you be sticking close to Jessica?" Zachary remained silent.

    Chloe continued, "Yet here you are, choosing to stay with me instead of going back. Is it because you''ve stopped liking her?"

    At first, Zachary thought keeping everything bottled up wasn''t so bad. After hearing his grandmother''s concern, a deep sense of grievance welled up in him.

    "At first, I thought Jessica would treat me like Mommy did," Zachary said, his voice trembling. "But after Daddy and Mommy divorced, everything changed. Once she moved in, she''d snap at me whenever Daddy wasn''t home. All her kindness was just an act." His tears flowed harder as he continued, "After seeing her true colors, I realized I''d made a terrible mistake."

    Chloe''s heart ached as she saw him cry. "It''s normal for kids to make mistakes. You just need to apologize and show you''re willing to change."

    Zachary replied, "Mommy won''t forgive me. I..."

    He knew this all too well, and the thought tore at him. He had done too many things that hurt Annalise.

    He couldn''t bear watching how gentle and loving Annalise was toward Willow. Each time he saw them together, it felt like his heart was being torn apart.

    At that moment, Zachary finally understood the depth of Annalise''s suffering back then. The pain of being betrayed by the person you love most was unbearable. Zachary bit his lip.

    Chloe asked, "Didn''t you dislike your mother?"

 Chapter 238

    Zachary wiped away his tears. "I didn''t realize how much Mommy cared for me until I lost her."

    He couldn''t continue. The words caught in his throat, and he feared that if he spoke any more, the tears woulde flooding back.

    He stood up slowly. "Grandma, I''m really tired. I think I''ll go to bed now."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    As Chloe watched him walk into his bedroom, her expression hardened with anger.

    She couldn''t stand Jessica, who had promised she would treat Zachary well. That promise was the reason Chloe had supported Jessica bing Steven''s wife, recing Annalise.

    As soon as Jessica took her ce, she started mistreating Zachary. Shepletely ignored everything she had promised Chloe.

    Zachary must have been devastated, with his real mother cast aside and now, his stepmother mistreating him.

    Chloe stood up slowly. It seemed she would need to have a serious conversation with Jessica the next day.

    ...

    The next morning, I didn''t immediately find Willow. Instead, I knocked on Zane''s door first.

    His voice came through, "Who is it?"

    "It''s me," I replied calmly.

    When he realized it was me, his tone softened slightly. "Come in."

    I hesitated, unsure if I should enter his bedroom. After a moment, I decided to say, "I''ll wait for you on the balcony. I need to talk to you." "Okay," he responded.

    After getting Zane''s confirmation, I headed to the balcony and sat down on the lounge chair.

    The morning view was especially beautiful. The dew on the leaves bent them, slowly dripping down.

    My mood lifted immediately as I watched the peaceful scenery.

    Zane walked up to me and asked, "What did you want to talk about?"

    I turned to look at him and said, "I was so caught up with work yesterday that there were a lot of things I didn''t rify with you."

    Zane raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

    I replied, "I think you should find time today to ask Penelope if she''d be willing to help."

    Yesterday, I had only expressed concern about Penelope not wanting to help and hadn''t offered a solution.

    Zane smiled. "No problem."

    After saying that, he asked a question that had been on his mind, "When do you think it would be a good time to bring her grandparents over?"

    I thought for a long time before answering, "I think today would be fine."

    Once we reached an agreement, I went to Willow''s room and knocked on the door.

    "Willow," I called.

    Willow''s voice came from inside, "Mommy, you''rete today. My practice is already over. Are you tired?"

    I couldn''t let Willow know what Zane and I had discussed, so I just nodded. "Yes, a bit."

    Willow frowned. "If you''re tired, you should rest properly."

    She firmly added, "Let Daddy pick me up today. You should stay home and sleep in a little longer."

    At that moment, I realized that telling one lie often led to many others. I smiled lightly. "No need. I woke upte because I overslept. I''ll just get a headache if I sleep more." Willow still looked concerned. "Are you sure?"

    I nodded. "Of course."

    Only then did Willow relent. "Okay, then."

    Although she said that, Willow kept ncing at me while running. She looked concerned that I might not manage, but she didn''t say anything.

    I kept up my usual pace, and only then did Willow seem to rx.

    I couldn''t help but smile at how considerate kids like Willow could be these days.

    Maybe it was all the exercise, but Willow''s well-being had improved a lot. She was eating more at breakfast now, and I was very pleased with that. Willow was growing, so it was important for her to eat well.

 Chapter 239

    After breakfast, I dropped Willow off at school. A sense of relief washed over me as I watched her happily run toward Penelope.

    Zane and I returned to the office. As soon as I sat down, I received a call from Rowena.

    "Come downstairs," she said.

    I was confused. "Huh?"

    Rowena sounded impatient as she said, "I need to talk to you."

    Since she was Willow''s grandmother and Zane''s mother, I figured she might want to discuss something rted to either of them, so I didn''t refuse. "Okay."

    We met at a local tea house not far from Huxham Corporation. Rowena ordered a pot of Earl Grey tea, poured herself a cup, and politely poured me one when she saw me approach. She got straight to the point. "Do you know why my son still isn''t married?"

    I shook my head.

    Rowena seemed pleased with my response. "When he was in school, there was a girl he secretly liked..."

    I couldn''t help but wonder why she was suddenly bringing up Zane''s past love life, especially since she had always disliked me so much.

    Seeing that I was listening attentively, Rowena continued with more enthusiasm, "Unfortunately, they didn''t end up together. Even now, Zane still thinks about her."

    Finally, I understood that Rowena was implying Zane had stayed single because of his first love.

    I asked, "If they were so happy together, why didn''t they end up dating?"

    I took a sip of my tea, then looked back at Rowena.

    She seemed puzzled. "Aren''t you upset?"

    I curiously asked, "Why should I be upset? Should I sympathize with Zane''s past just because I work for him?"

    Rowena frowned. "Don''t you like Zane?"

    I was caught off guard by the question. "He''s a good guy, but that doesn''t mean everyone has to love him, right?"

    As I said this, I suddenly realized what Rowena might be trying to do-she probably thought I liked Zane and was warning me to give up on him.

    I couldn''t help butugh at the thought.

    Rowena fell silent.

    ...

    After sending Zachary off to school, Chloe made a special trip to Jessica''s house.

    When Jessica saw Chloe, she excitedly went over to greet her and affectionately said, "Mom, what are you doing here?"

    She knew how important Chloe was to Steven, so she made sure to treat her well.

    Chloe didn''t get straight to the point. Instead, she subtly hinted, "Zachary was really close to you at first, so why has he been refusing toe home ever since you joined the Pelham family?" Despite her mistreatment of Zachary, Jessica shook her head and feigned innocence. "I don''t know. The school is far from here, and I haven''t been back muchtely. Could it be that Zachary and Steven had a falling out?" Chloe grew irritated and snapped, "Since I''m seeking you out myself, it means I already know everything! Yet, you''re still trying to fool me!"

    Jessica fell silent.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Chloe firmly said, "Let me warn you, Jessica. No matter how you''ve treated Zachary in the past, if you ever try to bully him again..." She lowered her voice and threatened, "I have plenty of ways to deal with you." Jessica''s face darkened.

    Chloe then left, feeling satisfied now that she had delivered her warning.

    ...

    Back at the office, Zane stopped what he was doing and walked over to me. "What did she say to you?" he asked.

    "She said you''re still single because you''re waiting for your ''first love," I answered, then asked curiously, "By the way, what is she like?"

 Chapter 240

    Zane calmly exined, "She''s lying to you."

    I blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

    Zane''s tone grew more serious. "I''ve never had feelings for anyone, not a single woman."

    I didn''t understand why he was suddenly rifying this, but I shrugged it off. "You''re not getting any younger. It''s normal to like someone."

    With that, I turned to myputer and began working.

    Zane said nothing more. He simply gazed at Annalise. He couldn''t help but wonder when she would finally recognize his feelings for her and ept his love.

    ...

    After Chloe left, Jessica rubbed her pregnant belly, still feeling upset. She was furious.

    How dare Chloee into her house and confront her like that?

    Fuming, Jessica dialed Steven''s number. "Hey, are you busy?"

    Steven had been swamped with work and was forced to put in overtime to catch up on his backlog. However, when he saw Jessica calling, he stopped his work and answered patiently, "What''s wrong?"

    Jessica sniffled softly, "I don''t know what I did wrong. Your mom just came over and yelled at me for no reason. I''m an adult, so it doesn''t really matter to me. However, I''m carrying your child. What if something happens because of this?" Steven felt no sympathy at all when he heard her crying on the phone. Instead, he was filled with an indescribable annoyance. "I''ll talk to my mom about thister," he replied.

    Satisfied, Jessica responded with a soft, "Mm."

    ...

    Steven didn''t immediately contact Chloe. Instead, hey back in his office, deeply reflecting on the recent events.

    It felt like ever since he got together with Jessica, she constantly stirred up trouble every few days. He always had to carve out time to clean up after her.

    However, things had been different when he was married to Annalise. During their six years of marriage, Annalise always handled things herself and rarely caused family conflicts, no matter what happened. Although Steven found all of Jessica''s theatrics to be a hassle, he still decided to contact Chloe in an effort to appease her.

    "Mom," he said.

    Chloe had just left Jessica''s ce when she received Steven''s call. Even a fool could guess that Jessica had called toin about her to Steven.

    Chloe''s dislike for Jessica only grew. She feigned indifference and asked, "What''s going on?"

    Steven continued, "Jessica is pregnant. She needs to be well taken care of. You need to be careful how you handle things with her. If she gets upset, it could affect the baby''s development."

    Chloe replied sharply, "So, what you''re saying is that just because she''s pregnant, we should tolerate everything she does?"

    "Yes," Steven replied.

    Chloe couldn''t believe it. "Even if she''s mistreating Zach, I''m not allowed to stand up for him?"

    Steven tried to exin, "She''s been holding backtely."

    Chloe raised her voice. "Holding back? It''s because Zachary is staying with me that she hasn''t been able to secretly mistreat him, but that doesn''t mean she''s changed!"

    She added, "Steven, you''d better understand something. You don''t even know if Jessica is having a boy or a girl, but Zachary is your real son! If you focus all your attention on Jessica and start neglecting Zachary..." Chloe paused, then continued angrily, "If Jessica has a daughter, you''ll regret it!"

    Steven was too worn out to deal with these issues. Every day, just trying to get along with Jessica drained all his patience. "What if it''s a boy?" he asked wearily.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    "Does that automatically make him better than Zachary?" Chloe retorted, not giving him an inch..

 Chapter 241

    Steven remained silent.

    Chloe pressed on, "Whenever I went to your house to give Annalise some advice, she kept quiet and never stirred up trouble. But the moment I exchanged a few words with Jessica, she''d run straight to you to badmouth me. What kind of person does that? "Steven, it''s time you opened your eyes and saw her for who she really is!"

    After hanging up the phone, Chloe was furious.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    Since Jessica loved toin so much, Chloe decided to pay her a visit and see how she would handle it.

    ...

    Finally, I caught up with my work and finished all my tasks for the day by midday. I stretchedzily, nning to send out theic.

    "Since the merchandise is already in production..." Zane began.

    I looked up at Zane.

    He continued, "Remember to add the links so people can buy them. Otherwise, no one will."

    "Okay." I followed his instructions and added the purchase link. When it was time to set the price, I paused.

    I turned to Zane. "How much?"

    Zane replied, "I asked Eric. The market price is usually around 138 dors each, but we''ll set ours at 80 dors. A lower price will attract more buyers."

    Zane''s logic was simple. If thisic became a hit, the merchandise would be highly sought-after, too. In this case, setting a lower price would lead to a sharp increase in sales.

    "Alright." I wasn''t familiar with all the details, so I decided to go with Zane''s n.

    Zane casually added, "Your royalty is 15%. That means you''ll earn 12 dors for each doll sold."

    I nodded in agreement and entered the price Zane suggested before submitting it.

    Once everything was done, I took my time to post the content for today''s update while also adding a purchase link in thements.

    Finally, I reclined on the couch and casually checked my stats. I had expected to have only ten thousand followers at most. To my surprise, the count had soared to over 20 thousand followers in total. I had assumed only one tform would show such growth. After checking the others, I realized that thergest tform was approaching 30 thousand followers, and even the smallest had over 20 thousand followers.

    The views on my individual videos had also skyrocketed, reaching a total of 200 thousand views.

    The likes andments were pouring in as well. I stared at my phone for a while, carefully analyzing the data.

    ...

    Zane sat in the meeting room, listening as Eric stood across from him and reported, "The dolls are selling even better than we expected, Mr. Huxham. We might need to hire some people to handle the shipping."

    Zane nodded in agreement. "Have HR arrange it."

    "Got it," Eric replied.

    This was Eric''s first time in theic industry, and he had no prior knowledge of it. Seeing how a rtively small fan base of Annalise could generate such strong sales was eye-opening.

    When the dolls first went on sale, nearly 2,000 people bought them on the first day. Eric couldn''t help but wonder what would happen when Annalise''s followers grew into the millions. The potential sales for the merchandise would be staggering. Eric cautiously asked, "Should we take this opportunity to develop other merchandise rted to theic?"

 Chapter 242

    "Yes," Zane replied decisively. "We''re short-handed. Go to the HR department and have them handle the recruitment. As long as the candidates have the right skills, money won''t be an issue."

    Eric, who had worked with Zane for a long time, knew how generous Zane could be. He smiled and replied, "Got it."

    After leaving the meeting room, Eric went straight to the HR department. He briefed them on the roles that needed to be filled and the standards required and made it clear that he would personally interview the applicants to decide who to keep.

    Zane returned to his office and walked over to me. "I have good news," he said.

    I looked up at him. "What is it?"

    "The sales of the dolls are doing exceptionally well," Zane said as he sat across from me. "The link has only been out for less than two hours, and we''ve already sold 2,000 units."

    I was surprised. "Really? People are buying them?"

    Zane smiled and exined, "Kids these days really like them. After this batch sells out, your earnings should be around 24 thousand dors."

    As a businessman, Zane didn''t even need to calcte the numbers-he knew the approximate figures as soon as the data came in.

    He continued slowly, "Once the promotion picks up and your fan base grows to a million, the monthly merchandise revenue could bring in several million dors."

    He reached out his hand. "Congrattions! You won''t need to work overtime doing side gigs anymore."

    I felt like I was dreaming as I listened to Zane''s analysis. I couldn''t believe I was making this much money.

    I reached out and took his hand. "If it weren''t for you, I never would''ve gotten this opportunity. Thank you."

    "You''re wee," Zane replied. He didn''t let go of my hand and simply gazed at me, as if afraid I might quit.

    He smiled and asked, "When you be a little rich, will you still want to be Willow''s mom?"

    Without hesitation, I answered, "Of course, Zane..."

    I looked him in the eye. "I really like Willow. As long as you don''t ask me to leave, I''ll stay by her side and be there for her as she grows up." Zane finally seemed relieved. "Thank you."

    Only then did Zane finally release my hand. I took out my phone to check the ie from each ount. To my surprise, the total came to 5,000 dors.

    The ount''s homepage, which featured Huxham Corporation''s products, showed that a few units had been sold, earning me an additional 2,000 dors inmission.

    Altogether, the three sums added up to approximately 31 thousand dors. With my sry for taking care of Willow, my total monthly ie would be 100 thousand dors. The best part was that this ie would keep growing. If I saved, I could easily umte at least a million dors a year.

    I could hardly believe my eyes as I repeatedly calcted the numbers. After confirming that I hadn''t made a mistake, I excitedly hugged Zane. "Thank you!" Zane returned the hug. "You''re wee."

    When I first divorced Steven, all I wanted was a job to earn enough to support myself. I never imagined that one day, my assets would exceed a million dors. "I''m so happy!" I eximed.

    Zane gently patted my back. "Anna, you''ll make even more in the future."

    "Mm!" I nodded.

    I released Zane and returned to my work, feeling more motivated than ever. I looked at the growing stack of uncolored drafts, but I wasn''t the least bit frustrated. All I wanted to do was work overtime.

    After that, Zane went back to his desk. I propped my chin on my hand, debating whether to save all this money or start my own business.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 243

    Zane watched Annalise. The extra ie was just 31 thousand dors, yet, it had made her so happy. But to him, it still felt far from enough. After

    thinking it over, he left his office to find Eric.

    Eric looked up, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Mr. Huxham?"

    Zane walked over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. "I''ve been considering our ns for developing heric series. I realize we''re not doing nearly enough."

    Eric could tell that Zane had more ideas. "Oh?"

    Zaneid out his thoughts calmly, saying, "We could trante heric into othernguages andunch it worldwide. With arger reader base, merchandise sales would soar." Eric quickly grabbed his notebook to jot it down.

    Zane continued, "We also need to speed up domestic licensing. Ideally, we should bring in a team to adapt theic into an animated series. That way, more kids can enjoy it.

    "At the same time, we should work with publishers to print theic and distribute it in major bookstores. Once the hype builds, merchandise sales will skyrocket."

    He paused before adding, "We need to ensure there''s a solid inventory of merchandise."

    "Got it!" Eric had been nning to take things slow but hadn''t considered getting so far ahead in their preparations. He could now see the vast difference in their perspectives. Going forward, he resolved to think further ahead and be prepared for challenges in advance. After taking notes, Eric nced up. "Mr. Huxham, Annalise won''t feel the impact of everything you''re doing. She''ll only think of you as an incredibly supportive boss. I''m not exactly an expert on romance, but I don''t think she''ll understand your intentions."

    This was Zane''s dilemma, and he knew it well. "You''re right, which is why I need to tread carefully. If Ie on too strong, she might grow distant, and I''d lose my chance altogether."

    Zane was cautious with his feelings. If he couldn''t find a way to make Annalise see him differently, he would keep things steady for now. As long as she was by his side, he still had a chance.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    He suddenly looked at Eric with mild curiosity. "Why did you bring this up? Do you know what women like?"

    Eric shook his head honestly. "I don''t even have a girlfriend."

    ...

    At the end of the school day, Zane and I arrived promptly at the kindergarten entrance. After a busy afternoon at the office, the sketches I had stored up were gradually running out.

    It would only take about ten more days to finish all the coloring. Once I reached that point, my daily workload would ease, giving me more time to consider how best to use this substantial new ie. When Willow finished school, she reluctantly looked back at Penelope as she walked out the gate.

    Penelopeughed and waved at her. "You don''t need to wait for me. My mom will be here to pick me up soon!"

    No sooner had she finished speaking when Suzy jogged up to the school gate.

    Penelope ran into Suzy''s arms. "Mommy, I missed you so much!"

    Suzy, the corporate powerhouse at work, melted under Penelope''s affection. She gently ran her fingers through Penelope''s hair. "Good girl."

    Willow stood rooted in ce, watching them intently.

    I couldn''t help but smile. "Since you want to y with her so much, why not invite them over to our house?"

 Chapter 244

    Suzy, who was holding Penelope, overheard what I said and turned around to say, "We wouldn''t want to trouble you."

    "It''s no trouble at all." As Zane suddenly remembered that he had some matters to attend to, he remarked, "I happen to have something to take care of, so I can''t go home with them." Hearing what he said, Suzy offered with a smile. "I can take them instead."

    "Thank you," Zane thanked her before pulling me aside. After hesitating for a while, he finally said, "Be careful on your way home."

    I huffed, "How old do you think I am? Of course, I will. Don''t worry."

    After a moment, I added, "You should be careful, too."

    Zane only smiled when he heard thatst sentence. "Alright."

    ...

    Suzy drove the car, and since the two children wanted to whisper to each other in the backseat, I had to sit in the passenger seat.

    Right then, Suzy spoke, her words clearly hinting at something, "Mr. Huxham seems to treat you better than most people."

    I didn''t deny it, saying, "Maybe it''s because Willow refers to me as her mommy, so in his eyes, I might be considered his family. That''s probably why he''s kinder to me, I suppose." Other than that, I couldn''t think of any other exnation.

    "Is that so?" Suzy asked with a smile but didn''t say much else after that.

    After all, this was someone else''s rtionship. She was worried that saying something inappropriate might cause trouble.

    ...

    When Zachary got into the car, Harry handed him his phone. "I found aic online today, and it seems like your mom drew it. It mainly records her experiences with Willow and her family."

    Zachary casually took the phone. Looking at theic on the screen, he awkwardly said, "I don''t know a lot of the words here."

    Harry took the phone back before earnestly reading out the text of theic to Zachary.

    As Zachary listened, he felt so distressed that he couldn''t stop his tears from falling. "So Mommy was this miserable when she first left home."

    He felt like such an ungrateful jerk! How could he have been so heartless as to hurt the mother who only wanted the best for him?

    Seeing Zachary cry so bitterly, Harry couldn''t bear to continue reading theic anymore. "Let''s catch up with them first."

    "Okay," Zachary muttered softly. As hey in the car seat, he couldn''t stop thinking about Annalise.

    When Annalise divorced Steven, she didn''t take a single penny from him. And when she applied to work at Zane''s ce, she was even worried he wouldn''t hire her. Without a job, Annalise would have had nowhere to go. The more Zachary thought about it, the sadder he felt.

    Moreover, Steven was a terrible person for spending moneyvishly on Jessica and refusing to give Annalise a single cent.

    The thought of all of this made Zachary hate Steven even more.

    ...

    When Zane arrived at Milton''s ce, he pressed the doorbell. As the sound of the doorbell rang out, it didn''t take long for Milton''s footsteps to be heard approaching from inside. Seeing Zane at the door surprised Milton. "Why are you here?"

    They rarely contacted each other, and even if Zane did, it was about Willow''s matters.

    Zane exined unhurriedly, "You''ve been talking to Willow every day. You must have noticed that she has gradually befortable with normal conversations with you, right?" Milton immediately opened the door wide to invite Zane inside. "Yes."

    Zane didn''t refuse his invitation. "After talking to Annalise, we both think that it''s time to bring you two over to Willow''s side so that you can be around her.

    "She can start talking to you two through the dolls in her room, but she''ll converse with you normally elsewhere. This way, she might recover faster."

    Milton was taken aback. Being able to live in the same space as Willow was a dreame true for him. "Then, should we start packing now?"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Zane calmly answered, "You don''t have to. I can have my housekeeper prepare new clothes for you."

    "That''d be such a waste of money!" Right after Milton spoke, he quickly raised his voice to yell, "Honey!" Dorothy answered when she heard him, "Yes?"

 Chapter 245

    Milton ryed everything Zane had just said to Dorothy.

    When she heard everything, she quickly pulled out her suitcase to pack the things she wanted to bring along. Seeing this, Milton was not to be outdone, as he also went to pack. They didn''t have much to bring, but everything they had was enough for their use. Once the two brought their suitcases to the door, Zane took the initiative to load them into the trunk.

    Milton and Dorothy sat in the back seat. As Zane drove, he observed the elderly couple through the rearview mirror.

    Knowing that they had to be more experienced in life since they were much older, he was sure that they had a deeper understanding of rtionships than the younger generation.

    After much thought, Zane decided to ask straightforwardly, "What do you two think is the best way to pursue a woman one likes?"

    Hearing this, Milton and Dorothy exchanged a nce before revealing mysterious smiles. "Are you talking about Annalise?" Even though they hadn''t had many interactions with Annalise, they could still tell that she was a kind and thoughtful person. As such, they both actually had a good impression of her.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    Zane answered with a smile, "That''s right."

    Dorothy, with the air of someone experienced, said, "A family-oriented woman like Annalise should be easy to pursue.

    "You just have to show your dependable side in daily life. Make her feel that life with you will befortable and free of betrayal. If you do that, she''ll likely consider you." This was what Dorothy thought.

    Milton piped up, "You should also show your vulnerable side in front of her. With howpassionate she is, she''ll definitelyfort you. That will bring the two of you closer!"

    Dorothy nodded in agreement. "Also, when giving gifts, it''s best to prepare two so you can give one to Willow as well. If Annalise asks why you got her one, just say you got it since you were already picking up a gift for Willow." The two of them took turns giving their advice.

    As what they said made a lot of sense, Zane listened, finding their advice very helpful.

    Back at home, Howard had already arrived.

    Willow habitually wanted to start her training, but I stopped her.

    Turning to Suzy, I asked, "Would your daughter like to join us for a run?"

    After ncing between me and Penelope, Suzy wanted to respect Penelope''s choice, so she asked, "Would you like to join?"

    "I would like to," Penelope said in a serious tone.

    Since Penelope agreed, Suzy naturally didn''t object and said with a smile, "Go ahead, then."

    Penelope then insisted Suzy do it with her, so thetter had no choice but to follow behind us for training.

    ...

    Steven was alone in his office, his mind inplete disarray.

    Since Jessica hadn''t reached out to him for the past two days, the difort in his heart had entirely disappeared. Except for asionally feeling sad when thinking of Annalise, he felt fine most of the time. Steven felt utterly confused because everyone around him kept emphasizing that he loved Jessica.

    Could love feel so stifling? He really wasn''t sure. All he knew was that if he continued to be with Jessica, he''d go crazy sooner orter.

    As such, in order to continue being a sane person in the future, he wondered if he should just stop listening to what others were saying and just follow his heart.

    If being around Annalise brought him joy, then should he just spend more time with her? And if he felt repelled by Jessica, should he just ignore her for now? Right then, his phone beeped as a text message was received.

 Chapter 246

    Steven nced at the text message-it was a statement of Jessica''s expenses. He didn''t know what she bought, but the charge was over 200 thousand dors. Steven turned off his screen.

    It was Annalise who had been with him during tough times. She had never squandered his money or bought anything extravagant. In contrast, Jessica was only with him after he became wealthy, yet she spentvishly every day. Steven looked away, thinking he ought to set aside some time to properly figure out what led to the vast contrast in his emotions when interacting with Annalise and Jessica.

    After that, he needed to carefully consider the consequences of losing each of them to see if he could take it before making a decision.

    ...

    By the time Zane brought the old couple to the vi, Willow was already done with her workout. Though she was panting heavily, she seemed very happy.

    Her eyes sparkled as she turned to look at Penelope.

    Penelope''s eyes were full of admiration. "You can run that far? That''s amazing!"

    Willow raised her chin, looking very proud.

    When Zane saw her, he said, "Your grandpa and grandma are here!"

    Putting aside his pride, Milton jogged over to Willow and asked, "Did you miss me?"

    Willow got up from the grass and nodded heavily.

    Dorothy approached her as well. "What about me?"

    Willow continued to nod fervently.

    Penelope approached the trio before standing behind Willow.

    Zane introduced, "This is Willow''s friend from kindergarten."

    The two elders greeted Penelope warmly before leading the kids to the side to y.

    I nced at Zane, who immediately understood my thoughts and said to Suzy, "Let''s head to the living room."

    With the two elders watching the kids, Suzy naturally wasn''t worried and followed us to the living room.

    With a smile, I said, "Have a seat."N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    Zane walked over to the fridge, asking, "What would you like to drink?"

    Suzy politely replied, "in water is fine."

    "To tell you the truth, the reason we asked you over is to discuss something," I began calmly. "As you already know, Willow has autism."

    After pouring a ss of water, Zane handed it to Suzy, who quickly thanked him.

    Zane then sat beside me and said, "What we currently want to try is using dolls to help Willow with her recovery."

    I then exined, "We n to custom-make a cotton doll that looks like Penelope and have Willow start by talking to it.

    "Once she gets used to talking to the doll, we''ll ce a walkie-talkie inside it. If you''re willing to help us, we''ll give the other walkie-talkie to Penelope. This way, the two of them can start chatting."

    After I finished, I looked at Suzy.

    Suzy answered without any hesitation, "You two have helped me so much, so it''s only right that I help you. Besides, this would also be good for Penelope."

    Nheless, she didn''t dare to agree immediately. "How about I talk to Penelope about it first? And if she agrees to it, I''ll call you right away."

    "That would be great. Thank you," I said sincerely.

    That was when Suzy quickly added, "Penelope only has Willow as her friend at school. She was just telling me yesterday how nice it would be if Willow could talk. I think she''s also eager tomunicate with Willow, so there''s no need to thank me."

    In the backseat of the car, Zachary saw that Annalise had posted the purchase links for the dolls in thement section.

    There were three in total-one was of Willow, one of Zane, and finally, one of Annalise.

    As he added Annalise''s doll to the shopping cart, he snorted at the dolls of Zane and Willow.

    They were the ones who took Annalise away from him, so he would not buy their dolls. However, they were also the ones who gave Annalise a new life.

    If he didn''t purchase the other two, would Annalise feel scared when she returned with him? Would she be afraid that Steven would treat her badly because of Jessica?

 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 ament in Annalise''sment 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 thement section.

    To his surprise, many others had posted simrments.

    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 drawnics 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 definitelyugh at him.

    Annalise had finally found people who truly appreciated herics 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 reced 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 themute back home wouldn''t take that long. Steven took out his phone to check his bank bnce.

    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 vis-once owned, few would want to sell. Steven ended the call, feeling a bit disappointed.

    His gaze was fixed on the vis.

    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 youin 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?" Only when Steven looked at Zachary''s face did he realize that thetter had a look of refusal and hostility. "I didn''t say that."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    "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.

 Chapter 248

    Penelope and Willow had a great time ying until 9:00 pm.

    Suzy had no choice but to urge Penelope, saying that it was time to head home now. After all, they needed to sleep earlier since she had work the next day, whereas Penelope needed to attend kindergarten. Penelope reluctantly let go of Willow''s hand. "Then, let''s y again tomorrow, okay?"

    To show her sincerity, Willow nodded fervently.

    Since Liam was still lurking like a predator, we decided to apany her, worried about Suzy going home alone with a child.

    With Zane driving, I sat in the passenger seat.

    Suzy, who was sitting in the back with Penelope, teased us with a smile, "It seems like the passenger seat is only reserved for Annalise. Is that the case, Mr. Huxham?"

    Zane didn''t deny it, calmly saying, "She is Willow''s mother, after all."

    As Suzy noticed that I was staying silent, she asked, "Do you have ns to get married?"

    I answered honestly, "Not at the moment."

    Suzy sighed before remarking, "I guess it''s true that divorced women don''t usually rush into another marriage."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Zane turned to look at me. "Really?"

    "Yeah," I admitted honestly. "After being hurt, one would start doubting marriage, the opposite sex, and even oneself."

    I then continued at my own pace, "I wonder if marriage always ends this way, and I have started to think that maybe everyone gets tired of their partner eventually.

    "Or am I just not good enough for someone great? Over time, it seems like being alone and being free is better. I wouldn''t have to consider anyone else for the rest of my life."

    After saying that, I turned to look out the window.

    Suzy agreed wholeheartedly, "I feel the same way."

    ...

    At home, only Willow and her grandparents remained. She stared at her two rtives before her with big round eyes.

    Dorothy and Milton met her gaze and became extremely nervous.

    If Willow were to speak to them, how should they respond to her? Should they act shocked, as if they''d never spoken to her before? But wouldn''t that scare her? Yet, if they seemed too calm, wouldn''t Willow feel ack of aplishment and stop speaking? As they wrestled with their thoughts, Willow suddenly stood up and ran upstairs.

    The sound of her footsteps faded into the distance.

    Dorothy and Milton exchanged a look before sighing in unison.

    They were deeply conflicted. On one hand, they were sure that Willow would not be able to speak to them. Yet, on the other hand, they were still hopeful that a miracle would happen.

    "Grandpa, Grandma, can you hear me?" Willow''s voice came through the walkie-talkie.

    Dorothy quickly said, "Yes, we can."

    "What should I do?" Willow asked in distress. "Grandpa and Grandma are right downstairs, but I just can''t get myself to talk to them. Does that make me a bad person?"

    Milton''s heart ached when he heard her. "How could that make you a bad person?"

    "Then, what do I call this?" Willow asked curiously.

    Milton nced at Dorothy, prompting her to carefully choose her words when she said, "Willow, don''t force or me yourself for the things you can''t do. You just can''t do what you''re unable to do, understand?" After Willow nodded, she realized that they couldn''t see her, so she continued to ask, "Can you help me think of a solution?"

    Milton suggested, "Since you can talk to the dolls, why don''t you try bringing the dolls downstairs, put them next to us, and imagine you''re talking to the dolls instead when, in fact, you''d actually be talking to us?" "That''s a great idea!" Willow thought Milton was a genius foring up with such an amazing solution. "I''ll give it a try!"

 Chapter 249

    As Willow spoke, she put down the walkie-talkie, held the big dolls in her hands, and huffed and puffed her way to the staircase.

    When Dorothy and Milton saw this, they hurried to her and helped take the dolls from her as they were worried she might fall.

    Standing by the couch, Willow ced the doll that resembled Milton next to him. Then, she ced the doll resembling Dorothy beside her. She sat beside her grandparents, pretending that the ones apanying her were not her grandparents but the two dolls.

    Willow cautiously called out, "Grandpa?"

    Milton hadn''t expected that he''d live to see the day Willow called him "Grandpa" in front of him. His feelings were incredibly mixed.

    Seeing him hesitate to speak, Dorothy reached out to tap him.

    Only then did Milton answer, "Yes, I''m here!"

    Willow blinked a couple of times, abruptly finding this incredible. Talking to others wasn''t as hard as she had imagined!

    She then said, "Grandma?"

    "I''m here, sweetie," Dorothy said almost immediately, afraid that any dy might make Willow misunderstand and think she didn''t love thetter.

    Feeling rxed for once, Willow remarked, "I really wanted to visit you two since a long time ago, but I was afraid my inability to speak would disappoint you."

    "That would never happen!" Dorothy immediately replied. "As long as you''re willing to be with us, no matter your state, we''ll always be happy."

    "Really?" Willow asked incredulously, "Do you two like me that much?"

    Milton and Dorothy both smiled when they heard her question. "Of course!"

    After dropping Suzy and Penelope at their ce, Zane drove me back.

    On the way home, Suzy called to tell us that Penelope had agreed to help Willow.

    Zane said earnestly, "Thank you."

    Suzy chuckled softly. "You''re wee."

    She still had to spend time with Penelope, so we didn''t say much else before hanging up.

    ncing at me through the rearview mirror, Zane asked, "Have you really never thought about remarrying?"

    "For the time being, no." I expressed my true thoughts, saying, "But I''ll leave the future to fate. What if I meet someone I like?"

    Zane sighed in relief upon hearing my response.

    ...

    When Zachary returned home, he greeted Chloe before heading to his bedroom.Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org.

    His head was full of the things Steven had said, and the more he thought about them, the angrier he got. That was when he decided that he wanted to take revenge on Steven. However, he was just a child who couldn''t do much to upset an adult.

    After much hesitation, Zachary finally decided to pull out his phone to text Steven. "Mommy doesn''t want you anymore."

    ...

    The moment Steven received the message, his heart felt like it was being pierced by a needle. It was painful an overwhelming one.

    Steven was still very confused and had many unresolved questions, but Zachary''s text message was able to effortlessly cause him to lose hisposure.

    How could that be?

    Even if he had done some hurtful things to Annalise, she was still someone who had loved him deeply. He believed that Annalise couldn''t possibly move on from their rtionship so quickly. With that thought, he gradually calmed down.

    He believed he needed to teach Zachary a proper lesson for being able to upset others with just words when he was still so young.

    Once Zane and I got home, Milton and Dorothy turned to look at us. They then winked at Zane.

    Dorothy said with a smile, "It''ste. Willow should go to bed now. You two should sleep early as well. Good night."

    After speaking, she led Willow upstairs.

    Zane understood that Milton and Dorothy wanted to give us some space to be alone.

    Not wanting to waste their good intentions, he walked over to the fridge, took out a can of beer, and then turned to me, asking, "Want one?"

    "No, thanks." I didn''t like the taste of beer, though I remembered that Zane usually didn''t drink either. "Do you have something on your mind?"

 Chapter 250

    "Kind of." Zane brought the beer to the balcony before he sat down. "I just suddenly feel a lot of pressure."

    The view there was better. Most importantly, this location was different from the living room, where anyone could just pass by and ruin the atmosphere.

    Zane decided to test whether what Dorothy and Milton said was right, so he lowered his head.

    When I looked at him, I noticed that he seemed especially lonely, so I sat down next to him. "Why?"

    "I used to think that I could solve most problems as long as I worked hard," Zane remarked as he gazed at the distant stars. His cold voice also carried a rare trace of loneliness.

    "But as I think about it, the number of employees under me keeps growing, and their lives seem to weigh on my shoulders as well. I can''t let anything happen to me. Otherwise, who will pay them?" As he spoke, he picked up his beer can and took a sip.

    I was just an ordinary employee. Most of the time, I thought it was enough so long as I did my part.

    But hearing what Zane said and putting myself in his shoes, I suddenly felt that the burden on his shoulders was indeed overwhelmingly heavy. "That''s true."

    Zane put down the beer in his hand. "That main thing is that I can''t share the burden with anyone. I can only rely on myself."

    I got up and stood in front of him. "If you''re really exhausted, why not take a break and let yourself rest for a while?"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Zane gently hugged me. "Anna, anything I could delegate to others, I did a long time ago. Now, the tasks that reach me are the ones where I have to make the decisions."

    I hugged him back. Only after a long time did I finally have an idea of how tofort him. "It''s okay. I''m here."

    ...

    Steven, who was in the car, had yet to go home, so he saw Annalise hugging Zane. It was as if he was struck by lightning.

    When did those two be so close?

    He couldn''t help but recall what Zachary said about Annalise not wanting him anymore.

    Steven had originally thought that no matter how harshly Annalise spoke to him or how coldly she treated him, it was just her being angry with him and that she hadn''t truly forgotten him.

    He was sure that she would reconcile with him as long as he was willing to apologize to her. But now, he wasn''t so sure anymore.

    Steven knew very well that Annalise was a woman with a strong sense of boundaries, which was why she never had overly intimate interactions with the opposite sex.

    Yet, she was being so intimate with Zane right then.

    Could it be true that she had already forgotten him, their six years together, and the thousands of days and nights they shared?

    Steven refused to ept this reality. After much deliberation, he decided to meet Annalise tomorrow to properly ask her what was going on between her and Zane.

    Zane''s emotions finally stabilized after a long time.

    I returned to the bedroom to work. After finishing the tasks I needed to handle in the afternoon, I seriously thought about Zane''s situation.

    As Zane''s subordinate, what should I do to ease his stress? Should I give him a massage? Maybe I should actively encourage him.

    It didn''t take long before I dismissed those thoughts. After all, Zane and I just had a superior and subordinate rtionship. No matter what I said, it wouldn''t be appropriate. After much hesitation, I decided to work harder and earn more money.

    If something really did happen to Zane, I could use my savings to support them and make sure they didn''t go hungry.

    With that thought, I felt much more at ease.

 Chapter 251

    As Willowy on the bed, Dorothy sat beside her.

    Willow''s big eyes sparkled as she asked, "Grandpa, Grandma, are you still sad?"

    Afraid that her question wasn''t clear enough, she quickly added, "It''s been so many years since Mommy passed away..."

    "Well, of course, there will still be some sadness." Dorothy continued with a sigh, "But since it''s been a long time now, we''re not as sad anymorepared to how we were in the beginning."

    Willow also looked a little down. "Me, too. Mommy was very kind and gentle to me. I really liked her, so I never understood why she left me."

    Her father was the same. The mere thought of losing both her beloved family members so suddenly filled her with unbearable pain and tears.

    Milton didn''t want Willow to cry, so he said, "It''s okay, Willow. You have a new mommy now."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    The sad Willow felt a little better when she heard what he said. "That''s true. This mommy is also very good to me."

    When Willow woke up in the morning, she unexpectedly found that her grandparents were gone.

    In a panic, she didn''t even get ready before rushing out the door. When she saw me, her eyes were full of tears. "Mommy, where are Grandpa and Grandma?" "They slept downstairsst night," I exined.

    It was rather taxing on them to stay upstairs. As such, Zane arranged for their rooms to be on the first floor.

    Willow was puzzled. "They didn''t go home?"

    With a smile, I nodded. "As long as you are okay with it, they can stay here forever."

    "Really?" Willow asked in disbelief.

    Right then, Zane came out of the bedroom and calmly replied, "Of course."

    After trotting downstairs, Willow found her grandparents already dressed and in the living room. She scratched her head shyly. "You guys are up so early." Milton and Dorothy were both stunned.

    Just yesterday, Willow could only speak to them with the help of her dolls. Yet today, she could already talk directly to them?

    It was Dorothy who reacted first. "That''s right."

    Willow announced, "I''ll go wash up first!"

    Watching Willow dash back to the second floor made meugh.

    Willow went upstairs to brush her teeth, wash her face, and exercise. By the time she came back down, she was in her sportswear.

    She then pulled her grandparents along. "You''re getting older, so you need to exercise, too."

    Milton and Dorothy indulged her unconditionally. "Okay."

    In the end, the morning exercise group grew to five people.

    Willow made sure to watch Milton and Dorothy that day. Once she confirmed they could keep up, she felt relieved.

    I nced at Willow from time to time. Seeing her put on an adult-like expression made me want to smile.

    After the run, Zane brought the box that contained the custom-made doll of Penelope to Willow.

    The puzzled Willow asked, "What''s this?"

    Zane answered honestly, "This is your friend."

    Willow took the box, opened it, and looked inside. Her jaw dropped in surprise. "It really looks like her."

    She turned to look at Zane. "Can this doll talk, Daddy?"

    "Not yet," Zane answered truthfully. "You can start by practicing talking with this doll."

    Willow then said mysteriously, "I have an even better idea."

    But she didn''t n to tell her parents just yet-she wanted to try it out at school first. If it worked, it would mean her efforts had paid off! It wouldn''t be toote to tell her parents about it by then.

    I asked, "What is it?"

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    Willow lifted her chin. "It''s a secret."

    Dorothy and Milton instantly pped. "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 ck off, or I might getzy 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 Willowing 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 ssmates 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, I still found it hard to believe. I turned to Zane. "Willow can talk to Penelope 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."N?velDrama.Org ? content.

 Chapter 253

    Once at thepany, I started working diligently.

    ...

    Zane walked out of the office to a secluded corner before dialing Rowena''s number.

    Rowena asked, "What? Do you need something from me?"

    Zane''s voice was scarily chilling when he said, "Didn''t I warn you a few days ago not to contact Annalise unnecessarily? Looks like you still haven''t learned your lesson! Do I really need to cut off the family''s living expenses for you to stop?" Each sentence was colder than the next.

    "I''m your mother!" Rowena snapped in a sharp voice. "Can''t I even say a few things when I don''t approve of Annalise as my daughter-inw?"

    She sounded as if she were entirely justified.

    Nheless, Zane wasn''t having any of it. "No, you can''t!"

    Zane''s answer almost left Rowena speechless, but she also knew he would always follow through with what he said.

    "Also, you have no right to cut us off. Don''t forget, Zane. We gave you thepany in your hands. You''re enjoying the fruits of ourbor, yet you don''t want to support us? How is that fair?"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Zane sneered. "Mom, seeing how forgetful you are, it seems like you''re really getting old. Do you need me to remind you again?

    "At first, you handed thepany over to my brother to inherit. Then, after he passed away, you handed it over to my sister."

    Zane had never minded these arrangements since he was capable enough. "From start to finish, yourpany never belonged to me."

    He deliberately slowed down his speech to emphasize, "Since you said the person inheriting yourpany should pay for your living expenses, go ask my sister for the money. Hopefully, she can provide you with a good life." "Zane!"

    Only after hearing his words did Rowena realize how foolish her statement had been. "I still have something to say to you..."

    But all she could hear now was the beeping of the disconnected line.

    Rowena''s face turned particrly dark.

    How could Zane be so willing to abandon his family for a woman?

    Zane didn''t go back to his office immediately. Instead, he went to Eric and said inly, "Starting from this month, stop providing the regr monthly living allowance for Rowena and the others."

    Eric was aware that Zane''s family never helped him much and often caused trouble. As such, it was no surprise that Zane became impatient with them.

    Eric promptly replied, "Alright."

    Seeing that Zane had no further instructions, Eric proactively reported, "After a whole day''s sales, we''ve sold a total of 5,000 dolls across all tforms." Zane did some quick math and calcted that Annalise could probably get around 60 thousand dors in profits.

    Eric continued, "Paying Annalise her share every day feels too frequent and makes ounting harder, so I n to calcte her share monthly. "Next month, I''ll calcte this month''s sales and determine how much to give her before transferring the total to her ount. What do you think?"

    Zane had no objections, saying, "We''ll go with that."

    Now that he had Zane''s approval, he continued, "After the HR department published the job posting, many people applied to join ourpany. The candidates I reviewed all seemed quitepetent, and since theic department is understaffed, I went ahead and hired all of them." After a short pause, he walked over to his desk. "Some of them even created sample merchandise designs to prove their abilities."

    He then retrieved the candidates'' works before handing them to Zane for review.

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    Zane noticed that the samples were not onlymon merchandise avable in the market but also practical everyday items that had been turned into merchandise. He was impressed. "Very professional."

    Eric nodded in agreement. "Yes."

    "With the recruitment for the merchandise andics departmentsplete, if everything goes smoothly, all the remaining merchandise should be ready in a few days. "However, I think the growth rate for theic''s following isn''t fast enough.

    "So, allocate more funding from the finance department to the advertising team. After all, the early stages of promotingics are heavily reliant on burning through cash."

    Ericid out his n methodically, and Zane, who nevercked funds, simply said, "Approve."

    It was through Annalise that Eric had learned about the potential and profitability of theics industry. Its promising prospects made him take it seriously.

    Eric added, "There weren''t many applicants for the trantion department, which handles international promotion, but I''ll keep an eye on that and also oversee the progress in theics department."

    His detailed arrangements put Zane at ease. "No problem."

    Huxham Corporation offered the best benefits in the country-high sries, no mandatory overtime, and excellent perks. Interns earned 7,000 dors a month, while full-time employees started at a minimum of 20,000 dors after their probation period.

    After a year, sries were increased, and there was year-end profit sharing. Employees enjoyed a standard two-day weekend and all public holidays.

    It was the dream workce for many.

    Zane believed that those who hesitated to apply weren''t deterred by Huxham''s policies but simply weren''t aware of the recruitment notice.

    ...

    Back in the office, Zane recounted the updates from Eric.

    I looked up at him, surprised. "Things are progressing this quickly?"

    Zane''s tone was steady as he said, "Preparation is key to avoiding unexpected problems."

    His strong desire for control over his business was likely one of the main reasons for his sess.

    After pondering for a while, I said, "If this keeps up, my share of the profits each month will be quite substantial."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    To Zane, the amount I received wasn''t much, but he still paused for a moment before realizing that my share was significantpared to my sry. Smiling, he said, "That''s correct."

    I voiced my thoughts, "In that case, can we give more bonuses to the employees in theics department?"

    Zane hadn''t expected me to bring this up. With a light chuckle, he reassured me, "Don''t worry. Thepany already provides them with performance-basedmissions." I finally felt relieved.

    ...

    Steven''s phone buzzed incessantly with bills, but he barely nced at them. The money Jessica spent no longer minded him. What mattered was Annalise.

    Sitting in his car, Steven only wanted Annalise toe downstairs so he could talk to her. Yet after two hours of waiting, she still hadn''t appeared.

    Running out of patience, Steven recalled his business partnership with Huxham Corporation. Using this as a pretext, he could enter thepany and find Annalise directly.

    With this n in mind, he drove into the underground parking lot and took the elevator to Zane''s floor.

    When Eric saw him, he stepped forward to intercept him. "Mr. Pelham, what brings you here?" He frowned slightly as if questioning his memory. "I don''t recall Mr. Huxham having any scheduled meetings with you recently." Steven quickly lied, "There are some issues with the coboration. I remember Annalise works here. Ask her over to coordinate with me."

    Eric immediately understood Steven''s real intent: he just wanted an excuse to meet Annalise.

    Knowing Zane''s feelings for Annalise, Eric firmly sided with his boss. "Apologies, Mr. Pelham, but Mr. Huxham has already established a separateicspany just for Annalise."

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    "She''s technically not an employee of Huxham Corporation," Eric exined politely but firmly. Steven frowned, realizing this tactic wouldn''t work. He decided to be direct. "I want to see her." Eric, still smiling, replied, "You can call her and ask if she''s willing to meet you.

    "Mr. Pelham, I''m just an employee. Please don''t make things difficult for me."

    Steven''s gaze hardened. "She blocked me a long time ago."

    "Well, then, I''m sorry, but there''s nothing I can do to help," Eric answered in a professional tone.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Running out of patience, Steven tried to sidestep Eric to head straight for Annalise.

    Eric immediately stepped forward to block his path.

    Just then, the office door clicked open.

    I stood at the doorway, looking at Steven.

    "Anna," he called out.

    "Don''t call me that," I said coldly, feeling disgusted. "We''re nothing but strangers now."

    Steven''s expression turned sorrowful. Instead of feeling sorry, I found it insincere and overdramatic, so I looked away.

    Eric approached me and whispered, "Shall I call security to escort him out?"

    "No need," I replied calmly. "I''ll hear what he has to say."

    Eric hesitated but nodded. After ncing back at Steven, he quietly said to me, "If you need help, just call me."

    "Got it," I assured him before following Steven downstairs.

    Steven chose a coffee shop as the meeting spot. Once we sat down, he handed me the menu. "Order whatever you like."

    I didn''t take it. "You should know by now that I don''t like coffee."

    He froze, his hand awkwardly hanging in midair.

    Unbothered, I continued, "Just order what you want. Don''t ask for my opinion."

    Recovering from the moment, Steven withdrew the menu and ordered an iced coffee with the waiter.

    I leaned back on the seat, studying him. "What do you want?"

    Steven was silent for a long time.

    Growing impatient, I was about to grab my bag and leave when he suddenly said, "I regret it."

    I paused and looked at him. Honestly, I couldn''t believe he had the audacity to say such a thing. Scoffing, I asked, "What do you regret?"

    Steven, seemingly convinced that I still had feelings for him and would be moved by his words, replied, "Divorcing you."

    A wave of irritation surged within me, but I held it back. Instead, I slowed my speech and said, "If we hadn''t divorced, I would''ve had to endure endless harm from you and Zachary. I would''ve been forced to tolerate and serve Jessica, your mistress." Even thinking about that life made me sick, let alone living it again.

    I continued, "So now that you''re finding life lessfortable than it used to be, of course, you''d reminisce about the past. It''s because you were the abuser. You were the one sitting high and mighty, tormenting me.

    "You''ll never understand what I went through. That''s why you can so easily say things like this. But I can''t.

    "I can only be grateful that I finally escaped that hellhole and can now live a normal life."

    "But you love me." Realizing my unwavering stance and the undeniable truth in my words, he resorted to pleading. "Anna..."

    I cut him off, "I won''t deny that I once had feelings for you. But...

    "Reaching the point of divorce means there''s no love left."

    Steven refused to believe it. "You''re lying."

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    I coldly retorted, "If you had any sense at all, you''d look back on everything you''ve done to me. There''s no way you''d think I have even the slightest bit of attachment left for you."

    Steven mmed the table and stood up. "You''re still mad that I made you sleep with Casper?"

    I tilted my chin up as I leaned back on the seat, staring at him from below. "Is that the only thing?"

    It was as if Steven couldn''t hear me. "But I don''t mind anymore!"

    I scoffed. At that moment, I realized I shouldn''t have followed him out and talked to him.

    When I stood up to leave, Steven rushed in front of me, blocking my path. "Anna..."

    I ignored him, walking past without a word. ncing back at his despondent figure, I said calmly, "I''ve always been grateful that I chose to leave you."

    ...

    Back in the office, Zane, who had been diligently working, set aside his tasks and walked over to me. "Are you okay?" he asked.

    I nodded. "I''m fine. It''s just that I have no idea what''s gotten into him. He''s suddenly saying he regrets the divorce. It''s as if he thinks we could''ve gotten back together just because he didn''t want the divorce back then."

    I didn''t bother hiding the disdain in my eyes. "Hepletely forgot that I was the one who filed for divorce. I was the one determined to leave, and I''ve never regretted it."

    I walked over to the couch and sat down. "Looking back, I endured so much injustice when I was with him.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    "Every time I suffered, I could''ve chosen to leave. But I kept telling myself he might change, so I stayed silent. Until things becamepletely irreparable."

    I sighed, feeling a mix of emotions. "Only today did I finally realize that the moment you sense something is wrong, you should let go immediately. Enduring just once can lead to a lifetime of pain."

    Zane seemed to sense my sadness and wrapped his arms around me in aforting embrace.

    I chuckled softly. "Do you think I was foolish back then?"

    "No," Zane said gently, patting my back. "Anna, you wanted to build a life together with him, but he trampled on your sincerity. That''s not your fault."

    His embrace was warm and reassuring. It gave me an inexplicable sense of security.

    I closed my eyes, savoring thefort of his hug.

    "And besides, you had the courage to leave. That''s already remarkable," Zane said softly.

    "There are so many people in this world who never take that step."

    I smiled, agreeing with him, "That''s true."

    The sound of someone knocking on the door broke the moment.

    Zane released me and, with his usual cool demeanor, said, "Come in."

    Eric entered and immediately sensed that something was off about the atmosphere. He nced at Zane, who-as always-wore a stoic expression.

    But Eric could tell Zane was angry.

    Not knowing what he might have done wrong, Eric cautiously approached me and asked, "Could I borrow your phone?"

    I raised an eyebrow, confused, but handed it to him anyway.

    Eric snapped a few photos with my phone and tapped on the screen a few times.

    I watched him curiously as he worked.

    Returning the phone to me, Eric exined, "The new recruits have already finished the design blueprints for the merchandise. Next, we''ll send them to the factory to create prototypes. Once confirmed, we can start mass production." I was surprised. "That fast?"

    "Of course!" Eric replied proudly. "Huxham''s philosophy is simple-never dy today''s work until tomorrow."

    Since I rarely went to work, I asked out of curiosity, "Aren''t they worried about being givenst-minute tasks by thepany?"

 Chapter 257

    Eric said without hesitation, "Thepany''s policy is simple. If you finish three days of work in one day, you get the remaining two days off."

    I was stunned. "Does such a greatpany really exist?"

    Eric smiled and teased, "Now you''ve seen it."

    He continued, "The average price for these merchandise items is ten dors, and your royalties remain at 15%. Thepany also just decided to invest heavily in advertising.

    "If everything goes smoothly, the sales volume for the products will break records daily. We''re even worried that demand might exceed supply when theic bes a huge hit, so we''re preparing stock in advance to avoid shortages. "You can just sit back, rx, and wait to see the money rolling in."

    Hearing his optimistic forecast, I couldn''t help but feel a bit excited. "I''ll take your word for it."

    Eric chuckled. "You''re wee."

    Without daring to linger under Zane''s gaze, he slipped out quickly.

    Zane followed him out. "Print me a copy of the bank statement showing my transfers to Rowena."

    Eric turned back, puzzled. "What for?"

    Zane''s tone remained calm. "I''ve cut off her living expenses. She won''t take it lying down and will probably try some tricks to get the money back. "Knowing her, there''s a high chance she''ll cause a scene in public. Her goal would be to tarnish my reputation and force me to resume the payments." Zane''s voice turned colder. "Also, withdraw some cash for me."

    Eric nodded and carried out the instructions.

    ...

    By lunchtime, I had finished all my work for the day, including adding color to some extra sketches.

    Feeling aplished, I approached Zane, who was still engrossed in his tasks. "If you''re still busy, I''ll head down to eat first."

    "Let''s go together." Zane grabbed a small backpack, slinging it over one shoulder. Walking beside me, he asked, "What do you feel like eating today?"

    I immediately shifted focus, not even curious about what he had in the bag. "Chili con carne!"

    After a morning filled with work and dealing with annoying people, I needed a treat.

    Zane indulged me with a soft "Alright".

    It was peak lunch hour, and the restaurant was packed. I managed to find an empty table, dropped off my bag, and went to ce our orders. "Pulled pork, fish and chips, beef brisket..." I ordered everything that caught my eye.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Zane wasn''t there yet, so I ordered a little more, unsure of his preferences. After ordering snacks and the main course, I ordered drinks the same way. Once everything was confirmed and paid for, I went back to our table.

    Suddenly, Rowena''s sharp voice cut through the room, "Zane, you ungrateful wretch! You have money now, yet you''d rather spend it on Annalise than on us!" She stood at the entrance, yelling loudly as if afraid no one would hear her.

    I couldn''t help but frown at the implication in her words. "He hired me to help take care of his child, with food and lodging included. Isn''t that normal?" Why did Rowena''s words make it sound like she and Zane had some kind of ambiguous rtionship?

    Rowena shot me a nasty re. "Then, what about lunch?"

    "You''re out here eating with him..."

    I quickly pulled out my phone to show her my payment record. "I paid for this meal!"

    That silenced her momentarily, but she quickly retorted with venom, "So what if you paid for this one? Does that mean you''re paying for every meal?"

 Chapter 258

    I retorted, "So do you think every meal Zane and I have together should be paid for by me?"

    The surrounding crowd began to murmur, clearly disapproving of Rowena''s shamelessness.

    Nearly losing herposure in anger, Rowena snapped, "That''s not the point! The point is, Zane won''t support us because of you."

    Zane stood up and took out the bank statements that he had asked Eric to print earlier, showing the monthly transfers to his family. "Why don''t you tell everyone how much you''ve been spending every month?" Rowena froze on the spot. She had always relied on her tactics to work without resistance. It never urred to her that Zane would counter her so directly.

    Zane unfolded the statements, and, seeing that the crowd was paying attention, he made sure to distribute copies for everyone to see.

    The onlookers gasped when they saw the monthly expenses. It was over 500 thousand dors every month.

    They turned their gaze to Rowena.

    Suddenly, it became clear that it was Rowena who was in the wrong. Zane had been giving her such arge sum every month, and yet, she didn''t even try to save a little and instead chose to cause trouble. Zane continued, "The 500 thousand dors is just the amount I''ve transferred to you. It doesn''t include the extra amounts you''ve demanded.

    "Think carefully. For an average family, this amount could support countless people. But for you, it''s never enough.

    "You''ve even deluded yourself into thinking you have the right to meddle in my life."

    Zane''s voice turned colder. "Frankly, I don''t think you''re in a position to offer me any worthwhile advice. That''s why I''ve decided to cut off your allowance, so you can have some time to think it through." "But..."

    "And yet, instead of taking responsibility, you chose to tarnish my reputation."

    His words were precise and deliberate. "Rowena, after all these years, anyone with the intent to dig deeper will easily uncover the truth about how you''ve treated me."

    Rowena''s face turned dark with anger. "You..."

    Zane calmly said, "From now on, I will donate the money I would have sent you to charity."

    He opened his bag, revealing it was filled with cash.

    Zane looked at Rowena and said, "As for this month''s allowance, consider it a blessing for everyone here. The money will be a testament to my resolve."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    At the mention of this, the people nearby started to get excited.

    Zane immediately handed a stack of cash to the nearest person.

    The person froze in shock, holding the money, while others rushed over to take their shares. Before long, the entire bag of cash had been distributed.

    Zane turned to Rowena and said, "You can leave now."

    Rowena''s heart twisted as she watched the money she once considered hers slip away. "Zane, I''m your mother!" she eximed.

    Zane remained unfazed. "When you criticized me in front of everyone, you didn''t seem to think of yourself as my mother."

    Rowena was furious, her anger boiling out.

    Zane added, "From now on, feel free to try whatever tactics you want. If you go too far, I''ll sever all ties with you. And then, I''ll repay every cent you ever spent raising me a hundred times over." However, Rowena had never really spent much on him, and even if the amount were multiplied a hundredfold, it still wouldn''te close to the amount Zane had been sending them every year. Rowena clenched her fists, gritting her teeth, her eyes burning with hatred toward Zane.

    But Zane ignored her, calmly sitting back down and asking me, "Our food hasn''t been served yet?"

    "Uh... No," I replied, still in a daze.

    He chuckled lightly. "It seems the more people there are, the slower the kitchen gets."

    Just as he finished speaking, footsteps approached.

 Chapter 259

    The waiter brought over our orders and ced them on the table, smiling, "Enjoy your meal."

    "Thanks!" We had ordered quinoa as the staple, and I served myself a small bowl, picking up a piece of beef brisket. The crisp and tender texture was irresistible.

    I ate several big mouthfuls but noticed Zane hadn''t touched his food. Out of curiosity, I asked, "Aren''t you going to eat?"

    Only then did Zane begin to eat. "Of course I want to," he replied.

    Back at the office, Steven couldn''t stop thinking about what Annalise had said. It dawned on him that he had made so many mistakes.

    Ever since marrying Annalise, he had gotten used to thinking she wouldn''t have emotional ups and downs because she was so sensible and obedient. He hadn''t even realized how much she had been suffering. Now, Steven desperately wanted to break up with Jessica and make it up to Annalise. After making up his mind, he called Jessica.

    Jessica''s voice came through the phone, soft and sweet, "What''s up? Do you miss me?"

    "I''m sorry," Steven said. As soon as he said that, he felt an inexplicable sense of relief.

    What was he apologizing for out of the blue? Jessica''s mind raced, searching for possibilities until she cautiously asked, "Did you cheat on me?"

    "No," Steven quickly replied. "But I''ve realized that the person I truly love isn''t you. It''s Annalise. I''ve decided to do everything I can to win her back and build a good life with her.

    "The house you''re living in now will be yours. And I''ll continue to send you child support on time for the baby you''re carrying."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Steven''s tone grew lighter, almost cheerful, as he added, "From now on, if we ever cross paths, let''s just act like we''ve never met."

    "Steven!" Jessica knew that if she epted Steven''s arrangement, she would lose a source of ie-a very lucrative one at that. Until she found another man willing to spoil her, she was never going to let go of Steven. Jessica calmly replied, "You can''t possibly love Annalise! Don''t forget. You were the one who chose me over her in the first ce. If you truly loved her, how could you just let her go?"

    She continued as Steven didn''t interrupt her, "This idea you have now is just a delusion from being away from me for so long."

    Jessica realized that separating from Steven was no longer an option. It had only been a few days, yet Steven had already figured out where his heart trulyy. The thought of her having to manipte him again was exhausting. Steven didn''t believe Jessica. "Jessica, have I ever told you that every single moment spent with you feels unbearable?"

    Jessica was struck speechless by his words.

    Steven ended the call abruptly.

    The beeping sound of the disconnected line echoed in Jessica''s ears as she took a deep breath. She would have to get busy soon.

    First, she needed to find a man more handsome and wealthier than Steven and secure him as her new target. Second, she needed to ensure Steven remained under her control.

    At the very least, she had to make sure Steven continued to give her money. Otherwise, her current lifestyle would be unsustainable.

    Jessica contemted her next moves carefully. What could she do to get Steven to willingly return to her? Should she y the victim?

    ...

    The main task for the afternoon was to color the sketches I had stockpiled earlier. After achieving my target for the day, I stretched and felt a wave of satisfaction wash over me. It had been a productive day. I got up and decided to head downstairs for a break.

    Zane asked, "Are you going out?"

    "Yeah. Just for a stroll," I replied. I walked over to him and, out of courtesy, asked, "Do you want toe along?"

    Zane didn''t decline. "Sure."

 Chapter 260

    The Huxham Corporation''s area boasted lush greenery. The trees along the main roads were tall and leafy, their branches casting shadows that shielded the road from the zing sunlight. The tranquil atmosphere was almost serene. I turned to Zane, walking beside me. "Have you finished all your work?"

    Zane, who never liked lying, replied honestly, "Not yet."

    He hadn''t forgotten Milton''s and Dorothy''s advice to always appear slightly vulnerable around me to keep me concerned for him. Casually, he added, "I''m just feeling a bit tired."

    I sighed somehow regretfully. "Too bad I can''t help you much. But this ount I''ve set up-once the merchandise starts selling, it might generate a lot of ie for me."

    I had thought long and hard before adding, "If yourpany ever runs into trouble and can''t stay afloat, you''re wee toe to me. I''ll take care of you and Willow."

    Zane was confident hispany would never face such a situation, but he hadn''t expected me to think that far ahead. A fleeting, irresponsible thought crossed his mind if thepany really did go bankrupt, would it bring us closer? With a softugh, Zane said, "Alright."

    He stepped in front of me, pulling me into a hug. "I''m so lucky to have you."

    I had grown ustomed to these embraces and responded lightly, "As you should be."

    ...

    Meanwhile, Harry picked up Zachary, bringing along a doll he had ordered. When Zachary opened the package and saw the doll resembling Annalise, tears welled up in his eyes. They spilled over inrge droplets as he clutched the doll tightly. He didn''t want Annalise to see him in such a pitiful state, so he quickly wiped his face and said softly, "I never thought I''d have a chance to be with you again, Mommy."

    Though he tried not to cry, the tears wouldn''t stop. Hugging the doll tightly, he poured his heart out. "Mommy, do you know how long it''s been since you left me? I miss you so much!"N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    Harry and Hannah, who witnessed this, couldn''t bear to watch. They turned away, both troubled by the scene.

    How could Annalise be so heartless? How could she abandon her own sonpletely?

    Sharing a silent nce, they decided they needed to speak with Annalise. Perhaps they could arrange for her to talk to Zachary.

    After releasing his pent-up emotions, Zachary felt a bit more at ease. Holding the doll close, he said softly, "Mommy, I know I hurt you a lot, but I''ll make it up to you. Please forgive me, okay?"

    ...

    At the school gate, Willow and Penelope were having a tearful goodbye. The two little girls were both teary-eyed.

    Willow had only recently started being able to talk freely with Penelope, and now, they had so much to share. Penelope was just as eager to keep talking. Both of them turned to look at me.

    Amused, I offered, "How abouting to our house?"

    Willow lit up at the idea and eagerly asked Penelope, "Want toe? At home, we''ve got Grandpa and Grandma, and me..."

    Penelope''s eyes shone with longing, but as a well-behaved child, she turned to Suzy for permission. "Mom, can we go?" she asked, her gaze full of hope. Suzy, who always supported Penelope, smiled. "Sure. Let''s go."

    The two girls cheered, holding hands as they climbed into Suzy''s car. Zane and I rode with Richard.

    As someone who had single-handedly raised Willow, Zane couldn''t help feeling a bit downcast. "She doesn''t even want to ride home with me anymore."

    I chuckled, giving his shoulder aforting pat. "Don''t overthink it. Kids grow up."

    "But she''s only five years old," Zane said, sighing.

    I couldn''t help butugh. "And she''sing home, isn''t it? She''s not running off somewhere else."

    That seemed to reassure Zane somewhat. "You''re right."

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    Back home, Willow gathered the entire family to join her in her daily physical exercises. Afterward, she pulled Penelope, along with her grandparents, upstairs to continue their ytime.

    This left only Zane, Suzy, and me in the living room. Suzy nced upstairs, her expression soft. "I initially thought Willow needed Penelope''s help to get better, but who could''ve imagined she''d recover on her own?" "Exactly," I agreed, equally amazed. "Kids improve much faster than we expect."

    Suzy chuckled. "So true. Look at Penelope. When she lived with Liam, she was like a timid little quail, constantly walking on eggshells. But after just a few days with me, she''s already returning to her lively self." Her voice was filled with love as she spoke of Penelope. "If I''d known that switching to a less stressful job would make her life easier, I would''ve quit my old job ages ago."

    I could sense Suzy''s guilt as a mother and gently patted her shoulder. "It''s never toote to make changes."

    "You''re right," Suzy agreed.

    At this moment, Zane chimed in, "How about we celebrate Willow''s and Penelope''s improvements tonight? Dinner at Silver Crescent Hotel?"

    Suzy and I immediately agreed to the idea.

    Zane stood up. "I''ll make the reservation."

    ...

    The hotel wasn''t far from the vi. When we arrived, the server led us to a private dining room, where the food was soon served. Though Zane hadn''t ordered too much, it was enough to feed all seven of us. At the center of the table was a massive cake.

    The two little girls gasped in delight, their eyes wide. "Wow!"

    Zane said, his usual icy tone softened, "Go on. Make a wish."

    "Okay!" The girls gleefully blew out the candles.

    Willow wished, "I hope I can ovee autism and talk to everyone like normal. I hope our family will live happily together. And I hope my friend Penelope''s dreamse true."

    Penelope followed with her wishes. "I wish for happy days with my mom and for Dad not to bother us anymore. I wish for Mom''s work to go well. Andstly, I hope my friend Willow gets better soon."

    The innocence of their dreams brought a smile to everyone''s faces. Overwhelmed with joy, Penelope hugged Willow, and the two began jumping around the room excitedly.

    Laughing, I gently reminded them, "Time to eat."

    "Okay." Willow obediently sat beside me. Being a child, she naturally gravitated toward the more sweet dish, like honey-zed pork tenderloin. However, not wanting to disturb my meal, she hesitated before tapping Zane''s arm. "Daddy, I want some tenderloin. Can you get it for me?"

    Unaware of her thoughtful hesitation, Zane was happy to oblige. "Of course."

    Willow gave me a yful wink, silently mouthing, "Mommy, keep eating."

    I nodded reassuringly, and only then did she focus back on her own te.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Zane, though reserved as ever, engaged in brief conversations mostly with Willow and me. To fill the quieter moments, Milton''s cheerful personality kept the atmosphere lively. The meal turned out to be a warm and joyful asion.

    ...

    After the dinner, Richard took Willow and her grandparents home. Meanwhile, I joined Zane to drop off Suzy and Penelope.

    Zane''s hands were steady on the wheel as he followed Suzy''s car in front. In an almost casual tone, he asked, "Do you mind that I''m driving Suzy home?"

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    Zane''s question left me puzzled. I couldn''t help but ask back, "Why would I mind?"

    Zane understood that if a woman truly loved a man, she would naturally develop a sense of possessiveness toward him. My indifference signified that I didn''t love himˇŞnot yet. Though disappointed, Zane reminded himself not to rush things. He smiled faintly, "You''re right."

    ...

    After dropping Suzy off at her home and ensuring Liam wasn''t lurking nearby, Zane and I finally drove away.

    When we got home, Willow rushed into my arms the moment she saw me. "Mommy!"N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    I bent down and scooped her up. "What''s up?"

    Her tiny face pressed against my shoulder as she excitedly said, "Do you remember the goal I set in front of you before?"

    "You said you''d be able tomunicate with people other than me and Daddy within a month."

    "That''s right! And look! It hasn''t even been a month, and I''ve already achieved it." Willow looked at me, her eyes sparkling. "I''m so amazing, right? Don''t I deserve a reward?" She truly was remarkable-setting goals and working diligently toward them step by step.

    "What reward would you like?" I asked softly.

    Willow leaned closer and whispered, "Mommy hasn''t slept with me for a long time. Can you sleep in my room with me tonight?"

    How could I refuse such a heartfelt request? "Of course."

    "Yay!" Willow wriggled out of my arms and dashed upstairs.

    I followed her up the stairs and, remembering something, turned back to Zane in the living room. "I''m going to sleep with Willow tonight."

    He nodded. "Alright."

    In Willow''s room, I shut the door and heard her cheerful singinging from the bathroom. She must have been overjoyed her voice was light and yful even as she bathed.

    I sat on the bed, waiting for her patiently. After finishing her bath, Willow diligently practiced speaking in front of the mirror before approaching me.

    When I extended my arms to hug her, she held up a hand to stop me.

    "Mommy, I haven''t read my book yet."

    I lowered my arms, watching as she pulled out a phonics-based book and carefully sounded out the words. To my surprise, she recognized most of the characters without hesitation, fluently reading entire sentences without any mistakes. Once she finished her daily routine, she nestled against me on the bed. "It''s always the best when I''m with you, Mommy."

    I ruffled her soft hair. "Is that so?"

    "Of course!" Willow replied earnestly. "You''re the best mommy in the world. When I''m with you, I feel like no matter what I do, you''ll always understand and ept me. It makes me feel really safe."

    She snuggled against my side and hesitated before continuing. "Mommy, there''s something I''ve been struggling with. Can I ask you for advice?"

    "Of course," I said, smiling. "What''s troubling you?"

    "Well," Willow began honestly, "when I talk to Grandpa, Grandma, and Penelope, I imagine them as the custom dolls we have, and that helps me speak normally. But we haven''t made dolls of everyone else I meet."

    Her voice grew softer as she went on, "And I''ve been thinking-there are so many people in the world. Am I supposed to have a doll made for every single person I only meet once or twice?

    "Obviously, that''s impossible. So, Mommy, how can I talk to other people without needing dolls?"

    I knew this was a big question for a little girl like Willow. Stroking her hair gently, I said, "It''s actually very simple."

    Willow looked up at me expectantly.

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    I spoke slowly and deliberately, "Think about what the dolls look like, and then imagine the person you want to talk to. If we were to custom-make a doll that looks like them, what would it be like?"

    Willow pondered seriously. "And then?"

    I smiled. "Once you have their doll image in your mind, won''t you be able to talk to them normally?"

    "That''s right!" Willow eximed in excitement, clearly not expecting such a clever solution. "But..." Her eyes sparkled mischievously, as if she were thinking of something yful.

    I quickly asked, "What is it?"

    Willow giggled happily. "Doesn''t that mean everyone in the world bes a doll in my eyes?" Seeing her expectant expression, I yed along. "Exactly! It''s a doll world just for you."

    Willow became even more excited.

    Zane sat in the living room, quietly waiting for Annalise.

    In the past, Annalise woulde out every evening to chat with him for a while.

    "She''s putting Willow to bed and probably won''t being out," Milton said, handing Zane a cup of warm water as he sat down beside him. "You have work tomorrow. You should get some rest tonight." Zane didn''t say anything. He just sat there silently, lost in thought.

    Dorothy, who hadn''t interacted much with Zane, could sense that once he made up his mind, no one could change it. She said, "Anna has already promised Willow to spend the night with her, so she definitely won''t sneak out to see you after Willow falls asleep. Unless..." Dorothy didn''t finish her sentence.

    Zane looked up. "Unless what?"

    Dorothy spoke each word carefully, "Unless she''s already fallen in love with you."

    Zane knew that was unlikely.

    Milton added, "There''s an old saying that goes, ''Haste makes waste." You should give it some time."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    "By the way..." Before advising him further, Dorothy needed to confirm something. "Annalise was married before. If you''re truly determined to be with her, you''re bound to face strong opposition from some people. "I need to ask you..."

    Dorothy''s tone was cautious. "Are you prepared to face all of that?"

    Zane replied seriously, which was a rare tone for him, "Of course. I''ve even thought about how to handle things if they go in the worst possible direction. But nothing can diminish my determination to be with her. Hearing this, Milton felt assured. "Then, take it slow. One day, you''ll win Annalise over."

    With encouragement from the two elders, Zane finally felt a bit more confident. "I will."

    ...

    In a private room at the bar, colorful spotlights shed overhead. People enveloped in the lights were drinking noisily,ughter filling the air.

    Watching them enjoy themselves, Steven suddenly asked, "Why did you lie to me?"

    Gavin was startled, then turned to look at Steven. "Lie to you about what?"

    Steven downed arge ss of alcohol. "The person I truly love is Annalise, but you all kept insisting that I love Jessica. Because of that, I only now realized... my true feelings for Annalise." Gavin initially wanted toe up with an excuse, but then, he saw that Steven was crying.

    As if spurred by alcohol and having lost control, he wept messily. "Annalise truly doesn''t want me anymore."

 Chapter 264

    "She''d be scared that I''d drink too much when I went drinking with you guys back then," said Steven. "She would tell me not to drink too much. She''d advise me not to drink at all."

    He continued reminiscing. "And when I reached home, she''d take good care of me and prepare some hangover remedies."

    Those memories were imprinted deeply in his mind, and, looking back, Steven realized that he had lost a woman who loved him with all her heart.

    "I''ve lost her. No one will ever care about me like she did." Steven burst into tears after that.

    Sympathizing with Steve, Gavin couldn''t help but say, "It''s just that the way you treat Jessica and Annalise is just..."

    He paused as if to search for the right words to put it. "It''s too easy to misunderstand. You like Annalise, but why did you treat her so badly?"

    Before the divorce, Steven was nonchnt and scornful whenever he brought up anything regarding Annalise. It made Gavin and the others feel like it was Annalise who just wouldn''t let Steven go and that Steven had no choice but to ept her feelings for him.

    "You say you don''t like Jessica, but you always seem to be concerned about her," said Gavin. "When she told you she liked some food, you''d buy it for her even if it meant going to the other end of the city."

    He continued, "And when she said she wanted a luxury item, you''d buy it for her without even blinking. You never asked Annalise what she thought, and you even brought Zachary out to spend time with Jessica."

    Only after Gavin brought this up did Steven realize that he''d actually done something that terrible.

    "That''s right," Steven mumbled.

    Why did that happen? Steven had no clue. Was it because Annalise pampered him all the time and that she forgave him regardless of what he did?

    And so, he thought that she loved him with her life and couldn''t leave him. Was that why he hurt her over and over again without fearing the thought of losing her?

    He had thought that he would have a ce in her heart even if they got divorced. He also believed that she''d turn back and stay with him if he simply told her he''d leave Jessica.

    However, Steven seemed to have forgotten that Annalise''s heart wasn''t made of stone. She was human, and humans could get hurt and had their own breaking points.

    Steven felt as though someone stabbed his heart with a de. The pain he felt was heart-wrenching.

    Things shouldn''t havee to this. He should''ve cherished her for loving him.

    Steven lifted his arm to cover his eyes. He was wrong. He was so terribly, seriously mistaken.

    ...

    Back at home, Zachary moved the two dolls beside Annalise to a position far away from her.

    He snorted in disdain. Of course, they could be close over at Zane''s house. But here, Annalise belonged to Zachary only. No one could take her away from him.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    Zachary sat at the edge of the bed and picked up his tablet. Although Annalise blocked him, he didn''t delete her number from his contacts. Their chat history was still on his tablet.

    He scrolled up, his movement gradually slowing down when he realized that Annalise had cared deeply about him until Jessica showed up.

    Annalise sent him lots of messages. Worried that he couldn''t read them, she even sent him voice messages. All of these voice messages were full of her love and care for him. He randomly yed one of the voice messages.

    "Zach, are you scared, staying at Grandma''s house with Daddy?"

    "I miss you a lot, Zach."

    Annalise''s voice was as light and gentle as a feather.

    "Do you miss me?"

 Chapter 265

    Tears spilled from Zachary''s eyes.

    "Yes," he murmured. "I miss you a lot, Mommy."

    He continued mumbling, "Mommy, when are youing back? It doesn''t matter if you hate Daddy. Just take me away with you. I''ll take with me all the money and the shops you gave me. We can live a good life with the rent we collected and the money we saved." His tears dripped onto his nket, leaving obvious marks on the fabric.

    Zachary knew that Annalise didn''t want him anymore. Therefore, she wouldn''te back tofort him, no matter how much he cried.

    He wiped the tears from his eyes wistfully and continued scrolling on his tablet.

    Suddenly, he realized that before the divorce, Annalise had always been the one to send him messages. However, he almost never replied to them.

    Words couldn''t describe how terrible he felt at the moment. He felt like bursting into tears again.

    He could still remember the time when Steven took him to meet Jessica every day and told him how kind and excellent she was as a person. Steven also told him that Annalise was awful and wasn''t good enough.

    And Zachary believed Steven and started to hate Annalise.

    Zachary hated her to the point that he found it annoying when she messaged him. At that time, Annalise was still in the dark and didn''t know what happened. She still voice-messaged him when he headed back to Chloe''s house.

    Back then, Zachary disliked Annalise and thought she was an annoying woman who liked to nag all the time. But now, she didn''t even want to talk to him anymore.

    Zachary yed the voice messages one after another until he found the one telling him goodnight.

    "Goodnight, Zach," Annalise''s gentle voice came from the tablet.

    Zachary finally smiled. "Goodnight, Mommy," he said.

    He hugged his tablet and pretended that it was Annalise beside him, as if she were there in the room, keeping himpany. Only then did he feel a bit better.

    ...

    After Willow had her breakfast the next morning, Zane and I took her to the kindergarten. On our way there, she couldn''t stop curling up in my arms.

    She couldn''t stop telling me how great it was at school every day. Needless to say, her grandparents were more than excited to find out that she could speak now. As if afraid that I would get jealous, Willow told me, "But of course, I love you very much, Mommy."

    I pecked her on her forehead. "I love you, too."

    Willow giggled, and I ruffled her hair smilingly.

    Just then, I heard Zane ask calmly, "Don''t you also love me?"

    Willow replied curtly, "Yeah. I love Daddy a lot, too."

    Satisfied, Zane indulged himself in silence after that.

    When we reached the entrance of the kindergarten, Willow didn''t head into the school grounds right away. She stood at the gates to wait for Penelope.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Willow waved excitedly when she saw Penelope getting out of the car. Then, as if waving wasn''t enough, Willow made a beeline for Penelope.

    Penelope herself ran toward Willow, and they hugged each other tightly and told each other just how much they missed each other.

    Amused, I looked away from them. "Are children these days so naive?" I mused.

    This was Zane''s first time seeing Willow so enthusiastic. Surprised, he said, "Sure enough, she became quite a lively little girl after learning tomunicate with others." "Yep," I said, heading to the car.

    Just then, a man and a woman stood in my way and blocked my path.

    "Who are you?" I asked, puzzled.

    "I''m Zachary''s tutor, and he''s Zachary''s driver," said the woman.

    Neither of them gave me their names. Instead, they simply told me their identities. I had no idea why they woulde to me, but I politely asked, "Is something the matter?" "There''s something we need to tell you. This isn''t the right ce to talk, though," said the driver. "Let''s find a caf¨¦ nearby and discuss it."

    He looked grave when he spoke. After hesitating for a bit, I said, "Okay."

 Chapter 266

    We found ourselves in a caf¨¦ and sat at a table. Zachary''s tutor and driver each ordered a slice of cake and some coffee.

    The driver used a fork to cut a small chunk of his cake and put it in his mouth. After taking his time swallowing his food, he mustered the courage to tell me, "Don''t you think you''re too cruel to Zachary?"

    He continued, "He''s just five years old. He''s a naive child. Do you know that he secretly cries when he sees you at the kindergarten gates, waiting to pick Willow up? He loves you so much. How could you not care about him at all just because you got a divorce?" The driver couldn''t figure out why I did that to Zachary and must have been under the impression that all mothers had to love their children unconditionally.

    My calmness was a stark difference to his frustration. I told him inly, "Did you bother finding out what he''s done to me before you asked me those questions?"

    The driver shook his head. "I don''t know what he''s done, but surely, a young child like him couldn''t do anything outrageous."

    I once had the same thought, too. It was why I put up with Zachary over and over again.

    With my teaspoon, I gently stirred my cup of coffee. I suppressed my emotions and put up with him until he worked together with Jessica to hurt me.

    Who knew that a child could do that?

    But it was precisely because of his naivety that he was manipted by others to be a weapon to hurt me.

    Initially, I thought I''d get emotional after hearing what Zachary''s driver and tutor said. I thought I''d retort and try to defend myself. However, I didn''t do any of that, nor did I exin myself. After a moment of silence, I simply told them, "Oh, really?"

    The driver was about to say something in response, but I grabbed my bag and stood up. I was about to walk away from the table when the driver stood up to stop me.

    He then turned to Zane and asked, "She''s so cruel to her own son, but you''re still willing to hire her?"

    Zane''s voice had no warmth in it as he replied, "That''s because I witnessed how Annalise''s husband, their son, and his mistress colluded to hurt her. I never thought she took things too far." He added, "If something simr were to happen to me, my way of taking revenge would be much more ruthless."

    The frost in his voice made him sound like he was devoid of emotion. He said, "Annalise is just too merciful."

    That said, he extended a hand to me. He had my back when others criticized me, which made me feel warm inside.

    I reached for his hand and held it. With my hand in his, he led me out of the caf¨¦.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    After we got into the car, he asked, "How do you feel right now?"

    It was as if he was afraid I''d be affected by the incident just now.

    After giving it some thought, I answered, "I thought I''d get upset and try to defend myself if someone brought it up and confronted me about it. But when it actually happened, I felt calm inside."

    I continued, "I suddenly feel like I don''t care what they think. How they see me is none of my business."

    I chuckled and said, "It''s probably because I''ve lost all feelings after giving up on those who hurt me. There isn''t even hatred now. I''m indifferent now."

    "It seems to me that you''re much more mature than I expected," Zane noted.

    "Thanks," I said, taking it as apliment.

    ...

    When we reached the door of the office, I saw Sasha leaning against the wall.

    When she saw us, she approached me and pouted, "Didn''t you guys alwayse to the office early? Why are youte today?"

    It seemed like she was displeased because Zane and I arrivedter than she had expected.

    "Sorry. Something came up on our way here," I exined.

 Chapter 267

    Satisfied, Sasha hooked her arm around mine and said, "It''s nothing to be embarrassed about."

    When she spoke, she nced around to ensure no one was around and pulled me into the office. After shutting the door, she said in a hushed voice, "I managed to hack into Game Department''s system! I know everything now! I know what happened recently and also in the past!" But even after discovering so many secrets, she couldn''t tell anyone about them. She could keep them in her heart. It bothered her so much that, after mulling it over, she decided to skip work ande to talk to me about it.

    I plopped on the couch and ced my bag on the table beside me. "Are you really that good at hacking?"

    Sasha sat beside me. She tilted her chin upward a little, seemingly proud of her achievement. "That goes without saying!"

    She looked so pleased with herself that I found it amusing. I felt the corners of my mouth lift into a smile.

    She was so young and so full of life.

    Sasha wasted no time telling me about all the gossip she''d heard, and my jaw dropped listening to her.

    When she was done gossiping about her colleagues, she recalled the incident two days ago and told me, "Do you remember that guy from two days ago? I didn''t agree to be his girlfriend, and he found himself another woman to be his girlfriend." "Yeah, I remember." I nodded.

    "They''re so repulsive these days!" Sasha snorted in disdain. "We have the same group of friends. They''re all unemployed. All they do is move around the city and have fun."

    She continued, "Sometimes, they''d hold gatherings. I love going to ces bustling with activity..."

    She paused as her mind reyed a certain memory. She regretted showing up at the gathering so much.

    Still, she admitted, "I went to their gatherings several times before. But each time, that guy would bring his girlfriend along and be all lovey-dovey with her!"

    Sasha seethed in rage, and I patted the back of her hand to calm her down.

    "I was so sick of it." She pouted, visibly upset. "Later on, they were so horribly sweet with each other that I had to hang out with my friends to stop myself from looking at them. However, they just wouldn''t stop getting in my face. They did it all the time!" Sasha just couldn''t understand why the couple would do something so ridiculous. "I didn''t feel like going to the gatherings with them around, so I told my friends that I wouldn''t show up to any of the gatherings anymore if those two were around. "In the end, they said that I was just jealous of that guy and his girlfriend!"

    Sasha was so exasperated that she rolled her eyes.

    I couldn''t understand why her friends would say something like that. I pondered aloud, "They wouldn''t say that if they were mentally sound."

    "That''s right!" Sasha nodded profusely. "I stop seeing it as a big deal. I didn''t feel like hanging out with them anymore. It''s like the only thing that exists in their world is the romantic kind of love. There''s nothing else in their minds." Sasha clenched her hands and said, "Cutting ties with them was the right thing to do! I''ve decided that I''ll work my arse off from today onward!"

    Just then, Zane broke his silence. "Then, why did youe to chat with Annalise? Is this your way of being hardworking?"

    A chill ran up Sasha''s spine. Talking with me made her so excited and engrossed that she forgot Zane was right beside us.

    She shot up from the couch and hollered, "I''ll get back to work right away!"

    ...

    After Sasha left, I busied myself drawing. When I was done, I worked overtime to color the drafts I hadpleted before this. This way, I managed to finish all the tasks I had set for myself today.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    I rxed on the couch and took out my phone to check the status of my ount. In just a short time, I had garnered hundreds of followers and several thousand views.

    I couldn''t believe it! I made so much progress so quickly!

 Chapter 268

    I turned to Zane at the thought.

    Just two days ago, Eric told me that thepany nned to spend some money to get more views. Did they carry out the n already?

    I gave it some thought. When the number of followers increased by hundreds several days ago, we managed to sell about 5,000 dolls. In just a day, I gained ten times the followers I had a few days ago.

    It meant that the number of dolls that were sold would increase, right? What would be of my ie?

    I ran some simple calctions in my head. By selling 5,000 dolls, I could get 60 thousand dors. Ten thousand dolls meant 120 thousand dors, right?

    I straightened my back at the thought. Indeed, making money was much easier after myic became well-received and popr.

    Just then, someone knocked on the door.

    "Come in," said Zane.

    Yvonne opened the door a crack, and when she saw Zane in the office, she decided not toe in. After all, she hadn''t been around him much and wasn''t that close to him.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    "Come on out," she said, looking at me. "There''s something I want to tell you."

    Yvonne was my editor once, so I figured she might want to talk to me about work. After hesitating for a bit, I got up and went after her.

    She led me to a spot where people rarely walked past and said, "I''m a good friend of Jessica."

    I knitted my brows and looked at her from head to toe, puzzled as to why she''d tell me that.

    It was a good thing that she was frank enough. "Jessica and Steven got into a fight because of you. I think you should help them mend the cracks in their rtionship."

    Yvonne found out about this when she and Jessica met up to discuss matters regarding theics. As Jessica''s good friend, Yvonne felt the need to lend the former a hand in solving her rtionship problem.

    I couldn''t believe what I heard. Staring at Yvonne in disbelief, I mumbled, "Is something wrong with the minds of all the people who''re rted to Jessica?"

    Yvonne caught the ridicule in my voice. She snapped, "What do you mean by that?"

    I didn''t want anything to do with Steven, so I told her, "First of all, I did not contact Steven. Even if something did happen to him, you shouldn''t put the me on me."

    I continued exining, "Secondly, if I remember correctly, Jessica was the third wheel back then."

    My blunt words stunned Yvonne, and she stiffened.

    I added, "Besides, I don''t remember seeing you advise her against seducing another woman''s husband. Steven and I are divorced, and Jessica''s wish hase true. They aren''t as lovey-dovey as before. Still, what makes you think I am the one to me? Why should I be held ountable for that?"

    It was simply too ridiculous.

    "Yvonne, don''t forget that Jessica''s the one who ruined my rtionship with Steven in the first ce. She deserved it, whether I took revenge or not. I''m kind enough not to cause her trouble. Wrap your head around it."

    Then, in a warning tone, I told her, "Don''t me me for making your life miserable if you dare toe find me because of the two of them again!"

    ...

    Yvonne''s feet were glued to the ground. She stared at Annalise''s retreating figure but couldn''t retort despite her rage.

    What Annalise said was true, after all. Jessica was the one who made a mistake in the first ce.

    It took some time for Yvonne to finally calm down, and when she was cool-headed enough, she returned to her office and called Jessica. "Annalise refuses to help you," she told Jessica.

    Jessica''s confused voice sounded from the phone, "Why? She doesn''t love Steven anymore, right? Why wouldn''t she help me?"

 Chapter 269

    Yvonne wasn''t sure how to answer Jessica''s question. After pondering it for a while, she responded with, "What are you going to do now?" Jessica sounded troubled when she said, "I''ll have to think of something."

    She massaged the spot between her eyebrows and talked through the phone. "At least Steven''s easy to deal with. Even if he wanted to break up with me, it wouldn''t be a problem as long as I buy some time." Seeing the bigger picture, she said, "Also, you''re working at Huxham Corporation, so you''ll probably meet some rich and powerful men. Please keep an eye out for single men who are richer than Steven for me." That wasn''t all. She had another request. "Send me their information. I''ll filter out the men who have the potential to be my new boyfriend. I''ll strike once I find out their preferences."

    Jessica wouldn''t waste her time waiting for Steven to return to her side. She wouldn''t beg him to fall in love with her all over again.

    Steven loved Annalise. Therefore, the harder Jessica tried, the stronger his hatred for her would be. If he abandoned her, she''d be left with no money in her pocket.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    That was why Jessica had to make good use of the time she had to go after other men. Not only could she be less anxious about the future, but she also felt that going after other men would be much easier! After hearing Jessica''s request, Yvonne suddenly had an idea. "What do you think of Zane?"

    Jessica hadn''t interacted with Zane much and didn''t know much about him. "Zane?"

    "He likes Annalise," Yvonne exined. "So, he doesn''t care if a woman was married before. The thing is, he''s filthy rich. He''s so rich that you can live the rest of your life without ever worrying about money. You won''t even be able to spend all the money he has." "Besides, he''s quite generouspared to Steven." She recounted, "Steven could give you jewelry and a mansion, but Zane founded aic publishingpany just for Annalise.

    "She also decides how thepany develops. He never held back in terms of money when it came to promoting herics."

    As a subordinate in thepany, Yvonne admired Zane and looked up to him, even though he wasn''t exactly kind to her. "Although the two of them didn''t end up together... I''m sure that the money thepany makes each year is enough for you to have avish life." Jessica was enticed. "Okay. I''ll think of something," she said.

    After hanging up, Jessica took out herptop and started searching for information regarding Zane. He was exceptionally good at doing business and was also a righteous and honorable man.

    The results of her search were mostly about Huxham Corporation''s ns to expand its business and thepany''s achievements. There wasn''t any gossip about Zane.

    Leaning back on the couch, Jessica stared intently at the screen. An outstanding man like Zane was truly tempting. If she could capture his heart, she was sure he would pamper her and treat her exceptionally well.

    A determined smile formed on her face. Zane liked Annalise.

    Jessicaughed coldly at the thought. She could take Steven away from Annalise, so of course, she could do the same with Zane, too!

    With her mind set, Jessica plucked her phone out of her pocket and called Steven.

    "Hello?" she said when he answered the call.

    "What is it?" Steven''s voice was cold and distant.

    "Can you take me to Huxham Corporation when you''re free?" she asked. Without Steven keeping herpany, she wouldn''t be allowed to even step into the building, much less meet Zane.

    Jessica was well aware of that. She wasn''t a fool and knew that she needed help from someone with a bit of power in their hands. And Steven was the perfect choice for her.

    After a moment of silence, Steven asked her, "Why do you want to go there?"

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    "To help you persuade Annalise, of course," said Jessica sweetly. "I want to talk to her and see if she''s willing to get back together with you." Steven wasn''t against that idea. "Okay. I''ll ask Zane when he''s free."

    Jessica found Steven even more distasteful after that. He agreed to take her to Huxham Corporation just like that.

    He was so cruel. Jessica thanked her lucky stars for not falling in love with him. She was only after his money, after all.

    She''d gotten what she wanted.

    She said, "Okay. I''ll be waiting."

    "Okay."

    Steven contacted Eric and was told that Zane had a lot on his te recently. Zane was so busy that he probably wouldn''t have time to meet Steven.

    Eric was polite when he spoke, so Steven calmly responded with, "Okay. We''ll hang out sometimeter, then. I''m in no rush anyway."

    "I''ll get in touch with you when Mr. Huxham is free," said Eric.

    "Okay."

    Eric hung up after that. Meanwhile, Steven hesitated for a long time before telling Jessica about this.

    Jessica faked a smile. She had to get on Steven''s good side before she sessfully became Zane''s wife. But then, she realized that she was merely talking to Steven on the phone and that he couldn''t see her face. So, she spoke to him in a gentler tone. "It''s fine," she said. "I can wait."

    ...

    "Hi! Does Annalise Jamison work here?" a deliveryman asked after entering the office.

    I stopped what I was doing and headed over to him. "Is something the matter?"

    The deliveryman handed me a bouquet. "This is yours."

    I stared at the flowers. My social circle was small, so I rarely got flowers from anyone. If I wasn''t mistaken, the person who sent me these flowers was Steven.

    I didn''t want anything to do with him, though, so I said, "Sorry, but I can''t take them."

    The deliveryman looked troubled. "Don''t make things tough for me."

    "Why don''t you call the sender and ask him what to do with the bouquet?" I suggested before walking back into the office.

    Seeing my resolve, the deliveryman could do nothing but call Steven.

    "Throw it away," said Steven. He probably expected it.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    "Okay." The deliveryman was about to throw the bouquet away, but seeing how pretty the flowers were, he ended up having the flowers for himself.

    ...

    I continued drawing once I was back at my table in the office. For now, my most important tasks were to take good care of Willow andplete myic.

    I knew that as long as I did my job, I''d be able to make a lot of money. And with so much money in my bank, I could lead a good life for the rest of my life even if I were to quit my job. "Anna," someone called my name.

    It was a familiar voice, and I looked up from my drawing to see Zane standing before me. I had justpleted my current draft and was working overtime to color it.

    I had no idea why Zane would suddenly call my name.

    With a smile, he said, "It''s time for lunch."

    Hearing that, I looked at the bottom of myputer screen to check the time. It was already 12:30 pm. After saving all the drafts, I got up and told him, "Let''s go."

    "I know you''re diligent, but you must still take care for your health." It was a friendly reminder.

    "But... "I paused, well aware that he was simply concerned about me. "An opportunity like this is hard toe by. I don''t want to miss it."

    Instead of refuting, Zane calmly responded, "You''re right."

    We went downstairs, and when we reached the doors, we saw Steven standing not far away from the entrance, leaning against his car.

 Chapter 271

    Steven briskly walked over to me when he saw me.

    "Why didn''t you take the bouquet I sent you? Can you tell me why?" he asked.

    I believed I was being frank and clear enough when I talked to him several times before this. I never thought that he''d be shameless enough toe to me again.

    Annoyed, I spat, "I never turn back once my mind is made. I chose divorce, so it means that I''ll never get back together with you. Things are over between us. What''s the purpose of giving me flowers?"

    I calmly looked him in the eyes and spoke slowly and clearly to make sure that he heard every word, "Your wish hase true. You and Jessica are a couple now. Shouldn''t you cherish her? Don''t wait until you lose her and start regretting it again!" Sensing my displeasure, Steven exined, "I know you''re telling me this for my own good, but trust me. I won''t regret it this time."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    I wasn''t sure how to respond to that. After a moment of silence, I stated, "But I find it annoying when you keep pestering me. If you feel sorry for what you''ve done to me, I hope you can pretend not to know me when we meet in the future. That''s the best way to make it up to me."

    My words stunned him, and he froze, unsure how to respond. "Do you not have any feelings for me at all?"

    Before he came, he still had a sliver of hope that I would pity him upon seeing how deste and dejected he looked.

    Now, though... Steven knew that he was overthinking it.

    Worried that he couldn''t see my resolve and might misunderstand me, I adopted a grave tone when I rified, "I have no feelings for you."

    In case that wasn''t enough, I told him, "I told you before when we met thest few times, but you just wouldn''t believe me."

    Steven forced a wry smile. "I thought you were joking."

    "I''ve always been serious when ites to rtionships," I stated inly. And with that, I followed Zane out of the building.

    ...

    Steven''s legs turned to lead. He watched sorrowfully as Annalise and Zane left the office building.

    Suddenly, a frisson of fear gripped Steven''s heart. It was as if Annalise would disappear from his world once and for all after this.

    He wanted to run to her and force her to stay with him, no matter the means. However, it was as if his legs were glued to the ground, and he couldn''t even take a single step.

    Deep inside, he felt as if his heart was being forcefully torn apart by an invisible pair of hands. It brought him immense pain.

    He had thought he was so indifferent that he wouldn''t mind Annalise being in such close proximity with another man. But as he watched her leave with Zane, he felt suffocated somehow.

    Steven abruptly remembered the time when he and Annalise were still married. He remembered her watching in silence when he hung out with Jessica.

    Only after Annalise left him behind did he realize that she must''ve suffered as much as he did right now.

    The pain in his heart was agonizing, and the disbelief was devastating.

    ...

    I turned to look at Zane in the car and said, "We can just have our meals at the cafeteria in thepany in the future." I exined, "Otherwise, he''d wait for me downstairs every day, and I''d have to face him. It''d ruin my mood. "We have two choices," Zane noted coolly. "The first being the cafeteria, and second, asking someone to help us buy and take the food upstairs to us."

    With his hand on the steering wheel, he added, "We can have a change of pte if we don''t feel like eating cafeteria food."

    His idea was much more feasible, and I agreed to it readily, "Okay. If we''re tired from working and need some rest, we can head to the ground floor to stretch our legs."

    On second thought, I added, "But I''m not stepping out the door!"

    "Alright." Zane looked at me through the rearview mirror and asked, "Why do you think Steven came for you?"

 Chapter 272

    "I have no idea. It doesn''t matter anyway." That was my answer to Zane''s question. "Zane, he never truly treated me well in the past six years when he and I were together." I continued, "It was the worst this year. Yet, he imed he loved me now that I''ve gotten away from him."

    Nonchntly, I came to the conclusion. "I don''t need that kind of love."

    Zane nodded. "Indeed. To make it up to someone after hurting them... Well, the right thing to do was to be nice to them from the very beginning."

    Indeed. I agreed with him.

    Zane took me to have barbeque since I was in a foul mood. He knew I needed to vent my frustrations.

    We ordered lots of food with both spicy and non-spicy sauce. I was a little surprised at that.

    Noticing my look of surprise, Zane grinned. "I can''t handle spicy food, but I can order some less spicy food so we can dig in together."

    "I suppose I should say thank you?" I chuckled, amused.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    "You''re wee," he said, passing me the menu to see if I wanted to order more food.

    I saw some of my favorite foods written on the menu. The restaurant offered pulled pork and fish and chips, too, but one look at the price made my heart leap into my throat. They cost 40 dors. The thing was, the portion wasn''t even huge.

    I got paid a lot now. So, I could afford the food, but I still felt reluctant to order more.

    Eventually, with my jaw clenched, I ordered another serving of pulled pork and fish and chips. After that, I handed Zane the menu.

    "Is that really enough?" Zane asked, stoic.

    "Yes!" I replied without thinking twice.

    But he seemed to have read my mind because he said, "Lunch is on me today."

    In a hushed voice, I said, "That doesn''t mean I can spend all your money, though."

    "Indeed," said Zane thoughtfully.

    He added a few more dishes before he returned the menu to the waiter, who took it and headed to the kitchen.

    Zane leaned in his seat in a rxed manner and said, "Anna, you''ll make more money in the future."

    "Huh?" I was confused as to why he would bring that up so abruptly.

    Zane took his time to exin. "Promoting youric in the early stages doesn''t cost as much as continuing theic in theter stages. But you''ve made quite a lot of money in the early stages, so you should treat yourself better." To Zane, the food served in this restaurant was cheap.

    I mulled his words over and said, "It''s easier to be a spendthrift than to revert to being frugal. What if I got used to spendingvishly and identally spent all my savings? What would I do if that happened?"

    I stared at Zane, wondering how he would respond.

    He was on the verge of blurting that he had money anyway, but if he had said that, it''d seem too offputting. He swallowed his words and, instead, said, "Well, then, you could make more money, so much so that you would never be able to spend all of it." I lifted an eyebrow. "That''s a great idea."

    Later, the waiter brought us the food we ordered. It was as clear as day that Zane knew what I liked because the food he ordered was all my favorite.

    I looked at him, to which he coolly said, "Let''s dig in."

    I ced the food that needed to be grilled the longest on the grill first, and Zane followed. The sauce the restaurant provided made the food smell really good.

    I loved it all. I didn''t even bother when Zane told me to slow down because I was so busy filling my mouth with the food.

 Chapter 273

    Zane enjoyed his food, looking all elegant and sophisticated as ever.

    I was so bloated by the time we finished eating. When we got back to the office, I plopped onto the couch, took out my phone, and checked how many dolls I managed to sell today.

    The sales increased every day. It was the same for the other merchandise. The sales went from zero to hundreds, and it was only on this tform.

    I opened the other tforms and saw that my merchandise was highly sought after by the readers. I reaped what I sowed, after all.

    Rubbing my belly, I sat and waited until I thought the food was digested before I continued coloring.

    I only stopped working when Zane reminded me that it was time to pick Willow up. After heading downstairs and exiting the building, I nced around warily. I sighed in relief because Steven wasn''t there. After arriving at the kindergarten, Zane and I waited for about three minutes before Willow appeared at the entrance.

    When she saw us, she scurried over to me. I found it odd why she didn''te out of the building with Penelope today. After all, Willow and Penelope were the best of friends.

    As I wondered what had happened, I saw Penelope running into Suzy''s arms with a huge smile. She held Suzy''s hand, and the two of them left.

    Fearing that I would misunderstand, Willow quickly exined to me, "Penelope said her mom wants to take her out to have fun together. That''s why I didn''t chat with her after school just now."

    I was relieved to hear that. Thank goodness Willow and Penelope didn''t get into a fight.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Willow got into the car and sat on myp. "Mommy, I''m so tired."

    "What did you do at school today?" I asked, concerned.

    Willow shook her head and said, "It''s not because of school. It''s because I have to pretend the other kids at school were dolls."

    She continued, "It was fine at first, but I had to pretend that everyone else, including my ssmates and teachers, were all dolls. It was so tiring that my head hurt!"

    She pouted, her lower lip protruding.

    I gently massaged her temples and said, "You must be exhausted."

    Willow felt much better after letting it out, and she said, "It''s a great idea, though."

    She straightened her back and looked at me, her eyes shining with eagerness. "I can now talk with lots of kids in my ss, but Penelope is still my best friend."

    Willow continued sharing her day, "Penelope was very worried that I wouldn''t like her anymore after I talked to the other kids."

    I couldn''t help but be amused by how naive children were. They never bottled up their feelings. They would tell anyone everything.

    "What did you tell her, then?" I asked.

    Willow looked proud of herself. "I told her that I liked her the most when I couldn''t talk. I said that it wouldn''t change even after I started talking to the other kids. She isn''t worried after I told her that." Willow giggled, and I caressed her chubby cheeks.

    "Mommy, can I be good friends with Penelope forever?" Willow asked.

    I gave it some thought and said, "You can if you want to!"

    "That''s great!" Willow smiled so brightly that I could see her teeth.

    ...

    After Zachary got into the car, Harry said, "Hannah and I talked to your mother after we took you to school. We told her she was too cruel to you."

    Zachary straightened his back at the mention of Annalise. "What did Mommy say?"

    Harry was reluctant to burst Zachary''s bubble, but he still answered frankly, "She asked us if we knew what you did to her."

    With his head hung low, Zachary muttered, "I betrayed Mommy."

    After a while, he said, "If someone treated me the way I treated her, I would not be able to forgive them, either."

    Harry was puzzled now. What did Zachary do to Annalise? Just how terrible was it?

 Chapter 274

    What kind of mother could just walk away from her own child? As for Zachary, did he really think that Annalise''s indifference as his mother was somehow justified? Harry caught Hannah''s questioning nce. Seeing the pain on Zachary''s face, they both held their tongues.

    He was just a kid, after all. This was already too much for him to handle. What if their questions pushed him over the edge?

    ...

    Pulling up near Zane''s house, Zachary noticed Steven''s car parked on the street not far away. Instead of getting out, he stayed put as he watched Annalise on her morning run.

    It was the same routine every day, but Zachary never seemed to tire of watching. He did not dare look away, as if he did not even want to miss even a moment.

    Only after they finished their workout and headed inside did Zachary finally tear his gaze away. Getting out of the car, he approached Steven and asked, "What are you doing here?" Steven''s voice shook as he spoke, "I''ve realized that your mom is the one I truly love."

    Zachary was not shocked. Steven might be slow with feelings, but he was not stupid. It was bound to click eventually. He did not think he could hide this from Steven forever. "You''re toote." Zachary''s voice was icy. "Mommy''s found her ce in Willow''s family."

    Annalise had people who genuinely loved her now. No way would she take back a cheater and the son who had helped his mistress torment her.

    The words hit Steven like a physical blow. He could barely breathe through the pain. After a few minutes, he finally managed to regain hisposure. He tried not to think about what Zachary had just said. "You watch them every day, so you must know where things stand between them, right?"N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    "I know plenty." Zachary''s childish voice was unnaturally hard. "But why would I tell you anything, Daddy?

    "If you hadn''t dragged me along while contacting Jessica in secret and constantly badmouthed Mommy in front of me, I would never have turned on her. I would never have helped Jessica hurt her!" His voice cracked with emotion. "If I hadn''t done those things, Mommy would''ve fought for custody during the divorce. I could''ve been living with someone who actually loved me."

    Zachary''s eyes zed with anger as he red at Steven. "This is all your fault! I lost my mom at five years old because of you!"

    The hatred in his voice was clear.

    "Just tell me what you know," Steven pleaded desperately. "Once I win her back, we can be a family again."

    Zachary shook his head. "That''s never happening. Mommy will never forgive what we did!"

    ...

    Chloe meant what she said about keeping tabs on Jessica, and she was not about to back down. With Zachary still out, she drove to Jessica''s ce and rang the doorbell. When Jessica heard the chime, she made her way from the living room. Seeing Chloe at her front door, she asked with surprise, "Why are you here?"

    "I warned you about messing with Zachary the other day," Chloe said with a fake smile. "But the minute I left, you went running to Steven. Clearly, you didn''t take me seriously. "So here I am. Let''s have another chat, shall we?"

 Chapter 275

    Chloe said all of that with a smile, but Jessica caught the threat in her voice immediately. "A few days ago, I might have listened to what you had to say. But Steven has already told me he''s leaving me."

    Now that things were over with Steven, Jessica saw no need to y nice. "He wants to get back together with Annalise."

    "That''s impossible!" Chloe shot back without hesitation.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Jessica smirked. "He told me himself. If you don''t believe me, you should call and ask him."

    With that, she turned to go back inside. Chloe stood there frozen before finally pulling out her phone to call Steven. "Jessica said you''re going to remarry Annalise. Is that true?"

    Steven struggled to find the right words.

    "Answer me!" Chloe demanded, her voice rising.

    Steven mumbled a half-hearted "yeah".

    Chloe immediately hung up and dialed Annalise''s number.

    ...

    I was sitting in the living room, watching Willow chat with Milton and Dorothy, when my phone rang. Perhaps because they had not seen each other in ages, they were especially gentle and patient when they were with Willow. They spoke to her in soft tones. Willow was chattering away nonstop, and the whole scene felt so warm and homey. I sat back contentedly while just taking it all in.

    When I picked up my phone, Chloe''s voice cut through, "Even if my son wants to remarry you, I want to make one thing clear. You''re not wee in this family! You''re not good enough for Steven!"

    ...

    Chloe expected Annalise to be desperate for her approval like she used to since she loved Steven so much. She would surely agree to any conditions Chloe set just to be with Steven.

    She was ready toy down thew and make sure Annalise knew her ce...

    ...

    "Is that so?" I was not affected by Chloe''s words. "Well, looks like we''re on the same page."

    I continued, "You don''t like me, and I don''t like you."

    Chloe could not believe her ears.

    I said, "So, do us both a favor and tell your son to stop pursuing me. Things were alright back when we just got a divorce, but he''s been showing up everywheretely. It''s bothering me."

    This was not the reaction Chloe had expected from me. All her prepared speeches crumbled away.

    I paused before adding, "And I hear things aren''t great between Steven and Jessica. You always liked her, didn''t you? Why don''t you help them work things out? I''m sure they could patch things up with your support." Realization dawned on Chloe''s face as she listened. "Are you saying my son isn''t good enough for you?"

    "Obviously." I did not deny it.

    "How dare you!" she exploded. I hung up right after that. When I had blocked the rest of his family''s numbers before, I had forgotten about hers.

    This was the perfect opportunity to fix that oversight.

    Dorothy had been ying with Willow but turned her attention to me after overhearing the call. "What was that about?"

 Chapter 276

    I told Dorothy, "My ex-mother-inw just called to tell me I''m not good enough. She warned me not to even think about remarrying her son."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Dorothy looked incredulous. "You''re already divorced! Isn''t it delusional of her to say things like that to you still?"

    "Who knows?" I shrugged. "She probably thinks I''m still the same pushover..." I added slowly, "The kind who lets her y the overbearing mother-inw."

    Dorothy frowned. "How did you put up with these people for so long?"

    "Honestly..." I wondered the same thing. "Back then, I was so in love with Steven that I thought any sacrifice was worth it to be with him. I kept telling myself things would get better if I just endured.

    "Then, I fell out of love. After that, I stopped caring so much. I just wanted to keep my distance." I was surprised by my own growth as I said this. "They''re not part of my life anymore. So, they wouldn''t affect my mood." Dorothy turned her attention back to Willow. "I''m d you''ve moved on."

    I nodded and agreed, "Me, too."

    ...

    Chloe stared at her phone in disbelief after hearing the dial tone. How dare Annalise hang up on her? That was so disrespectful of her!

    She had to demand Steven not to get back with Annalise! With that thought in mind, she immediately called him. "So, I reached out to Annalise after hearing about your n to remarry her.

    "I was going to be nice about it and maybe set some ground rules for how she should treat you and Zachary. But she told me to keep an eye on you and stop you from bothering her. Can you believe it?"

    Chloeughed bitterly. "Everyone used to know how much she loved you-"

    "Mom." Steven felt exhausted. "She''s over me."

    Chloe nearly choked on her next words. "What?"

    Steven told her the truth, "She has no intention of getting back together."

    "She must be lying!" Chloe insisted. "You''re handsome and wealthy-she''ll never find a better man!"

    She sounded so confident, but Steven felt lost hearing her words. Was he really as great as Chloe imed? Probably not.

    So what if he was wealthy? If Annalise had cared about that, she would have imed her share in the divorce. After all, he had built his career during their marriage.

    But Annalise had not asked for anything. All she had wanted from their marriage was love, and that was the one thing he had failed to give her. Steven felt nothing but guilt. "She has her own career now, and she makes over six figures."

    To most people, that was serious money. But Chloe was too used to their wealthy lifestyle, so she scoffed. "That''s nothingpared to what you make!"

    "Her ie''s growing." Steven had kept tabs on Annalise''s sess. "She''ll probably outpace me soon."

    Chloe knew Steven rarely lied. "Is she really doing that well?"

    Steven was too weary to speak. "Yeah. So, she has no reason to settle for me anymore. Mom, she''s been thriving without me..."

    Chloe was defensive of him. "Settle for you? Any woman would be lucky to be your wife!"

    Steven could not take Chloe''s delusions anymore, so he hung up.

 Chapter 277

    Ever since Willow could talk normally with her grandparents and Penelope, she had stopped her mirror practice sessions. Instead, she spent that time reading books. It was bedtime by the time she finished her routine. I tiptoed out of Willow''s room after she fell asleep. Zane caught my eye and headed toward the balcony. I knew he wanted to talk, so I followed.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    The balcony lights were on, but everything beyond was enveloped by the mysterious darkness of the night. I settled into a chair, savoring the peaceful silence.

    Zane sat beside me. Since it was toote for coffee, he brought water instead.

    His cool voice broke the silence. "Before the divorce, your life with Steven must have been pretty miserable, wasn''t it?"

    Strange. Though his tone was neutral, I could hear the concern underneath.

    I chose my words carefully. "Back then, I thought marriage meant working through problems together, so I tried not to overthink things. But looking back, I realize I was the only one really trying."

    My voice remained steady. "When he messed up, all he had to do was exin his side, and I''d let it go. I thought it wasn''t worth fighting over small things. But when I made mistakes...

    "He''d bring them up again and again even after exining myself and apologizing."

    I found myself wondering why I had ever fallen for Steven in the first ce.

    I continued, "I thought he was trying to help me avoid making the same mistakes, so I worked hard to fix everything he pointed out.

    "Then, I realized he just didn''t like me. When he finally caught me making mistakes, he used them as a chance to make things difficult for me."

    The evening breeze was surprisingly gentle as it brushed against my skin.

    I mused, "I could feel his dislike toward me. Yet now, he ims he loves me. How can I possibly believe that?"

    My voice stayed level. "How can you im to love someone while constantly trying to make them miserable?"

    "I''ve never been actually romantically interested in anyone my age." Zane reflected, "But I have Willow. "I suppose what I feel for her is like any guardian''s love for their child, right?"

    He continued thoughtfully, "I want to give her the best of everything just to see her smile. When I find someone I truly love, I imagine it''d feel somewhat simr."

    I agreed, "We must think alike, then."

    Down in his car, Steven watched Zane and Annalise talking on the balcony. He could not hear what they were saying, but he saw the tenderness in Zane''s eyes and Annalise looking gentle as usual. Though there was nothing intimate about their interaction, his chest still tightened painfully. He wished he could rush up there and tell Zane to stay away from Annalise.

 Chapter 278

    But there was nothing Steven could do. He slumped back in his car seat. He had no right to interfere, after all. All he could do was watch Zane and Annalise grow closer. His phone lit up with a message. Expecting work stuff, he nced at it.

    It was from Zane. "Are you jealous? I''m the one sitting here with her under the moonlight now."

    Steven could not believe Zane''s boldness. He looked up, and their eyes met across the distance.

    Pursing his lips, Steven typed back quickly. "Annalise and I were together for six years. We have a five-year-old son..."

    Zane''s reply was instant. "That''s ancient history, Mr. Pelham. I''m her present and future. Hope that''s clear."

    ...

    Zane pocketed his phone and looked away. Curious, I asked, "Did you see something interesting?"

    "Nothing, really." He smiled. "I thought I saw a magpie."

    He secretly thought that he was lucky that Steven had given up on such an amazing woman like Annalise. Because of that, Zane had a chance to pursue her. His smile grew wider at the thought. "Really?" I asked, confused.

    "Of course," he replied smoothly, standing up. "It''s gettingte. We should head in."

    Seeing it was almost 10:00 pm, I hurried inside.

    For a long time, Zane watched me go before sending Steven onest message. He chuckled. "See that? If I want to, I can keep herpletely out of your reach, Mr. Pelham."

    Jessica had been anxioustely. She had no chance to meet Zane, and Steven kept staying away from her. If she did not do something soon, money would be a real problem. She was so used to avish lifestyle that she could not bear the thought of being poor. After some thinking, she decided to call Steven.

    "Hello?" he answered.

    Jessica spoke in a crying voice, "I''m hurt. Could youe over?"

    She sounded so weak and vulnerable even through the phone.

    Steven quickly asked, "What happened?"

    Jessica choked back a sob. "I don''t know... Maybe it''s because I''m carrying your child, but I feel so unstable. Every little thing makes me anxious and scared.

    "The nanny and the driver are both off today, so I have no one to talk to. And Cody''s too young to understand."

    Her voice cracked. "If you don''te, I think I might lose my mind..."

    Steven gripped his steering wheel while still staring in Zane''s direction.

    Jessica waited, thinking he wouldn''te.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Then, suddenly, Steven said, "I''m on my way."

    Up on the balcony, Zane watched Steven''s headlights flick on as he drove away.

    Crossing his legs casually, Zane sent another message with intrigue. "Let me guess who made you leave."

 Chapter 279

    "Was it Jessica?" Contempt filled Zane''s eyes. "You know you love Annalise, yet one word from Jessica sends you running. Seems like losing Annalise wasn''t bad luck. It was inevitable. "Let''s be honest, Mr. Pelham. You never deserved a woman like Annalise."

    Driving down the street, Steven caught Zane''s message out of the corner of his eyes. Furious, he called him immediately.

    When Zane picked up, Steven shot back, "Hah! If Annalise knew how cold-blooded you are, you think she''d still like you?" Zane replied coolly, "I wonder."

    "Jessica''s hurt." Steven gritted his teeth. "It''s only natural I''d check on her. Annalise would think I''m being kind!"

    Something in Steven''s self-righteous tone gave Zane a bad feeling. Back before the divorce, had Steven always abandoned Annalise in the middle of the night tofort Jessica? Suppressing his disgust, Zane asked, "Did you ever show the same concern when Annalise was hurt?"

    "No."

    "You only ever cared about Jessica," Zane uttered. "Your different treatment of them proves who you really love. Let me give you some advice. Just go back to Jessica because that''s where you belong." Steven felt the sting of every word but could not argue back. Pulling over, he had to ask himself why he had been doing that.

    Zane was right. If he truly loved Annalise, shouldn''t her feelings have mattered more? Yet, every little scratch on Jessica sent him running.

    Steven could not understand why. In the end, he could only me it all on Annalise''s independence.

    Annalise would never tell him no matter how sick she got. Even when he found out, she would just smile and say, "It''s nothing. Don''t worry about it."

    She would never let him fret. Jessica was different. The smallest bump would make her cry in agony. When she made things sound serious, he automatically assumed the worst.

    As realization dawned upon Steven, he could not counter Zane''s words. And so, he drove to Jessica''s ce in silence.

    ...

    Milton spotted Zane still up and approached. Curious, he asked, "Who are you talking to?"

    "Annalise''s ex-husband," Zane replied honestly.

    Milton was surprised. "Why?"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Zane''s chuckle was unusually dark. "To make sure he knows he''s not good enough for her. And to show him exactly what he did wrong in their six-year marriage that made her end things. That way, he''ll back off and improve my chances." Zane had always been careful with rtionships. He made no attempt to hide his intentions. "Annalise and I are just beginning. I''m still getting to know her, so I have to be strategic about pursuing her.

    "I have to be careful even during our daily interactions because one wrong move could turn her against me. It will ruin all my efforts."

    Though Zane had no experience pursuing women, he had plenty in business. If he wanted to marry Annalise...

    "I''m moving too slowly. If someone else moves faster, I could lose everything."

    Zane knew his weaknesses well. "The best strategy is to watch carefully for others who might be interested in her. And make sure they all give up."

 Chapter 280

    Once all other suitors were out of the picture, Zane would then have time to fine-tune his approach based on Annalise''s reactions. He had plenty of patience to let things develop naturally, so there was no rush anyway. He could take his time. "That''ll give me the best odds," he continued.

    Milton studied him carefully. "We all support you keeping her ex away since he wasn''t good to her. But what if someone better than youes along?"

    Zane turned to face Milton. He took his time to think before answering, "Then, I''ll just have to be the best man in her life.

    "Milton, I know I can give Annalise the best life possible, and I know my love for her will never fade."

    This was exactly what Milton wanted to hear. "Good. Having confidence is important. Just remember these words when your dreames true."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Zane''s eyes crinkled with a smile. "I will. I know exactly what I want."

    ...

    When Steven arrived at Jessica''s, he had barely made it to the living room before she ran to him. She threw her arms around his waist, sobbing softly. "I missed you so much."

    Steven gripped her shoulders and pushed her back. "What happened?"

    Jessica''s eyes were red and puffy. "I cut my finger while cooking. There was so much blood."

    Her voice was small and timid. Seeming to have sensed his coldness, she backed away. "I panicked and didn''t know what to do. It''s just me and Cody here. He''s just a child, and I couldn''t ask him for help." Jessica kept her head down. "You were my only option."

    "Where''s the first aid kit?" Steven rarely stayed here and did not know where anything was.

    Jessica pointed behind him. "It''s in the first drawer on the right of the TV stand."

    Steven walked over and pulled open the drawer. He retrieved the iodine and cotton swabs, then approached her. "Which finger?"

    Jessica sat obediently on the couch before holding out her hand. Only then did Steven realize it was just a minor cut. It was barely a scratch.

    Feeling his judgment, Jessica ducked her head. "Do you think it could hurt the baby?"

    Steven dabbed the cut gently with iodine. Patiently, he said, "No, it won''t."

    "Thank goodness!" Jessica exhaled in relief. She snuck a nce at him and whispered, "Steven, I know you love Annalise, but I''m scared...

    "It might not be a serious injury this time, but what if something worse happens next time?"

    Jessica looked up at him pleadingly. "Could you stay tonight?" She rushed to exin before he could refuse, "Just until the nanny and driver return." "Alright," Steven agreed patiently. "I''ll stay. Go get some rest, Jessica."

    Only then did she head to her room.

    Right on cue, Steven''s phone chimed with a message. He tapped it open to read.

 Chapter 281

    It was another message from Zane. "Since you''re so worried about Jessica, her injury must be super serious, right?"

    Even Steven was not dense enough to miss the sarcasm. He asked, "What are you getting at?"

    Zane replied instantly, "How would you have felt if Annalise kept abandoning you for other men while you were married?" Steven had no answer.

    Zane had expected this silence, so he did not mind it. He continued, "You would''ve been furious, just like Annalise was.

    "She believed in your marriage and was sure you''d choose her. But after everything you did, she epted that Jessica meant more to you. So, she finally gave up on you." Steven''s eyes burned as he read each word...

    Zane twisted the knife. "I don''t know if you''d forgive Annalise for doing what you did, but I know she''ll never forgive you. If she did, you''d just put her through it all over again." "That''s impossible!" Steven protested.

    "Ask yourself honestly..." Zane split his next message in two. "Could you really give up on Jessica?"

    Steven did not know.

    Zane continued, "Have you thought about what would happen if Annalise took you back? You''d think if she could forgive you after everything, she wouldn''t mind about Jessica either. And you''d hurt her even worse." Reading through the messages, Steventched onto one detail. He became overjoyed. "Did you say there''s a chance Annalise might take me back? Is she thinking of forgiving me?" Zane could not believe how he had twisted things. But fearing Steven would keep pursuing Annalise without rity, he quickly replied, "Not at all. I''m just exining why she left you. "Steven, only a mistress would be able to put up with you."

    ...

    Alone in the living room, Steven could not shake Zane''s words. They rang true, even though he did not want to admit it.

    Troubled, he messaged Gavin. "Do you want to get a drink?"

    "Now?" Gavin replied immediately.

    Steven nced toward Jessica''s bedroom. She was pregnant and alone. She would be scared.

    "Tomorrow. The nanny and cook are off today, and Jessica''s here alone. She''s frightened."

    Gavin was baffled. Hadn''t Steven sworn he loved Annalise? Why was he with Jessica again?Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    He probed, "Have you realized you actually love Jessica?"

    "No." Steven did not want any misunderstanding. "Why would you think that?"

    Gavin was even more confused. "If you don''t love her, why are you so concerned about her?"

    Steven exined, "She''s hurt."

    Gavin took a deep breath. "But when Annalise was hospitalized so many times throughout your marriage, you never visited her."

 Chapter 282

    Steven froze. Gavin continued, "From what we know about Jessica, I doubt her injury is anywhere near as serious as Annalise''s was." He left the rest unsaid.

    Steven''s mind was in chaos. He was reminded of the panic of losing Annalise and thefort of being with her. These feelings confirmed he loved her.

    So why... Why did he rush to Jessica''s side at the slightest hint of injury? Was it what he had thought earlier? That Jessica exaggerated everything while Annalise downyed even serious injuries?

    Deep down, Steven sensed there was more to it. There was another reason, but he could not pin down what it was. All he knew with crushing rity was how badly he had treated Annalise.

    Zane sat alone on the balcony as he enjoyed the rare moment of peace.

    In business, he was unstoppable. He maintained perfect control in every project and every step. But in love, all his proud business experience meant nothing.

    There were many constraints. Only now did Zane realize he was not as invincible as he had thought. Someone''s advice echoed in his mind.

    He should show some vulnerability and buy gifts for others first so that he would have an excuse to give them to Annalise. Suddenly, Zane knew what to do.

    He decided to seek advice first to avoid pushing Annalise away. But who to ask?

    With a smile, he had someone perfect in mind.

    Tomorrow at the office, he would pull them into a meeting room for a chat. He wanted to know if women minded men who showed weakness. And if they did not, how vulnerable should he pretend to be to win Annalise''s heart?

    ...

    After getting up, washing up, and finishing her reading, Willow emerged from her room.

    I waved her over.

    "Mommy!" Willow looked at me eagerly. "Penelope and I nned to wear matching colors today. Can you help me pick something?"

    I nodded. "Of course."

    Beaming, she grabbed my hand. "Let''s go exercise now, then!"

    Her well-being had improved so much. Watching her run half a mile without breaking a sweat filled me with pride. When she first started, she would be gasping after just a hundred yards.

    She hade so far in such a short time. I gazed at her lovingly.

    Noticing my look, Willow snuggled close. "Mommy, are you proud of me?"

    I nodded and agreed, "Absolutely! You''re so determined!"

    Willow lifted her chin proudly and said, "Of course I am."

    I yfully tapped her nose.

    "Time for fundamentals!" Zane''s stern voice interrupted our moment.Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    We fell silent in perfect sync.

    Willow''s form was perfect.

    Walking over to her, Zane softened his voice as he encouraged her. "Arms higher." He stopped by my side and gently lifted my elbow.

    I frowned.

 Chapter 283

    Whether from the run or something else, Zane would always find something wrong with my form somehow. I followed his corrections obediently. He continued adjusting my other positions, and I made each change he suggested. Finally satisfied, he pulled back, unable to hide his smile. Maintaining perfect form made the workout even more exhausting. Seeing how much I was sweating, Zane handed me a towel and asked, "Am I being too hard on you?" I turned to him. "Not at all."

    "Good." He finally rxed.

    I watched his retreating figure curiously.

    Willow tugged at my hand. "Mommy, let''s pick my clothes!"

    She and Penelope had agreed to wear purple today. However, since they would be ying games and doing activities at kindergarten, a dress would not work. After some thought, I picked out a light purple tracksuit. Willow tried it on excitedly before twirling in front of the mirror. "Mommy, you have amazing taste!"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    "Of course!" I chuckled and said, "Now, breakfast time!"

    Willow responded enthusiastically, "Okay!"

    When she first started talking to Milton, Dorothy, and Penelope, she had been so excited that she would chatter endlessly. After running out of things to sayter, their rtionship normalized, and she grew even closer to me. At breakfast, she kept putting food on my te. "Here, Mommy. Eat this!"

    "Thank you." I would move my te over and let her ce some food there before eating slowly.

    In the car afterward, I caught her stealing nces at me. Seeing her hesitation, I stroked her cheek. "What''s on your mind?"

    "Mommy." Willow hugged my arm tight. "I heard others say lots of people read yourics."

    I sensed her worry. "Yeah?"

    She continued carefully, "So, you''ll make more and more money till you won''t need the sry for taking care of me anymore."

    I could guess where this was going, but I let her continue.

    "Will you still stay home and be my mom then?" she asked pitifully. She had already lost one mother, so she wanted this one to stay by her side forever.

    "Do you know why I chose to work for your family?" Instead of answering her, I asked gently. Willow shook her head.

    I squeezed her cheeks softly. "Because I love you."

    Her eyes widened in surprise.

    "I meant it every time I said it," I said seriously. "So whether it''s past, present, or future, I''ll always stay with you as long as you don''t hate me or send me away." Willow''s eyes crinkled as she hugged me. "You''re the best mom ever!"

    Afterforting her, I ruffled her head and asked, "But what made you worry about this?"

    She said shyly, "My ssmates were talking about you. Some even bought your merchandise. They said you must make lots of money, so I just started thinking about it after that." She pressed her face against my tummy. "But now that I know how you feel, I''m not worried anymore!"

    Seeing her energy return, I rxed. At the kindergarten gates, she insisted on going in alone before running to meet Penelope.

    Penelope had arrived early and rushed to meet her. The two girls hugged excitedly.

    I watched them enter before turning to Zane. "Let''s go."

    ...

    Zachary was sitting in another car.

    Harry passed him his phone. "Your mom has new merchandise for heric. Do you want to buy some?"

 Chapter 284

    Zachary had been down ever since they talked to Annalise yesterday.

    Hoping to cheer him up, Harry showed him the phone.

    Zachary took one look and said without hesitation, "Buy it!"

    Harry ced the order.

    That seemed to lift Zachary''s spirits a bit as he headed into kindergarten.

    Why wouldn''t they allow stuffed animals in kindergarten? If they did, he could buy one of Annalise''s plush dolls to keep there. Then, she could be with him both at home and school!

    ...

    In the conference room, Zane called Sasha. "Come see me. I need to discuss something work-rted."

    "Work?" Sasha panicked instantly. Had he noticed her gossiping in the office instead of working? Was she about to be fired?

    Zane replied coolly, "Yes."

    Her heart in her throat, what should have been a two-minute walk took her ten. She opened the door with an awkward smile. "Mr. Huxham..."

    Zane got straight to the point. "Do women like vulnerable men?"

    Sasha''s eyebrow shot up in disbelief. Why was he asking her this? Was he trying to set her up with someone?

    She waved her hands frantically and said, "Absolutely not! If you know someone like that, keep him far away from me!"

    Seeing her strong reaction, Zane rified, "I''m not interested in meddling in others'' love lives."N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    "Then, what''s this about?" Sasha was even more confused.

    Zane decided to be direct since she still did not get it. "It''s about me pursuing Anna."

    Sasha nodded. "And?"

    "Someone suggested showing my vulnerable side to her," Zane exined slowly. "I need to know how vulnerable I can be without turning her off and to make her attracted to me." Sasha raised an eyebrow, then nodded in understanding. "I see."

    Zane finally rxed.

    Sasha asked, "But will you really trust my advice?"

    After all, she had once pursued him. And now, he was close to Annalise. While Zane pondered this dilemma, Sasha suggested, "Why not call Eric in? He can fact-check my advice." Zane studied her for a long moment before agreeing.

    Eric entered with a confused look. "Mr. Huxham, do you need something?"

    Sasha quickly exined the situation.

    Zane tapped the table lightly. "Now, your thoughts?"

    "Well..." Sasha leaned against the wall. "Look at Jessica''s approach."

    Zane frowned immediately.

    "She always acts helpless at the smallest injury around Steven." Though she despised Jessica, she had to admit the tactic worked. She said, "Steven falls for it every time, doesn''t he?" Eric coughed discreetly. "Remember. Mr. Huxham is pursuing Annalise, not Steven."

    "I''m just using an example!" Sasha snapped.

    "When she and Anna are around Steven, Jessica always pretends to apologize even when she is clearly in the wrong. And Steven ends up ming the innocent Anna for not being more understanding!"

 Chapter 285

    As Zane listened to their discussion, he knew what he should do. He said coolly, "Good points. What reward would you like?"

    "A raise?" Sasha replied instantly.

    "Same here," Eric added.

    "Okay," Zane agreed generously.

    After finishing my morning work, I settled onto the couch as I was tired. I then checked my tform stats. My follower count had exploded. Even my smallest tform had over 50 thousand followers now. And my video views had reached... 500 thousand views?

    I sat up in disbelief and quickly checked my revenue across all tforms. After seeing thest one, I slumped back against the couch. Just from views alone, not counting merchandise, I had earned over ten thousand dors! I stared at the ceiling. With the plush dolls and other merchandise revenue, the total would be even more staggering.

    Zane came into the office and walked over to me. He noticed my daze and asked, "What''s up?"

    I handed him my phone. "When I left the Pelhams, I thought finding a job paying ten thousand dors a month would be amazing. But that''s the smallest part of my ie now."

    I smiled and said, "It''s all thanks to having such a great boss like you."

    Zane took my phone and sat down, nodding with satisfaction. He said meaningfully, "So, make sure you appreciate it."

    After reviewing the stats, he returned my phone. "Next month''s earnings will shock you."

    I looked up. "Is it a lot?"

    He casually threw out a number. "It''ll be at least 300 thousand dors, including your sry for taking care of Willow."

    I shook my head and denied, "That''s impossible..."

    "A total of 15 thousand dolls were sold." Zane calmly analyzed, "Your royalties will be around 180 thousand dors. Other merchandise is selling well, too. Roughly 30 thousand units were sold, bringing in about 45 thousand dors. "You''ve earned ten thousand dors from views, and your monthly sry is 80 thousand dors."

    I did the math as he spoke. The total matched his estimate pretty closely. I had never made this much money in my life.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Feeling generous, I offered, "Let me treat you to anything you''d like."

    "There''s good street food downstairs." Zane suggested, "Shall we go now?"

    "Yes!" I stood up. "Let''s go!"

    ...

    Steven sat in a corner, watching his friends drink. Finally, he asked, "How should I win Annalise back?"

    Gavin replied without hesitation, "That''s easy. Think about what you did that really touched her when you were together, and do those things again. When she sees that, she''ll remember the good times! "Then, ask her to take you back. She''ll definitely give in and agree!"

 Chapter 291

    Milton replied that he was home at the moment.

    Zane then informed him that there would be people sending toys over and told him to sign for the delivery.

    After he finished his instruction, he walked over to me and asked, "What did you want to buy at the mall? Let''s go pick it out now."

    Only then did I head over to the snacks section and fill an entire small shopping cart with snacks that I liked, after which I proceeded to check the items out. I had bought a lot, enough to fill two full shopping bags.

    After I paid for the snacks, Zane picked up the bags and moved to leave the mall, with me following after him. When I used to visit the mall with Steven, we would always go on shopping sprees. We would always end up with more than what Zane and I had right now, never less.

    However, Steven was never afraid of tiring me and would always walk casually ahead while I followed after him, carrying all the bags. The bags had been very heavy, but the idea of asking Steven for help didn''t seem to have ever urred to me.

    Before today, I had always assumed that there was nothing wrong with his behavior, but now...

    Even if Zane and I were neither a couple nor husband and wife, we would politely share each other''s burdens.

    I walked up to him and said, "Give me one of the bags, Zane. I''m really strong. I can carry it."

    Zane had no intention of handing a shopping bag to me.

    "Just rest," he said. "The hardbor should be left to men."

    No matter how hard I tried to get him to relent, he refused to budge. In the end, I had no choice but to watch him carry the bags into the office.

    Once I was seated on the couch, looking at the enormous pile of snacks in front of me, I finally realized that back then, Steven hadn''t been careless orcked awareness. He had known that I was struggling with the shopping bags and had deliberately pretended not to see anything.

    Perhaps while our marriage had still persisted, he only held dislike toward me.

    I shook my head, chuckling softly.

    Since Steven was that annoyed at me, shouldn''t he have kept his distance from me? What did he mean in pressing closer to tell me he loved me now?

    I didn''t understand his actions, nor could I be bothered to.

    I pulled out a bag of snacks and was just about to open it when I suddenly thought of something.

    Looking toward Zane, I asked, "I''m finished with my work for today. May I eat some snacks and watch a video?"

    Zane replied formally, "You may."

    I continued asking, "Will I bother you?"

    "You won''t," Zane replied, exining slowly, "I at least have that much focus."

    Once I was sure that I wouldn''t interrupt him, I sighed in relief. I sent Sasha a message, telling her that I had brought her snacks. Then, I tore open a bag of chips, put on a popr drama series, and started watching in concentration. Zane was working, but when he heard the sounds from my direction, he kept ncing my way.

    I hurriedly lowered the volume.

    Zane got up and walked over to sit next to me, asking, "I haven''t watched TV in a long time. Would you mind letting me watch along for a while?"

    In response, I quickly shifted over on the couch to make space for him. "Not at all. Feel free."

    "Alright."

    As we watched, I exined, "I readments on the Inte saying that this series is really good."

    "It certainly is," he replied.

    Seeing how focused I was, he wanted nothing more than to keep his eyes glued to me instead. But when he heard the door open with a click, he hurriedly turned back toward the screen.

    Sasha called out excitedly, "I''m here for you, my snacks!"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    I pointed at the unopened shopping bag to the side, saying, "That''s yours."

    However, she didn''t pick up the bag. Instead, she sat beside me and hugged me, eximing, "While you''re watching the series, I want to tell you about some of the outrageous things that have happened to me over the past few days!"

    I suddenly perked up in interest. "Oh?"

    "Remember how I stopped contacting those useless friends of mine who only knew how to fool around a while back?" asked Sasha, getting straight to the point. "Well, the piece of scum who was looking for a scapegoat suddenly rushed over to my house and..." She paused dramatically.

    "He told my father that he wanted to marry me!"

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    Sasha rolled her eyes. "I''m seriously speechless. Why do you think he''s so weird?"

    However, I was more concerned about something else. "Did your parents agree to the marriage?"

    Sasha replied haughtily, "My parents respect my opinion. Knowing that I didn''t like him, they rejected him on my behalf!"

    Just then, a cold, masculine voice rang out, "But it won''t be long before you''ll be forced to marry him."

    Sasha couldn''tprehend why Zane would say so.

    "Why?" she asked.

    He replied calmly, "The answer is simple. There are problems with every single one of the projects that your father is recently preparing to take on."

    She stood up abruptly at that.

    Zane continued, "There are also problems with the projects that he''s currently working on. If I were you, I''d quickly request leave so I could give them advice. Otherwise, your family really will be hovering on the edge of bankruptcy.

    "At that point, as long as the man you speak of can provide help, you''ll end up marrying him whether you like it or not."

    Sasha looked ill at the mere possibility of that happening. Although she didn''t like Zane, it was undeniable that he possessed a rtively urate judgment of the market.

    She blurted out, feeling rather panicked, "I''ll go immediately."

    "Have Richard drive you over," Zane said calmly. "You''re quite agitated right now, so I''m afraid you might get yourself into trouble on the road."

    "Alright."

    Only after Sasha had left did I dare ask Zane, "How did you know about all this?"

    Zane''s tone became much gentler as he exined, "In our industry, pretty much everyone knows whichpany produces what project and whichpany eventually wins the bid for it. However, nobody knows the specifics, and that goes for me as well. "But what sets me apart from the others is that I''ve handled many projects throughout the years. Due to this fact, I''m sometimes able to judge whether a project is a scam or not, even if all I know are the project''s general direction and the other party''s line of thought." He continued half-heartedly, "Sasha used to pursue me. I don''t like her. So, naturally, I felt no obligation to remind her. However, she''s your friend now. If she suddenly goes bankrupt, she''ll definitely be bullied for it, considering her personality.

    "You''ll definitely end up feeling upset because of it, and I don''t want you to be sad."

    There was no waver in his voice.

    I felt deeply moved. I used to think that after getting married, my husband would be the closest man to me in the world, but Steven had never shown consideration toward me. On the other hand, Zane and I weren''t even husband and wife, yet he constantly thought of me. I chuckled, saying, "Thank you."

    Zane replied nonchntly, "You''re wee."

    ...

    I happened to be on the way to pick Willow up when I received a call from Sasha.

    Before I could even say a word, she hurriedly asked, "Could you hand the phone to Mr. Huxham?"

    I handed my phone to him as she asked.

    Zane epted it casually, asking into the phone, "Is something the matter?"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    "Do you have any time?" Sasha asked, sounding a little distressed. "My parents would like to meet with you. I told them your assessment after I got home, but neither of them believed me. It''s so frustrating!"

    She wholeheartedly wanted what was best for them, yet they only knew to doubt her!

    "Sure," replied Zane concisely, sounding as cold as usual. "Make a reservation at a winehouseter, and remember to order dishes that our family likes. Annalise likes spicy food, I like fresh produce, and Willow prefers dishes on the sweeter side." Then, he added, "But not too sweet, or it won''t be good for her teeth."

    After listening to everything he said, Sasha asked dumbly, "Am I paying?"

    "Who else?" Zane retorted coldly. "I''m taking time after work to help you solve your problem. Are you expecting me to pay for the meal instead? Don''t push your luck."

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    Sasha wilted at Zane''s words.

    "Alright, then," she said.

    Zane passed the phone back to me, saying offhandedly as he did so, "I know you like her, but don''t spoil her too much."

    He had put the phone on speaker just now, so I had also heard their entire conversation.

    I couldn''t help butugh, replying, "Alright."

    Sitting in the same office every day, I would see many peopleing and going, whether it was to report to Zane on work issues or ask him to make certain decisions. Sometimes, when people came to visit him, he would have to leave to discuss work matters with them. It was true that he could rarely spare any time outside of work, and I didn''t want to increase his workload, either.

    Zane''s eyes were filled withplex emotions, but he held back in the end.

    ...

    At the entrance of the kindergarten, I had just gotten out of the car when a familiar teacher approached me.

    Holly stepped in my way and said right off the bat, "I have something I''d like to discuss with you regarding your child. Would it be convenient for you?"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    Holly wanted to talk to me about Willow? Of course I had the time if it was for her, so I replied, "Yes."

    She led me over to a secluded corner.

    Once she saw that nobody was around, she whispered, "Zachary was feeling unwell and was sent to the hospital. You''re his guardian, so I think you should be more attentive to him!"

    Her tone was full of criticism, as if I were some irresponsible parent.

    "Ms. Dawson," I said, taking the initiative to correct her. "You seem to have misunderstood something. I''m Willow''s guardian, not Zachary''s."

    Holly hurriedly interjected, "But..."

    I didn''t want to hear what she had to say, so I simply continued coldly, "Don''t forget. When I came to pick Zachary up back then, you were watching as they called the police on me. You were also watching as I was arrested and taken to the police station. "Also, he acknowledged Jessica as his mother, so you''ve got yourself the wrong person. I suggest you contact Jessica for any matters rted to Zachary."

    Lastly, I added, "But you can certainlye to me about any matters rted to Willow."

    Holly watched my retreating back, still dazedly rooted to her spot.

    ...

    By the time Willow was done ying with Penelope, the sky was already turning dark.

    Once we were in the car, Willow hugged me as she said, "Mommy, Zachary cried really badly in school today. He kept saying things like, ''Mommy, I know I''m wrong'' and ''Mommy, please forgive me''. All our ssmates felt really sorry for him." Willow pursed her lips, continuing with some distress, "I think he deserved it, though. He hurt you so much back then, but now he regrets it and wants you back. But how can such good things exist in the world?"

    She then finished, emphasizing each and every word, "Mommy is mine now, and I''ll definitely treasure you well! I''m absolutely not giving her up to anyone, or I won''t have a mommy anymore!"

    I gently ruffled her soft hair, saying, "Don''t worry, Willow. You''re different from him, so we won''t end up the same way."

    Willow pouted, answering, "Yup!"

    Zane waited for me to finish speaking before informing us calmly, "I have something to doter, so the three of us will be having dinner at the cafeteria. I even asked your mommy to order your favorite dishes, Willow." Willow''s eyes lit up in an instant. "Daddy''s the best! I love Daddy!"

    Zane chuckled. "I love you, too."

    ...

    Meanwhile, in a hospital ward, Zachary was currently feeling very unwell.

    He sat on a hospital bed with a needle stuck in the back of his hand, watching the liquid from the IV drip down steadily. He couldn''t stop the tears flowing from his eyes.

    Chloe was distressed to see him crying.

    "It''s all your mother''s fault!" she dered vehemently.

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    Zachary no longer liked to hear others speaking ill of Annalise, but he wasn''t in good health right now, so he didn''t even have the strength to retort loudly.

    As loudly as he could manage, he asked, "What does Mommy have to do with this?"

    Chloe exined, "If Annalise had been willing to stay by your side and take care of you, you definitely wouldn''t have been in this condition!"

    He refuted immediately, "But Mommy only left us because Daddy and I hurt her. Before we betrayed her, she was always considerate toward the two of us. Every day, she would cook meals that I could stomach because she was afraid my stomach would be upset." He lowered his head. "So I don''t me Mommy. The problem lies with me."

    Chloe couldn''t stand to see Zachary protecting Annalise.

    "You''re sick now, yet she still won''te to visit you," she argued.

    "Well, she doesn''t know that I''m not feeling well right now," Zachary defended, his voice dull. "Even if she did, just based on what Daddy and I have done, she rightfully deserves to hate us for life. I don''t expect her to forgive me or continue to be nice to me at all." Head still lowered, he continued, "On the other hand, you im to love me, but... in the end, every day I''ve been home, you''ve asked the chef to cook dishes that I dislike."

    His usation stumped Chloe.

    Indeed, ever since Zachary had moved in with her, his gastrointestinal issues had evidently been urring more frequently.

    Zachary raised his head to stare at the ceiling.

    He was only experiencing a minor bout of illness today, but he couldn''t help feeling upset when Chloe spoke ill of Annalise.

    Then, what about Annalise back when she had miscarried? He and Steven had said so many terrible things to her. Had she been heartbroken?

    He felt that his illness was the reason why he felt especially frail right now and why he couldn''t resist breaking down into tears after thinking about Annalise''s situation. He really was scum to have treated her so cruelly!

    ...Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Steven dropped by to visit Zachary after work. He pushed open the door of the hospital ward and walked up to thetter.

    "How are you feeling right now?" he asked. "Are you still feeling unwell?"

    Zachary replied politely, "It''s nothing serious anymore."

    Steven looked at Chloe as he suggested, "How about you head home first, Mom? I''ll stay here with him."

    Chloe refused immediately, saying, "You must be very tired right now after working hard the entire day, so hurry home and rest. Leave Zachary to me."

    Zachary spoke up in the midst of their argument, saying, "Go home, Grandma."

    Chloe was just about to lecture him about how he didn''t know to be considerate toward Steven.

    However, before she could utter a word, Zachary continued, "I don''t want to see you right now, Daddy."

    Whenever he saw Steven, he couldn''t help but think of all the foolish things he''d done before.

    Steven, for his part, was also aware of what was bothering Zachary. He sat next to Zachary and said apologetically, "I know I''m in the wrong."

    "What use is your apology?" yelled Zachary, bing agitated for once. "Daddy, no matter what you say, Mommy won''te back, and she especially won''t want me anymore!"

    Such a simple sentence was like a knife digging deeply into Steven''s heart. He wanted to say something-anything-but couldn''t seem to find his tongue.

    Zachary was right. The milk had already been spilled, so no matter how much he apologized, he and Annalise could no longer return to how they were before their divorce. He stared off into the distance. For some reason, he felt inexplicably upset when Zachary lost his temper at him.

    Images of past events surfaced in his mind.

    Back then, he and Zachary seemed to have often lost their temper at Annalise for no reason, just so they could interact with Jessica more frequently. Steven felt even more upset at the thought of that.

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    How had Annalise endured Steven''s and Zachary''s mistreatments toward her back then? Had she simply felt that she shouldn''t take it to heart as it was a trivial matter?

    Had she then proceeded to hide herself away in order to process her negative emotions on her own, all so she could continue to treat them with her usual warmth when they returned home? Steven didn''t know.

    He looked at Zachary and said calmly, "I know you hate me a lot right now, but know this-no matter what I did, it was all for your sake."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Zachary was already sick and tired of hearing such words.

    "But you left me without a mother! How is that ''for my sake''?" he yelled, tears streaming down his face. "I don''t want anything but Mommy right now, Daddy!"

    Eventually, all the crying tired him out, and he fell into a deep sleep.

    Steven then walked forward to embrace him lovingly. He looked silently at Zachary, his expression unreadable.

    After Zachary had fallen asleep, Chloe finally had the chance to speak. "Don''t you find Zachary''s behavior far too out of line, Steven? You work tirelessly day and night, all for his sake, yet he doesn''t appreciate you at all!"

    She continued, "How about you not break up with Jessica? She''s still carrying your child, after all. Assuming Zachary never forgives you, if you choose to raise that unborn child of yours, you''ll at least have someone to take care of you in your old age." Steven frowned, replying, "Enough, Mom. I have a n."

    Upon hearing his words, Chloe finally withdrew her gaze reluctantly. "But you must remember what I told you!"

    Zachary hadn''t actually fallen asleep at all. When he heard everything Chloe said, he suddenly realized that she didn''t really love him as much as he''d thought.

    In her eyes, he was raised simply for the purpose of taking care of Steven in his old age. However, in the event that he came into conflict with Steven, he was easily disposable.

    A single tear slid gently down his face.

    ...

    Although Sasha loved to listen in on gossip during work hours and didn''t take it all that seriously, she was definitely the go-to person when it came to entertainment and pleasure. The hotel she''d booked was, among other things, reallyrge. Even its private dining rooms were incredibly spacious.

    Once they were all seated, Sasha''s father, Dous Weston, looked at Zane and began, "Our Sasha used to really like you-"

    He assumed that Zane was only willing to help him because Sasha had managed to impress him somehow.

    Sasha''s expression darkened in an instant. She was deathly afraid that Dous would say something out of line and offend someone he shouldn''t.

    "Dad!" she admonished hurriedly, gritting her teeth. "Do you know how many people beg for an audience with Mr. Huxham, only to be unceremoniously turned down by him?"

    She had conveyed what she wanted to say as vaguely as possible. Hopefully, Dous would understand what she was getting at-to be more careful with what he said.

    "Mr. Huxham has taken some rare time off to have dinner with you today, so you have to treasure this hard-earned opportunity!" she continued. "If there''s anything regarding your work that you don''t understand, you can seize this chance to ask him all about it." Having noticed Sasha''s nervousness, Zane told Dous calmly, "I forgot to make some introductions."

    He pointed at Willow and said, "This is my daughter."

    Dous greeted Willow with a cheery smile, saying, "Hello!"

    Willow nodded formally at him, acting just like a small adult. "Hello to you, too!"

    Zane then pointed at him and said, "This is Willow''s mother."

    Dous looked me up and down.

    I simply nodded at him.

    Dous was confused. Back when Sasha had gone on a blind date with Zane, wasn''t it said that he didn''t have a girlfriend?

    So, how did that exin the sudden appearance of a mother figure to Willow?

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    Dous turned to look questioningly at Sasha.

    She mouthed at him, "I''ll exin everything when we get back home!"

    Only then did he look away and start asking Zane questions about his projects. Zane was perfectly cooperative, answering his questions one by one.

    Through their question-and-answer session, Dous finally realized that every single project in his hands had issues to them, and they were major ones too. All color seemed to drain from his face in an instant.

    "Is there any hope for them?" he asked tentatively.

    "There is," replied Zane, proceeding to provide him with the solution.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    As he listened intently to Zane''s words, Dous looked at Zane with increasing approval in his eyes. Zane was young and capable of independent thinking a qualified husband candidate.

    Without regard for Sasha''s previous admonishment, Dous asked slowly, "What do you think of my daughter?"

    Sasha felt like breaking down on the spot. Hadn''t she already made it painfully clear to Dous not to mention anything involving her and Zane?

    Why did he have to bring it up?

    Afraid that Zane would misunderstand, she hurriedly interjected, "Why, I''m definitely a qualified employee in Mr. Huxham''s eyes!"

    In order to prevent disaster, she decided to take the initiative to smooth things over. Forcing a smile on her face, she picked up a ss of fruit juice and said to Zane, "Don''t worry, Mr. Huxham! I''ll definitely work diligently at thepany in the future!" Zane nodded. "Alright."

    Once they finished talking about work-rted matters, they started eating dinner.

    Willow, for her own part, had her own tricks up her sleeves. She wanted everyone to know that her rtionship with Annalise was great, so she spoke at a volume that was neither too quiet nor too loud, "Mommy, I want a muffin."

    I handed her a muffin.

    Willow then speared some beef brisket on her fork and moved it toward my te. "Mommy, I know you love this!"

    I hurriedly lifted my te to ept the beef brisket from her. "Thank you, sweetie."

    Willow smiled widely. "You''re wee."

    Sasha watched the two of us with a smile, while Zane pitched in to try andpete for Willow''s attention.

    "What about me?" he asked.

    Willow hadn''t originally intended to include Zane, but since he had asked of his own ord, she still ended up serving him a bowl of mushroom soup.

    "I tried it just now," she dered. "Their mushroom soup is really fresh. Try it, Daddy."

    Zane then epted the soup from her, feeling satisfied. "Thank you, Willow."

    When everyone had finished eating, Sasha escorted us to the entrance. Once she had seen us off, she returned to her parents'' side.

    ...

    Sasha looked at Dous and asked, "I reminded you so many times earlier not to direct the topic toward Zane and I, so why did you have to keep doing it?"

    Dous replied unhurriedly, "Doesn''t he like you?"

    In response, Sasha threw her hands up in exasperation, "It''s obvious that he has no feelings for me."

    Of course, she didn''t like him either.

    Her mother, Helena Rond, asked, "Then, why is he still willing to help you out?"

    Sasha sat from across them and said, "Do you remember thatdy sitting next to Mr. Huxham?"

    Dous and Helena nodded in unison.

    "Her name is Annalise Jamison, and she''s the woman that Mr. Huxham likes," she exined curtly. "He''s currently racking his brains trying to figure out how to court her. If you end up driving a wedge between them by making her think he has feelings for me..." Sasha paused and snorted before she threatened, "You''ll end up suffering the consequences."

    But Dous still didn''t believe it.

    "Oh, that''s right," she continued. "He also helped me partly because I''ve been really chummy with Annalise recently. It was simply for her sake that he was willing to warn the both of you about the projects."

    Dous and Helena exchanged nces, both looking rather disappointed.

    "Alright then," they said atst.

 Chapter 297

    By the time we arrived home, we had pretty much digested our meal.

    When Howard noticed that we had gotten used to the one-kilometer run, he added another 200 meters to the total distance. Still, Willowpleted her run effortlessly, which made Howard incredibly pleased. He then proceeded to make us practice some basic moves. By the end of our practice session, I was sweating quite a lot.

    Zane instructed the driver to send Howard home, then approached me and asked, "Are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?"

    I shook my head and exined, "I''m on my period, so I get tired out more quickly than usual."

    "Then you should get some good rest," Willow admonished seriously before tugging me over to the fridge. "Daddy, I heard that ginger tea is good for menstrual pain. Can we make some for Mommy?"

    Zane replied indulgently, "Of course we can."

    Willow took a bag of sugar and a piece of ginger root from the fridge before walking into the kitchen. Zane, on the other hand, pulled out his phone and looked up a video on how to make ginger tea. As he watched the video, he followed along with the instructions. I leaned back against the couch and watched as they made me the ginger tea. At the same time, I felt incredibly fortunate to have been able to meet such a wonderful family.

    After Zane was done boiling the ginger tea, he poured some into a coffee cup and ced it in front of me.

    Willow thoughtfully brought a hot water bottle over to me as well, saying, "Mommy, I heard that you''ll feel better if you put this over your stomach."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    "Thank you, Willow," I told her.

    Then, I turned to Zane and said, "And thank you as well."

    Together, Willow in her clear voice and Zane in his calm tone, they both replied, "You''re wee."

    I ced the hot water bottle on my stomach, feeling slightly morefortable with the warmth seeping through my shirt.

    Dorothy and Milton were worried that Willow might crowd me too much while I was on my period, so they took it upon themselves to take her out to y. Meanwhile, Zane stayed home to take care of work matters.

    I looked at Zane and asked, "Are you still busy with work?"

    As I asked, I prepared to head upstairs so that I wouldn''t disturb him.

    He replied calmly, "I''ve got some time to spare, so we can chat for a bit, Anna."

    His reply prompted me to sit back down. "Alright then."

    The ginger tea was steaming hot, so I slowly sipped at it.

    Zane gazed at me, asking, "What are your ns next?"

    He knew that I was about to finish coloring in all the linearts that I had umted and would therefore have a long period of avabilitying up.

    I replied honestly, "I think I''d start drawing another serializedic if I have the time for it."

    He waited patiently for me to borate.

    I continued, "Although taking postermissions can earn me a lot of money in the short-term, I won''t be getting any subsequent ie from it. On the other hand, the revenue I get from myics will only increase, so I''d rather put all my focus on myics. What do you think?"

    "It''s good," hemented, nodding in approval. "You have a very good long-term vision, far better than many others."

    Then, I chuckled and said, "This concerns my future, after all. It''s no wonder I''d think so carefully about it."

    Zane looked at me, seemingly hesitating to speak.

    I rarely saw such an expression on his face, which prompted me to ask, "Is there something you wanted to say to me?"

    He continued to hem and haw until finally he decided to confess, "The thing is, I have to attend a dinner party. However, you know as well as I do that I''ve hardly any female acquaintances. Could I trouble you to be mypanion for the night?"

    I didn''t agree immediately and instead asked, "When does this dinner party begin?"

    "Tomorrow afternoon," he answered honestly. "It won''t get in the way of us picking up Willow."

    Apart from drawing every day, I didn''t really have any other work lined up. "Alright."

    After obtaining my consent, he sighed in relief. "I''ll ask Eric to pick out a formal dress that''s suitable tomorrow morning and have it sent to the office for you to try out beforehand. I''ll also hire a makeup studio to do your makeup for you." Curious, I asked, "Is this dinner party going to be a really important one?"

    Zane mulled over his words, saying carefully, "Yes, many of my business partners will be there. But you don''t have to be nervous, because I''ll be with you. You won''t have to do anything other than to stay right next to me." I finally rxed after listening to what he said.

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    Rowena''s allowance had been cut off, but she wasn''t ready to give up. She called her daughter home. Tinsley sat on the couch, biting into an apple without a second thought. "Mom, what''s up? Just say it." "Zane''s stopped giving us any money," Rowenained. "What do you think we should do about it?"

    Tinsley rarely involved herself in family matters. "Why would he do that all of a sudden? What''s his problem?"

    Rowena''s frustration boiled over. "It''s all because of Annalise! He called me out of nowhere and said that he''s in love with her..."

    Tinsley frowned. "If he''s in love, why not just let him be? He''s not a child-he can make his own choices."

    Rowena had plenty of objections. "I looked into her. Annalise has been married before, and she has a child! But Zane''s never even been in a rtionship..."

    Then, Tinsley replied, "Shouldn''t it be fine as long as he''s happy? He knows what he''s doing anyway, and he''s no fool either. If he fell for Annalise, it just means that she''s good enough for him."

    "But-" Rowena still couldn''t ept it. She was convinced Annalise wasn''t good enough for Zane.

    Tinsley took another bite of her apple and sighed. "Mom, I''d love to back you up, but you know mypany''s barely turning a profit. I''d help with your expenses if I could, but even if I gave you every cent of my monthly earnings, it still wouldn''t cover your spending. "What happens when the money runs out? Do we starve?"

    She paused, then added with a wry smile, "Should I sell mypany to support you?"

    "No!" Rowena snapped. "I''ll apologize."

    Tinsley felt satisfied with her mother''s answer and continued eating her apple.

    ...

    When Zachary left the hospital, only Harry and Hannah were by his side. As he stood at the entrance and gazed into the pitch-ck sky, a heavy emptiness settled over him. The world was vast, yet it felt like there was no ce for him to go.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    He had no intention of staying with Steven either. Just seeing him would bring back memories of how he had hurt Annalise. Chloe''s ce wasn''t an option either.

    Zachary dropped his gaze.

    The things Chloe had said in the hospital made it painfully clear-he did not matter to her as much as he had thought. If that was the case, there was no point in burdening her any longer.

    All he wanted now was to move out of Chloe''s ce. Turning to Harry, he asked, "Do you know any ces for rent?"

    Harry responded without hesitation. "I''m living alone right now. If you don''t mind, why not move in with me?"

    "Is your ce far from the kindergarten?" Zachary didn''t want to deal with a longmute every day. That would be exhausting.

    Harry hesitated. "The rent is pretty low, so yeah, it''s quite a way from downtown."

    Zachary thought for a long moment before he finally said, "Daddy owns plenty of properties. I''ll ask him for one of those. That way, you can move in with me, and you won''t have to pay rent. We could both save some money each month." Harry perked up at the idea. "That sounds great, but do you think your father will agree?"

    "He should," Zachary replied, though not entirely confident. He got into the car and pulled out his phone to call Steven.

    Steven answered coldly, "What is it?"

    "Do you remember giving Ms. Jessie a house? I told you I wanted the one where Mommy and I lived for five years," Zachary said directly. "You still haven''t transferred it to my name, so let''s get the paperwork done when you have time." He had no desire for any of Steven''s mansions.

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    The only ce Zachary wanted was the house filled with memories of him and Annalise.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Steven replied, "When I bought that house, I put it directly under your name."

    Zachary hadn''t expected this at all, and he blinked in surprise. Steven always bought properties under his own name. Even during the divorce, there were barely any assets under Annalise''s name. Back then, she had been so hurt that she didn''t want anything-she just wanted to leave.

    If this house was under his name, it must have been because Annalise fought for it.

    Zachary''s chest tightened, and his eyes stung. She had been thinking of him even when he didn''t realize it.

    "Thank you, Daddy," he said softly.

    After hanging up, he turned to Harry and said, "You can move in with me, but you can''t touch Mommy''s things. Can you do that?"

    Harry nodded. "No problem."

    Having gotten Harry''s reassurance, he rxed slightly.

    When the car pulled up to Chloe''s house, he called out to Harry and Hannah to help him.

    Chloe greeted them with a warm smile. "Zach, you''re back!"

    "Yeah," Zachary replied, uncertain of how he should face Chloe. "I''ve been here long enough, and I don''t want to trouble you any more. It''s time for me to go home." Chloe''s smile didn''t falter. "Take care and be sure to get along well with your dad."

    Zachary didn''t respond directly, and he simply muttered, "We''ll see."

    Since he hadn''t stayed at Chloe''s for long, there wasn''t much to pack. With Harry and Hannah''s help, his things were quickly gathered.

    Once he bid Chloe goodbye, Zachary headed straight back to the house he and Annalise had once shared. The moment he stepped inside, it felt like time had frozen.

    Everything was just as he had left it. Dust coated the furniture, but the memories remained untouched.

    Harry and Hannah carried his things to the living room.

    Zachary unpacked his clothes and ced them neatly in the wardrobe. He then turned to Hannah and said, "If you''re renting too, you could move in here. There''s plenty of space." Hannah stared at him in disbelief. "Me?"

    "Yeah," Zachary replied in a childish tone. "If you don''t want to move in, that''s okay. We won''t force you."

    Hannah eagerly nodded. "I''lle!"

    Zachary continued, "You can set up your bedroom however you like, but the living room should stay as it is. When Mommy left, it looked just like this, and I don''t want it to change too much. That way, I can pretend Annalise is still here with me." Both Hannah and Harry nodded in agreement.

    After Zachary returned to his room, hey on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

    The room still seemed to hold Annalise''s presence. He hugged a stuffed toy, pressing his round, chubby face against its soft belly.

    "Mommy, can you sing me the bedtime luby?" he whispered.

    Yet, no one answered.

    Then, Zachary pulled out his tablet. While staying at Chloe''s house, Annalise had sent him a voice message. He clicked on it, and her gentle voice filled the room.

    "Twinkle, twinkle little star, how my baby misses Mommy..."

    Zachary closed his eyes as his mind consumed with thoughts of Annalise. He tried to convince himself that she was still with him, but deep down, he couldn''t stop the tears from falling.

 Chapter 300

    After Zachary left, Chloe couldn''t shake her worry. As such, she called Steven to check on him. "Has Zachary gone back yet?" "No, why?" Steven replied calmly.

    Upon hearing that, Chloe immediately grew anxious. "He said he was going back home, and he packed up all his things from here!"

    Fearing that something might happen to Zachary on his way, she quickly called him.

    Zachary groggily answered the phone.

    Chloe asked, "Where are you?"

    "At the old house," Zachary replied.

    Technically, it wasn''t an old house. In fact, the house was less than five years old. Still, he referred to it that way since it was the first house the family ever bought.

    Once Chloe confirmed that Zachary was safe, she sighed in relief and asked, "Why didn''t you go to Daddy''s ce?"

    Zachary calmly responded, "Isn''t he supposed to be focusing on building his rtionship with Ms. Jessie? I don''t want to interrupt him."

    Chloe said, "You can stay here with me. You''re not that young anymore."

    Then, Zachary replied, "Once Ms. Jessie''s baby is born, you''ll be taking care of her child. Your time to rest will be limited. If I stayed with you, you''ll have to take care of me as well, and that would mean you wouldn''t have any time for yourself." He evenughed as he said that.

    However, Chloe felt a pang in her heart. "Did you hear what I said to your dad?"

    Zachary answered without hesitation, "Yes. You''ve always been good to me, and I appreciate it. Soon, you''ll have someone you like even more.

    "Don''t worry, I won''t get jealous, and I won''t stop you from being good to Ms. Jessie''s baby. From now on, we''ll go our separate ways. I probably won''t be a part of your life again to disturb you."

    At only five years old, he spoke with such calmness, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Chloe''s heart ached. She wanted to exin, but before she could say anything, the call ended.

    Just as Zachary finished his call with Chloe, Steven''s call came through.

    Zachary politely asked, "Daddy, is something wrong? Why are you calling sote?"

    "Of course," Steven replied. "Aren''t you staying at Grandma''s anymore?"

    Zachary answered honestly, "I don''t like hearing her bad-mouth Mommy, and I realized her love for me isn''t as deep as Mommy''s."

    "Is that the reason you''re moving out on your own?" Steven snapped. "You''re just a kid. You can''t be without a guardian!"

    Zachary continued, "Didn''t she just tell you today to be nicer to Ms. Jessie''s unborn child? Once Ms. Jessie''s baby is born, she''ll surely love that child more than me. I can''t demand that she love me more-that''s why I''m moving out. It''s not a big deal, is it?" Steven responded, "If you don''t like her, thene back!"

    As Zachary''s father, Steven felt responsible for his son''s safety. He said firmly, "You need a guardian to ensure you grow up healthy and safe."

    "Didn''t you spend all your time with Ms. Jessie and left me behind when you and Mommy divorced? Back then, you didn''t care about me. Why are you pretending to be so concerned now?" Zachary questioned coldly.

    He continued with resolve, "I was young and listened to everything you said. What did that lead to? I lost Mommy. Daddy, even though I''m still young, I''ve been through a lot. I''m more mature now, and I can take responsibility for my choices. Please don''t try to stop me."

 Chapter 301

    Perhaps it was Zachary''s cold sarcasm that struck a nerve, because Steven''s face darkened immediately. "How old are you now? How mature can you possibly be?" Zachary responded, "I know most of the things I need to know."

    "You''re still young, and you can''t make money on your own!" Steven pressed as he tried to further reason with him. "In the end, all of your expenses will still have to be covered by adults."

    He was trying to make Zachary realize that he was still just a child.

    To his surprise, Zachary calmly asked, "Are you saying you don''t want to support me anymore?"

    Steven didn''t deny it. "If you have Mr. Thompson send you back, I''ll take full responsibility for your living expenses. But if you keep disobeying me, I won''t care for you anymore. I won''t give you a single penny from what I earn." "Alright then," Zachary replied nonchntly. "Save it. Spend it however you like."

    With that, he ended the call.

    Steven stared at his phone in stunned silence.

    After putting away his phone, Zachary walked over to his wardrobe and opened a hiddenpartment. Inside were several bankbooks and a few bars of gold.

    He opened one of the bankbooks, which held the money Annalise had saved for his kindergarten tuition. Over the years, it was Steven who had been paying for it, and the money in this ount had never been touched.

    He opened the other bankbooks. Each one contained funds Annalise had saved to cover his tuition through college.

    In the vi where Steven lived, Zachary had a desk. Inside it were deeds formercial properties and additional savings Annalise had prepared for him.

    She had chosen prime locations for these properties, and the annual rental ie was more than enough to support both him and the people who cared for him.

    Annalise truly had his best interests at heart.

    She feared he might one day be without money and left to endure hardships. Over the years, she had quietly built a financial safety for him.

    Zachary carefully restored the wardrobe to its original state, theny back on his bed. Silent tears streamed down his face.

    Tomorrow, he would take Harry and Hannah with him to Steven''s ce. He intended to retrieve everything he had left behind.

    ...

    Willow had an amazing time outside. By the time she got home, she waspletely out of breath.

    The moment she stepped into the living room, she rushed over and hugged me tightly. Her soft, sweet voice was full of emotion. "Mommy, I think this is the longest we''ve been apart, except when I''m at school." She then rested her little face against my stomach, rubbing back and forth like a kitten. "I missed you so much, Mommy!"

    I wrapped my arms around her small frame and gently stroked her back. She felt so tiny and fragile in my embrace. Seeing her act so endearingly filled me with warmth.

    Only then did I truly realize how much happiness being loved could bring.

    My voice softened as I whispered, "I missed you too, my dear Willow."

    Willow giggled in my arms, herughter bright and contagious. She tilted her little head up, her eyes sparkling as she looked at me.

    "Mommy, I heard that women get really moody when they are on their period. If I stick around and keep talking to you, will you get annoyed?" Willow asked.

    I pinched her soft, chubby cheeks. "Everyone''s different, but how could I ever get annoyed with you? My dear Willow is so sweet and well-behaved. I love you too much to ever feel that way."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Her face lit up with relief when she heard my response, and she nodded eagerly. "Good! I want you to love me forever, Mommy. You can''t dislike me for even a single second!"

    I chuckled softly. "Don''t worry, I''ll love you for a lifetime."

    Willow tightened her hug. "Okay!"

    Fatigue weighed on me more than usual during my period, and I could barely keep my eyes open when I sat in the living room for a short while. I slowly got up and headed to my room to rest.

 Chapter 302

    Zane watched as Annalise walked away, silently reminding himself to stay patient.

    He knew that winning Annalise over would be more challenging than he had anticipated, so he resolved to take things slowly. After all, she was destined to be his. The intense desire to possess Annalise surged within his dark eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.

    All of a sudden, his phone rang, and he answered casually, "Yes?"

    Rowena hesitated, struggling to find the right words.

    "I''m busy," Zane said tly.

    Finally, Rowena said reluctantly, "I''ve been thinking things over these past few days. Zane, you''re an adult with your own views, so I shouldn''t interfere too much as a mother." Zane then arched a brow. "Did Tinsley talk you into this?"

    Rowena sounded surprised. "How did you know?"

    Zane replied matter-of-factly, "Though her workability isn''t as exceptional, she''s always been open-minded. In this family, she''s probably the only one who could reason with you." Rowena chuckled awkwardly but didn''t deny it.

    Zane continued, "If you want me to forgive you, it''s simple. Apologize to Annalise in front of me. As long as she forgives you, I''ll let it go."

    Immediately, Rowena''s face hardened as she snapped, "No way!"

    Then, Tinsley chimed in, "Mom, in that case, I might as well sell thepany."

    Rowena deted instantly, sighing as she replied, "Fine, I''ll do it."

    Zane''s response was as calm and detached as ever. "Good."

    ...

    When I stepped out of my bedroom in the morning, I saw Willow tiptoeing cautiously down the stairs.

    She turned around when she heard my footsteps. Upon seeing me, she straightened up and put on a serious expression. "Mommy, you''re not feeling well. You should be resting!"

    Then, I gently caressed her little face. "Ever since I started exercising, I''ve been feeling much better. I can even run with you in the mornings without any problems."

    Willow still seemed unconvinced. "Really?"

    I smiled at her and sincerely replied, "Of course!"

    Yet, Willow remained worried. She looked at me and added, "If you feel unwell, remember to stop right away."

    Then, she emphasized, "Don''t push yourself!"

    I couldn''t help butugh. "I''ll listen to you, Willow."

    Having heard my response, Willow smiled in satisfaction.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    Zane walked over to us and added his own reminder, "Your health is the most important."

    I hadn''t expected Zane to say something like that. "Don''t worry, I''m not a child. I understand these things." Zane''s expression softened with a smile. "Good."

    After the run, I could feel the fatigue setting in. By the time I finished my workout, I was drenched in sweat.

    I headed to the bathroom for a quick shower and changed into fresh clothes before I went downstairs to join Zane. Together, we drove Willow to kindergarten. Willow used to be inseparable from Penelope. Even if Penelope hadn''t arrived at school yet, she would jump out of the car just to wait for her.

    Now, it seemed that she preferred to stay close to me. It wasn''t until she saw Penelope''s figure that she reluctantly said goodbye to me and went off to find her.

    ...

    Willow held Penelope''s hand, staring at Zachary in the distance. "He was hospitalized with gastroenteritis yesterday, but he''s already back at school?" Penelope was equally shocked. "He''s so dedicated."

    Willow made a firm decision. "I''ll work harder than him from now on!"

    If Zachary became even more outstanding, people might say Annalise had poor judgment for passing on such a great son and ending up with a daughter so average. She didn''t mind what people said about her, but she couldn''t ept them speaking badly of Annalise.

 Chapter 303

    Penelope looked confused. "Why do you look so serious all of a sudden?"

    Willow answered earnestly, "I was just thinking that since Zachary''s working so hard, I can''t let him outdo me!"

    Penelope asked, "Whypare yourself to Zachary?"

    Willow immediately exined, "He''s the most hardworking person in our ss."

    Penelope sensed something was off with her words but couldn''t pinpoint what exactly. After thinking it over, she decided, "Well, I''ll just learn from you guys then."

    At that, Willow lifted her chin. "No problem. I''ll personally supervise you to make sure you don''t ck off!"

    ...

    When I arrived at thepany, I saw Rowena standing outside my office. She nced at Zane and asked, "Are you here to see him? If so, I''ll find somewhere to sit so I don''t interrupt your conversation." Before Zane could respond, Rowena spoke again, "No, I''m here to see you, Annalise. I''ve been reflecting on my actions over the past few days and realized I was overthinking and misunderstood you. "That''s why I''ve had issues with you and kept trying to find fault with you. I was wrong, and I owe you an apology. I''m really sorry!"

    I looked at Rowena. Her expression was sincere, and it seemed like she truly meant her apology.

    Maybe it was because of everything Steven had done to me that had made me more forgiving, because it didn''t feel as if Rowena had hurt me much. Her words were harsh at times, butpared to what Steven or even Chloe had done, her actions weren''t as significant. I calmly replied, "It''s okay."

    Rowena couldn''t seem to believe her ears. "You''re really forgiving me just like that?"

    She frowned, asking, "Aren''t you going to state any conditions?"

    Rowena seemed a little uneasy.

    Thus, I raised an eyebrow. "Can I ask for something?"

    Rowena nodded. "Yes, as long as it''s not too unreasonable, I can do it."

    Without hesitation, I said, "Can you treat Willow better from now on? If you can''t, at least don''t say hurtful things in front of her. She''s still young and doesn''t know how to manage her emotions." Rowena seemed ufortable. "I''ll try."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    "I thank you in advance," I replied calmly.

    After all, Rowena was Willow''s grandmother. Though their interactions were limited, Rowena''s words always seemed to upset Willow.

    Willow was a good child. She deserved to be cherished and protected by those around her.

    Rowena then turned to Zane, who replied coolly, "We have work to do. Maybe you should head back."

    With that, Rowena left.

    ...

    After returning to my office, I sat down to work. Unfortunately, it wasn''t long before my back started to ache.

    I rested my hand on my lower back, waiting for the difort to ease before continuing with my drawings.

    There was a knock at the door, and Zane called for the person to enter.

    Eric quickly rushed over to my side and said, "Ms. Jamison, I have great news!"

    I raised an eyebrow, noticing the smug look on his face. "What is it?"

    "The animated series based on yourics premiered yesterday, and despite theck of promotion from thepany, the viewership numbers have skyrocketed!" Eric said excitedly.

 Chapter 304

    I looked at him.

    Eric said, "There were over 200 thousand clicksst night! With the animated series drawing in more attention, your followers across all tforms are going to increase rapidly!"

    Then, he urged me, "You should check out how the animated series turned out and see if it meets your expectations."

    Only then did I open the video tform and click on the series.

    The voice actor for Willow soundedpletely different from her, but strangely, the way she spoke felt almost identical to Willow. Even the voice actors for me and Zane had the same effect. I was somewhat incredulous and wondered how they managed to achieve this.

    At the beginning of the video, I thought the animation was a perfect replica of myic. As the characters began to move, it was as if the characters from theic came to life.

    I suddenly remembered the day I left Steven''s house as the story progressed. At the time, I had nothing left, and I thought I would face a period of hardship before things got better. To my surprise, my life started improving from that very day.

    Everything changed from my son, who had always criticized me, to the loving and caring daughter I had always wished for. Even my husband, who had never shown me affection, transformed into a warm-hearted boss with a cold exterior.

    Thinking back, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for divorcing Steven. If I hadn''t, I would never have had this wonderful life.

    Eric casually plopped down next to me. "The quality of the animated series is pretty good, right? When we assembled the team, I told them that not only should the visuals be stunning, but the storyline also had to be solid. Our goal was to make top-tier animation, and they really delivered. The quality''s great."

    After watching, Eric suddenly leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Since they worked so hard, do you think you could talk to Mr. Huxham about giving them a raise?"

    His voice was barely a whisper, so I lowered mine to reply, "Why don''t you ask him yourself?"

    Eric hesitated for a long moment before answering, "Because this is your work."

    "Alright, then." I stood up and walked over to Zane. "The animated series based on myic is out. Have you watched it?"

    Zane nodded. "I nced at it earlier."

    I leaned on the desk, looking at him. "The series turned out well. It seems that theic department worked hard on it. How about we take half of my royalty next month and give it as a bonus to the team?"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    It wouldn''t be appropriate to have Zane distribute the money directly. Though Zane had money, it was all earned by him, not me.

    I felt that since they worked so hard, it was only fair to reward them with the money I earned.

    Zane nced at Eric thoughtfully before saying with a straight face, "No need. Your royalty is only 15 percent, and thepany takes 85 percent. Their bonuses are part of that amount."

    I asked curiously, "Really? You''re not lying to me, are you?"

    Zane chuckled lightly. "Whenever I decide to allocate money for them, it''s transferred directly into their ounts with the next month''s sry. If you don''t believe me, you can ask Eric." I turned to Eric. "Is that true?"

    Eric stood up. "That''s right. Mr. Huxham is always looking out for his employees."

    Then, I gave Zane an awkward smile before returning to the partition and asking Eric, "Why didn''t you tell me that earlier?"

    Eric pped his forehead in embarrassment. "I forgot."

    I was at a loss for words, so I just stared at him.

    Right then, Eric quickly stood up. "I''ll get back to work now."

    ...

    After Eric left, Zane walked over and sat beside me. "How does it feel to see youric sessfully adapted into an animated series and loved by so many people?"

 Chapter 305

    I had been in shock earlier, but now I was slowly recovering. "I used to think that even if I spent a lot on promoting my work, it would only ever be turned into a physical book and sold. I never imagined myic to actuallye to life. This experience filled me with joy and excitement.

    Zane chuckled lightly. "This is just the beginning."

    I nodded. "That''s why I''m really looking forward to it."

    As we were talking, someone knocked on the door. Zane assumed it was an employee from thepanying to see him, so he quickly wiped the smile from his face and casually said, "Come in."

    The next second, the office door opened, and Jessica strode in.

    After looking around and seeing no one, she walked straight into the partitioned area.

    Zane frowned.

    She wasn''t an employee of thepany, nor was she a partner of anyone here. He wondered how she had even gotten into the building.

    Suppressing his distaste, Zane recalled what Sasha and Eric had told him. He decided to use this opportunity to observe how Jessica yed the fragile woman and maybe figure out why she was here.

    Zane didn''t know much about Jessica, but he knew that she was highly focused on her goals and loved putting on a show for men. Now that Steven wasn''t around, what was her purpose here?

    His eyes narrowed coldly.

    ...

    Jessica walked straight up to me.

    I raised an eyebrow and looked at her.

    Biting her lip, Jessica took a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking. "I was young and naive back then. I foolishly believed that Steven and I were truly in love, but I finally realized I was wrong. Please forgive me." I didn''t believe a word she said.

    When Steven impulsively brought her into our home, she had deliberately provoked me. There was nothing innocent about her actions.

    I didn''t understand why she suddenly appeared before me and pretended to be weak. "There''s nothing to forgive, Jessica. You can''t just brush away the things you''ve done to me with a couple of hollow apologies." Jessica quickly asked, "What do you want me to do?"

    I replied coldly, "Just like your man, stay out of my sight. I don''t want to see him, and I certainly don''t want to see you too. I hope you understand that."

    Jessica stole a nce at Zane.

    She didn''t actually think she had done anything wrong bying to me. She was hoping this would catch Zane''s attention.

    Jessica just wanted Zane to notice her and remember her. Ideally, she wanted him to see her as a delicate, fragile woman. This would make it easier for her to put her next n into motion.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Seeing that Zane''s expression remained unchanged, she decided to try and provoke me. "Do you really dislike me that much?"

    I didn''t deny it. "Yes."

    Jessica pretended to be confused. "Why? Could it be because you still like Steven?"

 Chapter 306

    I took a deep breath and said, "I''ve already made myself clear, Jessica. Just because you enjoy being a mistress and seducing married men doesn''t mean that''s how everyone operates. Do you understand?" A mist of tears gathered in Jessica''s eyes.

    Seeing her like that reminded me of the time I had returned home after my miscarriage. It was her and her family who had hurt me. Yet, it almost seemed like everything was my fault because she was putting on a pitiful act. I inhaled deeply again.

    In a sweet, and almost innocent voice, Jessica said, "Didn''t everyone say you''re kind and easy to talk to? Why are you so cruel to me? Could it be that your usual kindness is just a facade? Is it all an act, and that you''re really just a shrew beneath it all?"

    I didn''t respond to her usation. Instead, I said, "If I were really as malicious as you im, you would have been ruined by now. Do you truly think I''m the problem here?"

    Jessica stared at me, clearly stunned by my response. I added, "You came here to make amends, but it''s toote for that. If you continue to invade my life, I''ll have no choice but to expose everything you''ve done online."

    Her tears fell freely now, but I wasn''t moved. "Let the world see the kind of person you truly are."

    Her voice quivered as she said, "I came to make peace with you. Why are you being so heartless?"

    She had caused the loss of my child, and I had done nothing to her in return. Yet, she was now trying to turn the tables and use me.

    I found it almostughable. "If I were really as malicious as you say, you''d already be disgraced."

    Jessica red at me, but I didn''t flinch. "My patience has its limits, Jessica."

    Her gaze shifted between me and Zane.

    Under her gaze, Zane pulled out his phone and called security. "Your department has beenx. You''re letting anyone into the building. This woman just walked into my office. What if someone steals sensitivepany documents? Who''s responsible for that?" The security team quickly apologized.

    Zane continued, "From now on, only employees or key partners are allowed to enter. No exceptions."

    Jessica''s heart burned with resentment. Zane was being too harsh.

    She knew that if she stayed any longer, she would certainly be kicked out. After a brief hesitation, she decided to leave on her own.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    ...

    After Jessica left, I lowered my head to continue working on the tasks from the morning.

    The afternoon''s task was to color theic. I nned to work overtime today to finish processing all the images. Once Ipleted my tasks every day, I could finally rest.

    Since Zane had other matters to attend to, he left the office and went straight to the conference room.

    As Eric was about to leave after the meeting ended, Zane raised his hand to stop him. "Stay for a moment."

    Eric was already by the door when Zane called him back. He turned around and walked back to stand before Zane. "Mr. Huxham, what can I do for you?"

    Zane recounted the situation with Jessica without leaving anything out. "Recently, Steven has been wanting to break up with her. If that''s the case, she should be focused on fixing her rtionship with him. Why is she suddenly showing up to see Annalise?" The more Zane thought about it, the more suspicious he became. "And she''s apologizing to Annalise as well, iming that she realizes her mistakes."

 Chapter 307

    After hearing Zane''s words, Eric immediately understood where the problemy. "Well, there''s a possibility that she''s trying to actively pursue you and give up on Steven." Zane frowned. "What?"

    Eric said, "You see, not only are you better looking than Steven, but you''re wealthier, and a better man. Since she''s about to be abandoned, it makes sense that she might want to move on to someone better." Eric continued, "What could she even be acting for in front of Ms. Jamison otherwise?"

    When Zane understood the situation, the coldness in his expression deepened. He immediately dialed Steven''s number.

    Steven instinctively assumed it was a work-rted matter when he picked up his phone, asking, "Mr. Huxham, is this about the coboration?"

    "No," Zane replied calmly. "I just wanted you to tell Jessica that I''m not interested in her."

    ...

    Steven stared at his phone. Zane''s sudden call about Jessica could only mean one thing-she had gone to the Huxham Group and probably made it clear she was interested in Zane. Otherwise, Zane wouldn''t have said that.

    Steven took a moment to collect his thoughts before calling Jessica.

    When she picked up, her voice was sweet. "Did you need something?"

    Then, Steven asked emotionlessly, "Are you pursuing Zane?"

    Jessica hesitated, unsure of how to respond. If she admitted the truth, she might lose the chance of having a man willing to spend money on her before she seeded in winning Zane over. But Steven would eventually find out about her pursuit of Zane if she lied anyway. After a long silence, Steven grew impatient. "Say something!"

    Jessica quickly came up with a brilliant excuse. "I''m doing this for you!"

    By shifting all the me onto Steven, she could continue her pursuit of Zane under Steven''s watchful eye.

    Steven sneered. "Do you think I''m an idiot?"

    Jessica quickly denied it. "I never thought that, Steven. I know you like Annalise, but Annalise is now flirting with Zane. I figured if I win Zane over, you and Annalise can get back together."Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    As Jessica spoke, her voice quivered with emotion. "But I''ve been thinking of you with all my heart, and you still think so badly of me..."

    Steven immediately felt guilty. "I''m sorry."

    Jessica could tell that Steven had fallen for it, and a triumphant glint shed in her eyes/ But she maintained her pitiful tone. "It''s okay. Don''t worry about what I''ve done. I just want you to know that I love you, and I only want you to be happy." Steven quickly replied, "You don''t need to do so much for me. I can pursue her on my own."

    Jessica sighed with a hint of sadness. "I believe that if I see the person I love happy, I''ll be happy too. Don''t worry, it''s all something I willingly do."

    Steven couldn''t find the right words to express his feelings. A strange and heavy sensation settled in his chest as he felt a mix of gratitude and guilt.

    "I don''t know how to repay you," he said after a pause. "How about I buy you some jewelry? You can pick it out, and I''ll pay for it."

    Jessica gave a bitter smile. "Okay."

    After hanging up, she stared at her phone, feeling incredulous that Steven''s money was so easy to get.

 Chapter 308

    Just as I finished my morning tasks and was about to take a walk, a group of people burst into the office. They approached me before turning to Zane. "Mr. Huxham, is this her?"

    Zane nodded. "Yes."

    Confused, I asked, "What''s going on?"

    "Remember that luncheon you''re attending with me?" Zane walked over to me and exined, "They''re here to style you up."

    Before I could respond, a young woman stepped in front of me. "Close your eyes."

    They then went to work by applying makeup on my face with brushes while someone else styled my hair. I sat there quietly, thinking how I should avoid these events in the future. All this preparation time could have been spent making money! Once the makeup was done, someone called out to me softly, "Time to wake up."

    Right as I opened my eyes, another person thrusted a dress into my hands. She urged, "Quick, try this on."

    Still dazed, I headed to the office bathroom to change. When I emerged, they broke into apuse while gathering around me. They praised, "You look absolutely stunning!" Someone turned to Zane with a smile and asked, "What do you think, Mr. Huxham?"

    Zane observed me from across the room as I shifted ufortably. Something flickered in his dark eyes but he quickly masked it and said evenly, "Yeah, she looks good."

    The styling team left, looking pleased. Then, I walked over to Zane and took a deep breath. I asked, "Shall we?"

    He offered his arm, and I ced my hand lightly on it. Sensing my nervousness, he reassured me, "Don''t worry. I''ll look after you whatever happens."

    "Alright." I rxed slightly. "I''m counting on you."

    Zane nodded. "Of course."

    We took the elevator down to the parking garage. Careful not to dirty my dress, I lifted the hem slightly while Zane watched without a word.

    When we arrived at the venue, Zane got out first and opened my door. I stepped out carefully before walking beside him.

    The luncheon was being held at a private estate this time. Climbing roses covered the iron gates, creating a beautiful disy. The grounds seemed endless, and tables were set up throughout the garden.

    A red carpet stretched from the entrance to the main hall. As soon as we stepped onto it, I spotted Steven nearby. He was staring in our direction, but I looked away because I didn''t want to see him.N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    "When you''re at work, he shows up there." Zane''s voice was barely audible. "At events, he waits for you here. Doesn''t it bother you?"

    "Yes," I answered honestly.

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    Zane chuckled. "It reminds me of when Sasha used to pester me every day..."

    Sasha''s voice cut in, "Are you talking about me?"

    Her father, Dous, had been invited to the luncheon and brought her along for the experience. She had been bored until she spotted me, and just as she ran over to catch up, she heard Zane mentioning her name before she could even say hello. Her instincts told her Zane''s words weren''t very ttering. Caught in the act, Zane remained unfazed as he said, "I was just using you as an example."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Having heard that, Sasha red at him in dissatisfaction.

    Zane slowed his pace. Once Sasha left to find her father, he continued smoothly, "I felt like how you do now, but I learned something. If you don''t address the problem, Steven will keep pursuing you." Desperate to avoid Steven, I asked, "Do you have a solution?"

    "Yes." Zane stopped, unusually serious. "We could pretend to date."

    I met his eyes. "Isn''t that too risky? Who knows, the person you might want to date in the future might reject you if they think that we''re together."

    "I''m not looking to date anyone right now," Zane said calmly. He then analyzed, "Everyone Is pressuring me to get married now, and it would certainly ease that pressure if you pretend to be my girlfriend." Noticing he was serious about this, I thought it over carefully before deciding. "Okay."

    Finally achieving his goal, Zane''s mood lifted. A rare smile appeared on his usually stoic face.

    Seeing that we were not approaching him, Steven intercepted us. He looked at me. "I need to talk to you."

    Zane replied smoothly, "Anything concerning my girlfriend concerns me. You don''t mind if I stay, do you, Mr. Pelham?"

    "Your girlfriend?" Steven asked incredulously.

    I took Zane''s hand. "Yes, we''re dating."

    Steven''s eyes fixed on our joined hands while I continued, "I can guess what this is about. It must be something to do with your precious Jessica, right?"

    Steven forced himself to look away, remembering why he hade. He then said, "Jessica''s actions were for my benefit. I hope you guys won''t target her."

    I scoffed. "I have no reason to target her. As for you, I moved on the day we divorced. More importantly, I have a new boyfriend now..."

    Zane added coolly, "And I''m better than you, Mr. Pelham. So I''m sure I can keep Annalise''s heart."

    "That''s impossible!" Steven shook his head.

    Though he had worried about Zane attracting me, he had not expected it to happen so soon. It shattered all his fantasies, because he had thought I would take him back if he made amends. "Nothing''s impossible." I said coldly, "Being with Zane taught me what it feels like to be truly loved."

    Steven stared at me in disbelief. Ignoring him, I walked with Zane into the crowd.

    There was a particr thought echoed in Steven''s mind-Annalise did not want to be with him anymore.

 Chapter 310

    Soon, the guests noticed Zane and approached to greet him. Someone smiled and asked, "And who might this be?"

    Zane introduced, "This is my partner, Annalise Jamison."

    "Mrs. Huxham!" They quickly offered me a ss. "We must toast!"

    I took the ss while watching them drain theirs in one go. Taking a deep breath, I was about to drink when Zane smoothly removed the ss from my hand. Expressionless, he said, "She doesn''t drink. It''ll be disrespectful to me if anyone pushes her to drink."

    Those who had been ready to press drinks on me immediately backed off. They were not foolish enough to mess with anyone Zane was so protective of! They started to tter me instead. "Ms. Jamison, you''re so lucky to date Mr. Huxham."

    I wasn''t sure how to respond since our rtionship was fake, so I just smiled politely. Once the crowd dispersed, I whispered, "Is it okay that I didn''t drink?"Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    "Of course." Zane''s usually cold tone held warmth. "What good is all my power if I can''t even protect my girlfriend?"

    I looked at him in surprise while he patted my back and said, "Go get something to eat. Don''t starve yourself."

    Then, I asked, "What about you?"

    Zane smiled. "I need to discuss some business matters with them."

    With that, I went to get some food.

    The buffet wasvish with hot dishes, desserts, and endless variety. I filled my te with my favorites and found a table to enjoy my lunch.

    "You''re more cunning than I thought." Hearing a familiar voice, I turned to find Jessica. Heavily pregnant, she sat down beside me.

    Then, she continued coolly, "You''ve managed tond Mr. Huxham so quickly."

    This was her true nature when no men were around. She wasn''t polite at all, and I stood up to move away.

    She asked evilly, "Why are you running away from me?"

    "I''m worried you don''t want your baby anymore and kill your baby on purpose. Then, you''ll me it on me," I said honestly.

    Jessica just red at me without a word while I continued enjoying my meal.

    The catering was excellent, and every dish was perfectly prepared. As I was eating contentedly, Jessica pressed on, "You haven''t answered my question."

    "What''s there to answer?" I dabbed my lips with a napkin. "Even if I did use some skill to date Zane, so what? At least we were both single when we got together. Unlike you, who pursued a married man."

    My words cut deep, and Jessica stood up. "Why do you keep bringing up the past? You can''t be still pining for Steven, can you?"

    "You''ve said the same thing several times." I reminded her calmly, "I don''t know why you keep trying, but my answer''s the same. I have zero interest in Steven.

    "As for why I bring it up, it''s simple. There''s no reason why I can''t talk about it when both of you are able to do such indecent things."

    I looked her up and down with disgust. "Every time I mention it, you try to smear me by saying I still love Steven. I''m truly amazed by how shameless you are."

 Chapter 311

    "But that just makes me want to say it more! Listen, Jessica. I''ll bring up what you two did every single time I see you."

    I was tired of wasting time on her. "If you keep standing here and ruin my mood, I''ll grab a microphone and tell everyone here exactly what you did."N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    Jessica''s face turned ashen immediately. She quickly scanned the room to make sure no one was watching before hurrying away.

    Momentster, Sasha joined me with her own te of food. She dropped into the chair beside me before grumbling, "My dad just dragged me around and introduced me to everyone."

    I smiled at her troubled face. "Aren''t you annoyed?"

    "God, yes!" Sasha grabbed my hand. "They all act so formal, saying things like ''Oh, I held you when you were a baby!'' How am I supposed to remember that?"

    Then, she continued, "I''d seem rude if I didn''t say anything, so I just kept nodding."

    She stabbed a piece of meat with her fork before shoving it in her mouth. "These events are awful. I''ll nevere to another one!"

    Just as she finished speaking, Steven appeared. I dropped my smile. First the mistress, now the cheater.

    Clearly, crowded events were not my thing. I looked away, nning to ignore him and get a fresh te of food.

    "You were lying earlier, weren''t you?" Steven blocked my path and asked, "You''re not really dating Zane..."

    I stepped back to create some distance between us. Staring at him, I coldly asked, "Why would I bother lying to you? Steven, you''re not important enough in my life for me to make up stories about."

    He still would not believe it. "Even if you don''t love me anymore, you''d need time to move on. You wouldn''t jump into something new so quickly."

    I took a deep breath. "It hasn''t been quick for me. You seem to forget how I met Zane. It was when you threw me out while I was penniless and homeless."

    Steven fell silent.

    "In our six years of marriage, you never treated me well." I continued slowly, "But Zane was different. He took me in, cared for me, and helped me heal from my husband and son''s betrayal. I started to have a new life."

    I found myself smiling. "Looking back at everything that happened, I''m grateful that we divorced. Thankfully, Zane and Willow chose me as family."

    Upon hearing that, Steven''s face darkened. Meanwhile, I went up to Zane when I saw him approaching.

    Having finished her food, Sasha crossed her arms while eyeing Steven with disgust. He looked decent enough, shame about his character though.

    She knew Annalise was tired of Steven''s pursuit and warned, "Stay away from Annalise. She''s too kind to expose what you and that woman did, but I''m different! I''m not nice at all!

    "I''ll buy headlines on every news site and let everyone know what you did!"

    Steven red at her impatiently. "This is between me and her. It''s none of your business!"

 Chapter 312

    "I''m Annalise''s friend!" Sasha dered proudly as she puffed up her chest. "Her business is my business! I''ll stand up for her If you make her unhappy!"

    ...

    When Zane noticed me, he quickened his pace before stopping in front of me. Then, he took my hand and acted every bit the concerned lover. "What''s wrong?"

    "First, Jessica came to harass me, then Steven showed up iming our rtionship isn''t real," Iined.

    Zane rxed upon seeing it wasn''t anything serious. "Don''t worry, they''ll believe it eventually."

    As he spoke, he pulled me into his embrace. I looked up at him in surprise, while he whispered and exined, "Let''s show your ex how happy we are." Hearing that, I hugged him back while hiding my smile against his chest.

    Confused, he asked, "What''s so funny?"

    "I''m just thinking that this is quite interesting..." I admitted, "We''re reallymitted to this act."

    Zane''s arms tightened unconsciously. "Otherwise, Steven will keep doubting us and finding excuses to bother you."

    I agreed, "True enough."

    Not knowing many people at the event, Sasha headed toward Annalise after warning Steven.

    When she spotted Annalise and Zane hugging from afar, she pulled out her phone before finding the perfect angle for a few shots. Then she admired them one by one. Annalise looked beautiful even without makeup. But today, in a ck evening gown and perfect makeup, she looked absolutely stunning! These photos could be magazine covers! Thinking these photos were too good not to share, Sasha returned to Steven and thrusted her phone in his face triumphantly. "Look how perfect Annalise and her man are together!"

    It took only a nce for Steven to storm off in our direction. Sasha scoffed. How dare a cheater like him think he deserved another chance? He should look in the mirror and check if he was even worthy of it!Owned by N?velDrama.Org.

    ...

    Seeing the two of them embrace, Steven felt his heart being torn apart. Was Annalise really moving on to someone new?

    No! He couldn''t ept it! He called out loudly, "It''s inappropriate to be so intimate in public."

    "What''s inappropriate about it?" I shot back, "We''re alone here, and how we show affection is our business. It''s not affecting anyone. Why are you even here?"

    Steven was stumped. Though the event was crowded, everyone was in the front garden, and only the three of them were in the back garden.

    After thinking hard, he tried to argue, "Don''t you think you''re moving too fast?"

    "Compared to you, we''re still taking our time." I released Zane to face Steven. "After all, you got Jessica pregnant while we were still married. Meanwhile, Zane and I are just holding hands and hugging. "How can you possibly call us fastpared to you two?"

    Steven felt the logic but tried to argue anyway, "You''re a woman-you can''tpare yourself to me!"

 Chapter 313

    I scoffed. "This has nothing to do with gender, Steven. My life principle has always been to hold onto the right person when I find them." Zane gazed down at me tenderly, while Steven quietly said, "You weren''t like this before."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    I did not deny it. "I used to be obedient and well-behaved, but what did that get me?"

    Having heard that, Steven fell silent. Then, I continued calmly, "If being good doesn''t get me the results I want, of course I''d need to change."

    Here, Steven finally found his argument. "But Annalise, did you think about our son before doing all this? Can he ept this new father figure?"

    I replied coolly, "Did you think about our son when you cheated, introduced him to your mistress, and encouraged him to call her ''Mom?'' I can''t believe you have the nerve to lecture me here."

    I added with disgust, "And you seem to forget that I''ve let go of both you and the child, so don''t use him to guilt-trip me."

    Taking Zane''s hand, I walked away.

    Steven stood there as he watched Annalise leave. She was really over him and wanted nothing to do with him. Would trying harder give him another chance? He wasn''t sure.

    "When your first love came back, you ran straight to her and thought perhaps you could date her first." Sasha enjoyed watching Steven squirm. "If she wasn''t what you remembered, you could always return to your family. "But now, Annalise doesn''t want you anymore." Sasha gloated and said, "She found someone even better!"

    "Shut up!" Steven snapped.

    "Will my silence change how stupid you''ve been?" Sasha couldn''t understand his logic. Any normal person would cherish someone as wonderful as Annalise.

    But he took her for granted and assumed she would never attract anyone else even if they broke up. So he let her go without hesitation.

    Sasha continued, "Will it change the fact that they''re perfect together?"

    She snorted as she looked him up and down with contempt, "Do you know why you ended up like this? It''s because you cheated. If not, your life would''ve been wonderful now, and everyone would''ve envied you."

    Jessica approached us with one hand on her back and the other rubbing her belly. She stopped short before Zane and I to block us off.

    Not wanting to talk to her, Zane pulled me behind him protectively. Expressionless as usual, he asked coldly, "Yes?"

    "Steven was rude earlier." Jessica said sweetly, "I''m apologizing on his behalf."

    I peered around Zane and studied her. She had been so arrogant with me earlier. How could she suddenly be so polite with Zane?

    Jessica sounded troubled as she continued, "But he only acted that way because he loves Annalise so much..."

 Chapter 314

    After hearing Jessica''s words, I could not help butugh. "Is love now an excuse to hurt people?"

    "It''s not an excuse-he truly loves you!" Jessica insisted.

    Finally understanding her game to reconnect me with Steven, I replied, "He wouldn''t stop harassing me after I''ve made it clear countless times that I don''t want to see him, and you call that love? It sounds more like stalking to me." Jessica''s eyes widened as if she had heard something shocking. "Is that how you see someone who loves you? I wonder how heartbroken your admirers would be to see how cold you are."Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Her eyes darted toward Zane as she spoke, and I almostughed at her words. "If Steven knew how desperate you are to get rid of him, would he still fund your lifestyle?"

    Jessica froze, but Zane cut in, "You''re trying to cause problems between me and Annalise by bringing this up now, aren''t you? Frankly, I''ve seen these tactics countless times before." His voice dripped with contempt as he continued, "They clearly don''t work on me, so you better save your energy for Steven. He''s simple enough to fall for it."

    Jessica trembled. She hadn''t expected her schemes to be exposed by Zane. "What are you implying here?"

    "That you don''t impress me." Zane replied casually, "And I won''t fall for your maniption."

    Leading me back to our table, he asked, "Did you eat enough earlier?"

    I studied him curiously. He was always so cold with others, yet there was a warmth in his voice whenever he spoke to me. I shook my head, and Zane smiled lovingly. "Let''s get some more then." "Okay." I picked up a te, ready to serve myself.

    Sasha rushed over. "I''ve tried everything, so let me rmend the best dishes!"

    She began pointing out her favorites, and I returned to the table with a full te. Then, Sasha forced a smile. "Dad dragged me off to meet people again. Just likest time, I didn''t know any of them and had to keep smiling. "My face is practically frozen now."

    I replied calmly, "Things are better over here, but people keep approaching me as I stand here. At least I can just re at them without being polite."

    Sasha could not hold back andined, "Compared to dealing with a cheating ex-husband and his mistress, I''d rather face strangers! At least they haven''t hurt me."

    Her frustration made meugh. "True enough."

    Steven confronted Jessica. She guessed why he hade but chose her words carefully. She needed to coax him just right.

    "Who asked you to act on your own?" he snapped.

    "I did nothing wrong, so why apologize to Zane for me?" Jessica''s mind raced. "If I didn''t, how would I get close enough to Zane in order to help you? How else can I support you?" Steven stared at her.

 Chapter 315

    Jessica''s logic seemed somewhat sound, so even if Steven was still annoyed, he conceded, "Sorry for misjudging you."

    Jessica forced a brave smile in response. "It''s fine. I''m happy as long as you understand my intentions"

    She acted as if she was hurt by his misunderstanding but was bearing it silently. Though Steven still did not love her, her apparent selfless devotion touched him.

    He looked at her and said seriously. "After the baby''s born, I''ll not only provide child support but help with your expenses too."

    Upon hearing that, Jessica looked at him in surprise. Did that mean he would support both her and the child? Her performance had paid off, so she was satisfied with today''s oue.

    After their talk, Steven found a seat where he could watch Annalise from afar.

    Zane sat beside her, and Steven could tell that he loved Annalise very much. The same business elite who maintained an icy demeanor with everyone else was looking at her with barely concealed adoration.

    Meanwhile, Annalise seemed more at ease being around Zane. Her eyes were sparkling whenever she nced his way.

    Having witnessed such a scene personally, Steven couldn''t help thinking that this must be the marriage she had always dreamed of. Having a husband who cherished and loved her, who listened patiently and treated her well, while she devoted herself to him in return. Bitterness spread through Steven''s heart, and he closed his eyes to force down the emotion! He then took a deep breath.

    He had known Annalise long enough to know she was cautious and would never rush into rtionships. Yet, she had agreed to date Zane before really knowing him.

    Zane must be deceiving her by making unrealistic promises! Or maybe, he was just pretending to be perfect around her.

    The more Steven thought about it, the more suspicious he became of Zane. Then, he looked away from the two of them.

    Even if Annalise hated Steven now, he had to expose Zane''s true nature. Then, she would surely leave Zane and return to him! He pulled out his phone and called a friend. "Investigate Zane for me." Sitting beside him, Jessica quickly added, "Find out what type of person he likes too."

    Steven turned to her, and she whispered, "We need to understand his preferences to target him effectively. That''ll increase my chances of catching him and making your dreame true." After her exnation, Steven told his friend, "Look into everything Jessica and I mentioned."

    "Got it."

    After leaving the event at three, I changed back into my regr clothes at the office and removed the heavy makeup. Finally, I felt way morefortable.

    Carefully packing the dress, I handed it to Zane. "What should we do with this?"

    He casually set it aside. "I''ve already bought it, so let''s take it home."N?velDrama.Org ? content.

    "Wasn''t it expensive?" I asked in surprise.

 Chapter 316

    Zane replied without hesitation, "It''s around 450 thousand dors, I think?"

    I frowned. "Isn''t it wasteful to buy such an expensive dress for just one event?"

    Zane met my eyes. "This is my girlfriend''s first dress for attending an event with me. Don''t you think that''s worth remembering?"

    After a long look, I said, "You''re quite theedian."

    Zane stepped closer. "I know that you were careful with money when you were with Steven because of his startup''s financial pressure. You worried spending too much would affect hispany''s operations, so you stayed frugal.

    "But Annalise, mypany is substantial. Even if you spend more, I can easily provide for you. You don''t need to save money for my sake." He took my hand as he spoke.

    "But we''re not really dating," I pointed out.

    He then answered smoothly, "To make others believe we''re together, we need to act like a normal couple. If not, they''ll see through us eventually."

    Confused, I asked, "What should we do then?"

    Zane''s tone was persuasive. "Simple. Just treat me like your boyfriend."

    Even if I yed along with this rtionship, I could not spend his money recklessly. After all, even my substantial sry fromst month wouldn''t cover one dress.

    After careful thought, I replied, "Don''t buy me such expensive things anymore, Steven will know we''re fake if you do."

    Zane was puzzled. "Why?"

    I exined, "Given my personality, I''d want to return your gifts. If they''re too expensive, I can''t afford to get you gifts for about the same price, so I wouldn''t ept them." Zane smiled after hearing my words. "Fair enough."

    "Yeah."

    ...

    After me and Zane came to an agreement, it was time to pick up Willow. The driver took us to the kindergarten. The sses were just over, and Willow was saying goodbye to Penelope. Once I got out of the car, Willow bounced over. "Mommy, since I can speak in front of my ssmates now, they chose me for the school speech!"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Then, she grinned mysteriously. "Guess why the teacher picked me instead of others?"

    I listed a few qualities. "Because Willow practices speaking every day, speaks clearly, is adorable, and confident?"

    Her smile widened. "That too. But really, it''s because I can read now. Only Zachary and I can read in ss, so they picked just the two of us."

    She paused, looking at me before asking anxiously, "Would you mind if I performed with Zachary? I won''t do it if you''re ufortable."

    She burrowed into my arms and wrapped her small arms around my waist, while her face was pressed against my chest.

    I patted her back gently. "Of course not. I''m happy that you got the chance to shine on stage."

    Willow cupped my face with her chubby hands and nted a kiss. "I knew Mommy''s the best!"

    I scooped her up. "Ready to go home?"

    Willow nodded eagerly. "Yeah!"

 Chapter 317

    As Zachary watched Annalise leave from afar, his eyes were filled with longing. But he resisted the urge to follow them this time as he had more important things to do. Getting into the car, he told Harry, "Let''s go to Daddy''s vi first." Harry was confused. "Why aren''t you seeing your mom today?"

    Had he grown tired of her? If so, that might actually be good for Zachary. But Zachary exined calmly, "Daddy will try to control me by not letting me take my things, so we need to surprise him before he realizes what''s happening! "We''ll move everything out. By the time he thinks about stopping us, it''ll be toote." He finally looked away. "Once we pack everything up today, I can see Mommy again tomorrow."

    Harry asked, "But what about money after you cut ties with your dad?"

    Zachary casually said. "Mommy bought me somemercial properties, and the annual rent is enough to support us all. Don''t worry about that."

    Harry had always thought Zachary''s mom was cruel for abandoning a five-year-old like him. But hearing this, he realized things might be different than he had assumed. "Before the divorce, did your mom love you?" Zachary said nostalgically, "She was wonderful to me, and she''s the best mom in the world. But Daddy and Jessica tricked me into thinking her care wasn''t love and just control. So I did many things to hurt her till she gave up on me..." Zachary lowered his eyes and continued, "If I hadn''t gone that far, she would''ve fought for custody even with the divorce."

    Harry ruffled his hair. "That''s all in the past."

    "Yeah." Zachary forced a brave smile.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Back home, Willow greeted everyone enthusiastically, and they were all delighted to see her so lively and cheerful.

    She used to be so silent and would keep everything bottled up inside. But now, she was like a little ball of sunshine, always bright and happy.

    Willow set down her backpack while Milton and Dorothy brought over some fresh fruit. She took an apple and opened her script, reading word by word.

    I watched her carefully. Though she knew many characters, there were still many she did not know, so she turned to me.

    Instead of telling her the pronunciation of those words, I taught her to use the dictionary. Once she learned how, she looked up words diligently.

    On her first read-through, she made a mark on those unknown words. The second time, she read haltingly. Only after memorizing itpletely did she set it aside.

    She quickly finished her apple before turning to me and asked, "Mommy, can you and Daddy buy me elementary school textbooks?"

 Chapter 318

    I looked at Willow in surprise. Most kids these days did not enjoy studying, but Willow actually wanted to learn on her own.

    She exined matter-of-factly, "I want to get ahead so I won''t fall behind when I start elementary school."

    "Of course," I supported her enthusiasm without hesitation. "I''ll check the bookstore tomorrow for your textbooks."

    Willow beamed happily and said, "Okay."This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Zane seemed surprised when he heard that too. Just then, something urred to him, so he got up and told Willow, "Come with me."

    Though confused, Willow followed obediently. Zane then stopped on the third floor and opened a door.

    Willow''s eyes widened at the toys filling the room, and Zane''s tone was unusually gentle. "I forgot to tell you that I bought these the other day."

    He knelt down. "Now''s a good time to enjoy them."

    Willow was still astonished. "Are all of these for me?"

    Zane simply replied, "Yes."

    Overjoyed, she entered the room full of toys and picked up a box. "Wow!"

    I watched from the doorway. She clearly loved the gifts. Her eyes were sparkling like she held precious treasures. The room echoed with her excited "wows".

    My heart warmed at the sight. Children were so easily made happy. After looking around, she came back to us instead of opening anything.

    I asked, "What is it?"

    "I still need to exercise," Willow said, reluctantly looking away from the toys. "And since there are so many of them, could I open them with Penelope and y together?" "Of course!" I replied instantly.

    Zane added, "I thought you might want that, so I bought doubles of everything."

    Excited, Willow asked, "Can I call Penelope toe over now?"

    "Sure," Zane said indulgently.

    Willow immediately called Penelope and told her about Zane''s presents before asking, "Do you want toe over and y together?"

    "Of course I do!" Penelope''s excitement was clear even through the phone, but then her tone dropped. "But I have to ask my mom if it''s okay because she''s tired from work. "It''s okay if she doesn''t want to go. I want to be a considerate daughter!"

    Upon hearing that, Willow''s mood instantly fell. Zane smiled and said, "We can send the driver to pick her up."

    Willow quickly ryed this to Penelope, who asked Suzy, "Mommy, can I go to Willow''s? Their driver will pick me up."

    Happy her daughter had made a good friend, Suzy agreed, "No problem."

    I nned to go with Willow to get Penelope. But Milton and Dorothy volunteered, saying they had nothing else to do. Hence, I stayed behind and watched them leave.

    ...

    Steven parked near Zane''s house before scanning for Zachary''s car. Not finding it, he called Zachary. "Hello?"

    Zachary asked coolly, "Is something wrong, Daddy?"

    "Don''t you usuallye watch your mom near Zane''s house? I don''t see you today. Are you not here, or are you hiding from me?" He suspected Zachary was avoiding him. Zachary exined casually, "Daddy, don''t you remember? I was hospitalized yesterday for stomach problems."

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    Zachary knew that lying was wrong, but telling Zane the truth would mean losing everything. If that happened, he would not be able to ess Annalise''s shops and savings for him.

    He continued smoothly, "I''m still getting IV fluids today."

    Steven asked quickly, "Should Ie and take care of you?"

    Zachary refused, "No need. Harry and Hannah are here, so don''t worry."

    After a brief small talk, he made an excuse to hang up. Harry and Hannah helped to load everything into the car. His desk was moved to his bedroom. After everything was packed, he entered his room and closed the door. He then opened a hiddenpartment that stored some gold bars. Underneath were property deeds. A few of them were residential, but most of them weremercial.

    There were over a dozen shops, and all of the annual rent would be paid to a separate bank ount.

    Aside from that, there was a savings book full of deposits. His wounded heart felt lighter. Perhaps, life without Steven wouldn''t be that bad.

    Relieved that the monthly rent alone would sustain him, Zachary went to the living room and said, "Should we hire a cook?"

    Without one, he would have to eat out despite his weak stomach. Then, Hannah offered, "Since I only tutor you now, I can cook."

    After consideration, Zachary said, "Then I''ll double your sry."

    "Would you have enough money to spend, then?" Hannah was worried.

    "Yeah." Now that he was aware of his wealth, Zachary said, "I''ll double Harry''s too since he''s always with me."

    Harry was sitting by his side when he heard what Zachary said. "Don''t spend too freely. You should save some money too."

    Zachary said with a smile, "Don''t worry. I''ve set aside plenty for expenses."

    That reassured them.

    ...

    At home, Willow first took Penelope to exercise before showing her the toys. Only then did they bring Penelope to the third floor. Exhausted after working out, Penelope asked, "Where''s this yroom?" Willow opened the door. "Here."

    Penelope used herst energy to run in and copse. Not knowing what Penelope was doing, Willow copied her andy beside her. The girls were happy just being together.

    I started to join them, but Zane caught my wrist, gesturing toward Milton and Dorothy.

    The elderly couple had been devastated by their daughter''s loss for years. But ever sinceing here to be with Willow, they seemed rejuvenated and have found a new purpose.

    Not wanting to interrupt, I went to the second-floor balcony. Zane sat and reached for my hand.

    I asked, "Hmm?"This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Zane exined smoothly, "Your ex is watching. We should show some affection."

    Hearing that, I offered my hand. Hisrge hand enveloped minepletely, and his usually stern expression held a hint of seduction. "Do you think this alone will convince him... that we''re really dating?"

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    Holding hands seemed intimate enough to me. "Probably?"This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Instead of arguing, Zane mused, "Anna, lyinges with a price. He''ll keep pursuing you"

    Zane suddenly realized that Steven''s presence was a great excuse to get closer to me.

    I bit my lip. Honestly, I wanted nothing more to do with Steven, so I could only look up at Zane. "What would convince him for good?" Suddenly, he pulled me onto hisp. I tried to stand, but he held me firmly. Then, Zane whispered seductively, "Just demonstrating." "Okay, I get it..." I blushed, trying to rise.

    But Zane wouldn''t let go, "Why are you blushing so hard? Didn''t Steven ever hold you like this?"

    I nodded. "No. Since he didn''t love me, we only held hands and hugged. Nothing more."

    "Really?" As Zane questioned me, he could not help himself anymore. He cupped my face and pressed his warm lips to mine. The sudden kiss left my mind nk.

    Instinctively, I tried to push him away. But Zane held my back and did not want to let go. Strangely, I did not mind his kiss at all.

    Sensing my eptance, he deepened the kiss. This was his first kiss ever, and he never knew kissing someone he loved could feel so great. Finally, he released me when I needed air. Staring at Zane, I asked in a daze, "Is this necessary for pretending?"

    Zane answered firmly, "Of course. Lovers have passionate moments, and this makes it believable."

    That made sense. I touched his face gently. While his cold eyes softened withughter, it felt as if I was the only one he could see at that moment. He let me touch him all I wanted. Then, I gave him a quick kiss. Surprised by my initiative, he froze briefly.

    But I pulled back almost immediately, so he chuckled in a loving tone. "You''re learning."

    "Of course." I leaned on his shoulder. "It''s all for show. I really want Steven to give up."

    As Zane studied my confident and charming profile, he lifted me up. I had to wrap my arms around his neck. He pressed me against the wall before kissing me fiercely. Catching a glimpse of Steven watching, I closed my eyes and pretended not to see him. As I clutched Zane''s shirt tight, I had no choice but to let him kiss me.

    Though things were progressing with Annalise, Zane wanted more of her. He wanted her heart, her body, and everything about her.

    He wanted to date her properly, without using Steven as an excuse.

    Concurrently, Steven watched from his car as they kissed passionately on the balcony. Annalise seemed to have melted from the kiss as she slid down weakly.

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    But Zane gripped Annalise''s waist possessively as he continued forcing her to kiss him. Her pale arms draped loosely around his neck.

    Even from afar, Steven could see how alluring Annalise had be. He had thought their rtionship was just for show.

    But watching them chat, seeing Annalise in Zane''sp, then kiss so passionately, a voice inside him insisted, "This isn''t an act. This is real!"

    Steven''s eyes reddened, and his heart ached. He had truly lost Annalise, who would never forgive him anymore. She had a new life and a new lover.

    He then called his friend. "Any results on that investigation?"

    His friend was exasperated. "It hasn''t even been a day! How could I have anything yet? Be patient."

    Though he heard the frustration, Steven continued to press, "I need it quickly."

    He could not bear watching Zane and Annalise act like lovers. He knew that Zane was undeniably exceptional.

    If they kept spending time together, Annalise''s love for Zane would soon surpass what she had felt for Steven back then. Then, he would have no chance anymore.

    But he had to try! He couldn''t watch Annalise belong to someone else.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    Atst, his friend conceded, "Fine, I''ll work overtime."

    "Thanks." Steven continued staring at them despite feeling hurt. Once he had proof, he would show Annalise right away. Then, he wouldn''t have to watch her and Zane together anymore after she gave up on Zane. Steven wouldn''t have to hurt like this as well.

    Most importantly, he couldfort Annalise then. Surely, she would fall for him again. With that thought in mind, his spirits were lifted slightly.

    Steven continued and watched as Zane carried Annalise away from the balcony, whose face was buried in his chest. What were they going to do? Steven''s face darkened at the sight. No! He rushed to the vi and pounded on the door. Seeing Steven, the guard asked in confusion, "Can I help you?" Steven froze. How could he exin? That the owners might be heading to their bedroom?

    With a twisted face, he called Zane.

    As Zane was about to set me down, his phone rang. When he showed me the screen, I frowned. Why was Steven calling?

    Zane whispered, "He probably thinks we''re taking the next step. He''s triggered, so he''s trying to ruin our moment."

    I scoffed. "That''s none of his business."

    "Indeed." As Zane spoke, he answered the call anyway.

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    "Zane," Steven''s voice crackled with barely contained anger. "Hand the phone to Annalise."

    Zane had no intention of obliging. "She''s right beside me. Say what you want quickly."

    Steven, his panic evident, blurted, "Annalise, if you really get involved with him intimately, there''s no way we can ever go back to what we had." "Really?" I looked up and leaned to kiss Zane.

    Zane looked at me, startled. A teasing smile yed on my lips as I asked, "Is that supposed to be a good thing?"

    Steven felt as though a chilling wave had crashed over him, leaving him cold and breathless.

    "Annalise, please, don''t act on impulse! You''re an adult now... I''m begging you, don''t just let any man into your life so casually."

    Zane raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Pelham, don''t ruin my moment." With that, he ended the call.

    Lying back on the bed, I stared at the ceiling. "He''s really strange."

    He clearly doesn''t love me, yet he acts like he cares so deeply.

    Zane moved to sit a little farther from me. "That''s just who he is. He didn''t appreciate you when he had the chance, and now that you''re gone, it''s toote."

    I let out a quietugh. "Not loving me, yet refusing to let go... how absurd."

    Then, as if the reason suddenly clicked, I added with a hint of irony, "Maybe he just can''t stand to see me happy."

    Zane regarded me thoughtfully. "What I don''t understand is this-if he were to get back with you, he wouldn''t be able to give you a better life. He wouldn''t cut ties with Jessica either. So why pursue you?"

    I pondered Zane''s question. "Maybe he thinks his love story with Jessica needs an audience to be more meaningful? And I''m the perfect witness?"

    ...

    Cody was fast asleep. The housekeeper and driver had already gone home, leaving Jessica alone in the vast, empty living room.

    She thought back to her encounters with Zane-the cold, detached gaze, themanding presence. She couldn''t help but feel an uncontroble pull toward him.

    But she had to admit one thing to herself: Zane wouldn''t be easy to win over.

    Even with all her charms, even though every man she had ever set her sights on eventually fell into her grasp, Zane was different. To conquer him would take time.

    Jessica stood, resolving that she needed to maintain a good rtionship with Steven. At the very least, until she seeded with Zane, Steven had to continue footing the bill for her lifestyle.

    With that thought, she picked up her phone and dialed Steven''s number. There were always plenty of excuses she coulde up with to get him to see her.

    Steven''s frustrated voice came through the line. "What do you want?"

    Jessica''s instincts told her something unpleasant must have happened to Steven. She ran her hand gently over her stomach. "Am I not allowed to call just because I don''t have a reason?" It took a long time before Steven finally muttered, "Of course, you can."

    "Come over to my house," Jessica said, moving to the balcony and gazing out at the brightly lit, yet eerily lonely courtyard. "I have something important to ask you."

    Steven clearly had no interest in visiting her. "If it''s important, just say it over the phone."This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Jessica sensed his resistance but didn''t push. "I just wanted to know... what Annalise likes. That way, when I see her again, I''ll have more to talk about."

    If Zane liked Annalise so much, all she had to do was figure out Annalise''s preferences and mimic them.

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    Zane would certainly give Jessica a few more nces. Over time, she believed she could push Annalise out of the picture and be Zane''s lover.

    "I don''t know," Steven replied honestly, his tone carrying a weight of sadness. "She was the one who pursued me.

    "After we got together, she was kind, and she treated me even better. She never fussed about celebrating holidays or expecting surprises. If I told her I was too busy with work or imed I just didn''t understand those things as being a straight guy, she''d forgive me withoutThis belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    question.

    "She''d then take care of everything in my life with meticulous thought."

    Steven''s voice faltered as he spoke about his past with Annalise. A dull ache swelled in his chest, making it hard to breathe.

    Jessica, listening to his words, nearly rolled her eyes. What he described could be seen as having a wife-but more urately, it sounded like having a free domestic maid. No wonder Annalise had decisively and unflinchingly let go of him when she left. She had absolutely no regrets.

    Steven continued, "So all I know is that she used to love me and Zachary more than anything."

    ...

    Willow and Penelope yed energetically upstairs until 8:30PM, finally stopping when they were both exhausted.

    Penelope looked longingly at Willow''s toy house. "It''s gettingte. I should head home now," Penelope said reluctantly. "If I don''t, my mom will miss me."

    Willow grabbed Penelope''s hand. "Then I''ll walk you out."

    Milton and Dorothy, having spent much of the day with the children, stayed home to rest. It was Zane and I who drove Penelope back home.

    The two little girls had endless things to talk about, their excited chatter filling the car with lively noise. I leaned back in my seat, watching them with a smile.

    Zane, seated in the driver''s seat, kept his focus on the road.

    When we arrived at Penelope''s neighborhood, Zane parked the car by the gate. Penelope stepped out, and Willow walked alongside her, while Zane and I followed behind.

    We took the elevator to Suzy''s apartment. But as soon as we stepped out onto her floor, we noticed her apartment door wide open.

    Zane and I exchanged a nce, both of us instantly alert.

    Zane stepped forward, shielding me and the children as he entered the apartment. From the living room, we heard Liam''s menacing voice: "So what if the kid wants to stay with you? You still owe me child support, or you''re not leaving here alive!" Suzy''s voice, trembling with anger, shot back: "Why should I? When we divorced, we agreed you''d take care of Penelope. I walked away with nothing, not even a share of what belonged to our child. And yet, how have you treated her?

    "I''ve already been generous enough to take her back and not demanding what''s rightfully hers. And you still dare ask me for money? Keep dreaming!"

    "You''ll regret this!" Liam snarled, his voiceced with venom. "Don''t me me for what happens next!"

    Before Liam could act, Zane kicked the door open. The sharp bang startled everyone as Zane strode in, his expression cold and unyielding. He immediately spotted Suzy tied up and Liam charging toward her with raised fists.

    Zane wasted no time, delivering a powerful kick that sent Liam sprawling to the floor. "Bullying a single woman-what a man you are," he said icily.

    Seeing a chance to escape, Suzy scrambled to her feet and dashed behind Zane, clutching onto him for safety.

    Zane shielded her as he directed her toward the hallway. "Annalise and the kids are outside. Let them help you untie the ropes"

    Suzy nodded quickly, her voice trembling. "Okay."

    Zane shut the door firmly behind her and turned his attention back to Liam.

    ...

    Suzy stumbled out of the apartment, her disheveled appearance revealing the ordeal she had just endured. Tears streamed from her eyes as she reached in.

    The sight shocked both girls. Penelope rushed to Suzy''s side, her small face filled with worry. "Mom, was it the bad guy again?"

    The "bad guy" she referred to was her father, Liam.

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    Suzy didn''t want Penelope to get involved, knowing she was just a child with means to deal with Liam.

    Suzy gently said, "Leave these matters to the adults, alright?"

    I stepped forward to untie Suzy, then pulled out my phone to call the police. Meanwhile, Suzy coldly dialed the property management office.

    Zane walked out of the bedroom, dragging a beaten but still defiant Liam. Tossing him onto the living room floor, Zane wiped his hands like he had just taken out the trash.

    Still unwilling to back down, Liam sneered, "She''s my ex-wife. Coming here to see her is my right. Who are you to interfere? What''s your rtionship with her anyway?"

    Zane recalled Steven at the mention of "ex-wife". He retorted instinctively, "You''re very clear she''s your ex-wife and not your current wife, aren''t you? That alone means you have no right to barge into her home." Liam eyed Zane warily. "Why are you so concerned about her? Don''t tell me you''ve got a thing for her."

    Zane responded without hesitation, "She''s an employee at mypany and is handling a crucial project. As her superior, it''s my duty to ensure her safety."

    Their conversation was cut short as both the police and the security guards arrived. After a brief inquiry, the police officers took Liam away.

    Suzy''s fury turned toward the security guards. "I pay substantial management fees every month, and yet you couldn''t even stop a stranger from entering themunity or this building.

    "Letting him get as far as my door-what a ster performance!"

    The security guard stammered, "He said he was your husband."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Suzy''s expression turned colder. "And you just believed him? Did you even check for proof?"

    The guard had no answer, lowering his head in shame. "It won''t happen again," he mumbled.

    "It better not," Suzy snapped.

    Once the guard left, I turned to Suzy. "How exactly did he get in?"

    Suzy hesitated before exining, "Penelope had just left, barely two or three minutester, when someone knocked on the door. I assumed she''d forgotten something and didn''t bother checking the monitor. I just opened the door..." "Be more cautious next time," I said gently, not wanting to me her further. "Also, whenever Penelopees over to y with Willow, feel free toe along too. It''ll be safer for everyone."

    Suzy nodded, her earlier exhaustion reced by lingering unease. "Alright, I will."

    ...

    On the way home, Willow fell asleep in my arms, her peaceful face glowing under the dim light of the car. Zane focused on the road, both hands steady on the wheel.

    After a moment of silence, he nced in the rearview mirror and asked, "Do you mind that I helped Suzy?"

    He knew perfectly well the implications. If I ever thought he had feelings for Suzy, it would extinguish any possibility between us. So he asked preemptively, ready to rify the situation if needed. "Why would I mind?" I asked, confused by the question.

    "It would''ve been cold-hearted not to help her in that situation. Besides, Suzy is Willow''s best friend''s mom. If we didn''t step in, it might have hurt their friendship."

    I looked down at Willow''s round, innocent face, so pure and unburdened by theplexities of life.

    Hearing my response, Zane visibly rxed and returned his focus to the road. Calmly, he exined, "Even though we''re only pretending to be a couple, I don''t want you to think I''m interested in anyone else." I chuckled. "Don''t overthink it. I''m not that petty."

    ...

    Meanwhile, Zachary''s merchandise had arrived, and Harry picked it up for him.

 Chapter 325

    Zachary unwrapped each package one by one, carefully cing the cartoon merchandise resembling his mom, Annalise, around his room. As he worked, he suddenly remembered that his mom had once taken a few photos and they were kept in this very room. He rummaged through drawers and shelves until he finally found them tucked away at the bottom of the wardrobe. Gently, he cleaned the pictures and arranged them in every corner of the room.

    Lying in bed, clutching his nket tightly, he inhaled deeply, surrounded by his mom''s photos. For a fleeting moment, it felt as if she were still there, keeping himpany. His heart lightened, the ache momentarily subdued.

    Although his current life felt painfulpared to the past, Zachary couldn''t help but think of his dad. Aspared to Steven, his own life didn''t seem so unbearable after all.

    Yet, not a shred of pity stirred in Zachary''s heart for his father. Steven had made so many mistakes that the misery he endured now felt like well-deserved karma.

    Closing his eyes, Zachary drifted into a light, hazy sleep, only to be disrupted by the shrill ringing of his phone. Groggy, he answered without looking at the screen. "Hello? What do you want?"

    "I''ve been thinking," Steven said in a measured tone. "If I try to win your mom back on my own, it won''t work."

    Yawning, Zachary felt no enthusiasm for the conversation.

    Steven continued, "If we want Annalise toe back to us, the best way is for us to team up."

    "It''s useless," Zachary replied bluntly, cutting him off. "I''ve already tried everything you can think of crying, apologizing, begging her to forgive me. None of it worked."

    He thought back to all the ways he had tried to mend things with Annalise, each one failing miserably. Annalise hadpletely shut him out. She treated his apologies and his pain with the same cold indifference she had shown a stranger. Zachary didn''t want to see that icy expression ever again, nor did he have any interest in Steven''s naive schemes.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    "I''m tired and I have school tomorrow," he said dismissively. "Good night."

    As an afterthought, he added, "Oh, and didn''t you say you wouldn''t send me any more allowance? That''s fine, but stop calling me too."

    Before Steven could respond, Zachary ended the call, switched his phone to airne mode, and fell back asleep.

    ...

    Steven stared at his silent phone, but his thoughts were consumed by the image of Zane holding Annalise as they left together.

    His chest tightened, his mind unable to rest. Even in moments of calm, he couldn''t stop envisioning Annalise''s smiling face, the love in her eyes as she looked at Zane.

    The fiery pain in his heart was unbearable, consuming him entirely.

    Desperate to escape the torment, Steven dialed a friend. "Let''s go out for drinks."

    Understanding his recent troubles, none of his friends refused.

    Steven arrived at the bar first, booking a private room and ordered several bottles of liquor.

    One by one, his friends trickled in. Gavin took a seat beside him and asked, "What happened?"

    Perhaps it was the alcohol, or maybe the question struck too close to home, but Steven''s emotions erupted. He broke down in tears, sobbing uncontrobly.

    "Annalise has really given up on me!" he wailed.

    "How could she be so heartless? How could she just stop loving me like that?"

 Chapter 326

    "Back then, for six years, Annalise gave me everything, her heart and soul," Steven muttered, his voice thick with frustration.

    "And now, in such a short time, she''s holding someone else''s hand? Kissing another man?"

    The more he spoke, the more it seemed to unravel him. Steven''s mind echoed with one overwhelming thought-this shouldn''t be happening.

    Though deep down he knew the fault was his, Steven instinctively shifted the me onto Annalise, thinking it would ease his pain. But it only made the suffocating guilt worse.

    His friends, watching him sob uncontrobly, all had the same thought.

    Annalise didn''t give up on him out of nowhere. For six years, he had treated her so poorly that she had likely lost hope long ago. She had only stayed because she couldn''t bring herself to let go of their marriage, still holding on to the idea that things could be salvaged.

    But Steven''s affair with Jessica had been the final straw, shattering any remaining illusions Annalise had and pushing her to finally walk away.

    The group exchanged nces, none daring to voice these truths aloud, afraid Steven might spiral even further.

    Gavin, always tactful, tried to console him. "Yeah, she''s in the wrong for moving on so fast."

    Steven immediately snapped, his anger boiling over. "How dare you say that about her?"

    The room went silent. His friends stared at one another, unsure how to respond.

    He hadn''t defended Annalise when he cheated on her, but now he wanted to protect her? What was the point?

    ...

    Meanwhile, Chloe sat alone in the living room, waiting for Zachary to return home. When the clock struck ten and the door still hadn''t opened, she knew this time he was genuinely upset. But she had no intention of indulging him.

    If Zachary thought he could manipte her into coddling Jessica''s child out of guilt, he was sorely mistaken.

    Chloe had made up her mind. She would y along just as Zachary demanded, but only to teach him a lesson-what it truly felt like to lose both a grandmother and a father.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Determined to y her role, Chloe stopped by Jessica''s vi, this time not to reprimand her but to make amends. With bags full of gifts, she rang the doorbell, instructing the chauffeur to bring everything inside. The housekeeper opened the door, and Chloe entered, arms full of shopping bags, and set them down in the living room.

    "These are all gifts carefully chosen just for you," Chloe said.

    "Back when Annalise was married to Steven, I never went out of my way like this for her."

    The implication was unmistakable-Chloe was treating Jessica far better than she ever had Annalise.

    Jessica hid a sly grin behind a polite response. "Thank you, mom."

    Chloe took Jessica''s hand, her tone shifting to one of forced sincerity. "I know you and Steven are having issues, but all couples have arguments. What matters is how you work through them, don''t you agree?" Jessica nodded, ying along. "Yes, absolutely."

    "So, I think you should focus on patching things up with Steven. Your rtionship is what matters most right now." Chloe continued.

    Jessica fought the urge to roll her eyes but maintained her act. "I''d love to, but Steven won''t even look at me. No matter how hard I try, I can''t make any progress."

 Chapter 327

    Jessica lowered her head, adopting a pitiful expression. "He only has eyes for Annalise now."

    Chloe, reassured by Jessica''s submissive tone, exhaled softly and gave a firm nod. "Leave Steven to me. I''ll handle it."

    Jessica''s face lit up in excitement. "Really? Thank you so much, mom!"

    ...

    After leaving Jessica''s home, Chloe returned to her bedroom and sat down, deep in thought. She needed a n to convince Steven.Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Steven had always been like this-stubborn to a fault. Once he made up his mind, no amount of persuasion could sway him.

    Realizing she couldn''t handle this alone, she decided it was time to call in support.

    After weighing her options, Chloe concluded that Zachary was the key.

    As Steven''s only son, Zachary held a special ce in Steven''s heart. If Zachary spoke up on Jessica''s behalf, Steven would likely relent, at least temporarily. Without hesitation, Chloe dialed Zachary''s number.

    The phone rang and rang, but no one answered.

    Chloe''s face darkened. So, Zachary wasn''t even bothering to answer her calls now, huh?

    Chloe was furious and immediately called Steven instead. "What''s wrong with Zachary? Why isn''t he picking up? Is he still mad at me?"

    Steven retorted, "Mom, did you check the time before calling him?"

    Chloe nced at her phone screen. It was already past 11PM.

    Steven added pointedly. "He''s a little boy in kindergarten. He has to go to bed early and wake up early. Why are you calling him sote?"

    Chloe figured, since calling Zachary was just to talk about Steven anyway, she might as well address it directly now.

    "I want you to reconcile with Jessica," she said without hesitation.

    Steven sighed, rubbing his temples as the headache set in. "I can''t do that."

    Chloe''s voice turned cold. "You haven''t even tried. How can you be so sure?"

    "Mom, I lived with her for a while," Steven replied honestly. "She was my first love, my so-called dream girl. I thought being with her would be perfect, like a dreame true. "But reality was different. It didn''t work, and it won''t work now. So, mom, please don''t force me." Steven deliberately slowed his words to ensure his message was clear.

    Before Chloe could respond, the line went dead. She stared at her phone, stunned by the abrupt end to the conversation.

    That ungrateful son of hers had hung up on her, tantly ignoring her advice.

    Lowering herself onto the couch, Chloe sat quietly for a long while, calming her frayed nerves.

    She had expected Steven to be difficult, but his t-out refusal still frustrated her.

    With a sigh, she rested her head in her hand. If she wanted to persuade Steven, she would have to wait until tomorrow when Zachary was awake. He was her best bet-he would surely help.

    The next morning, Willow was already up and active.

    By the time I reached her bedroom door, she had finished getting ready and was seated on her bed, reciting a speech.

    Her delivery was fluent, her tone full of emotion.

    I leaned against the doorframe, watching her with pride.

    Willow had grown so much over the past few months. I still remembered when she would only speak to me and needed encouragement to even talk to Zane.

    Now, she had not only moved past her parents'' deaths but had also be cheerful and lively. She couldmunicate with everyone around her, and today, she was preparing to give a public speech. I couldn''t be prouder.

    When Willow finished reading, she set down the paper and ran over to me. "Mom, how did I do?"

    "You were amazing," I said without hesitation, my tone full of praise.

    Willow was used to beingplimented, but her chest still puffed up like a proud little swan. "Of course I was!"

    Then, after ncing around to make sure Zane wasn''t nearby, she tugged me into her bedroom and whispered, "Mom, do you have some money on you?"

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    "Yes," I replied, unsure why she asked but sensing she might need it. "Why?"

    Willow let out a relieved sigh. "You scared me for a second.

    "Penelope said Suzy didn''t take anything when she divorced Liam. She left with nothing. Their life was really tough after that."

    Willow looked directly at me. "Even though Zane is a good person now, that doesn''t mean he won''t change someday. So, if you and Zane ever get divorced, you can''t be foolish and leave without a penny, okay?" Her earnest look was so endearing that I couldn''t help but pinch her chubby cheeks. "And what should I do instead?"

    Willow boldly replied, "Start saving now. Andter, take some money from him when it happens. That way you won''t have to live miserably."

    Her thoughtfulness melted my heart. "But Zane and I aren''t even married yet."

    Willow was confused and tried to process theplexity of the situation. "But I call you mommy, and I call Zane daddy. Doesn''t that make us a family?"

    Willow''s mind raced. "Could it be that daddt''s afraid you''ll take his money, so he won''t marry you?"

    Her expression turned serious in an instant. She spun on her heel and marched toward Zane''s room. "Dad''s so mean. I''m going to criticize him right now." I quickly pulled her back. "No, it''s not like that."

    Willow turned to look at me. "Then what is it?"

    I paused, trying to simplify the exnation. "Two people need to be in love to get married."

    Willow still seemed confused. "So, do you and daddy not love each other? Is it that you don''t love daddy, or that daddy doesn''t love you?"

    I was at a loss of words and saw Zane approaching. Taking the opportunity, I nudged Willow forward. "Why don''t you ask daddy?"

    Willow immediately ran to Zane, wrapping her small arms around him. "Daddy!"

    She repeated the same questions to him, word for word.

    Zane nced at me, then carried Willow into his study.

    Willow blinked up at him expectantly. "So, can you tell me why?"

    Zane knew this needed a careful answer. After a brief pause, he said, "Do you remember what life was like for Mommy before she came to live with us? Zachary didn''t behave and was always helping Jessica bully her."

    Willow''s little face grew sad as she recalled those moments. Her heart had almost broken watching it happen. How could Zachary be so heartless when mommy was so kind?

    She added angrily, "And Steven was always with Jessica too, making mommy sad every single day."This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Her frustration was palpable as she recounted the past.

    Zane, who was fully aware of Willow''s deep affection for Annalise, chuckled softly. "Exactly. Aftering out of such an environment, it''s natural for her to hesitate. She''s probably worried that marrying me could lead to the same disappointment Steven caused her." Willow''s cheeks puffed up in indignation. "If you ever act like Steven, I won''t call you daddy anymore."

    "I won''t," Zane said, his tone gentle as he reassured her. "I know exactly what I want."

    Willow finally rxed. "Good."

    Her voice was wistful. "But daddy, how long do we have to wait before we can truly be a family with mommy?"

    Zane spoke slowly, deliberately. "I''m working hard to win her over. If everything goes well, it won''t be long."

    Willow''s eyes lit up with hope. "Really?"

    Zane nodded. "Daddy wouldn''t lie to you."

    "That''s amazing!" Willow threw her arms around him in excitement. "Do you need my help?"

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    Zane noticed the eager expression on Willow''s face and chuckled. "Of course, without your help, I wouldn''t stand a chance." "Am I really that important?" Willow asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

    Zane gently ruffled her hair. "Absolutely. So, Willow, never underestimate yourself."

    After cheering her up, Zane carried her out of the study. The three of us spent the morning exercising together in the yard.

    Willow''s energy was noticeably brighter-she was more outgoing, confident, and even eating better than usual.

    As I watched her, I realized just how fulfilling it was to be part of a child''s journey, witnessing them grow little by little.

    It was pure happiness.

    ...

    After breakfast, Zane and I drove Willow to school. Willowy nestled in my arms, she gazed up at me with her big eyes. "Mommy, I heard from daddy that you''re dating him. Is that true?"

    Zane and I were pretending to be in a rtionship to convince everyone around us. Only by doing this could I make Steven believe I truly had a boyfriend, and he would finally let me go.

    But kids are innocent-they say whatever they hear without a filter. If I told Willow the truth and Steven ever spoke to her, trying to pry information out of her, he would find out that Zane and I weren''t really together. He would never stop chasing after me.

    To avoid that, I had no choice but to lie. "Yes, that''s right."

    Willow frowned, clearly puzzled. "But when you''re at home, you and daddy act so distant. It doesn''t seem like you''re dating at all."

    Zane smiled and smoothly chimed in, "That''s because we''re careful not to show affection in front of you. We didn''t want to set a bad example."

    Willow''s frown deepened. "But I want to see mommy and daddy being lovey-dovey."

    Zane yed along seamlessly. "Then we''ll start behaving like a real couple in front of you."

    Willow sat up excitedly. "Yay!"

    ...

    Meanwhile, Chloe had been up early, trying to call Zachary, but he wasn''t answering.

    She pressed her lips together, irritation bubbling inside her.

    Zachary really knew how to hold a grudge. All she had done was say a few words to Steven at the hospital, and he was still giving her the cold shoulder? Chloe scoffed. The only reason she was even tolerating Zachary was that she needed his help right now. Otherwise, there was no way she would be this civil to him. With an irritated sigh, she stood up.

    One way or another, she would find a way to get in touch with him.

    Chloe had the chauffeur drive her to kindergarten. When she spotted Zachary with his backpack, she quickly walked over with a smile. "My sweet grandson." Zachary, seeing her approach, took a step back and asked tly, "What do you want?"

    Chloe forced a friendly grin. "Grandma needs a little favor from you."

    Without even asking what she needed, Zachary immediately replied, "I''m just a kindergarten kid. I can''t help with anything big. So, I can''t help you."

    He tried to sidestep her, heading toward the kindergarten entrance, but Chloe grabbed his arm.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    "All you need to do is say a few nice words about Jessica to your dad."

    "They''re both awful!" Zachary declined without hesitation. "Jessica''s a shameless homewrecker who went after a married man! And my dad? He''s a scumbag who cheated on his wife while dragging a kid along to meet his mistress. "I hate both of them. You want me to help her? Keep dreaming!"

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    Chloe grew angrier at Zachary''s resistance and raised her hand, ready to hit him. "Why are you so ungrateful? Everything I''m doing is for you!" Seeing what was happening, Hannah rushed over and scooped Zachary into her arms. "Why are you hitting a child?"

    Zachary, perched on his teacher Hannah''s shoulder for safety, red back at Chloe. "Stop using me as an excuse! You''re only doing this for yourself!"

    Chloe, still fuming, tried to follow, but Hannah rushed Zachary into the kindergarten and quickly shut the gate behind them.

    "Thank you, Ms. Ludwig." Zachary said with a grateful look. "If you hadn''te in time, who knows what would''ve happened." Hannah smiled gently. "You''re my student. It''s only right that I protect you."? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    ...

    When we arrived at 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 I followed her into the kindergarten, where he took my hand naturally.

    I nced 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.

    "Daddy, mommy, maybe you should tone it down in front of me."

    I couldn''t help butugh. "Didn''t you say earlier that you wanted to see us being lovey-dovey?"

    Willow''s expression was somber. "I can''t exin 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 feelings, I immediately let go of Zane''s hand. "Okay, I''ll listen to Willow." Zane looked reluctant but nodded, respecting Willow''s wishes.

    Seeing this, Willow broke into a smile and threw herself into my arms. "Mommy''s the best."

    Zane raised an eyebrow. "What about daddy?"

    Willow, used to Zane''s yful jealousy, replied with a casual, "I love daddy too."

    She let go of me, waved goodbye, and skipped 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 ssroom together."

    We watched their little figures disappear into the kindergarten, hand in hand.

    I turned and got into the car.

    ...

    Steven woke up with a pounding headache, his vision blurry from the previous night''s drinking.

    In his half-conscious state, he thought he heard Annalise''s voice scolding him softly.

    "Drinking so much is bad for your health.

    "Even if you''re upset, you need to show some restraint.

    "Look at you, drinking yourself sick. Isn''t it awful?"

    Her tone was filled with genuine concern.

    But when Steven opened his eyes, the room was empty.

    He realized it had been nothing more than a hallucination, and the bitterness of it all made himugh.

    Before the divorce, he hadn''t thought much of Annalise. He believed their rtionship 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.

    He 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 Annalise.

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    Steven got up, got dressed, and skipped breakfast before driving straight to Zane''s office garage, blocking the entrance with his car.

    Zane''s car was promptly stuck, which forced him to step out and knock on Steven''s window.

    Steven rolled it down. "I need to talk to Annalise."

    Zane smirked faintly. "Haven''t you two already said everything that needed to be said?"

    "This is between me and her." Steven''s voice grew firm. "Bring her here."

    But Zane didn''t move, standing there with an impassive gaze.

    I noticed Zane had been gone for a while and walked over to see what was happening. "What''s going on?"

    Steven''s face lit up with exaggerated indignation. "I just wanted to talk to you, but he wouldn''t let me."

    I sighed, already feeling a headacheing on. "Steven, what''s the point of this?"

    "Please, for the sake of what we once had." Steven''s tone turned pleading. "For the sake of the love you used to have for me, give me onest chance. Let''s just talk for a moment, alone. Please." I hesitated.

    "Ten minutes. That''s all I''m asking for," Steven pleaded desperately.

    I crossed my arm. "Can you guarantee this will be thest time you bother me?"

    Steven fell silent.

    With that, I turned to leave.

    "Wait," Steven''s voice grew louder. "I just need to ask you something."

    I stopped in my tracks.

    Zane had a packed schedule, with several meetings lined up just for the morning. Not wanting to take up his time, I decided to quickly brush Steven off. "Find somewhere else to go." Zane held my hand tightly. "Anna..."

    "It''s okay, "I said softly, patting the back of his hand. "I can handle this. Don''t worry about me and go back to work. I''ll be back soon."

    Having heard my assurance, Zane finally let go and said, "Call me if anythinges up."

    "I will."

    ...

    The meeting ce was a nearby bubble tea bar.

    Steven ced a cup of boba tea in front of me, his tone almost eager. "I remember you used to like this."

    I didn''t touch it. Instead, I nced at the drink and chuckled to myself.

    Back when we were married, all I wanted was a little thoughtfulness-not flowers, not extravagant gifts, just something as simple as this. But he couldn''t even do that.

    Now that we were divorced and I no longer cared for his gestures, he suddenly offered it unprompted.N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    I looked away from the drink and spoke calmly. "There''s no need for all this. Just say whatever you came here to say. No need for pretense."

    Steven stared at me. "I don''t understand why you chose Zane.

    "Locally, being with him isn''t much different from being with me, isn''t it? You still have to take care of the house and look after the child. So why go through all the trouble of finding someone else?"

    I had expected him to get hung up on this, and I couldn''t help butugh. "Actually, the difference between you two is significant."

    Steven was confused. "What do you mean?"

    "For one, the Huxhams have a nanny, a chef, and a chauffeur," I said, deliberately slowing my speech. "All I have to do is spend time with Willow, and I earn 80,000 dors a month.

    "On top of that, Zane even got me a side job to earn extra ie. Now, that side job alone pays me more than taking care of Willow does."

    It wasn''t until I started creatingics that I realized how much more I was capable of.

    I continued after a pause, "Whereas with you, I had to do all the housework, raise the child, and take care of you. But what did I get in the end? Walked away with nothing."

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    I spoke slowly, my tone calm. "When ites to material aspects, Zane clearly treats me better. On top of that, he respects me more. No first love lurking in the background, and no entanglements in messy emotions." Steven quickly retorted, "What if he''s just like me? What if he has a first love who hasn''te back to town yet?"

    That, I thought, had little to do with me. But I couldn''t say that outright. As I mulled over how to respond, Steven pressed further.

    "Can you guarantee that if his supposed true lovees back, he won''t be worse than me? Herees the issue..."

    Zane sat down beside me. "Mr. Pelham, I''d like to take this opportunity to ask you something too. Who exactly is this supposed true love of mine?"

    Zane felt a wave of relief wash over him. It was a good thing he had followed along; otherwise, if Steven''s nonsense had been allowed to continue unchecked, his path to win Annalise over would undoubtedly be even more challenging. Steven froze at Zane''s pointed question.

    Zane''s tone was icy as he spoke. "I understand the pain of losing someone you love, but that doesn''t give you the right to spread baseless rumors."

    Steven''s expression hardened. "Can you sweat that, from childhood until now, Annalise is the only woman you''ve ever had feelings for?"

    Zane responded calmly. "Absolutely."

    Steven scoffed. "That''s impossible."

    Zane''s expression didn''t waver, but his lips curled into a faint smirk. "Oh?"

    Steven pressed on, almost triumphant. "Everyone has moments of infatuation when they''re young. You must have, too. You''ve been surrounded by outstanding people your whole life, there''s no way you haven''t felt attracted to at least one or two of them." His certainty was almost as if he had uncovered undeniable proof of Zane''s dishonesty.

    Zane, however, leaned back against the couch, unfazed. "I was focused on studying during school.

    "In university, I was busy building my career. I didn''t have time for such distractions. Unlike you, it seems. You''ve always had plenty of time to dwell on love."

    Steven''s face froze as he struggled to find a retort.

    Zane stood, reaching for my hand. "Let''s go."

    "Alright." I followed him out, still processing what had just happened.

    Even as we reached thepany lobby, I couldn''t help but ask, "Really? You''ve never had feelings for anyone during your school years?"

    Zane''s response was immediate and matter-of-fact. "Never."

    He shrugged. "I guess I never gave much thought to rtionships.

    "In high school, I was too focused on goofing off. Then I got serious about my studies, which left no room for anything else.

    "And when university came around, I was consumed by my business ventures."

    I blinked in surprise. "Sounds like you had a pretty fulfilling life."

    Zane smiled. "You could say that."

    Back at the office, I adjusted my mindset and focused on my work. By the time I finished coloring the drafts I had saved, I finally felt a sense of aplishment.

    Lying on the office couch, I took a well-deserved break. When I felt rested enough, I stood and told Zane, "I''m heading downstairs for a little walk."

    "Alright," Zane said, ncing up from his work. The past couple of days had kept him tied to his office with a pile of overtime. "If anythinges up, call me. Don''t hesitate to reach out."

    His gaze softened as he added, "After all, I am, at least for now, your boyfriend in name."

    I nodded. "Got it."

    The environment downstairs was serene, with lush trees and sunlight filtering through the leaves, creating dappled patterns on the ground.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    I strolled along at a leisurely pace, enjoying the rare solitude and the quiet moment. For the first time in what felt like forever, I experienced a profound sense of freedom. "Annalise!"

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    I heard the familiar voice and instinctively frowned, turning to look at the source.

    There was Chloe standing beyond the gate, ring at me with hostility. "You really have no shame, do you?"

    Her baseless usations were almostughable. She despised me so much that everything I did rubbed her the wrong way. I could understand that.

    I kept my tone calm and unbothered. "Go ahead, vent whatever you want to say. Once you''re done and enough people have gathered, I''ll expose all things Steven has done."

    I added with a smirk, my mood lifting with each word. "When hispany''s stock tanks, your life won''t be looking too rosy either."

    Chloe snapped back, "Is threatening people all you know how to do?"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Without hesitation, I replied, "Well, you tell me does it work?"

    She fell silent, ring at me. I wasn''t nning to entertain her any further and turned to leave.

    "Wait!" she called out hurriedly. "Come outside. I need to talk to you."

    This family was truly fascinating. Before the divorce, they either avoided me or didn''t care about what I had to say. Now that the divorce was final, they couldn''t seem to leave me around.

    I wasn''t foolish enough to y along. "Talk here if you have something to say," I said tly, not even considering stepping out.

    Clearly aware that I wouldn''t give in, Chloe relented with visibly displeasure. "Did Stevene to see you this morning?"

    I couldn''t help but wonder if they''d nned this together.

    First, one of them shows up, pretending it is just a casual chat. Then, not long after, the other uses that meeting as an excuse to confront me.

    Were they so bothered by the fact that I was happy now that they resorted to these little games just to mess with me?

    "Yes," I answered honestly.

    Chloe''s expression darkened as she threatened, "Do you realize he''s with Jessica now? If you know what''s good for you, stay out of his life. If you don''tˇŞ"

    I cut her off. "First, do you even know where you''re right now?"

    Chloe nced around. "The Huxham Group?"

    "Exactly," I replied smoothly. "Ie here every day to work, minding my own business. I haven''t gone anywhere near Steven. It''s you and Steven who keep showing up at my workce, looking for me. "And then you have the audacity to me me for meeting with him?"

    I didn''t bother sugarcoating it. "Don''t you think that''s absolutely ridiculous?"

    Chloe pointed a finger at me, too angry to form words.

    "Focus on managing your son first," I said sharply, leaving her fuming as I turned to walk away.

    After some thought, I realized I had already run into two annoying people this morning. What if I kept walking and bumped into someone even worse?

    I stood there for a long while before finally deciding to head back to the office and just lie down.

    Pushing the office door open, I saw Zane nce up at me and ask, "Why didn''t you stay out a bit longer?"

    I walked into the cubicle obediently and flopped onto the couch without caring about appearances. "I ran into Chloe on my way downstairs.

    "She mentioned that Jessica and Steven are doing great together."

    When I didn''t continue, Zane probed, "Is she worried you might want to get back together with Steven?"

    I nodded. "That''s exactly what she meant. I figured today''s just one of those days where I keep running into annoying people, so I thought staying in the office might be better. So, here I am." "Good timing," Zane said, setting his work aside and walking over to me. "I''ve got some good news for you."

    I sat up straight quickly. "What''s it?"

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    Zane saw the curiosity and excitement written all over my face and couldn''t help but smile. "Why don''t you check your phone and take a look at your bank bnce?"

    Following his words, I pulled out my phone and opened the banking app. My bnce had increased over 200 thousand dors.

    "It was initially over 300 thousand dors, but after taxes, you got just over 200 thousand dors in your ount. As for theprehensive benefits package, thepany handles all that, so no need to worry."? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    I still found it hard to believe. "That''s a lot already. It''s my first time earning this much through my own efforts."

    Looking at Zane, I added, "Turns out, earning my own way brings a real sense of peace. I don''t have to worry about anyone taking it away with some excuses or exining where every penny goes. If I want to save it, I''ll save it. If I want to spend it, I will. It''s my freedom." For a brief moment, I regretted not taking this step earlier. Life could''ve been so much better.

    Feeling a surge of happiness, I smiled. "Since I''m in such a good mood over my paycheck, Zane, what do gift do you want? I''ll get it for you."

    Zane, who wasn''t short on money and could buy anything he wanted, hesitated before saying, "How about a fountain pen?"

    "Sure." I remembered I had also promised to buy books for Willow and hadn''t done it yet.

    Grabbing my bag, I headed downstairs.

    Before leaving, I nced around to make sure no unwee people were lurking. Once satisfied, I walked to the nearby bookstore.

    Inside the bookstore, I browsed through the Grade One textbooks:nguage and math. Knowing that textbooks alone might not be enough to teach Willow, I also picked a few workbooks to help her grasp the concepts more solidly.

    At the checkout counter, I asked the cashier, "Do you sell fountain pens here?"

    She pointed at a nearby shelf. "All of them are over there."

    Carrying the books, I approached the shelf. The pens ranged widely in price, from just a few dors to over 10 thousand dors. My eyesnded on the price tag, and I hesitated for a moment, feeling a pang of reluctance. After much consideration, I decided to go for it. After all, without Zane''s suggestion to start drawingics, I wouldn''t have found such a great side job or earned this much money.

    I chose a sleek ck fountain pen and brought it to the cashier. As she scanned the item, she nced at me and remarked, "This pen is really expensive."

    I knew she was trying to be helpful in case I had picked it by mistake. Smiling, I replied, "I know."

    After scanning it, she told me the price. I pulled up the payment code on my phone. The cashierpleted the transaction, still looking slightly surprised. "I can''t believe someone actually bought something this expensive."

    Carrying the bag, I stepped out of the bookstore. Jessica appeared out of nowhere, approaching me with a pointed look. "Are those things for Steven?"

    I hadn''t expected to run into her here. Calmly, I replied, "Why would I buy anything for my ex-husband?"

    She looked confused. "But didn''t you love him so much?"

    Raising an eyebrow, I said, "Sure, but after the divorce, I stopped having any feelings for him."

    Jessica didn''t seem convinced. "Annalise, don''t be stubborn. I know you''re still upset about what I did in the past. I admit I was wrong.

    "From now on, I''ll give up on Steven and return him to you."

    She looked like she had more to say.

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    "Enough." I cut her off before Jessica could say more.

    Jessica pressed on. "From now on, I''m going to pursue Zane. Let''s just wipe the te clean for all the grudges between us."

    Her words stunned me. Between us was the shadow of a child''s life-something that couldn''t simply be forgotten. The naivety of her statement amused me.

    With a cold chuckle, I finally spoke. "I saw how you treated Zachary after you got what you wanted back then. If you really ended up with Zane, do you think Willow would have an easy life?"

    Of course not. The way Jessica tormented Zachary would undoubtedly be the same way she would treat Willow. Willow had worked so hard to recover and Jessica''s targeting her would surely undo all of that progress. I crossed my arms and said coldly, "I will never allow you to be with Zane."

    Jessica''s expression soured. "You''re not his mother. What right do you have to interfere with my business with him?"

    Unbothered, I replied casually, "You must''ve heard how Zane introduced me at the banquetst time. Jessica, I''m his girlfriend."

    She froze, clearly stunned. She must''ve thought I was just hispanion for the night.

    It took her a moment to recover. "When did you two start dating?"

    "Just a few days ago," I replied offhandedly.

    She stared at me intensely. "So what?" she said sharply. "Annalise, you''re not charming at all. If I could take your husband, what makes you think I can''t take a boyfriend?

    "With just a little effort on my part," she smirked, "he''ll be mine in no time."

    I met her gaze, amused. "Then go ahead. Let''s see who wins."

    It didn''t matter to me anyway-Zane wasn''t truly my boyfriend. If Jessica somehow managed to seduce him, I wouldn''t lose sleep over it.

    With that, I turned and walked away.

    ...

    Jessica watched Annalise''s retreating figure with a frown. She couldn''t understand why Zane would be interested in someone so utterly ordinary.

    Feeling fatigued, she rested a hand on a nearby chair for support and slowly sat down, her pregnant belly making every movement cumbersome. Taking out her phone, she dialed Steven''s number. Steven was working when his phone rang. Answering calmly, he asked, "What''s up?"

    Jessica, unfazed by her failure to get Annalise''s help to pursue Zane, but she didn''t feel discouraged. After all, she had already devised a backup n.

    Putting on her best forlorn expression, she spoke softly to Steven, her voiceced with subtle grievance.

    "I ran into Annalise today on purpose. I even tried saying nice things about you to her and told her I''d step aside to make way for the two of you. But she refused."

    Sounding pitiful, she added, "Steven, I really tried."

    Steven''s tone remained steady. "I know. But Jessica, this is something between me and her. I''ll handle it."

    He didn''t want Jessica to get involved or bear the brunt of Annalise''s anger, which stemmed from his own failures-six years of neglect and disregard during their marriage. It had nothing to do with Jessica. Jessica, however, was insistent. "But I really want to help you two."

    Steven let out a faint chuckle. "The best way you can help me is to rest at home and focus on the baby. Leave the rest to me.

    "Jessica, all of this was my fault from start to finish. It has nothing to do with you"? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    These were conclusions he had arrived at after much reflection in his office.

    Jessica''s voice remained low and hesitant. "But I can''t help feeling like it''s because of me. If there was something I could do to make it better, I would."

 Chapter 336

    "I know you love me," Steven said, though he couldn''t quite exin why he was so certain of Jessica''s feelings. Somehow, her affection for him was something he could sense without effort.

    But Annalise''s love for him, her quiet kindness, and everything she had done for him? He hadn''t realized it until he lost her. Only then did he see how much of his easy life had been built on her silent sacrifices. A flicker of regret passed through his eyes. "A few days ago, I was so desperate to reconcile with Annalise. When you offered to help, I agreed on impulse.

    "But now, something feels off. If a man has to rely on another woman to chase after his ex-wife, doesn''t that just make him look useless?"

    Jessica reigned displeased, scolding him lightly. "Don''t you dare to talk about yourself like that."

    "Alright," Steven replied with a soft smile. "I''ll listen to you."N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    Satisfied, Jessica added, "Good. Since you''ve made up your mind, I''ll stay home, take care of myself and focus on the baby."

    Of course, she had no intention of sticking to that promise. The idea of not pursuing Zane? Impossible. If she seeded, her future would be filled with wealth beyond her imagination.

    But until she reached her goal, she needed to keep Steven happy. It was the only way to ensure he kept supporting her financially.

    ...

    Back at the office, I handed the fountain pen I had just bought to Zane. "Here, it''s for you."

    He nced at the brand on the pen and asked, "Why''d you buy such an expensive one?"

    Leaning casually against his desk. I replied, "Cheap pens don''tst, right? I figured a pricier one would hold up better."

    Zane opened the packaging and slipped the pen into the pocket of his suit. Standing up, he looked at me and said, "Thank you."

    I shook my head lightly. "It''s nothing."

    Setting the pen aside, Zane stepped closer and pulled me into an embrace. "I''m really happy," he murmured.

    I blinked in surprise. "Hasn''t anyone ever given you a gift before?"

    He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "No."

    Something about that felt a little sad. Hugging him back, I said softly, "If you don''t mind, I''ll buy you nice things whenever I see them."

    He rested his head on my shoulder. "Aren''t you afraid I''ll fall for you if you keep treating me this well?"

    I chuckled. "You''ve probably had plenty of amazing women treat you well. If you didn''t fall for them, why would you fall for me?"

    Zane didn''t respond.

    A knock on the door interrupted us.

    Reluctantly, he released me. "Come in," he called.

    Eric entered with a professional demeanor. "Mr. Huxham, your meeting starts in three minutes."

    Zane followed Eric to the door. Just as he stepped out, he turned back to look at me. "Wait for me." With that, he left the office.

    ...

    In the conference room, tension filled the air as Zane walked in. Everyone avoided his gaze, bracing for the worse.

    The previous quarter''s targets had been far from met, and everyone had prepared themselves for Zane''s notoriously harsh reprimands.

    Still, a few brave souls couldn''t help but notice the fountain pen clipped to his shirt pocket.

    Zane caught their stares and, with surprising openness, took the pen out. "How''d you know this was a gift from my girlfriend?" he asked, a hint of pride in his usually cold voice.

    Though his tone remained icy, there was an undeniable change in his demeanor. Everyone could sense his good mood, and a collective sigh of relief filled the room.

    It seemed that love had softened the once-intimidating Mr. Huxham. The first presenter stepped forward to report, their nerves slightly less frayed as Zane listened with a neutral expression.

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    The presenter stood nervously after finishing their report, bracing for Zane''s usual scathing critique. To their surprise, Zane merely pointed out the issues calmly and offered suggestions for improvement.

    Walking back to their seats, they looked dazed. When had Zane be so approachable? Could this really be the power of love?

    Each subsequent report received the same treatment-calm, constructive feedback. There were multiple nces exchanged across the room, and an unspoken message was shared among the team: "May Zane and his girlfriendst forever." Once the meeting ended, everyone left swiftly and silently, as if by mutual agreement.

    "Eric," Zane called out as Eric moved to leave. "Stay behind."

    Eric paused, unsure of Zane''s intent, but couldn''t resist a bit of gossip. "So, Annalise gave you a gift?"

    Zane''s pride was unmistakable as he replied, "She did. But she''s just pretending to be my girlfriend, not actually agreeing to date me."

    Eric raised a brow. "Mr. Huxham, think about it-why would she pretend with you and not someone else? It means she must like you at least a little."

    Zane''s lips twitched into an uncontroble smile. "Really?"

    Eric nodded solemnly. "Of course. If you don''t believe me, ask Sasha."

    Encouraged, Zane wasted no time and summoned Sasha to the conference room. After recounting Eric''s theory, he asked eagerly, "What do you think Anna really feels?"

    Sasha hesitated before responding carefully. "That she really dislikes Steven?"

    Zane''s smile vanished instantly, while Sasha blinked in confusion. Had she spoken the wrong thing?

    ...

    Meanwhile, back at the office, I had finished my illustrations and was sprawled on the couch, checking the analytics on my ount.

    Just a few days ago, I had 50 thousand followers, but now, the number had doubled to 100 thousand-and that was on my smallest tform.

    Revenue on the backend had surpassed 20 thousand dors.

    I reviewed the views on each video and was stunned to find the average y count had climbed to over 600 thousand.

    Sales of the dolls had also skyrocketed. With half the month still to go, over 15 thousand had already been sold. By month''s end, I estimated that figure could reach 30 thousand.

    That meant my share from those sales alone would be at least 350 thousand dors.

    I stared at the numbers in disbelief. Even without counting the sry Zane gave me, I was already earning over 300 thousand dors. Adding in my other ie streams, was I actually getting rich? cing a hand over my chest, I took a deep breath to steady myself and continued analyzing the data.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

    Merchandise revenue had also surged. Although the prices were lower, the volume had doubled. By now, over 30 thousand items had been sold, and projections suggested sales could hit 60 thousand by month end. From that, my share would be around 90 thousand dors. Adding to Zane''s sry to the mix, I was looking at over 500 thousand dors.

    In just two months, my pre-tax earnings would total more than 800 thousand dors.

    Oh, heavens...

    I took a deep breath again and forced myself to calm down. It took a long while before I could fully steady my emotions.

    As Iy on the couch with my phone in hand, my thoughts wandered to my mom, Portia.

    She wasn''t getting any younger. Once the money was in my ount, I''d set aside a retirement fund for her.

    5 thousand dors a month would amount to 60 thousand dors a year. At her current age, in her mid-50s, I would need to save for 50 years if she lived to 100-that meant more than 3 million dors. That was assuming she stayed healthy as well, because the likelihood of illness increases with age.

    I did some quick mental calctions. If I set aside an additional 5 thousand dors each month for her medical expenses...

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    That would add up to over 6 million dors.

    Based on my current ie, I could probably save that amount in just a year or two. Still, rather than saving all that money, it might make more sense to invest in medical insurance.

    Paying into it for 20 or 30 years would mean no more payments afterward, and it would cover a significant portion of medical expenses.

    Just the thought of it brought a smile to my face. I should find some time to visit Portia and discuss getting her insured.

    I had been avoiding going back home ever since the divorce because Portia didn''t approve of it. But now that the divorce was finalized and I had moved past the pain, it was time to see her, regardless of whether she would scold me or not. After all, she was the one who raised me. I couldn''t just cut ties with her forever.

    Once I settled Portia''s retirement and medical issues, I needed to think about my own future. Saving for my own retirement over 50 years would mean setting aside over 10 million dors.

    The more I thought about it, the more excited I became.

    If I managed to save 10 million dors and deposit it in the bank, I could live off the interest, which would be over 200 thousand dors a year. Both Portia and I could enjoy a stress-free retirement.

    Suddenly, I felt grateful. If it weren''t for my good fortune in working with Zane, I would probably never be able to save this much money in my lifetime.

    When Zane returned from his meeting, I stepped out of the cubicle and looked at him seriously. "Thank you, Zane. If it weren''t for the great opportunity you''ve given me, I''d probably only be earning a few thousand dors a month."

    Despite everything he had done for me, Zane refused to take credit. He only wanted me to believe that I had earned it all through my own abilities.

    "There are plenty of good jobs out there too. Even without me, you would''ve done well at any otherpany, because you''re both independent and hardworking," Zane said.

    I smiled softly. "But it''s not easy to find a job that pays over 4 million dors a year-or even more."

    The 50 thousand dors I had earned this month wasn''t even the peak. Once the animated series was being promoted, tranted into othernguages, and aired in other countries, with theics gaining global poprity... I couldn''t even imagine how much that ie might grow.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    Zane didn''t deny it. "That''s true."

    ...

    Meanwhile, Chloe, frustrated by her failed attempt to persuade Annalise, decided to have a serious talk with her son.

    She stormed into Steven''s office and walked straight to his desk with a stern expression. "What''s wrong with you?

    "Annalise doesn''t even want to talk to you anymore. She has a new boyfriend, so why are you still after her?

    "Don''t you realize that the more you cling onto her, the less likely she is to get back with you?"

    Steven set his work aside and sighed. "Then what should I do, Chloe? How can I get her to forgive me and take me back?"

    Chloe sat down across from him. "Simple. Focus on your life with Jessica and stop bothering Annalise."

    Steven shook his head, looking defeated. "I''ve tried that already. It doesn''t work. When she sees me happy with someone else, she just feels relieved. She thinks it means I''ll stop bothering her."

    Steven couldn''t exin why, but any time he talked about Annalise, he felt a heavy weight in his chest.

    "It doesn''t matter whether I''m doing well or not. She doesn''t care anymore," he added.

    Chloe snorted. "Then stop caring about her too."

 Chapter 339

    "I can''t, mom," Steven said, his voiceced with pain.

    Seeing that Chloe couldn''t offer any viable solutions, he added, "You should go. I need some time to think."

    Chloe frowned and scolded him, "You''re a grown man! How can you be so heartbroken over a woman?"

    Steven grew more frustrated. "I love her. I don''t even know when it started. But the day I realized it, I knew I couldn''t live without her."

    Chloe sighed. "If you put in enough effort, you''ll forget her eventually."

    Steven wasn''t in the mood to hear more criticism. "I have to work, Mom."

    It was an obvious attempt to dismiss her. Chloe, understanding her son''s unwillingness to listen, grumbled, "Everything I''m saying is for your own good."

    "That''s fine. I just need to clear my head now," Steven replied firmly.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    After dishing out a few more sharp remarks about his inability to move on, Chloe finally left, albeit reluctantly.

    Alone in his office, Steven leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling.

    For the first time, he realized something odd about his circle of friends. When he liked Annalise, no one ever encouraged him to pursue her. But when it came to Jessica, everyone seemed to subtly imply she was the one for him. Still, this wasn''t the time to dwell on such things.

    While working, an idea suddenly struck him-a way to see Annalise more often.

    Heric was just starting to gain traction, and hispany had a department focused on intellectual property development.

    He could have his team purchase the rights to heric and then arrange for her to work directly with him. That would give him a legitimate reason to meet with her regrly.

    Heric wasn''t hugely popr yet, so it likely wasn''t worth much. For a rtively small investment-less than what Jessica''s jewelry cost-he could secure consistent opportunities to see Annalise under the guise of a coboration. The thought of it brought a smile to his face as he called his secretary, Darren Cole.

    When Darren arrived, Steven wasted no time and instructed, "I want you to have our intellectual property team buy the rights to Annalise''sic."

    Darren was well aware that Steven was trying to create an opportunity to interact with Annalise, but he didn''t intervene. "I''ll pass it on to the intellectual property team."

    Steven felt a wave of relief. "If only I''d thought of this earlier."

    Then perhaps, he wouldn''t have endured so much pain for so long.

    ...

    While resting in my office, my phone rang with an unfamiliar number. Frowning, I answered, "Hello?"

    "Hello, I''m from the Intellectual Property Department at Pelham Group," the caller exined. "We''re interested in purchasing the rights to youric. Would you be open to discussing this?" Pelham Group was Steven''spany.

    I had no desire to engage with Steven any further. Hence, I answered, "Myic rights are already with Huxham Group. If there''s anything to discuss, you can contact them directly." The caller seemed taken aback. I didn''t give them a chance to respond and hung up.

    Walking over to Zane, I shared the details of the call with him.

    Comic intellectual property rights covered a lot-TV and film adaptations, gaming rights and more. But they didn''t specify whether they were interested in just one or all of them. Honestly, it didn''t feel like they were serious about buying the rights.

    Zane didn''t answer directly. Instead, he asked. "What do you think?"

    "If it were an ordinarypany wanting to purchase myic rights, I might consider it," I replied truthfully. "But since the CEO is Steven, I can''t help but question his real motive behind this offer."

 Chapter 340

    "Is it because Steven genuinely values myics," I said slowly, "or is he using the excuse of developing the rights as a way to get close to me? Or maybe, he just wants to keep too many people from knowing what happened between us..." After a pause, I continued, "Whatever the reason is, I think it''s better to keep my distance from Steven. I''d rather not sell the rights to him."

    Zane didn''t give an immediate opinion. Instead, he asked, "If Steven doesn''t buy it and no one else does either, would you be disappointed?"

    I shook my head. "No."

    Zane seemed to agree. "In that case, I can offer you another option."

    "What is it?" I asked quickly.

    "Transfer youric''s rights to Huxham Group for development," Zane said, his tone measured. "Thepany would give you a percentage of the revenue." Without hesitation, I replied, "Then, I''ll work with you."

    Zane''s expression turned unusually serious. "If the adaptations don''t perform well, you might end up earning less than if you sold the rights outright."

    He seemed to be worried that I might regret the decision, but I was confident. "I''m willing to take that risk."

    Zane''s tone softened as he praised me. "Annalise, this is what I admire about you. You''re ambitious and willing to take chances. I''ll do my best not to let you down." "Alright," I replied with a smile.

    After our discussion, I returned to the couch to continue working. Recently, Zane had ordered a custom desk designed specifically for drawing, making my work much morefortable. A knock on the door interrupted the quiet, and Zane''s voice, cold as always, called out, "Come in."

    Rowena walked in, carrying a thermal container. She avoided Zane''s gaze entirely and headed straight for me, her expression overly amodating.

    "I heard you''re dating Zane, right?" Rowena asked.

    I didn''t deny it. "Yes."

    "Then you''re my daughter-inw now," Rowena said as she ced the container in front of me. "I think you''re too skinny. You should take better care of yourself."

    A little surprised, I thanked her politely. "Thank you."

    "You''re wee," she said, though her difort was obvious. Lowering her voice, she added, "Could you do me a favor and say a few good words about me to Zane?" I didn''t agree right away. "Oh?"

    Fidgeting, she continued, "I made some mistakes recently, and Zane cut off my living expenses. You see, I''m old now and can''t go out and work... so I don''t have money anymore. "Could you ask him to start sending me money again?"

    Rowena looked at me with hopeful eyes.

    "Sorry," I said. Since it was Zane''s money and I wasn''t actually his girlfriend, I naturally couldn''t make decisions for him.

    Before the words even left my mouthpletely, Zane''s voice rang out. "If you have something to say,e to me directly. There''s no need to trouble someone else unnecessarily."

    Rowena lowered her head and stared at her shoes. After hesitating for a long moment, she finally shuffled over to Zane. "I was just afraid you''d say no."

    "I can agree," Zane said lightly, "but only if you promise not to repeat the same mistakes. If it happens again in the future, I won''t give you another chance."

    Rowena hadn''t expected him to be so agreeable and quickly promised, "Don''t worry! I swear it won''t happen again."

    As Rowena continued to linger awkwardly, Zane asked, "Is there something else?"

    "Tinsley''spany is having some trouble." Rowena''s voice trailed off, growing softer with each word.

    "Have here see me," Zane said coolly.

    "Okay," Rowena chirped, leaving the office in high spirits. As soon as she stepped out, she pulled out her phone to call Tinsley, eager to share the good news. "Tinsley, I told Zane about your situation. He said to visit the Huxham Group whenever you have time."? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

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    Tinsley quickly said, "Then, I''ll go tomorrow."

    Rowena couldn''t contain her excitement. "If there''s any problem, just ask your brother. He''ll help you."

    Tinsley felt much lighter after hearing this.

    Thepany''s business had been declining rapidly recently. She and the team had considered many solutions, but none of them worked.

    If they let things continue like this, thepany might notst much longer and could go under. She hadn''t expected Rowena to find someone to help her.

    Tinsley happily said, "Okay. Thank you, Mom!"

    ...

    After finishing his work, Zane asked me, "Were you curious about my decision earlier?"

    I was drawing, and only when I heard Zane''s voice did I look up. "She''s your biological mother. No matter how much she''s wronged you, as long as there''s that blood connection, you can''t easily give her up. "Moreover, she took the initiative to apologize and give you an out this time. You should take advantage of this opportunity to reconcile with her."

    Then, I added slowly, "I understand your decision."? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    Zane then asked, "But will you me me?"

    I asked in confusion, "Why would I?"

    Zane exined, "She hasn''t been good to you in the past."

    I replied without a second thought, "But I fought back too. Besides, I''m just pretending to be your girlfriend. Why should I care so much if we aren''t really together?"

    It seemed like he had too much to worry about.

    Zane didn''t say anything and merely just stood there, staring at me for a long time before leaving.

    On the other hand, I curled up on the sofa and began to consider a very important question seriously.

    After drawing the events I''ve shared with Willow every day, I still had a lot of free time. So, what should I do with that time?

    I looked at Zane and suddenly had an idea. Then, I went back to my drawing again.

    Zane, noticing my gaze, came over to me during his rare free time and asked from behind, "What are you drawing?"

    I smiled and said, "I just came up with a new concept. I think the readers will really like it, so I''m going to try drawing it and see if it works."

    Zane asked cautiously, "Does this concept have anything to do with me?"

    I didn''t deny it. "Yes."

    Zane continued guessing. "You''re not nning to draw the story of us pretending to be in a rtionship, are you?"

    "I''m not that silly!" I quickly responded. "If I posted them online, Steven would see it and find out our real rtionship! What if hees to bother me again?" Zane rxed. "Then what kind of plot are you nning to draw?"

    "I''ll show you once I''m done." I decided to keep it mysterious for now. "You''ll find out, then."

    Zane sat down beside me. "I''m looking forward to it."

    I was nning to draw a sweet love story, but just as I was about to start, I suddenly realized that I''ve never actually been pursued by anyone.

    When I got together with Steven, it was because I felt he met all my requirements for a partner, and that I liked him too.

    That just meant that I was the one who pursued him! We never even had a proper rtionship!

    There wasn''t any ambiguous, teasing phase at all.

    How should I even draw this?

 Chapter 342

    I didn''t know how to start drawing, and I fell into a deep thought as I stared at theputer screen.

    When Zane noticed that I hadn''t started to draw anything, he asked, "Are you hitting a roadblock?"

    I looked at him. "Hmm, I have a general idea, but when ites to actually drawing, my mind just goes nk."

    Zane then calmly advised me, "If you use your main ount to draw about us being in a fake rtionship, Steven will definitely sense that something''s wrong. But what if you use a different ount?"

    Suddenly, I felt enlightened. "Why didn''t I think of that before?"

    I instantly had an idea and lowered my head to begin drawing.

    Sitting next to me, Zane asked, "Have you decided on a specific theme?"

    "Yes," I answered, "I''m going to draw about a contract marriage."

    A triumphant smile shed across Zane''s eyes, though his tone remained casual. He then took the initiative to say his purpose. "You''ve been with Steven for so many years. He hasn''t been very kind to you, and I''m sure most of your time has been spent in doubt and pain. "You''ve never really enjoyed love."

    I nodded. "Yeah."

    Zane continued, "If you want to know what love feels like, you can ask me."

    I looked at him with confusion. "But haven''t you never had a girlfriend? Do you have any experience?"

    Zane gently lifted my chin as soon as the words left my mouth.

    What was he trying to do? I was even more confused.

    When he slowly lowered his face and brought me closer to him, my heart began to race.

    Just as his lips were about to touch mine, Zane stopped. "Are you feeling a little flustered, maybe even a little excited?"

    I reflected on my feelings from just now. "Yes."

    "So, if you want to know what real love feels like, just hearing about it from someone else won''t do," Zane analyzed. "You need to experience it for yourself, to feel it for yourself."

    I blinked and tentatively asked, "Then, which is more attractive to the readers? Kissing or not kissing?"

    Zane, who rarely read this type ofic, shrugged. "I don''t know."

    "Would you mind if I tried it?" I asked.

    Zane paused, momentarily stunned by the question, but instinctively shook his head. Then, I wrapped my arms around his neck and took the initiative to kiss him. Zane reciprocated, pulling me into his embrace. Hisrge hand pressed firmly on my back, holding me tightly against him.

    I closed my eyes, savoring his initiative.

    ...

    The two of us kissed with full intensity.

    Zane suddenly felt very fortunate that he had made this decision. Otherwise, he would never have been able to be with Annalise or enjoy such intimacy with her.

    Finally, when I could hardly breathe, Zane released me. He smiled and teased, "If we keep acting like this, it feels like we''re actually a couple."N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    I leaned against the sofa, seriously saying, "It does seem like it. Zane, you''ll never find a girlfriend with you being so ambiguous with me." So, for his sake, should I keep my distance from him?

    Zane''s tone was casual, but his expression was unusually tense. "So, how do you n topensate me?"

    I didn''t answer. Instead, I asked, "What kind ofpensation do you want?"

    His dark eyes surged with emotion as he said, "If I''m still single in a few years, then you''ll marry me and be my wife."

    I was taken aback and stared at him. "But didn''t you say you had no ns to find a girlfriend in the near future?"

    Even when discussing billion-dor deals, Zane had never seemed as uneasy as he did now.

    He met my gaze. "Yeah."

    I hesitated and asked, "You want me to marry you?"

    Zane didn''t deny it. His heart nearly leaped out of his chest.

    I thought seriously about his request.

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    Zane had always been confident when it came to work.

    From thepany''s future development to the year they should restructure, he always had a n.

    From how each project should proceed to the goals to achieve at every stage, he had everything figured out in his mind.

    But today, it seemed that all the qualities he prided himself on had lost their effect. He could only wait for my answer.

    I thought for a long time before I said, "If you really consider marrying me, then no matter how outstanding the women around you are in the next few years, you can''t be moved.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    "You must choose me, unwaveringly. I don''t want a man I treat like a husband to be flirting with other women. Can you ept that?"

    Zane replied with unprecedented seriousness. "Of course I can."

    I didn''t respond.

    Then, he continued, "I''ve been single up until now, and I''ve met many women. Though some of them are quite excellent, I''ve never been moved by any of them. I''ve never thought of spending my life with anyone as well." In his heart, Zane quietly added, "Except for Anna."

    I tentatively asked, "How about we try dating first? Once we''re sure we''re a good fit for each other, we can think about marriage."

    What if it didn''t work out? Would we part ways, then?

    I had always felt that Zane would make a great partner, and I also wanted to experience what it would be like to have a normal boyfriend.

    Zane couldn''t stop smiling as he replied, "Sure."

    In fact, he regretted how he phrased his request. Had he known, he would have given a more definite timeline. That way, he would have known exactly when I would be his wife.

    I watched him smile happily and then looked away. Only recently did I realize that telling him it was a fake rtionship wasn''t much different from being in a real one.

    We held hands, hugged and kissed. We had done everything couples do.

    At this point, worrying about whether it was real or fake seemed meaningless. That was why I chose to agree and be with him now.

    Zane still couldn''t quite believe it. "So, are we really a couple now?"

    I didn''t deny it. "Hmm."

    Zane tentatively asked, "So, can I exercise my boyfriend''s privileges?"

    Iughed and said, "Of course."

    Zane gently cupped my face in hisrge hands. His eyes seemed to hold only me in them. "Your face is so small."

    At that moment, he looked incredibly affectionate.

    I smiled and replied, "Really?"

    As soon as my words fell, Zane kissed me. It was a fleeting touch, just a light brush of his lips before pulling away.

    Then he kissed my cheek, my forehead. Finally, he hugged me, reluctant to let go.

    It was incredibly sweet.

    When I had spent time with him before, experiencing his care and attention, I knew he would make a very considerate husband.

    I casually said, "I really didn''t expect you to be like this when you''re in love."

    Zane was eager to know my response. "Oh?"

    I gently stroked his cheek. "You''re not cold and distant but rather very clingy."

    Zane buried his face in my shoulder. "Do you not like it?"

    "Not at all," I said, feeling surprisingly happy. His affection made me feel needed. "But aren''t you very busy with work? Go ahead and work first."

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    Zane just couldn''t bear to let go. "I want to stay with you a little longer."

    Iughed and replied, "But I''m right here. I''m not going anywhere. Zane, you still need to make money and care for Willow. What will your many employees do if you get lost in love and stop paying attention to thepany?" Finally, Zane reluctantly let go of me. But before returning to his desk, he pulled me into his arms for another deep kiss.

    After he left, I looked at theputer screen. I knew how to proceed with the next part of the drawing now.

    Then on, I focused on sketching the outlines.

    Once I finished, I turned around. I was surprised to find Zane secretly watching me, and I walked over to him. "Don''t you feel like working right now?" "I''ve finished today''s tasks," he replied.

    Perhaps it was because we had just confirmed our rtionship, but standing across from me, Zane felt like the distance between us was too great.

    He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his embrace. "So, you should make time to be with me too. Let''s consider it a celebration of our first day together. How does that sound?"

    How had I never noticed before that he was someone who valued couple traditions?

    Though I found it a little amusing, I decided to indulge him. "Okay."

    Zane was thrilled and leaned in to kiss me again..

    "Creak." The office door was pushed open, and Zane''s face turned ashen.

    He instinctively pulled me into his arms to shield me from being seen. "Remember to knock next time when youe in."

    Sasha was surprised, asking, "Is this what it''s like in the office with you two, just hugging and cuddling?"

    Was this how couples behave nowadays? Honestly, she felt a bit envious!

    When I heard Sasha''s voice, I quickly stood up.

    Then, she grabbed my hand and led me to the couch, earnestly saying, "A woman must love herself. Don''t let a man sweet-talk you and then allow him to kiss and hug you."

    I was surprised. "How do you know so much about love?"

    Sasha answered immediately, "It''s simple. I''m jealous of you. I just made it up to try and get you to keep your distance."

    I was dumbfounded.

    Sasha theny in my arms. "But if I''m the one being intimate with you, then forget everything I just said."Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.

    Without giving me a chance to speak, she continued, "Do you remember the man I told you about before? The one who said he wanted to date me, but while I was thinking it over, he suddenly found another woman?"

    I definitely remembered. "What kind of trouble has he caused this time?"

    Sasha spoke with apparent disdain. "He realized that offering to arrange a marriage didn''t work, so now he''s rmending new projects to my dad. Ever since my dad talked with Zane, he knows how to judge whether a project is problematic. "This time, he kept an eye out and specifically looked at the project that the jerk rmended to my dad. It turns out that every one of them had issues!

    "My dad rejected him that same night, and he didn''t forget to call me afterward, reminding me to stay far away from men like that!"

    I agreed with Sasha''s father. "That''s true. He says he likes you, but he won''t even pursue you properly. Instead, he resorts to such despicable methods. It''s really disgusting."

    Sasha nodded in agreement. "Exactly. He''s hoping to bankrupt my family''spany. That way, I''ll have no choice but to marry him."

    Sasha couldn''t understand how he could be so selfish. What would happen after she married him? Would he even treat her well?

    Sasha wasn''t so sure.

    She thought that once he had gotten what he wanted, he''d probably be interested in her for a little bit, then get bored and look for ways to get rid of her.

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    At that time, Sasha would have no way to fight back without her parents to back her up, nor with any real abilities of her own. She would have to leave the man''s house in disgrace and look for a minimum-wage job to support herself. The more Sasha thought about it, the more she thought of the other person as a jerk.

    "Your dad didn''t need to refuse all the cooperation," Zane calmly reminded. "I heard he also wanted to offer your father the project in Northridge."

    Sasha looked at Zane warily. "You''re not getting back at me for interrupting your moment with Annalise, are you?"

    Her dad had already said they couldn''t take on a single project! Yet, Zane was offering an opposing view.

    "If you don''t trust me, then forget it," Zane replied, uninterested in discussing it further.

    Seeing that he was serious, Sasha continued, "My dad said that this project seems normal out of all others. Securing it wouldn''t be a problem if our family was particrly wealthy.

    "But the key issue is that our family''s funds are limited. If they suddenly pull out their investment halfway through the project, our family would go bankrupt."

    Zane said, "I''ll take over and partner up to secure this project if they pull out their investment. What do you think?"

    Sasha looked confused. "Is that really possible?"This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Zane answered calmly, "Of course. My approach to projects is simple-if money can handle the problem, then it''s not really a problem."

    Sasha often heard her father talk about how much money their family could make if they secured this project. How theirpany''s scale would jump several levels too.

    Then, her father would regretfully say that their family didn''t possess enough capabilities to make it happen.

    After thinking it over, Sasha decided to try to help her father out. "Then, I''ll call Dad and have hime over to discuss this cooperation with you in detail. Is that alright?" Zane didn''t refuse. "Sure."

    Sasha immediately took out her phone. "Dad, do you have time right now? Zane wants to talk to you about a cooperation."

    Without hesitation, her father replied, "Yes, of course!"

    He hurriedly added, "I''ll be there right away."

    Sasha listened to the phone''s beeping sound, then leaned against the sofa. "I really hope Dad cane soon."

    ...

    Sasha''s father, Dous, arrived at thepany 20 minutester.

    When he entered, he saw Annalise in the office cubicle and warily asked, "Aren''t you going to send them away?"

    Zane calmly replied, "One is your daughter, and the other is my girlfriend. Both are very trustworthy."

    Only then did Dous rx.

    Sasha stared at Dous, feeling unusually anxious.

    Dous took his time to discuss the project''s specific details with Zane. After listening, Zane pointed out the issues with the project and proposed solutions.

    Thest time Dous interacted with Zane was when Zane had taught him how to assess whether a project was problematic. This time, after a more detailed discussion, he realized that Zane wasn''t your average guy. How could he consider every detail so thoroughly on the same issue?

    Dous had been in business for many years but could never reach Zane''s level. "I know what I need to do now."

    "Alright," Zane replied sternly. "Contact me when the timees."

    "Mm." Dous waved to Sasha. "Come, walk me downstairs."

    Sasha followed him. "Sure."

    Once they were in the elevator, Dous said, "The fact that Mr. Huxham''s into your friend means she must be quite outstanding."

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    Dous had felt sorry for Sasha previously.

    She tried humbling herself and worked hard to chase after Zane. Yet Zane remained unmoved.

    After discussing the project with Zane today, he suddenly realized Zane was someone Sasha would never be able to handle.

    Sasha tilted her chin, looking incredibly proud. "Of course! Why would I choose her to be my good friend when I could have so many others?"

    Dous sighed. "You''ve always had terrible judgment when ites to friends. But this time, you''ve done well. You''ve found the right ones, and they''re all influential people."

    Sasha awkwardly chuckled. She wanted to tell her father that her judgment had never been good!

    She considered Annalise a romantic rival in the beginning.

    Sasha narrowed her eyes. The friends she had picked were all bad choices. But surprisingly, the people she didn''t like turned out to be alright. Maybe she should only pick friends from people she disliked in the future. Dous patted her on the shoulder. "You should cherish these friends."N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    Sasha''s expression became serious. "Don''t worry, Dad, I will!"

    Dous stopped at the entrance and said to Sasha, "You should go back to work."

    Sasha stood still.

    He waved at her, then left.

    Once Sasha returned to the office, she immediately sat beside me and asked, "Did you understand what they were discussing earlier?"

    They had used a bunch of technical terms.

    Sasha had been confused for a long time and still didn''t understand what they really meant.

    Sensing her curiosity, I slowly exined, "To sum it up simply, it''s about your dad pushing the project forward as usual. Once the funds run out, the other party will find an excuse to pull out.

    "At that point, your dad should hire awyer and ask the other party about the project''s future and whether they n to walk away from it. If they want to force your dad into apromise, they''ll definitely say yes. "Then your dad will ask about the previous investments. They''ll most likely consider it a loss."

    I sat sideways, watching Sasha across from me. "At this point, your dad can bring in Zane''s investment."

    Sasha finally understood. "So, if ites to that, does that mean the previous investments were basically a steal for us?"

    I nodded. "That''s what''s likely to happen, but Zane will probably teach them a lesson, then find an opportunity to return the money they invested."

    Sasha didn''t understand. "Why?"

    The other party had such bad intentions, trying to bankrupt her family. She felt they should pay some price for it.

    I chuckled. "In business, making too many enemies is never a good thing. If something terrible happens to the Huxham Corporation in the future, people will take the chance to bring them down. So, it''s better not to go too far in most cases." Sasha mumbled softly, "But they''re going too far."

    I carefully chose my words. "If hurting them once could cause theirpany to copse, maybe we could do it your way. But in reality, even if we take their money, it wouldn''t have a big impact on them." Sasha said reluctantly, "Fine."

    It seemed her family was just too weak. The other party wouldn''t dare to scheme against her family like this if they were more powerful.

    Sasha suddenly seemed to think of something and looked at Zane. "I just realized he''s quite cunning, isn''t he?"

    I couldn''t help butugh. "What made you suddenly realize this?"

    Sasha turned to me and said, "I was just casually venting about that man pressuring marriage earlier, and he immediately came up with such a perfect n?"

 Chapter 347

    Zane said calmly, "This is a fundamental skill in business. If you don''t think ahead, you might end up being hurt and not even know how it happened." Sasha could feel that Zane was trying to teach her something. She asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

    Zane didn''t answer and only coldly withdrew his gaze.

    Sasha keenly sensed his disdain and became even more puzzled. Had she done something wrong?

    "You''re nning to start a gamingpany, aren''t you?" I gently reminded her. "Zane is teaching you what to do when you have your ownpany."

    Sasha shed a pleasing smile. "But running apany seems so troublesome. I only recently realized I prefer working for someone else!"

    She wore an innocent look. "I can work here for the rest of my life, right?"

    I couldn''t make decisions for Zane since I was also an employee under him. I looked at Zane. "What do you think?"

    Zane exined calmly, "Her father''spany will definitely be left to her in the future. If she doesn''t take the opportunity to learn while her parents are still capable, she''ll be in a tough spot when she''s forced to take over with no experience as her father gets older." "I know you want to make things easier for her, which is fine," he continued, "But you should still think about her future."

    What Zane said made sense, and I didn''t argue. I simply took Sasha''s hand. "What do you think?"

    Sasha sighed helplessly. "I''ll just start learning slowly. My parents have provided me with such a good life. I''d feel awful about that if I made them live a hard life with me when they get old."

    Zane spoke slowly, "Actually, there''s another option."

    Sasha immediately perked up. "Oh?"

    "Before your dad retires, persuade him to sell thepany to me." Zane''s tone was very calm.

    Sasha was very tempted. "That''s a good idea! If he sells thepany to you, I can still work in yourpany!"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.

    Zane didn''t expect her to be swayed so easily. "Then try to persuade your dad."

    Sasha hesitated. "Forget it. My dad would kill me."

    Dous built thepany himself, and he took it very seriously.

    Sasha continued, feeling wronged, "I''ll just make more effort while I''m young."

    She stood up, said goodbye to us, and gloomily left the office.

    As soon as she left, Zane walked over to me. "Do you think what I said earlier was too harsh?"

    I shook my head, looking up at him. "No, not really. She has to face these things eventually. You just told her in advance so she could be mentally prepared. It''s not like you were trying to put her down." The most important thing was that Zane was intentionally teaching Sasha.

    Zane would probably think it was a waste of time to even give anyone else a single piece of advice.

    I saw everything he did, so I could appreciate his good intentions.

    Zane sat down and casually pulled me into his arms. "I was worried you wouldn''t understand me just now."

    I found afortable position and leaned against him. "Don''t worry. I can ept it as long as it''s for our good."

    Zane gazed at me quietly as I looked into his eyes.

    For some reason, there was a bit of tension in the air. My heartbeat unconsciously quickened.

    Zane slowly brushed his lips against mine. I closed my eyes, enjoying the kiss.

    As we were both immersed in the kiss, the office door was suddenly pushed open.

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    Tinsley knew that Zane would solve herpany''s issues, and the smile on her face was hard to control. The office door clicked open, and she walked into the office without thinking. "Zane..." Before she could finish her words, she saw Zane, who usually kept his distance from women, intensely kissing the woman in his arms.

    Tinsley suddenly had a bad feeling. She pretended she hadn''t seen anything and took a few steps back.

    I heard the sound and quickly pushed Zane away. "Someone''s here."

    Zane looked a little regretful but still raised his eyes to look at Tinsley, who was about to close the door. "Come in."

    Tinsley awkwardly stood in front of his desk. "Zane."

    Zane sat down nkly and said to Tinsley, "Remember to knock when youe in next time."

    Tinsley was left speechless. She would''ve figured it out even if he hadn''t said anything!

    She answered, "Okay."

    Zane gestured with his eyes for her to sit down, then casually said, "If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

    Tinsley had initially nned to ask about work, but seeing how affectionate they were, she forgot everything she wanted to say. "Was that my sister-inw just now?"

    Zane''s gaze unconsciously softened with a smile. "Yeah, that''s her."

    Tinsley was afraid I might hear her and lowered her voice. "She''s so beautiful. She seems so gentle. She''s more than enough for you."This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Zane liked hearing others praise me, so even when someone criticized him, he couldn''t be bothered to argue. "So, you came to find me just to gossip?"

    Tinsley quickly shook her head. "Of course not!"

    With that, she hurriedly listed out all the issues within herpany.

    There were many problems, and they were all over the ce. She genuinely wanted to solve these problems but failed every single time.

    Tinsley wanted to ask if Zane had any suggestions for solving the current predicament.

    After listening, Zane lightly tapped on the desk. "First of all, your focus is wrong."

    Tinsley was confused. "Hmm?"

    "You should focus on what causes these small problems," Zane calmly analyzed. "Instead of thinking about how to fix them after they appear." Tinsley didn''t get it.

    Zane picked out a few examples from what she had mentioned, analyzed them, and then offered her solutions.

    Tinsley immediately understood what Zane meant and began categorizing the other small problems while outlining her approach to handling them.

    Zane agreed. "That''s about right."

    "I understand now!" Tinsley happily stood up. "Thank you, Zane!

    "If I have any questions in the future, can Ie to you for help?"

    Tinsley felt a bit uneasy asking this. She had always had a good rtionship with Zane, but since her older brother passed away and her parents handed over thepany to her, she had felt guilty toward Zane. She had been avoiding him ever since. Zane smiled and said, "Of course. I''m your brother."

    Only then did Tinsley suddenly realize that Zane had never minded thepany''s ownership.

    To him, she was still his sister.

    She immediately felt much more at ease. "Great."

    ...

    After Tinsley left, Eric came in with a pile of documents for Zane to handle.

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    Even if Zane wanted to be intimate with me, he didn''t have the time for it. He looked at me, sighed, then withdrew his gaze and buried himself in his work.

    ...

    Once he finished his work, it was time to pick up Willow. I gathered my things and walked over to Zane. "Shall we go?"

    Zane stood up and took my hand. "Okay."

    It felt strange seeing our hands intertwined.

    I had been married to Steven for many years, and he had never gotten used to holding my hand or hugging me in front of others. He wasn''t even willing to show any signs of affection. When I asked him why, he said it was because he was the CEO of Pelham Group and couldn''t appear too frivolous.

    But Zane waspletely different. He wanted to hold my hand wherever we went. He never cared about other people''s opinions.

    I was confused. "Aren''t you afraid that people will see us like this and hurt your image?"This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Zane replied without a second thought, "Of course not. I think they''ll just envy me for being able to find such a wonderful girlfriend."

    That was an answer I had never considered. I was stunned for a while before saying, "I see."

    He and Steven werepletely different people. I shouldn''tpare him to Steven.

    I felt a lot more at ease after realizing this.

    We had barely been at the kindergarten for two minutes when Willow and Penelope came out, happily holding hands.

    When Penelope saw Suzy, she jogged over to greet her.

    Then, Willow approached me and said, "Mommy, can we invite Penelope and her mom over to our house to y?"

    I indulgently replied, "Of course. No problem."

    After getting my approval, Willow ran over to Penelope and Suzy to share the good news.

    Suzy, who had been tense, finally rxed a bit after hearing this. She walked up to me and exined, "I wouldn''t want to trouble you. But recently, Liam has been looking for me, and it''s be very annoying. "I don''t know how to solve this problem."

    Zane offered his thoughts. "How about renting out your current ce and moving to a different neighborhood? Or you could just sell the house and buy a new one?"

    Suzy shook her head. "Even if I move, he''ll still find me. I can''t just keep changing ces every time he looks for me, right?"

    Zane agreed with her reasoning and quickly added, "I had promised to help you hire a bodyguard, but I''ve been too busytely and forgot about it.

    "Since you''re with us today, I''ll ask Mr. Lardon if he''s willing to be your part-time bodyguard."

    Suzy and her daughter had no means of self-defense, which was why Liam constantly bullied them.

    To ensure Suzy''s safety, the bodyguard had to have good character. After considering it, Zane realized that Howard, the family''s martial arts coach, would be the most suitable person for the job.

    He suddenly remembered something and added, "You probably just need him to drive you to work and bring you home in the evening, right?"

    Suzy nodded. "Yes."

    "If you have any other needs, feel free to mention them," Zane said calmly. "If Howard''s schedule doesn''t allow it, we can look for another bodyguard."

    Suzy had interacted with Howard before and felt he was a good fit. "Let''s go with him."

    Zane responded, "Alright."

    Once they got home, Howard, as usual, led the family in training. Afterward, he went over the basics, and once everything was finished, I led Suzy and the two kids back to the living room. Zane asked Howard, "How is your family''s health now?"

 Chapter 350

    Howard''s mood instantly brightened when the topic came up. "They''ve been discharged from the hospital. It''s thanks to the wages you sent me. I really don''t know what I would have done otherwise." Zane said slowly, "You earned that money with your ability. Now, besides picking up Willow every evening, I''ve found you a part-time job.

    "It''s to pick up and drop off Suzy and her daughter. Do you have time for that?"

    Howard replied immediately, "No problem!"

    "As for the sry, I was thinking of adding 20 thousand dors to your current pay." Zane wasn''t sure if Howard would be happy with the pay. "If you have any issues with it, feel free to bring them up." Howard quickly shook his head. "No! I''m very satisfied with this pay."Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.

    Zane asked, "So it''s settled?"

    Howard nodded. "Don''t worry. I''ll keep them protected."

    ...

    Zane ryed the oue of their discussion to us in the living room.

    Suzy finally let out a sigh of relief. "Now, when Liames to bother me, I''ll have something to fight back with."

    Zane added, "You and Penelope cane to my house after school. Once the training''s done, let Penelope y with Willow for a while, then have Howard take you both back home."

    The worry in Suzy''s eyes vanished, and she smiled. "This is a perfect opportunity to have Penelope join in on the exercise."

    After running a few times with Willow, she felt much better physically.

    "No problem." Zane figured Willow would be happier with someone there to keep herpany.

    With all of Suzy''s concerns addressed, her mood lifted significantly. "Mr. Huxham, thank you so much."

    Zane replied coldly, "I promised to help you hire a bodyguard, which took me this long to arrange. That''s on me. As long as you''re not angry with me, it''s fine."

    "But you always follow through with what you say," Suzy said seriously. "No one has ever been so considerate of me before."

    Zane wasn''t one for sentimental words. Hearing her say this, he thought momentarily before responding, "I treat everyone at thepany the same."

    Suzy chuckled. "Then I''m honored to be one of your employees."

    The dishes were ready, and the chef brought out each course.

    I headed upstairs to call the two little ones down for dinner.

    When Willow saw me, she pulled me into their toy house. I stood there, stunned, looking at the neatly arranged toys.

    Willow lifted her chin proudly and said, "You didn''t expect this right, Mommy?"

    I was surprised and asked, "Did you two clean this up by yourselves?"

    Willow boasted, "I told Penelope that we should organize our own toys. So the two of us raced to clean up."

    "Wow, Willow actually knows how to take care of her own things. That''s so amazing," I said as I picked up Willow.

    She had grown so much without me even realizing it. I felt so proud.

    I then put her down before gently rubbing Penelope''s little head. "Penelope is also amazing for being willing to cooperate and help out." Penelope shyly smiled.

    I held both of their hands and led them downstairs. As soon as we sat at the table, the kids jumped into their food, treating it like apetition.

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    Penelope shoveled food into her mouth, saying, "I haven''t eaten something this delicious in a long time!"

    Suzy smiled, pleased to see her daughter enjoying the meal so much. "Then eat more."

    ...

    After dinner, Howard drove them home.

    On the way, he said, "I don''t have much work during the day, so feel free to call me if you need anything."

    Suzy was silent momentarily before saying, "I have many extra rooms at home. Would you mind staying over at my ce in the evenings?"

    She nervously watched Howard, afraid he might decline.

    Recently, Liam had beening over at night to cause trouble, which was bing too much for her to handle.

    Howard said without hesitation, "Of course. No problem. I don''t have a ce to stay right now. If you''re willing to take me in, I''ll be more than happy." Suzy finally smiled. "Thank you."

    The car stopped in the underground garage, and Howard led them upstairs.

    Penelope held Howard''s hand. "Mr. Lardon, if you see my dadter, can you send him flying with your fists?" Howard seriously considered the question. "My punches aren''t that strong. At most, I could knock him out." Penelope pouted and reluctantly said, "Knocking him out is fine as long he stops bothering my mom." Howard smiled and reassured her, "Don''t worry, as long as I''m here, he won''t have the guts." Just then, the smile on Howard''s face disappeared. He saw a man standing not far away.

    Penelope hid behind Howard. "That''s my dad."

    She then pulled Suzy to her side.

    Howard slowly approached the man.

    Liam stared at Howard suspiciously and asked, "Who are you?"

    "Does it concern you?" Howard stopped at the door and told Suzy, "You go inside first."

    Suzy knew she couldn''t help much, so she obediently opened the door, led Penelope inside, and quickly shut it behind her.

    Liam tried to follow but was blocked by Howard.

    Howard''s tone wasn''t friendly as he said, "You''re her ex-husband, yet you''re still bothering her. Don''t you think you''re being too intrusive?"

    "I don''t think so." Liam scoffed,pletely dismissing Howard. "She had my child, so she''s mine!"

    Howard hadn''t expected to encounter such an unreasonable man. "Thew doesn''t recognize that kind of thinking."N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    Howard knew that reasoning with Liam was useless. He flexed his muscles and said, "From now on, I''ll apany them home every day. If I see you again next time..." He shook his fist. "The only thing greeting you will be my fist."

    Liam asked, "Are you her new boyfriend?"

    Before Howard could answer, Liam quickly added, "I never gave her permission to have a boyfriend."

    "What she chooses to do is her business. She doesn''t need to exin anything to you," Howard said coldly. "And you no longer have the right to control her."

    With that, he knocked on the door, and Suzy opened it.

    Howard stood at the door and saw Liam was also trying to get in.

    He opened the door wide, warning Liam, "If you dare, step inside. My fist willnd right in your face."

    Liam stopped in his tracks.

    Howard then walked into the living room quietly as he stared at him.

 Chapter 352

    Liam gritted his teeth and ultimately walked away.

    Penelope looked incredulously at his retreating figure and asked, "Is he really leaving?"

    Howardughed and said, "Of course. People like him only pick on the weak but fear the strong. As long as you''re stronger than him, he''ll be afraid of you!" Penelope thought for a while and then asked, "Can I learn martial arts with Willow from you in the future?"N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    Howard replied without a second thought, "Of course. No problem."

    Penelope clenched her fist. "I want him to be afraid of me."

    Howard nodded with satisfaction. "That''s right."

    Suzy hadn''t expected that the recurring problem would be solved so easily. However, she also feared Liam woulde back once Howard left.

    So, she prepared a bedroom for Howard, then asked, "What do you think? Can you rest in this room tonight?"

    Howard, never picky about where he stayed, replied, "Of course."

    Penelope closed the door to the living room.

    ...

    A car was parked by the roadside near the vi. Zachary sat in the car, watching Annalise on the balcony. His eyes showed a deep, longing nostalgia. Annalie had such a good personality. She could get along with anyone. She was also very gentle and always so kind to everyone.

    But unfortunately, he would never experience that again.

    "Knock knock knock."

    Zachary heard someone tapping on the car window.

    He turned and saw Steven standing outside. He rolled down the window, his round, pink face stern. "Dad, what do you need?" he asked. Steven gestured toward the balcony. "I know you rejected mest time because you don''t know how close their rtionship is." He didn''t understand what had happened either.

    Just a short time ago, Annalise and Zane maintained a distance, but they suddenly became so affectionate in the past few days.

    Every time Steven thought about their intimate interactions at home, it felt like a fire was burning in his heart, causing him unbearable pain.

    Zachary looked at Annalise talking to Zane. He didn''t know what they were saying, but she looked thrilled.

    Zachary could not seem to pull his gaze away. Was she really this happy every day after leaving Steven?

    Steven spoke up. "You''ve seen it for yourself. They''re very close now. We won''t have a chance if we do something soon."

    "That''s a good thing, isn''t it?" Zachary answered calmly. "The person you love is Jessica, not her. Now, she''s finally found someone who loves her."

    Zachary paused and then turned to look at Zane. "Why do you insist on causing trouble?"

    Steven was taken aback. After a long silence, he finally said, "She was once my wife."

    Zachary replied slowly, "As you said, that was in the past."

    Zachary no longer had any other desires. His only wish now was to be able to watch Annalise from afar, start a new life, and be happy. That was enough for him.

    ...

    Willow had already fallen asleep.

    I leaned against the balcony railing and said to Zane, "Willow has an event at school. Tomorrow, we need to ask her which day it is."

    "Okay," Zane replied, unable to hide his emotions. "Having you by my side makes things much easier for me."

    I didn''t understand why he suddenly said that. "Hmm?"

    "Before you came to our house, I had to take care of everything," Zane confessed. "Especially matters rted to Willow. I had to pay constant attention, always afraid of missing something that might upset Willow."

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    Zach continued, "But since you''ve be Willow''s mother, all these things are your responsibility now."

    I teasingly replied, "You send me such arge sry every month. Wouldn''t I be wasting your money if I didn''t handle anything?"

    Zane spoke slowly, "I don''t think so, Anna. Even if all you do is apany Willow, which helps her feel better, the money is well spent."

    I was stunned. "Really?"

    Zane took my hand. "Mm."Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.

    I looked up at him. "By the way, tomorrow I want to visit my mom."

    Zane asked, "Do you want me to go with you?"

    Since we confirmed our rtionship, things did not feel as intimate as before. Just holding hands seemed to bring us a little closer. "Okay."

    ...

    Jessica sat at home, repeatedly contemting her current situation.

    Although Steven had said he was considerate of her and didn''t want her to get too close to Zane, Steven also hadn''t made any effort to find her.

    If things continued like this, the distance between them would only grow until Steven eventually stopped contacting her altogether.

    No one would be paying for her luxurious lifestyle at that point anymore!

    Jessica thought for a while and then decided to take the initiative.

    ra

    She looked down at her swollen ankles, which had berger due to her pregnancy. She quickly came up with a n and dialed Steven''s number. "Hello?" Steven asked in a dismissive tone, "What is it?"

    Jessica''s voice was soft and tinged with a hint of emotion. "I twisted my ankle. Can youe check on me?"

    Steven hesitated for a moment.

    Zachary had overheard the conversation and watched the scene unfold with a hint of mockery in his eyes, though he quickly concealed it.

    He pretended to be understanding and said, "Dad, even if you go to see Mommy Jessie, Mommy won''t be angry.

    "Mommy is kind. She will definitely understand."

    Steven nced at Zachary, and their gazes met.

    Steven''s resolve wavered.

    Jessica didn''t rush him. Instead, she spoke in a voice that was on the verge of tears. "Steven, it really hurts." Upon hearing this, Steven immediately got into his car, stepped on the gas pedal, and disappeared from Zachary''s view. Zachary sneered in disdain.

    At this point, Steven still couldn''t let go of Jessica, yet he thought he could reconcile with Annalise.

    Was he thinking of continuing his entanglement with Jessica after getting back together with Annalise? Zachary suddenly felt disgusted by Steven.

    Fortunately, Annalise had met a man who truly loved her and was wholeheartedly dedicated to her. Zachary continued to watch the person on the balcony.

    ...

    Steven arrived at Jessica''s house.

    Jessica had originally nned to run over and wee Steven, but as soon as she stood up, she suddenly realized something.

    If she did that, Steven would definitely find out she was lying.

    So, Jessica gently lifted her right foot and slowly made her way to the door. She opened it, revealing a fragile smile. "You''re here?" Steven immediately softened when he saw her struggling to move toward the living room.

    He stepped forward and picked her up.

    Jessica wrapped her arms around Steven''s neck, tears streaming down her face. "I thought you didn''t want to deal with me anymore."

    "Of course not." Steven ced her on the couch, kneeled before her, and took her hand. "What happened to your foot?"

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    Jessica looked down at her foot and bit her lip. "I''m all alone at home, so it''s inevitable that I''ll bump into things.

    "At first, I thought it was just a minor injury and didn''t want to bother you. But there was no one at home.

    "I''m pregnant and caring for another little child."

    As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.

    She wiped them away and added, "I couldn''t move properly, and I really had no other choice but to ask for your help."

    With that, she threw herself into Steven''s arms.

    Steven instinctively tried to push her away.

    Jessica''s voice choked with emotion. "After some time, you''ll be with Annalise. By then, I''ll definitely have to keep my distance from you. I won''t be able to hug you anymore. "So, for now..."

    Jessica looked up, her eyes glistening with tears. "Please don''t push me away, okay?"

    Steven looked at her face and suddenly thought-when he was with Annalise, had she ever felt this helpless?

    He wasn''t sure whether he wanted to atone for his past or if he simply felt sorry for Jessica.

    Or... if there was another reason.

    Ultimately, he couldn''t bear to turn her away and gently returned her hug.

    Steven whispered, "Annalise has had a child too. She''ll surely understand your pain."

    Jessica didn''t answer.

    Steven continued, "Even if I really get back together with her, she certainly won''t stop me from caring about you."

    Jessica felt Steven was such an easy man to manipte. All it took was a few tears and a pitiful act, and he would fall for it.

    However, Steven also had his ws. She was clearly Steven''s legitimate girlfriend, but he always made it seem as if she were still the third party. That bothered her a little. Steven ced both hands on Jessica''s shoulders. "I''ll call her right now."

    Jessica was confused as she looked at him.

    Steven noticed her confusion and exined, "I need to tell her in advance so that when we do get back together, she won''t be angry."

    Annalise had blocked him, and his call wouldn''t go through, so he took out Jessica''s phone and dialed Annalise''s number.

    "Hello?"

    ...

    I was speechless when I heard Steven''s familiar voice. Where did he get my number?

    But I still politely asked, "Is there something you need?"

    Steven spoke gently, "Jessica is pregnant with my child. After you forgive me and we remarry, I hope you''ll be kind enough to ept this child." Although Steven no longer had feelings for Jessica, he still cared for the unborn child.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    I was satisfied with this result. The truth would only greatly impact himter if he still had feelings for the child.

    Steven continued, "At that point, I might not be able to love you wholeheartedly."

    I nearly threw up upon hearing this.

    He had never treated me well during our marriage. Yet, he could still say such shameless things.

    Steven said, "Because the child will need more attention and love than you. Jessica, who has also had a child, will also need care..."

    "Stop." I couldn''t listen any longer and asked, "Did I express any intention of reconciling with you?"

    I had made it very clear that we were done every time he came to see me.

    Steven froze, and after a long silence, he answered, "No."

    "Good." I was worried that I might have said something wrong and caused a misunderstanding. "I know you love Jessica and her child. You want to live a good life with her, but that''s between you and her and has nothing to do with me. "I won''t mind. And you don''t need to let me know."

    Although I now had some free time every day...

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    I would rather use this time to rx than listen to someone I can''t stand say disgusting things.

    Steven stood silent, staring at his phone for a long time.

    Ever since Zachary said Annalise was kind-hearted, he had assumed she wouldn''t bear to see him sad. He thought she would eventually forgive him.

    It was only at this moment that Steven suddenly snapped out of it. "So, what should I do for you to forgive me?"

    "You don''t need to do anything," I answered firmly. "Because there''s no possibility for us anymore."

    I hung up the phone andy back on the bed, pouting.

    I had already blocked his number, yet he still found a way to contact me. He was truly persistent.

    Unfortunately, his efforts were misguided.

    But enough about him. I should focus on whether I should bring something when I visit my mom tomorrow and how to exin it to her so that she won''t be angry. I ced my hand over my eyes and sighed.

    In my mother''s eyes, I was someone who should never have gotten a divorce. But I didn''t listen to her.

    She would definitely give me an earful.

    ...

    I got up early in the morning and washed up.

    As I walked out of the bedroom, I saw Zane standing at the door.

    He was wearing a deep blue silk pajama, which made him appear even more elegant. He stepped forward and held my hand.

    I looked at our intertwined hands, still not entirely used to it.

    Before him, I had only dated one man-Steven.

    Steven''s level of selfishness surpassed that of most people. During our six years together, he rarely took the initiative to hold my hand or kiss me.

    Over time, I slowly got used to it. I even thought that this was what normal rtionships were like.

    That was until I met Zane. As long as we were in the same ce and weren''t busy with work, he would always find a way to get closer, either to hug me or hold my hand. He waspletely different from Steven.

    Zane asked, "What are you looking at?"

    I answered honestly, "I''m looking at you."? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    Zane stopped by Willow''s room and gazed at me with his dark eyes. "Oh?"

    I exined, "I just suddenly realized what a normal rtionship is supposed to look like after we confirmed our rtionship."

    Zane lowered his gaze and looked at me, a pleasedugh escaping his throat.

    Before he could speak, the bedroom door suddenly opened.

    Willow stood at the door, looking at our intertwined hands. "You two should tone it down a bit when I''m around."

    "Okay," I said, letting go of Zane''s hand.

    Willow immediately took my hand and led me into the bedroom. "Mommy, from now on, you need to show me more love when I''m around, or I''ll get jealous."

    I understood what she was worried about. "Willow, it''s not about showing it. I really love you."

    Willow tried to keep a serious face but couldn''t help smiling. "Okay then."

    "By the way, when does your kindergarten event start?" I asked calmly.

    Willow wasn''t sure. "Probably next week."

    Since my work schedule wasn''t fixed, it was fine for me to go to the event first and then make up for it the next day.

    I pinched Willow''s cheek. "On that day, I''ll definitely make time to be with you."

    Willow was thrilled. After finishing up in the bathroom, she looked at Zane. "Daddy, do you have time next week?" she asked.

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    Zane was practically at Willow''s beck and call. Even if his tasks were piling up, he would still find the time. "Yes," he replied.

    Willow asked, "Then can you and Mommye with me to the kindergarten event?"

    Zane indulgently replied, "Of course."

    ...

    Zachary also remembered the uing event after waking up, where he would be reciting with Willow.

    But Steven was ignoring him right now, and Chloe waspletely focused on Jessica.

    By then, every student in the ss would have their parents there, but he wouldn''t have anyone.

    Zachary didn''t want to be the only one left out.

    After getting up, he saw Hannah had already made breakfast. He took a bite and realized it didn''t taste as good as Annalise''s cooking.

    But he was still content. At least there was food so that he wouldn''t go hungry.

    Zachary finished everyst bit of his meal, then said, "Next week, there''s a parent-child event at kindergarten. Can you twoe?"

    They understood Zachary''s situation and felt sorry for him, but they also had their concerns.

    Harry asked, "Will your dad mind if we went?"

    When Steven was mentioned, Zachary''s smile disappeared instantly. "Dad only has eyes for Jessica, so he definitely won''t care about our kindergarten event. "Grandma only wants to take care of Jessica''s child.

    "So, you can rest assured. No one will care who I invite to be my parent."This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Harry felt heartbroken upon listening to Zachary''s calm tone.

    Zachary was only five years old this year. He was not loved by either of his parents and was a small child who was forced to grow up quickly.

    Harry clenched his teeth. "Then I''ll go."

    Hannah also spoke up. "I''ll go too!"

    Zachary smiled. "You two are the best."

    He then put down the bowl and returned to his bedroom.

    Annalise would also be at the performance, so he needed to dress up a little more. Then, he would do his best at his performance, so Annalise would include him in her pictures or videos. That way...

    Zachary lowered his eyes. He could pretend that she was there for him.

    ...

    After Willow finished her morning training, had breakfast, and changed clothes, we drove her to school.

    Willow exited the car and ran up to me, hugging my leg. "Mommy, we''ll be apart for the whole day again. I don''t want to leave you."

    I gently stroked Willow''s hair. "I don''t want to be apart from you either."

    "What do you think we should do?" Willow looked up at me.

    She asked seriously, "Should we spend the weekend together and have two whole days of fun?"

    I smiled and agreed. "No problem!"

    Only then did Willow let go of me. She spotted Penelope in the distance and immediately ran over to join her.

    I couldn''t help but chuckle.

    Zane asked, "Where does your mother live?"

    I sat in the car and gave the driver the address.

    The driver stepped on the gas pedal, and we drove off.

    ...

    Zachary stood frozen in ce, looking back at Annalise. But her figure had already disappeared.

    He lowered his gaze in disappointment.

    Then heforted himself, thinking that since he had been walking beside Willow just now, Annalise must have seen him.

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    Zachary reluctantly pretended that Annalise was just here to see him off.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    I didn''t bring anything for my mother because she was getting older, and I wasn''t sure if she would like what I bought.

    After thinking it over, I decided just to transfer her ten thousand dors.

    She sent me a question mark in response.

    Seeing that, I couldn''t help but smile as I knocked on the door.

    My mother''s voice came from inside, lively and cheerful. "Who''s there?"

    She opened the door and, upon seeing me standing there, asked, "You finally decided toe back?"

    As she spoke, she moved aside to let me in.

    "Mm," I answered as I walked into the living room.

    Zane followed behind and sat down beside me.

    My mother looked at Zane in confusion, but seeing my calm expression, she said nothing.

    She had more important things to focus on.

    She held my hand and asked, "Thest time you came, you said you wanted to divorce Steven.

    "I''ve been busytely and hadn''t time to check in on you. Tell me, how are things going with you two?"

    She had always been against me getting a divorce.

    I was very clear about that.

    However, I still decided to be honest and said with my head lowered, "I''ve divorced."

    My mother became furious and pped my arm. "Are you stupid? Divorcing now just makes space for the mistress!"

    I didn''t say a word.

    "I don''t care." Her tone was stern. "You have to figure out a way to reconcile with Steven!

    "By the way, is Zachary with you now?

    "As someone who''s been through it, I know very well that sometimes men can be heartless. They don''t care when a wife says no. But the child is his own flesh and blood. He won''t abandon him. "You have to hold onto the child. Only then will he consider reconciling with you for the child''s sake.

    "Otherwise, he won''t even pay attention to you."

    My mother was trying her best to give me advice, but I wasn''t interested at all. "I didn''t want Zachary. I just want to put the past behind mepletely." "You''re trying to get under my skin, right?" My mother became even angrier. "After leaving Steven, who else could provide you with such a good life?" To her, a woman couldn''t live without a man.

    My voice was soft but firm. "I''ll do it myself. Mom, I have a job now, and I also have a side job. I make a lot of money every month.

    "My sry is high, and the side job has great prospects. This month, after taxes, I''ll take home over 200 thousand dors.

    "Next month, after taxes, I''ll make at least 400 thousand dors."

    All of my mother''s anger seemed to vanish when she heard about my ie. She hadn''t expected that I could make so much money.

    She reluctantly epted that I no longer needed a man.

    But she still asked with doubt, "You''re not lying to me, are you?"

    I nodded. "Yeah. Mom, my n now is to earn enough to support both of us in our old age. So, the money I transferred to you isn''t a lot. Don''tin."

    My mother shook her head. "You should keep the money for yourself. I can support myself now. There is no need for you to worry.

    "Right now, all I care about is Zachary. After you left him with Steven, are you really not going to care for him anymore?"

    I didn''t deny it. I just said, "He wants Jessica to be his mother, so I''ll respect that."

    My mother took a deep breath, clearly disappointed in me. She stared at me long before saying, "Go back now."

    I knew she needed time to calm down, so I didn''t force her.

    I stood up and left, and Zane followed me out.

    Rowena sat alone in the living room, struggling with her thoughts. After a while, she dialed Zachary''s number. "Kid, are you free tonight?" Zachary still liked her a lot. "Hmm?"

    "Grandma misses you." Her old yet gentle voice was full of warmth. "Why don''t youe over to my ce after school?"

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    Zachary finally realized that he hadn''t been to Rowena''s ce in a while. "Okay!"

    She smiled. "What would you like to eat? Grandma will make it for you."

    Zachary wasn''t picky about food anymore. As long as someone made him a meal, that was enough.

    He said, "As long as Grandma makes it, I''ll love it."

    Rowena''s heart nearly melted when she heard Zachary''s words. "Then Grandma will make something you like!"

    Zachary excitedly said, "Great!"

    ...

    I sat at the office and began reflecting on my mother''s words.

    I suddenly felt so relieved that I didn''t listen to her and instead made the decision to divorce.

    Even if Steven had promised to focus on me, he would still secretly be entangled with Jessica. In the end, he might even force me to coexist peacefully with her. If it came to that, how painful would it be for me? I unconsciously smiled.

    Since leaving Steven, I have found a great job with an excellent sry and have a loving daughter who cares for me. Plus, I have a wonderful boyfriend.

    I started to like my life.

    Three knocks sounded on the door.

    Zane heard the knocking and coldly said, "Come in."? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    Eric pushed the door open, passed by Zane, and whispered, "I''m looking for Annalise."

    Zane replied with a simple, "Mm."

    Eric stopped beside me. "Theic has been tranted. In a few days, we''ll ask our colleagues in the international department to help with the promotion.

    "The trantion for the first episode of the animation is also nearingpletion. Within about half a month, we''ll begin pushing it out simultaneously."

    As Eric spoke, he ced a stack of documents before me. "When the content is still limited in the early stages, the promotional efforts will naturally be small. But once more content is tranted, the promotion will follow suit." He added, offering a concrete timeline, "At most, it will take a year. Youric will be a global hit by then.

    "By that time, merchandise sales will definitely skyrocket, and You''ll be rolling in money."

    I thought about what my life would look like a year from now. "So, I''ll be rich?"

    "Of course," Eric proudly responded. "In the next few days, I''ll contact domestic and international publishers to see if we can directly publish youric."

    I was puzzled. "If the content isn''t finished, can we still publish it?"

    Eric responded without hesitation, "Of course, we can publish it in volumes. I think the content you''ve drawn so far is enough for two books.

    "The sales of the merchandise are increasing every day. I can''t even imagine how explosive the sales will be when we have physical books."

    Eric suddenly stood up, looking a bit frustrated. "How did I not think of this earlier?"

    "You can keep busy with your work," he added. "I have something else to take care of, so I''ll leave now."

    Before I could respond, Eric hurriedly left the office.

    Zane also stood up. "Anna, I need to go out for a while."

    "Okay."

    ...

    Zane caught up with Eric. "Wait, don''t rush off."

    Eric stopped. "Is there something wrong?"

    Zane''s voice remained cold. "Come with me."

    Eric was still very excited. He just wanted to get back to the office and record all his thoughts. He even considered telling Zane that it would be better not to disturb him if it weren''t something urgent. But he held his words back.

    He followed Zane to the meeting room and closed the door behind him. "Mr. Huxham, is there something you need?"

    "If the publishers aren''t willing to publish Anna''s work..." Zane only just remembered this issue when Eric brought it up. "We can fund the publishing ourselves."

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    Eric had no objections to Zane''s suggestion. "No problem."

    As long as theic''s sales kept improving and the number of printed volumes increased, not only would they easily break even, they would make a lot of profit. "There''s one more point," Zane said calmly. "Have you considered how much the merchandise sales could be if Anna''sic bes a global hit?"

    Eric was stumped. He only knew that it would be a lot and hadn''t calcted the exact number.

    Zane wasn''t expecting him to provide an exact number. "Right now, we only have one factory producing the merchandise.

    "The current level of promotion isn''t even that big, and the factory is already approaching its production limits.

    "What will happen when Anna''s works be a huge hit nationwide? Can the factory keep up with the pace of demand?" Eric shook his head. "No."

    Zane calmly reminded him, "This is still based on the situation where it hasn''t gone global yet."

    Eric finally realized the seriousness of the situation. "So, what do you think should be done?"

    Zane offered the solution. "Either expand the production line or take over a few factories on the brink of bankruptcy."

    Eric''s expression was serious. "Got it."

    "As for overseas publishers..." Zane slowed his speech. "It should be a bit tricky to coordinate. I suggest having the HR department hire a few more employees to handle the connections." He didn''t want Eric''s time to be wasted on something not too crucial.

    Eric smiled. "No problem."

    Zane then stood up. "I''ve said everything I needed to. You go ahead and handle it."

    "Got it."

    Back in the office, Eric sat in front of theputer and started writing a n.

    Comic publishing was the crucial part. The publishing had to be divided into domestic and international categories.

    He could handle domestic publishing. As for the international side, as Zane suggested, they would recruit new staff to handle it.

    The part directly rted to thepany''s revenue was the factory. He felt that even if the factory expanded, it would surely not keep up with the future production speed. Therefore, they had to buy a few factories that were on the brink of bankruptcy.

    With a clear n in mind, Eric''s mood improved.

    He heard someone knocking on his office''s door and said cheerfully, "Come in."

    Yvonne pushed open the office door and walked up to Eric. "Theic I''m responsible for has a lot of content now, and we''ve reached the promotion stage."

    She passed by theic department every day, watching so many people working on Annalise''s projects.

    She felt both disdain and envy. She despised that Annalise''s works were so mediocre, yet they still had people supporting them.

    She envied that Annalise could ess resources that Yvonne couldn''t even dream of.

    If only she could take all of Annalise''s resources and give them to Jessica, it would be perfect.

    Jessica''sic was of exceptionally high quality. If Jessica''sic got a chance, it would definitely be a hit online!

    Eric wiped the smile off his face. "Then you can just apply for a rmendation like everyone else. Whye to me?"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.

    Yvonne hesitated momentarily but finally spoke up, "What I mean is... Could we perhaps take a small portion of the resources from Annalise''sic?"

    She was actually hoping for all of it. But she didn''t dare to say that outright.

    Eric leaned back in his chair and looked at Yvonne. "I remember I made myself very clearst time.

    "Annalise''s works are so highly valued in thepany because Mr. Huxham wants to use her works as part of an experiment.

    "That''s why a specialpany was set up just for her. Until we have specific results, allocating resources to anyone else is impossible."

    Yvonne insisted, "But theic I''m in charge of is really high quality. It deserves even more attention and a bigger promotional push than Annalise."

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    Eric almost couldn''t hold back hisughter. "First of all, though the promotional efforts for youric may not be on the same level as Annalise''s, they''re not bad either. It should meet your needs."

    He looked at Yvonne, who was eager to exin, and gestured for her to calm down. "Secondly, if theic you''re handling is as good as you say and can bring thepany huge profits, we will definitely increase its promotion efforts. You can rest assured about that." Yvonne was still unwilling to give up.

    Eric continued, "Let me put it this way. Annalise''sic wasn''t initially given much attention by thepany either. She posted a small plot daily, gradually building her readership.

    "Yvonne, think about it. Even the woman Mr. Huxham likes got this kind of treatment. And you want your author to get a better promotion than her? Do you really think that''s possible?"

    Eric was unmoved by Yvonne''s increasingly unpleasant expression. "Furthermore, you need to understand that good quality work isn''t determined by pitching... The readers'' choice determines it.

    "I''ll believe you after you prove that her work can perform thousands of times better than Annalise''s with no promotion.

    "And maybe then, I''ll say a few good words for you in front of Mr. Huxham. Let''s see if Mr. Huxham is willing to set up a new department for the work you have in hand."

    "I understand." Yvonne lowered her head. "I will follow your instructions."

    ...

    Yvonne returned to her office, closed the door, and called Jessica. "I wanted to help you secure resources on the same scale as Annalise''s.

    "But they''re not willing to give it to us, and they came up with a bunch of pretentious excuses."

    She said, somewhat frustrated, "I''ve done my best. But don''t worry, I''ll use all the resources I can get in thepany for you."

    "Thank you," Jessica replied weakly, leaning against the couch.

    Recently, she had been drawing every day and bending over backward to please Steven. She was exhausted.

    Jessica assured, "But don''t worry, I will try my best to get close to Zane. By the way, I n to visit yourpany to see him.

    "When I get there, can you let me in with your door card?"

    Yvonne hesitated before responding, "The security is very strict now. Unless you''re an employee of thepany, no one can get in. If you don''t believe me, you cane and try."

    Yvonne was Jessica''s best friend, so she unconditionally trusted what Yvonne said.

    "Then you must know when he leaves thepany, right?"

    Yvonne didn''t usually pay attention to Zane''s schedule, but she was willing to make time to keep an eye on him for Jessica. "Yeah."

    "Make sure to call me when it happens, and I''ll intercept him," Jessica said.

    He had to be hers since she had set her sights on Zane!

    Yvonne said, "No problem."N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    She then added disdainfully, "Once you''ve taken care of Zane, he''ll probably give you theicpany he founded. By then, everyone in thepany will be serving you. They''ll all promote your work!" Yvonne clicked her tongue, and her eyes were overflowing with contempt. "The only person who will suffer is Annalise."

    Jessica chuckled. "By the way, when I meet with Zane, you should make sure to snap a secret photo of the scene and send it to Annalise.

    "They''ve only been together for a while, and their rtionship isn''t firm yet. Just casually send her the photo you took."

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    Jessican continued her rant, "Annalise will definitely question Zane when she sees her boyfriend being affectionate with someone else. "No matter how much Zane loves her, he won''t be able to tolerate woman constantly hysterical and aggressive around him."

    Jessica showed a triumphant smile. "Over time, their rtionship will definitely crack. I''ll take advantage of this opportunity and step in. "Zane may be cold and aloof and may not care to interact with people. But in the end, I''ll easily win over him."

    Yvonne couldn''t help but smile. "Why hasn''t that daye yet? I can''t wait any longer."

    After ending the call, Yvonne opened herputer, created ounts on various tforms, and started uploading Jessica''s works.

    Didn''t Eric say that he wanted to see Jessica''s results?

    Once theic was released, it shouldn''t take long before it attracted many readers. She would take the data to Eric, showing him how good her judgment was and how bad his judgment was. "Why would they ignore such good work and promote Annalise''s unappealingic instead?"

    After finishing everything, Yvonne stood up and went to find Eric again. She got straight to the point. "Hello, I''d like to apply for promotion resources."

    Eric was speechless. "You''ve been at thepany for so long, and you still haven''t figured out the responsibilities of each department?"

    Yvonne asked in confusion, "Huh? Isn''t that your responsibility?"

    "First of all, I''m Mr. Huxham''s secretary. I usually assist him with somepany matters," Eric said, each word clear. "But that doesn''t mean I handle everything. Please remember that." Yvonne awkwardly asked, "Then who should I go to?"

    "The marketing and promotion department," Eric replied with a friendly attitude. "Next time, make sure you don''te to the wrong ce and don''te to me with every little thing. "I''m busy."

    Yvonne felt a bit wronged. "How am I supposed to know what each department is responsible for?"

    Eric stared at her for a long time. before adjusting his mood. "When you first joined thepany, they should have given you a smal booklet.

    "You can take a look at it. It has detailed information on each department''s responsibilities and who to contact for specific issues."

    Yvonne lowered her head and said, "I understand now."

    BUMS

    After leaving Eric''s office, she shot him a re once the door was closed.

    Hmph!

    He was treating her so coldly. He should just wait until Jessica and Zane got married!

    With that thought, Yvonne''s mood slowly improved.

    After I finished today''s tasks, Iy down on the couch to rest. I took out my phone to check the readers''ments. When I opened thement section, they all asked me to step forward and exin.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    I was confused. What was there to exin?

    As I scrolled down, I finally saw that it was because one reader had posted ament that was aimed at me.

    "I know both the author''s

    ex-husband and his first love. They clearly love each other, so why did the author portray one as a scumbag and the other as a

    mistress? Isn''t that evel.ne

 Chapter 362

    I didn''t know who left thement, but I could still sense that they were deliberately trying to trick the readers into thinking I had done something wrong in the marriage.

    But, they had used mutual affection as an excuse.

    Wasn''t Jessica''s behavior just an interference in someone else''s marriage? When Steven and Jessica were together, wasn''t that considered cheating?

    I didn''t argue and simply responded calmly, "So, what you''re saying is, if your husband got with another woman during an ongoing marriage... As long as your husband and that other woman truly love each other, it''s not wrong? "Even if the man betrayed the marriage? And the woman selfishly hurt the wife?"

    The reply came almost immediately. "What else would it be?"

    At this point, I couldn''t help but sneer as I slowly typed my response. "By your reasoning, what''s the point of marriage? Isn''t marriage meant to bind and be loyal to one another?"

    The person responded quickly, "But if the other person no longer loves you, and you''re still holding onto the title of ''wife,'' don''t you think your behavior itself is problematic?"

    I looked at the words and found itughable.

    I was clearly the innocent one in this situation... Yet somehow, the responsibility was all being ced on me through her words and insinuations.

    I replied slowly, "Even if you''re right and he truly loved his first love, then why is he stalling on the divorce while being ambiguous with her?

    "If, as you say, they truly love each other, then he shouldn''t have married me! Even if he impulsively entered marriage with me, once his first love returned, he should have ended our marriage immediately, shouldn''t he?" After typing this, I added, "Honestly, I can''t see any signs of true love between them."

    The other person didn''t respond for a long time.

    Just when I thought they wouldn''t reply, I suddenly got another notification. I clicked on it.

    The reply said, "He''s just soft-hearted and afraid of hurting you."

    I couldn''t hold back and quickly typed a response. "A truly soft-hearted man wouldn''t cheat."

    The other person continued, "His true love came back, and he couldn''t help but be drawn to her, but he''s also afraid of hurting you.

    "You really have no sense. Didn''t you notice how close they were? Or did you purposely act like you didn''t?"

    She really knew how to make excuses for Steven.

    I replied, "He''s been hiding it from me. How am I supposed to notice?"

    After typing that sentence, I sent a message to another person. "Jessica, do you think I don''t know it''s you making all those random

    Initially, the readers who thought I was in the wrong realized whose fault it really was after reading our conversation in thements.

    Those who had criticized me started ming her instead.

    They called her out for her warped values, speaking up for the mistress.

    Jessica, who had initially wanted to argue back, eventually realized that no one believed her, so she stopped responding.

    She replied to me, "Yes, it''s me. So what?"Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.

    "If you dare to keep spreading nonsense in thements..." I slowed down my typing."I will expose everything you''ve done.

    "Jessica, when I drew you two in the

    ...

    Jessica stared at the words in the chat box. She was so fed up that she threw everything before her to the floor.

    Why! Annalise was pampered by Zane and still managed to gain so much fan love.

    Jessica couldn''t ept it!

    She wanted nothing more than to see Annalise get insulted by her fans.

    She wanted Annalise to be driven out of theic industry, just like when she was kicked out of the

    §ż§­§¦

    Pelham family, like a stray dog with nowhere to go!

 Chapter 363

    What disappointed Jessica was no matter how much she tried to stir things up, the fans only doubted Annalise.

    They all chose to demand an exnation from her.

    Annalise had only discussed the matter with her in thements section, but the fans instantly understood Annalise''s stance and continued to support her unconditionally!

    A trace of jealousy shed in Jessica''s eyes.

    Hmph! If the things that happened after marriage couldn''t bring Annalise down, what about before?

    Jessica smiled maliciously and then posted a video that subtly referenced the situation.

    The woman went abroad in the video and didn''t break up with her boyfriend. Instead, a mistress intervened in their rtionship, eventually leading to them drifting apart. Later, the two rekindled their old feelings when the woman returned to the country. However, the mistress turned around and med the woman for destroying her rtionship.

    In an instant, the public opinion changed. Everyone started criticizing Annalise, calling her a mistress and using her of the audacity to insult others.

    Jessica watched as the insults toward Annalise grew more vicious.

    She put down her phone with a satisfied smile.

    This was how Annalise should live-despised by men! Looked down by her fans!

    After dealing with the video that stirred up trouble in thement section, I thought everything was fine and continued scrolling through videos, trying to rx.

    But thements on the backend suddenly surged. I clicked on them, and all I saw were tags at me, demanding an exnation.

    What kind of trouble was Jessica causing now?

    I clicked on the video and soon realized it was another one of Jessica''s lies.

    Dealing with this kind of baseless nder was easy.

    Casper was still somewhat of a public figure at the time, and the media had widely covered his wedding.

    I simply took a screenshot of the news from their wedding day, then posted a picture of my old marriage certificate.

    The two timelines were

    unmistakable. They clearly showed

    that I had gotten together with Steven

    married Casper.

    a year and a half o

    I added a caption to the post. "Turns out you''ve been married to your husband for a year and a half but still kept seeing your ex-boyfriend? Is this considered ying both sides?"

    en

    Only then did everyone realize that I had never been a mistress. It was all fabricated by Jessica.

    They all came to apologize to me.

    I didn''t mind. "If you really feel sorry for me, then buy some of the merchandise."

    The sales of the merchandise skyrocketed.

    As I watched the numbers climb, my mood, which had been affected by Jessica''s nder, finally improved.? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    She tried to stir up trouble for me, but it only helped me make more money.

    I could temporarily forgive her. After all, I already had my ns for revenge. There was no rush.

    ...

    Everyone who bought the merchandise, knowing who had made their wallets lighter, wasted no time scolding Jessica.

    Jessica became even angrier after Annalise had effortlessly resolved the issues. Furthermore, the merchandise was selling like hotcakes!

    What frustrated her the most was that she couldn''t find a quick way to ruin Annalise''s reputation!

    ...

    After the meeting, Zane walked out of his office.

    Eric followed behind him, reporting "During the meeting, I noticed

    Annalise. Many people are criticizing her."

    someone intentionally nderial. ne

 Chapter 364

    Zane quickened his pace after hearing the news.

    Although Eric was very interested in what would happen next, he also understood that this was something between Zane and Annalise.

    It would be a little inappropriate for him to eavesdrop. So he held back his curiosity and returned to his office.

    ...

    Zane pushed open the office door and walked up to me. "Are you feeling okay now?"

    "I''m fine." I looked at him, puzzled. "Why?"

    Zane looked concerned as he took my hand. "I heard from Eric that someone''s been insulting you?

    "I was worried that you might feel upset..."

    "Oh, you''re talking about this." I chuckled and said, "It''s nothing. It was just Jessica trying to stir things up.

    "After I handled it, I made sure to drag her down with me. Now, more people are criticizing her than criticizing me."

    Zane finally rxed. "So, you''re not angry?"

    I answered, "At this point, being angry won''t solve anything. It''s better to take this opportunity to think about how to flip this crisis."

    "Look..." I handed my phone to Zane. "I''ve done it."

    Seeing that I was unaffected, Zane took the phone.

    Upon seeing the skyrocketing sales, he asked in surprise, "Can you tell me how you did it?"

    I told him the events precisely as they had happened. "It seems like people are particrly interested in topics like cheating and mistresses.

    "Jessica failed to mislead the readers, so she implied that I was the mistress. They all thought I was on the wrong side, destroying other people''s rtionships, and then biting back.

    "They were all really angry. However, after I presented the evidence proving my innocence, they realized Jessica had manipted them. They all felt guilty.

    "So I took the opportunity to get them to buy merchandise. With so many people paying attention to this issue, there were even more who wronged me. "Even if only one-tenth or one-hundredth of them bought, it was enough for me to make a little fortune."

    After finishing my exnation, I patted the seat beside me.

    Zane sat down next to me.

    His arm rested over my shoulder, and his cold voice was full of

    approval as he said, "Anna, with your

    mindset, no matter what you do or

    what career you pursue, you will

    always seed." N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.

    I epted his approval calmly. "People always have to keep growing. You can''t get stuck in your emotions every time something happens.

    "Because once your emotions settle

    down and you look back, the

    problem will remain. It will still make things hard for you. So the best way is to handle the problem the

    moment it arises."

    I lifted my head and looked at Zane. "Otherwise, how would you enjoy life?"

    Zane chuckled. "Very true."

    ....

    Jessica paced back and forth in the living room. Slowly, she devised a n to stir trouble for Annalise.

    She left ament in Annalise''s section, spreading rumors that Annalise was the one stirring things up in thements and that she orchestrated everything. She imed Annalise was exploiting her privacy to sell merchandise for publicity.

    And at the end, she didn''t forget to add a little extra. "I think the author is aplete businessman. She''s all about making money, not genuinely focused on creating

    en

    ...

    Zane returned to the desk and continued handling work matters.

    I kept an eye on thement section and saw that Jessica again tried to stir things up and guide others to insult me.

    I couldn''t help butugh.

    I replied to her, "What''s the problem? I''m human too, and I need to live.

    "I also need to think about how to make money to support my mom and myself in old age. If I don''t make more money while I''m still young, what will I do when I''m old?" The fans were all on my side.

 Chapter 365

    Everyone felt what I said made sense and began criticizing Jessica.

    "What''s wrong with her?"

    "Isn''t being the mistress enough? She already destroyed someone''s marriage, but now she''s stirring things up in the victim''sment section?" "Now that everyone sees through her and won''t be fooled, she''s trying to use such ridiculous excuses to make everyone attack the author." "Is she crazy?"

    As I read through thements, my mood gradually lifted.

    I leaned back on the couch, thinking about Jessica''s provocation. Wasn''t she just jealous that so many fans liked me?

    She tried encouraging readers to betray me, to hurt me, and ultimately to make me stop writing and drawing.

    But how would it be so easy? The more she didn''t want me to drawics, the more determined I was to draw!

    Not only that, but I would pay extra attention to the quality of theic, both the storyline and the artwork, and keep improving.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Only then could even more people like me and Jessica would be even angrier.

    Heh!

    Before Jessica gave birth, I would use this method to provoke her, to make her suffer. I considered it as paying back with interest for her foolishness.

    When she gave birth, I would make sure to send her a "big gift".

    By then, Jessica would definitely regret the harm she caused me!

    I pulled my thoughts back and focused on drawing.

    ...

    Jessica looked at the scathingments and screamed in frustration. "Annalise, why don''t you go to hell!"

    She clutched her belly, struggled to sit down, and then called Steven.

    Steven''s voice was cold as ever. "What is it?"

    "My stomach doesn''t feel well."

    Despite all her efforts, she hadn''t been able to affect Annalise in the slightest, which left her frustrated But she didn''t want Annalise to have an easy time, so after thinking for a while, she decided toin to Steven.

    After all, Steven had ways to make Annalise miserable.

    Jessica bit her lip and said, pretending to be aggrieved, "It''s all Annalise''s fault. She actually exposed our rtionship online. "Now, a lot of people are calling me a mistress.

    "..."

    Hearing the sob in her voice, Steven questioned in dissatisfaction, "You''re pregnant, and she still won''t leave you alone?" Although he loved Annalise, he still genuinely felt that Annalise was in the wrong.

    Annalise had given birth before, and she should understand the

    difficulties of being pregnant. He didn''t expect Annalise to take care of Jessica for him, but Annalise had actually allowed people to cyberbully Jessica!

    Wasn''t that too much?

    Jessica sobbed and said, "Yes. I don''t even know if I did something wrong."

    Jessica looked pitiful. "Could you ask Annalise for me? If she''s willing to tell me what she dislikes about me, I''ll change immediately!"

    She acted like Annalise had bullied her and that she was scared of her.

    Steven was furious. He immediately hung up the phone and dialed Zane''s number.

    Zane was surprised by the iing call but answered nheless. "Is there something you need?"

    Steven questioned, "Can you ask

    Annalise this for me? As a woman,

    why is she always making things difficult for another woman? What''s

    on

    the

    point of that?"

    Zane nced toward the partition but didn''t answer directly.

    Instead, he replied calmly, "Could you please be more specific and tell me who this woman is?"

 Chapter 366

    Steven came to seek justice for Jessica, so he had no intention of hiding anything. "Jessica," he said. Zane didn''t have time to focus on what was happening online, but he had a rough idea of the situation.

    It was likely that Jessica failed to cause trouble for Annalise online. However, she wasn''t satisfied, so she asked Steven for help.

    Zane sat with his legs crossed, his handsome face showing a hint of sarcasm.

    Steven took a deep breath. "Mr. Huxham, this has nothing to do with you. I don''t want to involve anyone innocent, so please pass the phone to Annalise."

    "She''s my girlfriend." Zane was always protective. "Mr. Pelham, I''ve heard about their grievances."

    Steven realized that Zane wasn''t cooperating to resolve the issue. "So, you want to protect her?"

    Zane sneered. "What do you think? She''s done nothing wrong. If I just stand by and let you scold her, wouldn''t that make me a useless boyfriend?"

    "Also, since their conflict started online, you''d better do your research first. You can judge the situation only after understanding the truth."

    Zane spoke condescendingly, "You know our families are in a cooperative rtionship. But now, Mr. Pelham, you''ve been easily swayed by Jessica, and without considering the consequences, you''ve aggressively attacked my girlfriend. "This makes me seriously doubt your professional abilities."

    Steven''s anger grew as he listened. "Are you saying all this just to make me go easy on Annalise?"

    Zane let out a sneer. "In terms of public matters, you''re too impulsive. As a business partner, you haven''t earned my trust.

    "In private, you say you love Anna, but whenever someone doubts her, you always criticize her. I feel sorry for Anna."

    Zane lightly tapped the table in front of him. "Of course, if you want to criticize her, you could do that."

    Steven was puzzled. "Hmm?"

    "But, go check the details of the situation first," Zane said with finality.

    Zane turned toward the partition, thinking about the kind of man Steven was.

    Annalise must have had a tough time in the past.

    Steven was furious at this point. "You said it."

    Zane responded decisively, "Of course."

    Instead of hanging up, Steven directly searched, and the results were all criticisms of Jessica.

    He snorted coldly. It was the same as what Jessica said. Annalise was malicious!

    But he still wanted to know what methods Annalise used to make even strangers speak up for her online.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    After several searches, he finally found a summary video.

    It was Jessica who had started the trouble, After Annalise exined herself Jessica still wasn''t satisfied and continued fabricating even more outrageous rumors. Conte belongs to

    In the end, when everyone realized that

    was the victim in this

    Sit Annalise v

    they turned their attacks

    toward Jessica.

    The anger in Steven''s chest disappeared instantly.

    At that moment, Zane called again, and his voice rang out. "Mr. Pelham, have you finished watching it?"

    Steven suddenly felt absurd, as if Jessica had tricked him. "Mhm."

    Zane continued, "Are you still going to stand up for Jessica?"

    Steven didn''t know how to answer that question. He felt incredibly awkward.

    Zane said indifferently, "Being foolish is not an issue, but it''s important to have self-awareness. If Anna really wanted to create trouble for you, she had plenty of chances to do so, but she didn''t.

    "She just wants to forget everything rted to you."

    Zane slowed down his speech. "So, she never wanted to deal with you, but you keeping to her with problems."

 Chapter 367

    "What''s wrong? Do you think she''s vulnerable just because she has no one to back her up?" Zane questioned.

    Steven quickly responded, "No."

    Zane said with a disgusted tone, "It better not be."

    He then hung up the phone.

    ...

    I heard Zane''s voice and slowly approached him. "Was that Steven on the phone just now?"

    Zane had no intention of hiding anything from me. "Yes, after Jessica failed to stir up trouble and got criticized, she probably wasn''t happy, so she called him toin. He believed her."

    He wrapped his arm around my waist as he spoke and pulled me to sit on hisp. "He just wants to stand up for Jessica."

    I said, disgusted, "Are those two out of their minds?"

    "Yeah." Zane gently stroked the back of my hand.

    "I don''t understand. He always protects Jessica, so where does he get the face to say he loves you?"

    I scoffed and said, "I actually think he has no feelings for me. He''s probably saying this to soften me and have me serve Jessica during her postpartum recovery." Zane asked, "Is he that outrageous?"

    "Pretty much," I answered calmly. "At the time, I had just had a miscarriage and hadn''t even been discharged from the hospital, yet he brought Jessica back home. "They even took the master bedroom that was supposed to be mine and had me sleeping in the guest room."

    Zane had underestimated Steven''s stupidity. "This is the first time I''ve seen such an outrageous man."

    After his brief remark, he continued, "By the way, about Jessica frequently causing trouble for youtely. Do you need my help to handle it?"

    "No need," I replied calmly. "If she wants to stir up trouble online, I''ll just treat it as her helping me gain publicity.

    "Anyway, no matter what she does, it will end up attracting more people to look at my work, and my merchandise sales will increase as a result. "This is a good thing for me."

    I cupped Zane''s face in my hands. "As for the nonsense she''s saying, I won''t even take it to heart."

    Zane held my waist with hisrge hands. "Good. But if youe across something you can''t handle,e to me."

    "Okay." I rested on Zane''s shoulder, suddenly feeling a great sense of security.

    I had faced simr situations when I was with Steven. But back then, no one cared whether I was hurt.

    So, at the time, I always felt like I

    was

    what de of steel. No matter setbacks I faced, I could handle

    on my own.

    But now, I

    somead someone who would

    notice the harm I''ve been through someone who cared... Someone

    who would face it with me

    belongs to en.kikistotent

    It was at this moment that I suddenly realized that love means having someone by your side.

    I hugged Zane tightly. My heart seemed to warm up.

    Zane gently patted my waist and asked, "It''s noon. Would you like to go eat together?"

    "Okay."

    ...

    Yvonne was hiding around the corner of the stairs, watching Annalise and Zane walk into the stairwell.

    She quickly called Jessica. "The two of them are going downstairs to eat!"

    Jessica replied, "If they''re together, afte Zane, Annalise

    It''s impossible toet

    tionship like this."

    Yvonne looked puzzled. "What should I do then?"

    "Wait until Zane goes out alone, then contact me," Jessica said confidently.

    "Okay."This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Jessica turned to look out the window. Wasn''t Zane the one who gave Annalise everything she had now?

 Chapter 368

    As long as Jessica could take Zane away from Annalise, then everything Annalise had would be hers!

    Jessica hoped that this day woulde sooner.

    ...

    This time, Zane chose a small restaurant.

    The dishes he ordered were all the restaurant''s specialties.

    Zane took the initiative to exin, "My secretary rmended this restaurant to me. He said the chef''s skills are exceptional, so I wanted to bring you here to try it." When the dishes were served, I took a bite.

    The cooking was perfectly done, and the vor was unbelievably good. I nodded in agreement. "It''s really delicious."

    Seeing that I was truly satisfied, Zane sighed in relief. "I''m d you like it."

    "Mm."

    I kept eating.

    "Mr. Huxham, is that really you?" A young girl, probably just out of college, hopped in front of Zane.

    Her face was full of disbelief. "Last time, when I promoted my parents'' restaurant to you, I thought for sure you wouldn''t like small ces like this.

    "I never expected you would actually give it a try. Wait, I''ll ask my dad to send you a few more dishes to try!"

    Zane furrowed his brows and refused, "No need."

    "No, no, this is my family''s restaurant." Madeline Carter said politely. "You''re the guest, so I''m in charge here."

    She then hurriedly dashed into the kitchen.Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.

    I watched the entire interaction and noticed how familiar they seemed with each other.

    I asked, "What''s going on?"

    Zane shook his head. "I don''t know either. My secretary just said it''s a restaurant run by the family of one of the employees, and the chef''s cooking is decent." Zane thought momentarily, then decided to call Eric to rify the situation.

    He dialed Eric''s number. "Who rmended this restaurant downstairs to you?"

    Eric quickly exined, "Oh, Madeline. She gave me her business card and said she wanted to invite you to try their restaurant.

    "At first, I wasn''t sure if their food was any good, so I decided to try it for myself.

    "It''s pretty decent. Just thought I should let you know."

    Eric then asked, "Is there a problem?"

    Zane shook his head. "No."

    Madeline ced the extra dishes her father had added on the dining table,

    the immediately went to sit next to

    Zane.

    Her big eyes were fixed on me. "You don''t mind I sit here, right?"

    I met her gaze and politely said, "I''m sorry, but I do mind."

    Madeline was surprised and asked, "You''re so petty?"

    I didn''t deny it. "He''s my boyfriend, so I don''t want him to have intimate contact with other women.

    "I hope you can understand."

    Madeline stood up in disappointment and sat beside me, asking, "What if I sit here?"

    I smiled and said, "That''s fine."

    Zane looked at the dishes that had just been brought over. They were all bright red and very spicy.

    His gaze shifted to Madeline.

    The person who had been

    showering him with attention just

    moments ago was now

    enthusiastically serving food to his

    girlfriend. His intuition told him that something wasn''t right.

    I looked at the ever-growing pile of food in front of me, feeling a bit helpless. "That''s enough food."

    Madeline reluctantly said, "Okay then. My dad''s cooking is really delicious. I just wanted you to eat a bit more." Madeline paused and looked at me. "You give them a try first."

    I took a bite, and it was incredibly spicy!

    I looked at Madeline in shock. "It''s delicious!"

    "Right?" Madeline beamed excitedly at thepliment. "I knew you''d love it!"

    I nodded while continuing to eat.

    Madeline''s eyes were filled with joy.

    After finishing the meal, I asked Madeline, "Do you want to head back with us?"

    Madeline shook her head. "I need to help my dad out for a while. Once he''s

    Offot busy, I''ll head back to the

    11

    Zane took my hand and said, "Then we''ll be leaving."

    Madeline waved and said, "Goodbye!"

 Chapter 369

    Madeline waited a few minutes before sneaking out of the restaurant. She then hurriedly ran to the game department where Sasha was. "Sasha!" she eximed.

    Sasha immediately ran over when she heard the voice. "How did it go?"

    Madeline said with ill intent, "I did everything you arranged!"

    Sasha wore a mischievous smile. "Then let''s go watch the fun."

    Although Zane had been kind to her and had pointed out many work-rted issues for Dous, he was only helping because of Annalise.

    In reality, she vaguely felt that Zane didn''t quite like her.

    No! To be more urate, it seemed like Zane thought of her as an unwantedpany, someone who disturbed his and Annalise''s private space.

    But she and Annalise were good friends! It was natural for them to spend time together.

    Zane shouldn''t have an issue with it!

    Sasha grabbed Madeline''s hand and urged, "Hurry!"

    Madeline was full of excitement. "Let''s go!"

    ...

    I was just about to return to my couch and continue working when Zane grasped my hand. "Anna."

    "Mm?" I looked at him.

    Zane motioned for me to sit on his couch. "I''ve noticed this, but it seems like you really attract women."

    I asked with a smile, "Do you even know what you''re saying?"

    "Any woman who likes me..." Zane cupped my face with both hands. "As long as they''ve been in contact with you, they''ll end up falling for you instead."

    I draped my arm over his neck. "Isn''t it just Sasha? Are there others?"

    Zane gradually leaned closer to me. "What about Madeline?"

    I fell silent.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org.

    Zane''s deep voice grew more maic, carrying a hint of seduction. "I knew it... You''re amazing."

    His lips pressed down, and I closed my eyes.

    Zane pried open my lips, unabashedly conquering me.

    I gripped Zane''s shirt tightly.

    Suddenly, Zane froze and quickly pulled away.

    I looked confusedly at him.

    Zane''s expression darkened as he said, "Too spicy."

    "Should I go downstairs and get you a drink?" I asked.

    I tried to hold back augh upon seeing his flushed face.

    Zane said, "There''s a vending machine downstairs."

    "Okay."

    I was about to leave when I noticed Zane following me. His face was full of grievance.

    I couldn''t help but smile.

    Zane saw the two people hiding in the corner and immediately understood what was happening.

    He concealed the emotions in his eyes and pretended like nothing had happened. Then, he calmly

    ahead.  Walked

    "We did it!" After Zane entered the elevator, Sasha emerged and happily high-fived Madeline.

    Madeline couldn''t hide her pride either. "Yay!"

    Sasha lifted her chin, looking like a

    proud

    swan. "From now on, all the unpleasantness between Zane and

    me will be erased!" Content Belongs

    Madeline quickly asked, "You know Mr. Huxham?"

    She thought Sasha was just an ordinary employee like her. They could only watch Zane from afar in thepany. Sasha didn''t hesitate for a second. "I used to pursue him."

    Madeline was even more incredulous. "You''re not lying to me, are you?" "Of course not." Sasha was always bold and straightforward.

    Madeline was taken aback. "I heard that employees who used to confess to him either got demoted or fired. How are you still working here? Could it be that Mr. Huxham secretly likes you?"

 Chapter 370

    Sasha said without a second thought, "Never."

    Madeline asked, "Hmm?"

    "When I confessed to him, he repeatedly told me he wasn''t interested," Sasha said boldly. "Later, when I became friends with Annalise, he let me work here because of her too."

    "Is that so?" Madeline sounded a bit disappointed. "I thought I''d get to witness a dramatic love story!"

    Sasha immediately looked around to make sure no one was listening, then said, "You can''t ever mention this again. If Zane hears about it, he''ll definitely fire me!" Madeline quickly covered her mouth. "I got it!"

    ...

    After buying a drink, I twisted the cap off and handed it to Zane.

    Zane gulped it down in several swigs. When the burning sensation in his mouth subsided, he realized something.

    Madeline showed subtle signs of having a crush on him earlier, only to lower his guard. In reality, her goal all along was to set him up!

    Zane took my hand and said, "Let''s go back."

    "Okay."

    I continued to sketch in the office.

    Zane sat at his desk in deep thought.

    First of all, Madeline didn''t have much contact with him. She had no grudge against him, so there was no reason for her to try to get back at him just for the sake of a prank. Plus, the method of revenge was so childish.

    With these considerations in mind, Zane immediately guessed who had been instructing Madeline.

    He called Sasha, asking her to bring Madeline to his office.

    When Sasha heard Zane''s words, her heart skipped a beat. She looked at Madeline beside her.

    Madeline blinked her big eyes, looking pure and innocent. She didn''t realize danger was already looming. She asked, "What''s wrong?"

    Sasha''s expression turned serious. "Zane wants us to go see him."

    "Then let''s go," Madeline said directly.

    Sasha pulled her aside and whispered, "Did you forget? We just plotted against him not long ago."? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.

    Madeline finally realized the problem. "Is he nning to use this chance to get back at us?"

    "Maybe," Sasha said as she patted her shoulder. "We need to be mentally prepared. No matter what he says, we must not show any signs of abnormality, understand?"  en

    Madeline became serious. "Understood!"

    ...

    The two of them walked nervously and hesitantly.

    It took them some time, but they finally stood before Zane.

    Zane ced a file aside and said slowly, "There''s a new game project I want to assign to the two of you. I called can u here to ask if you

    handle this responsibility?"

    Zane''s tone was all business, and there wasn''t the slightest hint of anything unusual.

    Sasha was stunned.

    Madeline also looked at Sasha.

    Zane asked, "Hmm?"

    Sasha didn''t hesitate and quickly responded, "We can!"

    Zane calmly continued, "I''ve already spoken with the department head. You can go to the 20th floor to find him." "Okay!"

    The two of them left the office excited.

    Sasha lifted her chin and bragged to

    Madeline, "I told you, with how

    we''ve

    n it, Zane wouldn''t elf

    possibly figure it out."

    Madelineughed sarcastically. "This isn''t what you were saying earlier!"

    Zane watched the two of them leave, and a smile of triumph appeared on his usually stoic face.

    He was always one to hold a grudge. Why would anyone dare to mess with him?

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