《The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)》


 Chapter 1

    "Mommy, can you please divorce Daddy?"


    It was 9:00 pm, and I was trying to get my son to sleep. Just when I thought he was drifting off, he suddenly asked me that.


    That one sentence hit me like a ton of bricks, leaving me momentarily stunned. My hand froze on his back. A sharp pain pricked at my heart.


    Over the years, my rtionship with his father had been pretty good. By all ounts, a child nurtured with love should feel happy living in such an environment. So, how could he have such a thought? I couldn''t wrap my head around it, so I asked, "Why do you say that?" I tried to keep my voice gentle, afraid of scaring him.


    "You never let me eat fast food or ice cream."


    He was nearly falling asleep. His voice slurred and wasced with the innocence typical of his age. It left me feeling both amused and exasperated.


    He wanted me to divorce his father over trivial things like this? Kids really were naive.


    As I listened to his breathing slow and steady, I knew he had fallen asleep.


    Just as I was about to get up and leave, a notification sound came from his bedside. I turned back and saw light from under his pillow.


    After lifting the corner of the pillow, I spotted a tablet hidden underneath and couldn''t help but sigh.


    My son was still young, and I was worried about his eyesight, so I had set strict limits on his screen time.


    Though he often grumbled about it, he had always followed my rules. But tonight, he had secretly stashed the tablet away.


    As I pulled it out and prepared to shut it down, I was caught off guard by the bright screen disying a group chat.


    The group was named "Happy Family" with a smiling emoji. It was clearly named in my son''s yful tone, as that was his favorite emoji. The group avatar looked like a family portrait with four people. I zoomed in on the photo and saw a cheerful woman cradling two children.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    One of them was my son, Zachary Pelham. He held a giant ice cream cone, beaming with joy. And behind her stood my husband, Steven Pelham.


    His gaze at the woman was so tender. It was the same way he used to look at me when we first started dating.


    My heart felt like it was being pierced with a needle. A wave of uncontroble pain washed over me. Yet, my eyes couldn''t help but fall on the woman''s name.


    The contact name Zachary had given her was "Mommy".


    I felt as if I''d been struck by lightning. Trembling, I clicked on her profile. To my shock, her nickname read, "Jessica".


    Jessica... Steven''s first love, Jessica Shardlow?


    In an instant, I felt a surreal absurdity wash over me, as if I were dreaming.


    My husband and son had formed a family group chat with his first love. And I was the only one left behind. They had built a new home together.


    It felt as though someone had a vice grip on my heart, making it almost impossible to breathe.


    The group chat was filled with messages. They overwhelmed my mind as my fingers numbly scrolled up.


    In fact, the three of us had our own family group chat. But apart from me asionally asking Steven when he''d be home for dinner, it was as silent as a ghost town. Suddenly, "Mommy" in the group sent a video.


    My hands shook as I clicked it open. The video was clearly meticulously edited.


    The one-minute video shed through countless moments-fried chicken, Coke, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, and many more.


    Zachary''s face was all smiles, radiating pure joy. Even Steven, who usually hid his emotions, couldn''t conceal his indulgence and affection.


    I barely had the capacity to focus on the other two people because the video gradually slowed down and eventually stopped on Zachary''s face.


    He was squeezing his eyes shut with his hands sped tight while earnestly making a wish in front of a big cake.


    I heard his innocent, heartfelt voice. "I hope Ms. Jessie bes my mommy. I hope Daddy, Ms. Jessie, Cody, and I can be together forever!" Apuse erupted.


    Jessica and her child, Cody Gibson, pped together, wishing for his dreams toe true. And Steven, too, had a smile on his face.


    They looked just like a happy, perfect family.


    What about me? I was in so much pain I could barely breathe.


    Just then, "Mommy" in the group sent a voice message. Her voice was lively and cheerful, like that of a supportive older sister who was always on Zachary''s side.


    "Sweetie, you told me you wanted me to be your mom. And you said anyone will do, just as long as it''s not your current one. I was wondering why you seemed to dislike your mom so much.


    "I only found out it''s because she''s too controlling. She never lets you eat or y with what you want. To help you grow up happy, I''ll be your new mommy in this group chat from now on. This ce will be the home for the four of us." Did Zachary really say that? Anyone would do, as long as I wasn''t his mom?


    I tortured myself by listening to it over and over again, but I still couldn''t believe it. The child I gave birth to the one I poured all my energy into raising-could actually dislike me this much.


    I shut my eyes. Tears streamed down my face uncontrobly.


    Zachary had always had a sensitive stomach. Even a little bit of the wrong food could lead to a stomachache. He had been hospitalized a few times as a toddler due to gastroenteritis.


    That was why I had been so careful about his diet. I meticulously prepared bnced meals every day, hoping to improve his health. But all my efforts for him had somehow turned into instances of me hurting him in his eyes.


    No wonder Zachary''s gastroenteritis red up again recently.


    I was frantic, but I couldn''t find the reason. So this was the truth.


    I numbly listened to the voice messages Zachary had sent earlier. Every single one of his usations felt like a sharp knife stabbing into my heart, leaving me gasping for air.


    Then, Zachary suddenly stopped sending anything. I knew it was because I hade to his room to put him to sleep.


    He couldn''t let me know he was secretly using the tablet. He had toply with me, even if he wanted to continue chatting with Jessica in the group chat.


    And now, he was fast asleep.


    I bit my lip, tears streaming down my face as I looked at him.


    He looked so perfect, like a doll. He spoke with such innocence, saying whatever he felt without a second thought.


    But...


    Lies didn''t hurt. The truth did.


    I always believed that he might find me strict for now. But he would eventually understand that I was only trying to do what was best for him as his mother. Yet I never imagined he coulde to hate me this much. A wave of heartbreak and anger swept through me.


    But I hadn''t lost my grip on reality. I knew Zachary was still just a child. He was like a nk te. He didn''t know or understand anything.


    His strong dislike for me and affection for Jessica could only stem from Steven.

 Chapter 2

    I held the tablet tightly as I walked out of Zachary''s room and headed straight for Steven''s study. I just couldn''t understand why it had to be Jessica. The first time I heard that name was at our wedding.


    Back then, Steven treated me so well. Whenever I felt down, he''dfort me, saying, "It''s okay. Nobody''s perfect." And he''d patiently stay with me until I felt better. When I got sick, he dropped everything to take care of me.


    Because of that, I decided to marry him, even though it meant moving far away.


    As I stood in my wedding dress, clutching a bouquet, dreaming about our future, I overheard his friends chatting about his first love.


    "I thought Steven and Jessica would end up together. They loved each other so much back then."


    "Yeah, they really were the perfect couple."


    "What a shame."


    Their genuine regret made me question whether Steven truly loved me. Just as I was about to confront him, I saw him approach them with a dark expression. His voice carried an intensity of anger I had never heard before.


    "I''ve told you countless times that I hate Jessica! Perhaps I didn''t make it clear before, so listen carefully now. If you ever mention her again in front of me, we''re done!" Hearing those words eased my anxiety. He didn''t just not love Jessica. He actually despised her.


    But now, I couldn''t shake the feeling of doubt. Why did he bring Zachary to see her after she returned, then?


    For the first time, I questioned the happiness of my marriage.


    I didn''t knock on the door like I usually would. Instead, I pushed it open directly.


    Steven was buried in work, but when he heard the door, he turned around. The moment he saw me, he dropped everything and walked over. "What''s wrong, honey?"


    His voice was gentle, like we were still in the honeymoon phase.


    But as I heard his concerned tone, my tears flowed uncontrobly. Even at this moment, he still appeared to love me.


    Yet, this was the same person who had betrayed me.


    After a moment, he stopped in front of me. Standing at six feet two inches, he wasn''t heavily muscled, but his regr workouts gave him a well-proportioned physique that radiated a sense of security. He reached out to wipe my tears and whispered, "Did Zachary upset you again?"


    My voice broke as I replied, "No."


    Steven seemed ready to ask more, but I cut him off, saying, "I saw the group chat."


    His hand dropped away from my cheek. "What group chat?"


    I stared at him through my tear-streaked vision. Did he really want to y dumb at this point?


    My voice grew louder as I nearly shouted, "The ''Happy Family'' group chat with you and Jessica in it!"


    Seeing my distress seemed to hit him hard. Steven stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me while gently patting my back. "Honey, just calm down for a second."


    My body felt tense, like a tightly wound bowstring ready to snap.


    "Zachary insisted on creating that group," he exined.


    How did Zachary even know Jessica? What experiences had they shared that made him feel close enough to call her "Mommy"?


    Steven only wanted to shift the me,pletely ignoring that the root of all thisy with him.


    I shut my eyes. "Steven..."


    Calling his name drained me of all my strength. "I saw everything, so don''t treat me like I''m stupid, okay?"


    Steven fell silent.


    I waited for what felt like an eternity, but no response came. I turned to leave the study, but he hugged me from behind. "I''m sorry." My steps faltered.


    Steven cautiously said, "Look. This is mostly my fault. I didn''t think it through. I just wanted to help you with all the pressure of raising Zachary." Hah! What did he mean by help?


    He couldn''t find even a day to spend with me and Zachary, yet he always managed to squeeze in time to have fun with Jessica.


    I struggled to break free from Steven''s embrace, but he just wouldn''t let go. "I didn''t expect you to be upset. I''m sorry. I promise that I won''t contact her again.


    "I''ll leave the group chat with Zachary. We''ll block and delete her contact as well. Please give me another chance, Annalise. I promise to treat you well from now on. And I''ll keep my distance from other women, too."


    His voice took on a hurt tone. "After everything we''ve been through, and for Zachary''s sake... Please don''t leave me, Annalise."


    Hearing Steven''s pitiful plea made me think of Zachary.


    He was so young. He didn''t understand anything. Just a little time with Jessica had started to distort his habits.


    With Jessica''s indulgence, he was hospitalized more often.


    If I really got divorced and let Steven be with Jessica, Zachary would be the one to suffer in the end. So I had no choice but topromise. "Okay."


    It was just a single word, but it was so hard to say.


    At my response, Steven pulled me closer, forcing me to turn around. I looked up into his eyes.


    As he cradled my face, his eyes were filled with the joy of having regained something precious, and then he leaned in to kiss me.


    Even though everything had been resolved, the sting of Zachary''s and his betrayal still felt like a thorn in my heart.


    I didn''t want any intimate contact until Ipletely forgot this incident, so I turned my head away from his kiss.


    In the next moment, I found myself lifted off the ground. I panicked at the sudden feeling of weightlessness, and I instinctively clung to Steven.


    He chuckled softly. "Still upset?"


    "I need time."Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    I didn''t deny it.


    His voice-deep and enticing-took on a coaxing tone. "How about I make it up to you tonight? Maybe I could earn some leniency?"


    Normally, I''d struggle to resist such peace offerings, but this time, I truly had no interest.


    Steven seemed to sense my answer. Before I could even refuse, he tossed me onto the soft bed.


    As I attempted to sit up, he immediately pinned me down.


    I pressed my hands against his chest, trying to push him away. But he caught both my wrists with one hand and held them above my head.


    He was much stronger than I was. There was no escaping his grip.

 Chapter 3

    Steven gripped my chin with his other hand. His grip was firm and unyielding, preventing me from turning away. Following that, his lips pressed down on mine. "You''ll enjoy it."


    ...


    Zachary was in his final year of kindergarten. School started at 8:00 am sharp every day.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    The kindergarten was a 20-minute drive from home. To make sure he wasn''tte, we would leave by 7:30 am every morning, so I woke up at 6:30 am to prepare breakfast. That morning''s breakfast was simple-ravioli I had prepared the night before.


    What was a bit more work was the soup base. I had to make fresh chicken soup.


    Iid some herbs at the bottom of the pot, ced a whole cleaned chicken inside, and added some vegetables on top. I covered the pot and let it boil on high heat.


    Once it started boiling, I lifted the lid, and the rich aroma of chicken soup filled the kitchen. I added a bit of salt, then lowered the heat to let it simmer.


    After finishing everything, I left the kitchen satisfied and went to the walk-in closet to pick out outfits for Zachary and Steven.


    Steven, as the CEO of hispany, dressed more formally. Zachary, being a child, mostly worefortable and practical clothes.


    Once Iid out the outfits in their respective bedrooms, they were almost done getting ready.


    I took that opportunity todle the chicken soup and cook the ravioli. The chicken soup was already hot, so it didn''t take long to boil. I put enough ravioli for all three of us into the pot and waited quietly for it to cook. "Mommy!"


    I turned around upon hearing Zachary''s angry voice and saw him rushing toward me with his tablet.


    He was furious. "Did you delete Ms. Jessie''s contact and leave the group chat we were in?"


    I looked at his flushed, angry face and shook my head. "No."


    But I could understand Zachary''s feelings. He was still too young to grasp right from wrong.


    In his eyes, Jessica let him indulge in things. He could eat freely and y as he pleased. So, to him, Jessica was his favorite person.


    Even if we adults cut off his connection with Jessica for his own good, he wouldn''t be able to ept it.


    I had prepared myself for his anger, but I hadn''t expected his words to be so hurtful.


    "Who else would do that other than you?" Zachary red at me. "No wonder everyone says Daddy doesn''t like you! Women like you, who want to control every detail of other people''s lives, don''t deserve to be loved!" Even though I had anticipated him losing control and saying extreme things, I still told myself that I should be understanding. I was his mother, after all.


    However, I overestimated myself. His words were like a sharp arrow, effortlessly piercing through my tough facade and driving deep into my heart.


    So I was really so detestable in Zachary''s eyes?


    My hand trembled uncontrobly. "Daddy doesn''t like me? Then, who does he like?"


    Zachary puffed his cheeks. "Ms. Jessie, of course! He told me himself that he liked her long before!"


    "Really?" My mind went nk. "How do you know this?"


    Zachary tilted his head. "Daddy told me, of course. Why else would he always take me to y with Ms. Jessie?"


    His innocent, straightforward response only made his words sting more.


    True. If Steven didn''t like Jessica, he wouldn''t have kept in contact with her. Their recent interactions had been unnervingly frequent.


    Steven''s feelings for Jessica were clear. It felt as though arge hand was gripping my heart tightly. In that instant, a sharp pain shot through me. "Daddy must really like Ms. Jessie. The way he looks at her is different from how he looks at you.


    "He said he hasn''t divorced you yet because he doesn''t want me to end up in a single-parent family like you, as it could be bad for my development.


    "He''s also worried that if he divorces you, you''ll cling to him or hurt someone out of control."


    I looked at Zachary, who was only five years old, his voice still soft and innocent. But the things he said were far beyond what I could imagine-so extreme and hurtful.


    I tried to convince myself that he was only saying these things because he was upset. But my hands still trembled uncontrobly.


    Just then, the ravioli was done. The aroma filled my nose.


    I forced myself not to think about Zachary''s words as I served him a bowl. Worried it might be too hot for him, I ced it on the table. "Eat up."


    However, Zachary took the bowl with both hands and mmed it onto the floor.


    The bowl shattered with a loud crash, and the chicken ravioli soup sttered everywhere.


    "Zachary Pelham! There''s a limit to how much you can throw a fit. Have you forgotten all the manners I taught you?"


    My anger red up as well. Our eyes locked, neither of us willing to back down.


    Zachary, not getting the response he wanted, was visibly unhappy. After pushing me, he cried as he ran off. "I don''t need you to teach me! I hate you!"


    He didn''t push me very hard, but I still stumbled and almost fell.


    I stared in disbelief at Zachary''s retreating figure.


    We usually got along well. However, given his young age and undeveloped sense of judgment, he often said and did the wrong things.


    Even if they asionally hurt me, I would exin to him calmly afterward what was wrong. He''d then figure out how to fix it.


    Usually, in situations like this, he''de up to me, wrap his arms around my neck, and say, "Mommy, I said something that made you sad, did I? I''ll remember that, and I won''t say it again." Then, he''d nuzzle his face against mine. But none of that was happening now.


    I steadied myself against the stove. My tears fell uncontrobly.


    Why had he be like this? Was it really because of my parenting methods?


    I reflected on myself seriously.


    I had been too strict with him before. He was young and didn''t understand that everything I did was for his own good. All he felt was pressure.


    Meanwhile, Jessica''s unrestrained indulgence made him feel rxed, so he slowly drifted toward her and away from me.


    If I eased up on him, would it mend our rtionship?


    I took another bowl from the rack.


    Zachary''s food was now ruined, but Steven hadn''t eaten yet. Unlike before, I didn''t serve him his ravioli but instead ced the empty bowl on the table and sat down.


    I had to admit that my mind was a jumble of thoughts at this moment.


    When Steven came in and saw the empty bowl, he was stunned for a second. "What''s wrong?"


    I held back my emotions. "Zachary found out he''s no longer in the group chat and couldn''t find Jessica''s contact, so he got upset and broke his bowl. I don''t think he''s in the mood for my cooking today. You can drop him off at school. He can eat there." Steven nodded. "Okay."


    He got up and served himself some ravioli. "Don''t be upset, honey. Don''t take it to heart."


    I looked at him, Zachary''s words echoing in my mind. I wanted to ask him what was really going on, but I stopped.


    What could I say if he questioned why I took a child''s words seriously?


    Yet saying nothing left me feeling suffocated.


    Feeling a lump of frustration, I still spoke up, "About yesterday..."


    "Don''t worry," Steven said, as if he knew my concerns. Smiling, he reached over the table to ruffle my hair. "I promised you I''d take care of it."


    Upon hearing his assurance, I felt slightly relieved. "Okay. Let''s eat."


    Once he cut ties with Jessica, I''d do my best to act like his affections had never wavered that he''d always been my loving husband and a caring father. After all, we were once a happy family.


    ...


    After finishing breakfast, Steven headed to Zachary''s room to get him ready for school.


    Zachary came out, dressed and ready. But when he saw me, he huffed and turned away. Sulking, he held Steven''s hand and headed for the door.


    Steven stood at the door and said goodbye.


    Like every other day, they set off, leaving me alone in the house.


    My task was the same as always-cleaning up the mess they left behind. It was a repetitive and tedious process.


    I began with the shattered bowl on the floor, the scattered ravioli, and the spilled soup, then moved on to the used dishes on the table and yesterday''s clothes.


    Once everything was tidied up, I started mopping, going from the living room to the bedrooms, and finally, to the study.


    When I opened the study door, I saw a photo and two open letters on the desk.


    The photo was of Jessica''s young, lively face. The letter on the left was in Steven''s handwriting. He had only written two sentences.


    "Jessica, even though your past betrayal hurt me deeply, I can still forgive you. If you''re willing to give us another chance, I''ll call off the wedding with Annalise right away." My mind went nk at once.

 Chapter 4

    Did Steven write this letter to Jessica on the eve of our wedding?


    The other letter was Jessica''s response to him.


    "I put your letter inside mine and sent it back. I''m very happy now, Steven. I hope I can have your blessings. And please don''t contact me again. I''m afraid my husband will misunderstand." As I read through the letters, the puzzle pieces fell into ce, creating a nearlyplete picture.


    My grip tightened around the mop handle.


    Before this, I couldn''t understand why Steven harbored such hatred toward Jessica, his first love. It turned out to be because she had betrayed him before.


    It seemed that he had convinced himself to overlook her past mistakes and the pain she had caused him, longing only for her return. But unfortunately, Jessica had still rejected him.


    At this moment, everything clicked. I finally understood why his friends'' mention of Jessica at our wedding had caused such an intense reaction from him.


    But why was he bringing out these letters now? Was he trying to remind himself of Jessica''s cruelty, solidifying his resolve to keep her at a distance and cherish our life together?


    Or was he worried that Jessica still wouldn''t take him back, even after he sacrificed everything and faced the me for abandoning his wife?


    I shut my eyes, a wave of pain almost knocking me unconscious.


    Perhaps Zachary was right. The only person Steven loved was Jessica. So, when he considered a future with her, he had never thought about the damage his choices would cause me. I stood in the study for what felt like an eternity until the ringing of my phone finally jolted me back to reality. I picked it up, my heart still heavy.


    "Hey, honey," Steven''s voice came through, low and charming. He remained as gentle as ever. "What are you doing?"


    Steven had always been thoughtful and kind around me.


    Concerned that I might feel uneasy in this unfamiliar city, he surrounded me with tenderness, even in the way he spoke.


    I should have felt satisfied.


    But now, hearing his voice only reminded me of the moments I had traveled to his city, excited to step into a life together, while he was desperately pleading for his first love to return. He might even haveined to his friends about how my arrival disrupted his reconciliation with Jessica.


    "Hello? Are you there?" Steven seemed surprised when I didn''t respond.


    I didn''t know how to face him, but I couldn''t remain silent.


    Looking at the letters and the photo on the table, I managed to say, "Just mopping the floor."


    "I called to remind you..." He paused, then continued, "There are confidential business documents on my desk. You don''t have to clean the study. I''ll take care of it when I get back."


    In the past, I would have teased him with a smile, saying, "Even I can''t see them?"


    But this time, the words wouldn''te out. After a long pause, I finally managed to say just one word, "Okay."


    After hanging up the phone, I backed out of the study with the mop.


    Why didn''t he want me to see those letters? Was he afraid I would be upset to learn he didn''t love me when he married me? Or was it because he didn''t want me to find out that Jessica was the only one he ever truly loved? Or perhaps he was secretly nning to abandon me and start a true family of four with Zachary, Jessica, and her son, Cody?


    My heart grew colder as my mind spiraled.


    It was the first time I realized that our years as a loving couple might have just been an illusion.


    ...


    The doorbell snapped me back to reality. I nced at the wall clock and realized it was already time for Steven toe home.


    I stood up to open the door, but Zachary was nowhere in sight.


    "Where''s Zachary?" I asked, puzzled. Usually, Steven would pick him up on his way home.


    "He''s still sulking, saying he doesn''t want toe home." Steven stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me. "I thought we could enjoy some time together, so I took him to my mom''s house."


    He rested his chin on my shoulder and spoke in a coy tone, "Honey."


    I had no idea how to respond to him. Once doubt took root, it burrowed deep and began to grow.


    When we first married, he seemed to love me dearly, yet he was actually missing Jessica.


    Now, he seemed as loving as ever, but I couldn''t shake the feeling that it was all a facade. Was he genuinely in love with me or just putting on a performance?


    Steven''s hand rested on my stomach, gently caressing it.


    I snapped back to reality. "Yeah?"


    He hesitantly suggested, "Let''s have another baby."


    I was taken aback. "Why?"


    "I thought a lot after arriving at the office today," Steven exined calmly. "I used to really like Jessica, but after spending time with her again, I realize that the days I''ve spent with you have truly made me happy."


    I instinctively turned to meet his gaze. His expression was sincere, as if he wasn''t lying.


    I hesitated. "If that''s the case, then focus on us, and let''s live happily together."


    Steven cupped my face and leaned in to kiss my lips. "I spoke with Zachary on the way home. He also said he wants a younger sibling.


    "You know my dream has always been to have two children. So, honey, please don''t say no."Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    His gaze was deeply affectionate, captivating me. It was nearly impossible for me to refuse.


    We already had a son. A daughter wouldplete our family, and Steven would bemitted to our life together. Zachary would embrace his role as an elder brother and be more responsible. Everything would get back on track. The vision of this beautiful future tempted me.


    I nodded in agreement.


    Upon seeing my response, Steven wrapped one arm around my waist while his other hand cradled the back of my head. He then pulled me in for a kiss that left no room for refusal.


    I closed my eyes, surrendering to the moment.


    In my heart, I told myself that Steven had never actually cheated on me and that he was willing to draw a line with Jessica.


    As for Zachary, I would patiently guide him to fix his behavior. From this day forward, we would remain a perfectly ordinary family.


    Suddenly, a shrill ringtone broke the intimate atmosphere.


    Steven didn''t even nce at the screen before trying to silence it and toss the phone aside.


    But my eyes caught the name shing on the screen, and my heart plummeted. I pushed him away forcefully. "It''s Jessica calling."


    Hadn''t he said he would block her contact? How could she still reach him? Steven barely had time to look at me before he turned to grab the phone. "What do we do, Steven? Zachary''s been hospitalized for a stomachache!"

 Chapter 5

    What?


    That short sentence left me in shock. I struggled toprehend what I had just heard.


    I stared at Steven in disbelief. Hadn''t he said he took Zachary to his mom''s ce?


    His mom knew about Zachary''s health and would never let him eat something that could upset his stomach. So, why was Zachary in the hospital? And more importantly, how did Jessica know about his condition?


    "Which hospital?" Steven hurriedly picked up the clothes he had dropped and quickly got dressed.


    Jessica''s voice trembled on the phone as she cried out the name of the hospital.


    Worry for Zachary propelled me to follow Steven as he rushed out. Only then did he notice me.


    I could sense my expression was dark, teetering on the brink of a meltdown, yet I managed to rein in my anger.


    He opened the car door and got in, while I slid into the passenger seat beside him. We sat in silence for the entire 20-minute drive.


    The chaotic thoughts flooding my mind gradually became clearer as the minutes passed.


    So, Steven had been telling me he and Zachary would sever ties with Jessica while secretly taking Zachary to her. To distract me from noticing something was off, he had even used wanting another child as an excuse to keep me upied. I turned to look out the window.


    It seemed like I was the only one in our family who wanted to restore our lives and live well together. Their hearts had already tilted toward Jessica.


    When we arrived at the hospital, I dashed straight to the IV room. In the vast space, I spotted Zachary all alone. He was leaning against the wall, clearly asleep.


    I walked over to him. As I looked at his innocent sleeping face, a mix of anger and sympathy surged within me.


    He was still so young and unaware of what was good and bad. Those so-called adults knew well enough about his sensitive stomach, yet they still indulged him, causing him to end up in the hospital repeatedly.


    What infuriated me was that the very person responsible for his hospitalization had left him here alone, indifferent to whether he felt scared or not.


    Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to stay calm and sat beside Zachary. I gently propped his head up against me to ensure he wasfortable.


    "Annalise Jamison! Steven let you be a stay-at-home mom to take care of Zachary, and this is how you do your job?" A sharp usatory voice sliced through the room.


    I turned to see Steven''s mother, Chloe Ashton, walking toward us.


    She had just arrived, but to mask her own failures, she felt the need to attack first. "Under your so-called meticulous care, Zachary''s stomach problems have been getting worse every few days." Was she trying to shift the me onto me?


    Typically, I would endure conflicts with Steven''s family, as I didn''t want to put him in an awkward position. But Zachary was my bottom line. I couldn''tpromise when it came to my child.


    Fearing I would wake Zachary, I lowered my voice, though anger seeped through. "Chloe, you know who ruined Zachary''s stomach more than anyone."


    "I certainly do," Chloe retorted with a scoff. "Zachary spends most of his time with you. If you took good care of him, his stomach wouldn''t be so weak that he ends up in the hospital for eating anything!"


    I raised my head and locked eyes with her.


    The frustrations I had bottled up for the entire afternoon finally exploded, and I growled, "But when I took care of Zachary, he never had to go to the hospital for stomach issues."


    Chloe was rendered speechless. "You..."


    I pressed on. "Since you mentioned wanting to see Zachary and asked Steven to drop him off at your ce after work, his stomach issues have been getting worse.


    "I warned you both not to give him just anything to eat. And what did you do?"


    I definitely had my grievances with the Pelhams. But I always thought it wasn''t a big deal. Besides, they loved Zachary, so I figured a simple conversation would be enough. I believed they would pay more attention and avoid making the same mistakes in the future.


    As it turned out, I had overestimated them. "Not only did you ignore my warnings, but you also sent Zachary to Jessica! You let him develop a bond with that homewrecker! It was the same story today!


    "Steven came home and told me he''d sent Zachary to your ce. Just a few hourster, he was at Jessica''s ce, throwing up and suffering from diarrhea, and even ended up in the hospital! And then what?"


    I recalled the moment I had seen Zachary alone in the hospital and felt a wave of sadness wash over me. "Jessica just walked away after bringing him here. She left this little kid all by himself."


    Chloe opened her mouth, wanting to retort, but she couldn''t find the words.


    "Chloe." I struggled to speak. "I know you look down on me. I understand you only ept Jessica as your daughter-inw.


    "If you want to hate me or make my life miserable, that''s one thing. But Zachary is your grandson, and he''s still so young. He can''t handle this kind of chaos!"Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Chloe seemed taken aback that I, her usually gentle daughter-inw, would dare to argue back.


    Just as she was about to teach me a lesson, Steven rushed in, cutting her off, "Enough, Mom."


    He had always unconditionally stood on my side during conflicts with his family. This was one of the reasons I had loved him so deeply.


    Silenced by Steven, Chloe''s anger bubbled up. "You brat! Didn''t you hear how she just spoke to me?"


    Steven''s expression hardened as he stood beside me. "Did she say anything wrong?"


    Chloe was at a loss for words.


    Steven continued, "I made it clear that I wouldn''t be in contact with Jessica again, yet you still sent Zachary to her. This has started to affect our marriage."


    Upon hearing that, I looked at him in surprise. He had been unaware of this situation?


    Chloe seemed to have a lot to say but ultimately held her tongue. She just shot me a venomous re.


    I couldn''t focus on her at all, as my attention was fully on Zachary.


    After some thought, I decided to make it clear. "Chloe, I won''t be sending Zachary to you anymore from now on."


    I didn''t know when Jessica had started interacting with Zachary, but I hoped from today onward, there would be no more contact between them.


    I would also make sure to spend more time with Zachary, offering him guidance and support. With enough patience, he would be the healthy, kind child he once was.


    Chloe immediately opposed, "No way!"


    I was simply informing her of my decision. Her disapproval would not change my mind.


    Noticing that I wasn''t responding, Chloe looked to Steven for support.


    He replied, "I support Annalise''s decision."


    "You two..." Chloe was furious but could do nothing about it. The standoff dragged on until she finally realized that neither of us would back down. Finally, she stormed out in frustration. In the expansive IV room, only the three of us remained.


    I held Zachary close, while Steven sat next to me.


    Zachary was still peacefully asleep until we had to remove the IV. Suddenly, he stirred awake and blinked at me with confused eyes.


    I gently patted his back and spoke softly, "Don''t be afraid, sweetie. I''m here."


    Zachary pouted, clearly displeased. "It''s all your fault. Why did you have toe here?"


    Maybe it was the nurturing instinct of motherhood that made me find him adorable even when he was sulking. "Don''t you want me to be here?"


    "Of course not," Zachary replied without thinking. "If you hadn''te, Ms. Jessie would definitely stay here with me."

 Chapter 6

    Zachary''s naive yet blunt words pierced my heart like a needle.


    In his moment of illness and vulnerability, he was still thinking of the woman who had caused him to be sick.


    I looked down at him.


    He was clearly exhausted after his stomachache, as he had fallen asleep again after saying that.


    Steven must have heard Zachary''s words, too. He took my hand. "Honey."


    I felt no inclination to respond. I instinctively wanted to pull away.


    However, Steven tightened his grip, not allowing me to withdraw. "Today was just an ident. Mom acted without consulting us, and Zachary was sick. He didn''t mean what he said."This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    "I can understand him," I replied, holding Zachary as I started to walk toward the exit. "He likes Jessica now. Of course, he''s going to think she''s wonderful."


    After a pause, I continued, "Since I banned him from contacting her, his resistance will be strong at first. But Zachary isn''t a bad kid. I''ll guide him back to understanding who truly cares for him. "But I hope you can keep your word. I can overlook today''s incident as a mistake, but I don''t want there to be a next time."


    As I spoke, I stopped.


    Fearing I would tire myself, Steven took Zachary from my arms. "I promise that I''ll do better, honey."


    I looked at the sleeping child in Steven''s arms and fell silent.


    ...


    Steven parked the car when we arrived home. Seeing Zachary peacefully asleep, I didn''t want to wake him up.


    Just as I was about to carry him inside, Steven was already standing by the passenger door. His voice was soft as he said, "I''ll do it."


    Then, he effortlessly lifted Zachary with one hand while extending the other toward me.


    Taken aback, I looked up.


    The streetlight illuminated him, casting a warm glow over his tall frame and handsome features, making him seem almost like a celestial being. "Let''s go home, Mrs. Pelham," he said gently.


    I sighed inwardly before taking his hand and stepping out of the car. "Let''s go."


    Inside, Steven gently ced Zachary in his bed.


    At the same time, I took a small basin of warm water to his room. Steven helped by removing Zachary''s clothes and wringing out a washcloth to bathe him.


    Zachary slept soundly. He didn''t wake up even as I finished drying him off and dressed him in his pajamas. He would grunt asionally, expressing his difort, but it didn''t disturb his slumber.


    Upon seeing that, Steven simply smiled indulgently. He tossed the towel into the basin and left the room with the basin in hand.


    Meanwhile, I remained seated at the edge of the bed, watching Zachary.


    His attitude toward me had worsened recently. Whenever we spoke, he grew impatient andshed out before I could even respond calmly. The only times we seemed to coexist peacefully were when he was asleep. "Honey." Steven approached and bent down to scoop me into his arms.


    I instinctively wrapped my arms around his neck and stared at his profile with curiosity. "Yeah?"


    He turned off the light with his elbow and closed Zachary''s bedroom door. "Do you remember what we said before heading to the hospital?" he asked.


    I had forgotten about what happened before going to the hospital. But I remembered everything once we were there.


    The moment I held Zachary, I seriously considered whether I should divorce Steven. But then, I thought about how Jessica was already causing trouble for Zachary even before Steven and I had divorced. What would happen after the divorce? Would Zachary still have a good life?


    I realized I couldn''t let our family fall apart for Zachary''s sake.


    Throughout the night, my mind raced with these thoughts. I struggled to remember what had happened before going to the hospital. "Could you remind me?"


    "You really are a bit forgetful." Steven closed the bedroom door. He cradled my face and brushed his lips against mine softly.


    "Honey..." His lowered voice carried a tone of intimacy that heightened the night''s stillness.


    Steven chuckled softly. His tone was yful as he asked, "Have you remembered yet?"


    He seemed to want to tease me, but I wasn''t about to let him win. "Hmm... I still can''t remember."


    In Steven''s eyes, my reflection shimmered.


    My long hair spilled like a waterfall over the white sheets. My cheeks, flushed from our kiss, glowed with a vibrant charm. Steven swallowed hard. "Then, I guess I''ll just have to help you remember."


    ...


    The emotional toll of the day,pounded by exhaustion that night, weighed heavily on me.


    But Zachary had just been admitted to the hospital due to stomach issues. He obviously needed careful attention.


    I forced myself to rise early and prepare breakfast for them.


    Zachary could only have oatmeal to soothe his stomach, so I specifically used a pot to make the oatmeal softer and more mushy. I started by boiling water on high heat, then switched to low to let it simmer. ncing at the clock, I noted that it was still early-only a little past 5:00 am. I decided to head to the nearby vegetable market to buy some greens and meat.


    Once home, I quickly cleaned and chopped everything. I only started cooking when it was around Zachary''s wake-up time.


    There were two dishes-one was saut¨¦ed vegetables, and the other was chicken soup.


    After finishing both dishes, I was about to call them out for breakfast when I heard the sound of little feet pattering. Suddenly, Zachary came running up to me.


    He puffed out his cheeks in dissatisfaction. "I told you! I don''t want toe home these few days! I want to stay at Grandma''s!"


    ring at me, he continued, "Even though I was hospitalized, you should have taken me back to Grandma''s after I was discharged!"


    Zachary still thought I was unaware of the situation. He believed that as long as he used Chloe as an excuse, he could continue meeting Jessica.


    But I confronted him. "You want to go to Grandma''s and then have her send you to Jessica''s, right?"


    Zachary froze at once. He was just a child, unustomed to navigating suchplexities, so he didn''t know how to respond.


    "Zachary, from today on, I won''t be sending you to Grandma''s anymore."


    He instinctively retorted, "Why not?"


    I stood firm. "Because I''m your mother!"


    "I don''t want you as my mom anymore!" Zachary cried. "I want to go to Ms. Jessie''s! I want her to be my mom!"


    He was my child, born after ten months of pregnancy and raised through sleepless nights and countless sacrifices. Yet, he was rejecting me for a woman who had spoiled him and caused his illness. The pain in my heart was excruciating.


    Zachary''s eyes brimmed with tears. His cries alone couldn''t express his frustration any longer. After ncing around, he picked up the cup of water from the table and smashed it down hard onto the floor. The ss shattered with a loud crash, and water spilled everywhere.


    My limbs went cold. He hadn''t just shattered a cup. He had broken my heart. I couldn''tprehend how he could inflict such hurt on me for someone he barely knew.


    Feeling unsatisfied, Zachary went on to break everything else within reach.


    When Steven stepped out and saw the messy living room and Zachary throwing things, he couldn''t help but frown. "What are you doing, Zachary?"


    Hearing Steven''s voice, Zachary halted his cries and ran to Steven. "Daddy, don''t you love Ms. Jessie? Please divorce Mommy and marry her! I want Ms. Jessie to be my mom. I want us to be a family! I want to live with Ms. Jessie!"

 Chapter 7

    Zachary looked up at Steven. His tear-filled eyes reflected a child''s innocence and confusion, evoking pitiness.


    Steven crouched down, allowing Zachary to gaze directly into his eyes.Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    "Please say okay, Daddy," Zachary whimpered between sobs.


    "You''re still just a kid." Steven was always fond of Zachary. He reached out to tousle Zachary''s hair affectionately. "If you keep throwing tantrums at Mommy, you''re going to regret it when you''re older."


    "No, I won''t!" Zachary shook his head vigorously. As if to reassure Steven, he wiped away his tears and dered, "Daddy, I want to live with Ms. Jessie. I dream about her being my mom every night!" Each word he spoke was resolute, leaving no room for doubt.


    Steven didn''t respond. He merely patted Zachary''s shoulder before standing up.


    I turned around, struggling to meet Zachary''s gaze.


    I had always thought that his desire to be a family with Jessica was just a fleeting whim. But with his repeated outbursts, it was clear he wasn''t joking. He genuinely longed for Jessica to be his mother. What about me, his mother, who had unconditionally devoted myself to him? Was I just meant to be cast aside?


    Pain welled in my heart, as if countless ants were gnawing at it.


    "Honey." Steven wrapped his arms around me. Hisrge hand softly patted my back tofort me. "Don''t be upset. Zachary is still young. He doesn''t really understand what he''s saying."


    I had often told myself not to take Zachary''s words to heart. He was just a child, and I should be more forgiving. Yet, his innocent but blunt remarks always managed to pierce right through me.


    I struggled to let out a hum while in his arms. Once my emotions stabilized, I finally stepped out of his embrace. "Let''s eat."


    Steven released me, and I turned to the kitchen to ce the dishes on the table. Concerned I might burn myself, Steven took the initiative to handle the heavy pot.


    Zachary, clearly disappointed at not getting his way, eximed, "Daddy!"


    "Time to eat!" Steven said firmly. "Don''t make me say it again."


    Only then did Zachary reluctantlyply. He held his spoon and took small slips of the oatmeal.


    With the ss shards scattered across the floor, I feared someone would get hurt, so I began cleaning while they ate.


    As Zachary chewed, he swung his legs and muttered, "I hate Mommy! I hate Mommy!"


    My hand froze mid-sweep.


    Before the ache in my heart settled, I reminded myself that I had anticipated this.


    During the initial period when I prevented Zachary from contacting Jessica, he would undoubtedly react with intense resistance, and his words would be increasingly harsh. I just needed to hold on a little longer. After sweeping up thest shard of the ss, I returned to find them finishing their breakfast. Steven guided Zachary toward the door, reminding him, "Say goodbye to Mommy."


    "No!" Zachary huffed and turned his head away from me.


    I stood inside the house, watching the two of them. The intense pain in my heart seemed to finally subside.


    "Honey." Steven took my hand and leaned in to nt a soft kiss on my lips. "Don''t take it too personally. This phase will pass."


    "I know."


    ...


    Zachary''s kindergarten was a daycare center. Every day, he had to be dropped off before 8:00 am and picked up by 6:00 pm.


    Steven typically said he was too busy to bother me. So, he would pick up Zachary after work.


    But today, I decided to reim the responsibility of picking up our son. I believed that spending more time together might strengthen our bond.


    I didn''t inform Steven about my decision. I thought it would be a nice surprise for our family to go home together.


    To free up time to pick up Zachary, I hurriedly finished my chores and even left an hour early. I arrived at the kindergarten entrance ahead of schedule. After waiting for several minutes, school was finally over.


    As the electric gate opened, the teachers held back the children. They confirmed each parent''s name before allowing them to leave with their families. "Zachary Pelham!" a teacher shouted. "Is Zachary''s guardian here?"


    "I''m here!" I raised my hand and stepped forward.


    At the same moment, another figure rushed to my side.


    I instinctively turned around and found Jessica in a striking red dress with her wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. She wore borate makeup and radiated a warm, confident smile. "I''m here, Ms. Dawson." I was stunned.


    Why was Jessica here to pick up Zachary and even iming to be his guardian? Had Steven been deceiving me?


    He had told me he would pick up Zachary on his way home from work, but in reality, he had sent Jessica to create opportunities for her to bond with him.


    The thought left me frozen in ce, and my heart ached fiercely.


    "Mrs. Pelham." As Zachary''s teacher, Holly Dawson, talked to Jessica, she kept a wary eye on me. "When I called for Zachary''s guardian, she answered as well. Do you know her?"


    What? Holly was actually referring to Jessica as Mrs. Pelham? My mind was in chaos.


    It slowly dawned on me that no one in this kindergarten knew I was Zachary''s mother. Instead, they all assumed Jessica was his mom. This meant Jessica hade here to pick up Zachary multiple times without my knowledge. But who had brought her here to pick up Zachary that made Holly assume she was the mother?


    The truth loomed over me like a sharp knife, mercilessly stabbing at my heart.


    Was it Steven?


    Jessica had never met me before, so when she finallyid eyes on me, there was a flicker of surprise in her expression. She reached out to Zachary. "Sweetie, why don''t youe over and see if you recognize thisdy?" Was she talking about me?


    I feltughter bubble up at the irony.


    "Thisdy"? I had carried Zachary for nine months, yet she was referring to me as some randomdy.


    Just as I was about to retort, I watched as Zachary walked over to Jessica and took her hand while keeping his gaze fixed on me from a distance.


    After a long moment, he finally shook his head and said, "I don''t know her, Mommy."


    Upon hearing that, I felt like lightning had struck me. My smile evaporated, reced by a buzzing in my ears that drowned out everything else.


    Zachary, my flesh and blood, had just dered that he didn''t know me while calling Jessica "Mommy".


    His cruel choice shattered my heart into pieces. Tears streamed down my face as I struggled to contain them.


    Jessica maintained her poised demeanor. "Perhaps she has mistaken you for someone else."


    "I haven''t mistaken anyone!" I frantically wiped my tears. "Come here, Zachary Pelham!"


    "No!" Zachary hid behind Jessica and peered at me with distrust. "You think I''lle with you just because you call my name?"


    Jessica exchanged a nce with Holly.


    Holly cautiously asked, "Could she be a human trafficker?"


    "I''m not sure." Jessica shook her head.


    To ensure the children''s safety, Holly decided to call the police.


    I paid no heed to them and simply marched over to Zachary. "I''m your mother, Zachary!"


    "You''re not!" He desperately tried to stay behind Jessica. "She''s my mom!"

 Chapter 8

    At the school gate, my own son repeatedly denied that I was his mother in front of so many parents. Zachary emphasized time and again that Jessica was his mother. Even though my heart was already shattered and bleeding, I still tried to convince myself that he was just a child and didn''t understand the consequences of his words. "Zachary, I''ll give you one more chance to choose! Take a good look at me, calm down, and think carefully. Who are you choosing between her and me?"


    Everyone''s eyes were on Zachary. He hid behind Jessica, pressing his forehead against her back. "I choose my mommy, of course!"


    As soon as he finished speaking, Jessica cast a strange nce at me, then tried to carry Zachary away. "What a lunatic!"


    I certainly couldn''t let her leave. I hurried after them to block their way. But someone stood in front of me.


    I lost control. "I need to go after my son! You can''t stop me!"


    A flurry of voices chimed in, all expressing their disdain for me.


    "Has the trick of human traffickers evolved to this point?"


    "Yeah, look at how anxious she is. If we didn''t know better, we''d think she was the kid''s mother."


    "Exactly!"


    "We need to be more careful in the future!"


    Their disdainful gazes fell upon me, but I didn''t have the energy to respond. I desperately wanted to catch up with Zachary. But no matter how I ran, someone would always block my way. When the police arrived, Jessica had vanished without a trace. Only then did the crowd part in front of me.


    Well-meaning bystanders rushed to the police. "Officer, you wouldn''t believe how rampant human traffickers have be.


    "She came to the kindergarten, trying to snatch the child from his mother. His mother ran away with the kid, and she still tried to go after them. If we hadn''t stopped her, she might''ve really seeded!" I never imagined that Zachary would actually leave with Jessica right in front of me, especially after I hade to the kindergarten to pick him up.


    I stood frozen, dumbfounded.


    The police approached me. "Someone reported you as a human trafficker. Pleasee with us to the station."


    Since I couldn''t catch up, I had no choice but to cooperate. "Okay."


    ...


    At the police station, the officers verified my identity and quickly found out that Steven was my husband and Zachary was my son.


    They clearly hadn''t anticipated this oue and immediately apologized, "I''m sorry. We misunderstood you."


    "It''s not really your fault." As I talked, tears streamed down my face uncontrobly. "Even I didn''t expect..."


    Zachary, the child I had poured my heart and soul into raising, had just called another woman "Mommy" in front of me at the kindergarten and left with her.


    Upon seeing me cry, one of the officers tried tofort me. "Kids just don''t understand the consequences of lying."


    They didn''t know how to console me after that. They had seen many misbehaving kids, but one like Zachary, who wouldn''t even acknowledge his mother, was a first.


    I feltpletely lost and wanted to leave.


    Noticing my state, an officer stepped forward. "Do you need us to take you home?"


    "It''s fine. Thank you."


    I didn''t know where Jessica lived. I could only contact Steven to get Zachary back. Besides, I wanted to ask him why didn''t the teachers at the kindergarten recognize me but knew Jessica. Steven''spany wasn''t far from the police station. It was just over ten minutes away.


    I gged a cab and told the driver Steven''spany address, then sat quietly in the back, gazing out the window.


    I initially thought that this ten-minute journey would be enough to help me calm down, but the more I thought, the worse I felt.


    The tears that I had fought so hard to stop began to fall again.


    Did Zachary really like Jessica that much? So much so that he was willing to abandon me, his real mother?


    When I arrived at Steven''spany, I didn''t linger but headed straight to his office.


    Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard people inside discussing me.


    "Annalise is now old and ugly. She''s like an old hag. Besides having a good temper and loving you, she has nothing going for her."


    "Right? Just look at Jessica. She''s the same age but dresses like a youngdy in her 20s."


    "And look at their personalities. Annalise stays home all day, only thinking about chores. She''s so boring and dull. But Jessica ispletely different. She''s lively and full of energy! If I were you, I''d definitely divorce Annalise and be with Jessica." At once, I froze in my steps.


    Was I such a worthless person in the eyes of Steven''s friends?


    Someone seemed to lean closer to Steven, asking, "What do you really think, dude? If you really don''t have feelings for Jessica anymore, we''re ready to move in."


    Their tone was filled with eager anticipation, making it clear that even if Jessica were divorced with a child, she still had her charm.


    Steven suddenly scoffed.


    Everyone fell silent, waiting for his answer.


    Steven''s voice sounded unusually cold. "I only dated Annalise back then because Jessica left me, but Annalise was willing toe all the way here to find me out of love.


    "In my darkest moments, she was like a lifeline when I felt like I was drowning-a light guiding me when I was lost in the dark. I''m truly grateful to her. Before Jessica came back, I really thought I would spend my life with Annalise." The office fell silent. I could even hear everyone''s breathing.


    So, Steven chose to be with me not because he loved me, but because he was rejected by Jessica at that time? And I just happened to be there?


    My already wounded heart suffered a deeper, heavier injury from his words. The pain was nearly unbearable.


    "Tell you what." Steven''s voice sounded rational yet cold. "I always thought I had moved on from Jessica after all these years, though I''ve loved her deeply.


    "I even wrote her letters before my wedding, begging her to take me back. When she refused, I called her, too.


    "Back then, I would''ve called off the wedding if she had just said the word. But when she came back into my life, I realized I hadn''t forgotten her. I still loved her."Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    All my doubts were suddenly rified by his words.


    It turned out that despite all the years we''d been married and the sacrifices I made behind his back, the one he loved was still Jessica.


    How foolish I was to think that as long as I didn''t dwell on the past, our lives would return to how they used to be.


    I hurriedly wiped my tears.


    Just then, someone asked, "Then, why don''t you divorce Annalise?"

 Chapter 9

    Steven replied with a hint of helplessness, "Because we have a child."


    "That''s why you had Jessica secretly contact Zachary, right?" someone asked excitedly. "As long as Zachary epts Jessica as his mom, you can reunite with her and raise Zachary together." Steven''s friends tease him, "You really are smart for nning this out!"


    So Steven had orchestrated for Jessica to approach Zachary?


    No wonder when he sent Zachary to Chloe''s ce, she immediately took him to Jessica''s house to build that connection. No wonder the kindergarten teachers called Jessica Zachary''s mom. And here I was, foolishly trying to convince myself to forgive him.


    I was shaking all over, desperately trying to calm myself down, but everything felt hopeless.


    Before Steven could reply, his phone rang. He answered immediately, "Yes, Jessica?


    "What? Zachary cut his wrist? Hold on. I''ll be right there!"


    Upon hearing that, I felt like I''d been struck by lightning.


    Zachary chose Jessica right there at the school. Logically, he should''ve been happy after going home with Jessica. So why did he suddenly fall into despair?


    I couldn''t figure it out.


    The blows kepting, sapping all my strength. I leaned against the wall to stay upright, but my body threatened to copse. "Zachary..."


    Steven rushed into the office. When he saw me, he froze at once.


    I wanted to show some strength in front of his friends, but my tears kept flowing.


    His friends were stunned as well. They exchanged nces with each other, unsure of what to say.


    Seeing how distraught I was, Steven quickly came over and lifted me into his arms. "Zachary''s going to be okay, honey. You don''t need to worry too much."


    I covered my face with my hands, as I didn''t want to feel more embarrassed in front of everyone.


    He practically sprinted to the elevator, leaving his friends behind.


    "Is that Annalise?" one of them asked. "She''s hotter than I expected."


    "No wonder Steven doesn''t want to divorce her. If I had such a beautiful wife who loves me, I''d definitely treat her well."


    "I envy Steven now."


    ...


    Steven opened the car door and helped me into the passenger seat. At this point, I had no strength to resist. I just sat there, letting him fasten my seatbelt.


    "Honey." He stood beside me and gently wiped away my tears, but it felt like he couldn''t clean them away.


    He wanted to exin, but I didn''t want to hear it. "Let''s just go to the hospital and see what''s going on with Zachary." Worried about Zachary''s safety, Steven quickly shut the door, started the car, and sped off toward the hospital.


    He focused on the road. His left hand gripped the wheel while his right reached out to hold mine.


    Yet, I flinched away and turned to look out the window. "Just drive."


    Steven seemed afraid I''d misunderstand him. "Please let me exin, honey."


    I leaned against the seat and closed my eyes.


    "I admit that the person I loved at first wasn''t you," he said as he watched my reflection in the rearview mirror.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    When he saw my frown, he quickly added, "But after all these years together and raising a child together-"


    At this point, I opened my eyes and looked at him. "But when Jessica came back, you realized you still loved her."


    As soon as I said that, I broke down, sobbing uncontrobly.


    All those years together and my silent sacrifices all felt so futile. But I decided to speak up anyway. "You don''t want a divorce just because you''re worried Zachary wouldn''t want toe with you. So you''ve made time for Jessica to bond with Zachary." "Steven," I cried, "Zachary has already epted Jessica as his mom. And what about you? When do you n on asking me for a divorce?"


    Each word felt heavier than thest.


    Steven seemed taken aback by my anger. His voice revealed a hint of panic. "No, honey. Just calm down."


    He didn''t even dare to pause. "When Jessica first came back, I did spend some time with her. I thought that would rekindle our old feelings, but it just didn''t happen." Just then, the car stopped in front of the hospital.


    I didn''t want to hear his nonsense anymore. I opened the passenger door and tried to get out.


    But Steven stepped in front of me. "When I was with her, all I could think about was that I couldn''t betray this marriage."


    I tried to sidestep him.


    He moved with me, blocking my path again. "I couldn''t betray you."


    At those words, I looked up at him.


    With a resigned sigh, he said, "Come on. You''re too grown up to be sulking like this before letting me finish."


    After saying that, he pushed me back against the car and cupped my face, trying to kiss me.


    But all I could think about was Zachary, who had just cut his wrist. I wondered if he was safe now. How could I be in the mood to be intimate with Steven now?


    I pushed him away. "Check on Zachary first."


    Steven seemed to snap out of it. "Right."


    ...


    In the ward, Zachary sat quietly with his head down, not saying a word. His left arm was wrapped in thick bandages. His usually rosy cheeks were devoid of color.


    The moment I saw him, my heart sank again. I rushed to his side and gently grasped his wrist. "What made you want to hurt yourself like this?"


    That was when I noticed Jessica standing nearby.


    This was the woman who tried to destroy my family and stir up trouble between Zachary and me. I could hardly contain my anger as I shot at her, "Is this how you care for him when you take him away?" Before Jessica could respond, Zachary suddenly erupted. "Don''t shout at Ms. Jessie like that! I hurt myself because of you! It''s because you won''t divorce Daddy!"


    I stared at him in shock.


    Zachary looked at me as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Mommy, I know it''ll hurt you if I hurt myself. But the more you hurt, the more I want to injure myself."


    His little mouth opened and closed, seemingly unaware of the cruelty in his words. "Unless you agree to divorce Daddy."


    His words hit me like a hammer, leaving me dazed. I felt like the world was spinning around me. My heart ached so much that breathing became difficult. I gasped for air. How could he take advantage of my love for him to hurt me like this?


    Before I could even ask for an exnation, everything went dark, and I copsed to the ground.


    "Honey!"


    In my blurry state, I heard Steven''s panicked voice. "Doctor!"


    ...


    When I woke up, it was already the next morning.


    Steven sat beside my bed with a beaming smile, eagerly saying, "Honey, I have good news."


    Everything that had happened recently felt like a series of blows, leaving me dizzy. I could hardly think of any good news right now, so I responded half-heartedly, "What is it?" "You''re pregnant!"

 Chapter 10

    I stared at Steven in disbelief.


    He quickly handed me the test results. He was clearly looking forward to the arrival of this new life. "You suddenly faintedst night. I was so scared. The doctor ran some tests and found out you''re pregnant.


    "But with all the stress you''ve been undertely, your emotions have been unstable, and the baby is at risk. You''ll need to stay in the hospital for a while to stabilize the pregnancy."


    I took the paper from him. The moment I saw the image of the tiny, unformed life, I couldn''t look away. The sight of it brought a small sense offort to my shattered heart. Gently, I ced a hand over my abdomen, my mind swirling with thoughts.


    Growing up in a single-parent household after my father passed away, I didn''t want my child to go through the same.


    "Steven," I said, breaking the silence.


    He looked at me, confused. "Yes?"


    I lifted my gaze and felt a new resolve. "I''m willing to move past everything that''s happened. For the sake of this child, let''s try to be the way we were before. Can we do that?" Steven met my eyes, then nodded. "Yes."


    He then took out a small velvet box. "Honey." His expression was slightly nervous as he opened it to reveal a pair of lily-shaped earrings.


    I was surprised. He rarely gave me gifts since we got married. "What''s this?"


    "It''s a present for you," he replied, his voice a bit tense.


    "Thank you." I epted it.


    Despite everything that had happened over the past few days, the little life growing inside me gave me a glimmer of happiness.


    Just then, Steven''s phone rang, and he said he had to leave for work. After a quick kiss, he left the room.


    I gently touched my stomach, feeling a sense of tenderness.


    At this moment, my phone pinged with a notification. I opened it absentmindedly. It was a message from Zachary-an image of Jessica''s Instagram post.


    I tapped on it and saw the caption read, "Thank you, Mr. Pelham, for the diamond ring this morning. By the way, the jewelry store has terrible taste. They threw in these ugly lily-shaped earrings as a freebie. They looked so cheap, so I told Mr. Pelham to toss them." The photo was a selfie of Jessica. What caught the eye most was her hand resting against her cheek, with a massive diamond ring on her ring finger.


    The expensive gemstone had a wless cut, and even in the picture, the diamond sparkled brilliantly.


    Upon seeing that, I gripped my phone tightly. The spot where Steven had kissed me felt like it was burning. I suddenly felt sick.


    While I was unconscious, my husband wasn''t worried about me. Instead, he was buying an expensive ring for Jessica.


    And when I woke up, he tried to cate me with the cheap freebies she had discarded.


    Did he think so little of me?


    Did he really believe that I was so easy to appease and that I would be grateful for her leftovers and forgive him?


    A wave of despair crashed over me, threatening to drown me.


    Why? Why did he keep hurting me like this and then use empty words to pull me back every time?


    Biting my lip, I felt the room spin around me.


    Just then, my phone rang, snapping me out of my thoughts.


    I answered, "Hello?"


    "I miss you, Mommy. Can youe see me?" Zachary''s voice sounded sad.


    He had already hurt himself yesterday. Worried that his emotions might spiral and he''d do something foolish again, I immediately got up and said, "I''lle right now. Where are you?" "You just need to step outside, turn left, and keep walking," Zachary said tly.


    I followed his instructions, and soon, I spotted him standing on the stairs. The sunlight from the window highlighted his pale face, making him look so fragile.


    Blood ties were such a strange thing. Even though he had done so many things to hurt me before, seeing him look so vulnerable still made me instinctively feel sorry for him.


    I crouched down in front of him. "What''s wrong?"


    Zachary stared at me. "Ms. Jessie told me that you''re pregnant. Even if Daddy doesn''t love you, he''ll stay with you for the baby. Is that true?"


    My heart sank. Why was Jessica telling him these things?


    Before I could find the right words to exin, Zachary continued, "She also said that you might be mad at me because of what I did. And when you have another baby, you''ll shift your attention to them and won''t love me anymore." Had he really thought about all this after finding out I was pregnant? My heart suddenly melted.


    He was still just a child, and when faced with problems, he didn''t know how to ask an adult for help.


    I ced my hands on his shoulders and said sincerely, "No, Zachary. You''re my son. No matter what, I will always love you, even if I have other children."


    Suddenly, Zachary grinned. "Ms. Jessie also said if the baby was gone, Daddy would only love me, and he''d listen to me and divorce you so he could marry her."


    His words sent a chill down my spine.


    What kind of things had Jessica been telling him?


    I wanted to bring Zachary back to my ward and have a proper talk. He shouldn''t be dragged into adult issues like this.


    But before I could take a step, I felt my body slipping backward.


    A loud crash echoed as I hit the floor, and I heard Zachary''s small voice. "I''m sorry, Mommy. Mommy Jessie poured oil on the stairs. She told me to bring you here." Warm blood seeped out from beneath me.


    The intense pain coursed through my body, making it nearly unbearable, while my heart felt as if it was being torn apart. My mind spun in a haze.


    Despite everything outrageous Zachary had done recently, I understood he was just a child, and I never held it against him.


    But even at his young age, he should still have somepassion. Yet, he seemed so indifferent to the fact that I-his mother-was being schemed against by someone else.


    I struggled to open my eyes to see Zachary. Through the haze, I saw a blurry figure running down the corridor.


    "Help! Someone help me!" I tried to scream, but the pain silenced me.


    Sweat poured down my face, mingling with the blood pooling beneath me. Tears streamed down my cheeks as well.


    Zachary...This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Zachary Pelham!


    ...


    "Honey..." Steven''s eyes were bloodshot. Despite being the strong, capable man he always was, his voice trembled as he said, "The baby didn''t make it."


    "I''m sorry, Mommy." Zachary was pale, his face frozen in shock. Tears streamed down his cheeks like rain. "Please forgive me."


    How could I forgive him?


    In the moment he had led me to the stairs, and in the instant he coldly ran away, I hadpletely lost all hope in him.


    Zachary continued to apologize, but I remained silent.


    He seemed taken aback by my prolonged silence. As he apologized, his frustration grew. "If you won''t forgive me, then forget it! I don''t want you to be my mom anyway!"


    I looked up at him and asked in a hoarse voice, "Haven''t you always wanted your Ms. Jessie to be your mom?"


    He didn''t understand why I was saying this, but he still nodded.


    "Alright, then." I smiled. "From today on, I will step aside. I won''t be your mom anymore. You can choose whoever you like to be your mom."


    Joy ignited in Zachary''s eyes at my words.


    Steven, standing nearby, felt a surge of dread from my statement. "Don''t act impulsively, honey."


    "Don''t worry. I''mpletely calm." As I said that, I felt like I was already dead inside. I couldn''t feel anything.


    I closed my eyes. "Let this farce end here, Steven. I''ll make way for you two. Just let me go."

 Chapter 11

    Steven shot up. "No way!"


    "So much has happened these past few days." I held his gaze. "First, Zachary is adamant about being with Jessica."


    Steven, usually so calm andposed, now spoke with a tremor of fear in his voice, "He''s just being foolish, honey. I''ve never crossed any lines. You can hate Zachary, and you can me me, but you can''t leave me."


    His voice became almost pleading at the end.


    Yet he was still shifting the responsibility onto Zachary,pletely oblivious to the fact that my pain stemmed from hisplicity and indulgence. He couldn''t tell that the love I had for him over the years vanished at that moment when I fell down the stairs.


    I continued, "And then I realized that even after you promised me you wouldn''t contact her anymore, you two were still in close contact."


    Steven opened his mouth, then closed it again. He was clearly caught off guard by the fact that I already knew done in secret.


    His fists were clenched, and his expression was filled with pain.


    out the things he had


    I turned to look out the window. "At that point, I thought maybe I should just get a divorce to make things easier for you. But I was worried about Zachary.


    "Since he started spending time with Jessica, his stomach problems have worsened, and now, he''s even learned to hurt himself. If I give in and let Jessica be his mother, his life will be hell."


    Steven thought I was about topromise and nodded eagerly. "Yeah, honey, so we can''t get divorced."


    I gently stroked my belly. "And then I found out I was pregnant. To give this baby aplete home, I''ve been desperately convincing myself to forgive everything you two have done."


    My emotions spilled over when I mentioned the baby.


    Steven suddenly fell silent.


    "But what did Zachary do? He knew there was oil on the stairs and knew I would be seriously hurt if I went over."


    Jessica had meticulously nned every detail behind the scenes. And Zachary had known everything from the start but had chosen not to intervene. Instead...


    What a joke! This was the child I had raised so carefully.


    And what about Steven? Was he innocent?This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    No! He was one of the instigators!


    I looked into his eyes. "The baby is gone, and I''ve lost all hope for Zachary. There''s nothing left in this home that I want to hold onto." All I wanted now was to escape this suffocating home.


    For years, I had tried to be a good wife and a responsible mother. From now on, I would simply be Annalise Jamison. I didn''t need any more burdensomebels. But I wouldn''t spare those who had hurt me. "What about me?" Steven asked.


    I replied seriously, "Didn''t you say you liked Jessica? I''m stepping aside to make room for you two. You should be happy about that."


    I could never forget the day in the stairwell when Zachary told me Jessica wanted to harm me, but sadly, I had no proof.


    If Steven was blind enough to love that viper, then I would grant his wish and let them be together.


    "Daddy!" Zachary had no idea what my decision truly meant for him. He only knew his dream was finallying true. Soon, Jessica would be his mom.


    Zachary was so excited that he grabbed Steven''s sleeve and gently shook it. "Just say you agree."


    "Shut up!" Steven snapped coldly.


    11


    Zachary felt wronged by Steven''s harsh tone and began to cry.


    Normally, hearing his cries would tug at my heartstrings, and I would rush to hold him and ask what was wrong beforeforting him. But today, I found his cries annoying and intolerable. Chapter 11


    I turned my gaze back to the window. "Think it over. Also, I''m exhausted. Please take him out."


    Steven seemed to want to say something else, but when he saw the exhaustion on my face, he held back.

 Chapter 12

    ChapterThis content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    12


    In the end, Steven silently led Zachary out of the ward.


    Not long after they left, the nurse called to ask if I could take care of the remains of my unborn child. They knew my condition was precarious and didn''t want to provoke me, so they initially tried to reach Steven, but he didn''t pick up. With no other option, they contacted me to sign the necessary paperwork. After exining the situation, they asked when I coulde


    1. in.


    Given my current state, I really shouldn''t have moved, but this was my first chance to see the child I would never hold. I couldn''t bear to think of it being alone and sad if I arrivedte, so I told them I''de right away.


    Once I arrived, I signed the forms and waited for a while. Eventually, they handed me a small box.


    Cradling the little box, I took a cab to a cemetery to buy a plot for my child and arrange a proper burial.


    I should have left after handling everything, but I couldn''t bring myself to. I sat beside the grave, feeling the d


    I thought had gone numb.


    "Don''t worry, baby. I won''t let you disappear from this world just like that," I swore silently.


    my heart that


    When I returned to the ward, the first thing I saw was Steven standing by my bed.


    Hearing my footsteps, he turned and rushed over, gripping my arms tightly. "Where have you been?"


    I was exhausted. Falling down the stairs had caused a miscarriage, resulting in significant damage to my body. On top of that, I had been running around all day dealing with my unborn baby''s remains.


    I pulled my hand away from him and sat back on the hospital bed. "What do you want?" I coldly asked.


    Steven clearly wasn''t pleased. "You haven''t recovered, Annalise. How can you just leave the hospital without telling anyone? If something had happened to you, we would be devastated."


    His poor acting was pathetic and nauseating.


    I gave a curt, impatient reply, "Don''t worry. I''m an adult. I can take care of myself."


    "Honey..." Noticing my aloof demeanor, Steven softened his tone. "Please don''t be mad anymore."


    I had no interest in engaging with him any


    further. Iy back on the bed, pulled the covers over me, and prepared to sleep. Steven sighed. "I know you''re still mad at Zachary, but he''s just a child. He doesn''t understand the consequences of his actions." He kept talking, seemingly defending Zachary, but honestly, he Not only did Zachary not directly harm me, but he could also im he was just a child who didn''t understand the consequences, allowing him to evade legal repercussions. But what about Jessica?


    She had poured oil on the stairs. Any ordinary person would slip on that. She had even maliciously manipted a child. To put it bluntly, she was attempting murder.


    If I pressed charges, Jessica would likely face serious legal consequences.


    Steven was herete at night, trying to convince me for whose sake, exactly?


    I scoffed. Not wanting to listen to him ramble on, I firmly interrupted him, "Stop beating around the bush."


    After a long pause, Steven finally spoke, "Jessica''s ex-husband has be extremely unstable since his bankruptcy, and he often abused her. He was living abroad, but he''s suddenly back in the country now."


    Oh? Was Jessica''s ex-husband nning to go after her and beat her up? That could serve as a form of retribution for my unborn child. What a nice guy.


    I sat up and looked at Steven.


    He seemed hesitant as he met my gaze. "Her ex-husband hates her deeply, and now that he''s back, he''s definitely going to want revenge. To keep her safe, I brought her to our home."

 Chapter 13

    Steven asked carefully, "You won''t mind, will you, honey?"


    "Oh, so she made me fall down the stairs and have a miscarriage, but you feel sorry that she''s getting beaten up by her ex-husband instead." I snickered. "You''re such a good samaritan."


    "Honey!" Steven rose angrily. "I know you''re sad that we lost our baby, but you know damn well that it was Zachary who called you to the stairwell. You slipped and fell-it had nothing to do with her!"


    He continued, "I can''t believe you don''t see how much of a danger she''s in now, especially as a woman. If you can''t sympathize with her, the least you can do is shut your mouth. Gosh, I''m so disappointed in you! "Anyway, whether you agree or not, Jessica will be moving in with us."


    With that, he left exasperatedly.


    See? This was Steven-always ming me, no matter how much I was hurt or bullied. I never retaliated, yet I couldn''t vent for more than two sentences without being cast as the bad guy.


    I used to love him so much that I willingly epted this treatment, but not anymore... Not this time.


    Retracting my cold gaze, Iy quietly on my hospital bed and stared at the pale ceiling.


    I initially chose to stay in the hospital and stray away from returning home because I didn''t want to see Steven and Zachary-the revolting father and son-yet the former came every day to see me. How repulsing.


    To avoid seeing Steven, I went to Mom''s ce early the next morning. Ever since I married, I barely had time to return to my old home and visit her. Eventually, she moved to the city because she missed me too much. At the very least, I would feel more at ease with Mom around.


    She opened the door, delight spreading across her face as soon as she saw me. "Oh, my! What brings you here?"


    I walked up to her and embraced her with open arms, smiling and coquettishly saying, "I missed you."


    She reciprocated the hug and patted my back lightly. "You''re a mom now. Why are you still so cheesy?"


    Her warm and affectionate tone slowly melted the frost that had settled in my heart over the past few days. In this world, Mom was the only one who loved me unconditionally.


    After arriving at the living room, I spilled my guts. "Mom, I want to divorce Steven."


    My confession made her shut the door instantly, and she rushed over to me. "Why?"


    Oh, maybe because I almost died in their hands?Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    I pondered my response, but before I could speak, she seemed to sense what was going on.


    She sighed and asked, "Did he cheat on you?"


    Yes, but there was something else worse than that...


    I was afraid to tell her the full story, as I didn''t want her to mourn over my m¨ªserable marriage. "He said he hasn''t physically cheated yet, but I know he''s been in close contact with that woman."


    Mom gripped my hand. "I understand that he''s at fault... But Anna, issues are bound to happen in a marriage. And when we encounter issues in our rtionship, we must try everything in our power to resolve them."


    She continued, "Like, how a mistress hase into his life... You know? I think you should talk to Steven. Tell him to forget about that woman and be a better man for you."


    I knew how Mom viewed divorce. To her, getting a divorce was a serious taboo, something that would have people talking behind one''s back.


    But I disagreed.


    "If you get a divorce with Steven out of impulse, how is that any different than giving them what they want? You can''t be that foolish, can you?" Chapter 13


    The more she spoke, the more she thought I was being weak and cowardly. She poked at my head, adding, "You know what they say? When there''s a stepmother, there''s bound to be a stepfather." Special Halloween Treat: More Coins, More Thrills!

 Chapter 14

    "Do you think Zachary will live happily once Steven and that woman get married? You must consider your son''s future, Anna. Can you stand the thought of him living in the shadow of his stepsiblings?" Of course, I had a hard timeing to terms with that in the past. I never wanted Zachary to experience even a bit of grievance. But what did that get me?


    He did everything, including harming me and himself, just to get me out of the family.


    I lost the desire to exin myself and only said, "She''s very good to him."


    82322222228


    Mom disliked my response. "But she''ll never be able to love him the way you do."


    I scoffed. "Actually, she might, judging from the fact that he calls her ''Mommy'' every day now."


    Mom frowned, obviously surprised that Zachary would behave so out of line. She was momentarily speechles in silence.


    only held my hand.


    Right then, I had an impulse to vent to her. "Both Steven and Zachary adore that mistress. I''ve long be the outcast in this family. So, I don''t want a family like that anymore."


    "You silly child." Mom looked at me with a mix of disappointment and frustration. "Zachary is too young and naive to realize what he''s doing. Of course, he likes her because she''s nice to her.


    "If you''re deserting him for such a minor reason, what will happen to him once Steven marries that mistress? She''ll definitely leave all the family''s inheritance to her own child. By then, Zachary will be left with nothing."


    She patientlyid out the pros and cons of me getting a divorce, trying to make me realize how tragic Zachary''s life would be if I let him go. But she didn''t know that my heart had long turned cold and unfeeling toward Zachary. "He chose her as his mother, so he should bear the consequences."


    Seeing how not even the mention of Zachary could persuade me, Mom knew I hadpletely given up on my family. She patted my hand lightly. "Anna, at least do this for me, alright? Just try and get through it." Hearing that brought me tears of grievance. She was my only family left in this world, yet... she desperately wanted me to stick around people who had hurt me.


    Atst, I exploded. "Get through it? Why do I have to suffer every single time? I have feelings, too. I get sad and hurt, too!"


    Mom was taken aback by my reaction, clearly unprepared for how to continue persuading me. However, I knew what she was thinking. She probably wished I would choose the same path as women in her generation- to get through an unhealthy marriage until the end of their lives.


    What I thought would be aforting conversation with my mom ended up being a suffocating one. Without saying more, I left her ce immediately.


    over me.


    Walking alone on the wide road, I watched the bustling pedestrians and the distant streetlights. Suddenly, a wave of loneliness washedThis content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    I was in a vast city, yet not one corner felt like a refuge for me.


    I had nowhere to go since home was thest ce I wanted to be. I even spent thest of my savings buying a grave for my baby. Penniless, I walked back to the hospital eventually.


    When I opened the door to my room, I spotted a stranger''s back. He was tall, dressed in a suit, and held a little girl''s hand. Halting at the door, I


    nced at the ward number and confirmed I had entered the correct room. This was my As such, I piped up, "Did you guys stumble upon the wrong room?"


    ward.


    The man turned on his heels and extended his hand at me. "No. We''re at the right ce. We''re here for you."


    It was then I finally got a clear look at the man''s face. His striking features were reminiscent of a celebrity, but he had a cold demeanor. Standing there, he radiated an untouchable and unapproachable air.


    I would''ve remembered this man if I knew him, but I couldn''t. No matter how much I tried to recall, it was futile. "Do I know you?"


    The man was afraid to cause a misunderstanding and quickly exined, "Two days ago, we sent you to the ER after you fell down the stairs."


    Oh.


    Before this, I wholeheartedly believed Steven was the one who sent me to the emergency room after following me and hearing the loud thud. I guess I was wrong.


    I looked at the man before me. "Thank you. You saved my life." He was quite literally my life savior, and I couldn''t have just repaid him with verbal thanks. "I don''t know how else to thank you."


    He smiled faintly. "Well, I happen to need your help."


    Since bing a mother, I had been a stay-at-home wife, focusing on taking care of my husband and son.


    Of course, I couldn''t have foreseen the future-that was now-at that time. However, in many people''s eyes, I had long been isted from society, let alone having the ability to help others. I was perplexed. "My help?"


    "Yes." He nodded and then said, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Zane Huxham."


    Then, he bent down to introduce the quiet little girl beside him, who had a doll-like face. "And this is Willow Huxham."


    I crouched and gazed at the girl, extending my hand at her. "Hello, I''m Annalise Jamison."


    Willow turned to Zane, her expression one of helplessness, but he encouraged her silently with a supportive look.


    Finally, she shook hands with me and took her time to say, "Nice to meet you."


    Her hand was as soft as a marshmallow. I smiled, replying, "Nice to meet you, too."


    Immediately, Willow hid behind Zane and poked her head out to stare at me.


    "Richard." Zane seemed not to want Willow to hear our uing conversation. "Take Willow out for a walk."


    "Yes." The middle-aged man, Richard Cruze, originally guarding the door, entered the ward and picked up Willow.


    She wrapped her hands around Zane''s arm, looking reluctant to leave the room with Richard.


    Zane gently coaxed, "Willow, you know why we''re here to see Ms. Jamison, right?"


    Willow nodded with hesitation.


    Then, he continued, "What I''m about to sayter isn''t suitable for a child to hear, so I need you to take a walk with Richard for a bit. Just give me five minutes, and I''lle back for you. Is that alright?" After receiving Zane''s promise, Willow slowly released her grip and obediently followed Richard,


    Once the door shut, he exined, "I''m Willow''s uncle. Her parents died in a car crashst year. She was at the scene at that time and witnessed the tragedy of their deaths. Since then, she has refused tomunicate with anyone." He continued, "As of now, she hasn''t spoken for two years. The doctor diagnosed her with severe autism. He advised us to encourage her to engage with others."


    I patiently listened to his story.


    Zane seemingly thought his direct approach woulde off as too intrusive for me. "But we''ve tried plenty of ways, and none of them worked. Until... the day you picked up your kid at the kindergarten.


    "Your kid, for some reason, called another woman his mother and left with her. Once Willow and I got home, she suddenly spoke up, expressing her desire for the mother whom Zachary had rejected to be hers. "She even said you were very gentle and felt like a mother. She genuinely wants you to be her mommy."


    Zane said everything at once, then looked seriously at me. "She actually started talking to me because of you. I was delighted and even thought that maybe if you spent time with Willow, she''d finally get better." Chapter 15


    He threaded his words lightly. "So, excuse me if I''m crossing the line here, Ms. Jamison, but would you be so kind as to take on the role of Willow''s nanny and mother?"

 Chapter 15

    Chapter


    15


    It was then I finally got a clear look at the man''s face. His striking features were reminiscent of a celebrity, but he had a cold demeanor. Standing there, he radiated an untouchable and unapproachable air.


    I would''ve remembered this man if I knew him, but I couldn''t. No matter how much I tried to recall, it was futile. "Do I know you?"


    The man was afraid to cause a misunderstanding and quickly exined, "Two days ago, we sent you to the ER after you fell down the stairs."


    Oh.


    Before this, I wholeheartedly believed Steven was the one who sent me to the emergency room after following me and hearing the loud thud. I guess I was wrong.


    I looked at the man before me. "Thank you. You saved my life." He was quite literally my life savior, and I couldn''t have just repaid him with verbal thanks. "I don''t know how else to thank you." He smiled faintly. "Well, I happen to need your help."


    Since bing a mother, I had been a stay-at-home wife, focusing on taking care of my husband and son.


    Of course, I couldn''t have foreseen the future-that was now-at that time. However, in many people''s eyes, I had long been isted from society, let alone having the ability to help others. I was perplexed. "My help?"


    "Yes." He nodded and then said, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Zane Huxham."


    Then, he bent down to introduce the quiet little girl beside him, who had a doll-like face. "And this is Willow Huxham."


    I crouched and gazed at the girl, extending my hand at her. "Hello, I''m Annalise Jamison."


    Willow turned to Zane, her expression one of helplessness, but he encouraged her silently with a supportive look.


    Finally, she shook hands with me and took her time to say, "Nice to meet you."


    Her hand was as soft as a marshmallow. I smiled, replying, "Nice to meet you, too."


    Immediately, Willow hid behind Zane and poked her head out to stare at me.


    "Richard." Zane seemed not to want Willow to hear our uing conversation. "Take Willow out for a walk."


    "Yes." The middle-aged man, Richard Cruze, originally guarding the door, entered the ward and picked up Willow. She wrapped her hands around Zane''s arm, looking reluctant to leave the room with Richard.


    Zane gently coaxed, "Willow, you know why we''re here to see Ms. Jamison, right?"


    Willow nodded with hesitation.


    Then, he continued, "What I''m about to sayter isn''t suitable for a child to hear, so I need you to take a walk with Richard for a bit. Just give me five minutes, and I''lle back for you. Is that alright?" After receiving Zane''s promise, Willow slowly released her grip and obediently followed Richard,Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    Once the door shut, he exined, "I''m Willow''s uncle. Her parents died in a car crashst year. She was at the scene at that time and witnessed the tragedy of their deaths. Since then, she has refused tomunicate with anyone." He continued, "As of now, she hasn''t spoken for two years. The doctor diagnosed her with severe autism. He advised us to encourage her to engage with others."


    I patiently listened to his story.


    Zane seemingly thought his direct approach woulde off as too intrusive for me. "But we''ve tried plenty of ways, and none of them worked. Until... the day you picked up your kid at the kindergarten.


    "Your kid, for some reason, called another woman his mother and left with her. Once Willow and I got home, she suddenly spoke up, expressing her desire for the mother whom Zachary had rejected to be hers. "She even said you were very gentle and felt like a mother. She genuinely wants you to be her mommy."


    Zane said everything at once, then looked seriously at me. "She actually started talking to me because of you. I was delighted and even thought that maybe if you spent time with Willow, she''d finally get better." Chapter 15


    He threaded his words lightly. "So, excuse me if I''m crossing the line here, Ms. Jamison, but would you be so kind as to take on the role of Willow''s nanny and mother?"

 Chapter 16

    As if afraid I''d misunderstand, Zane quickly added, "Of course, we''ll be paying you."


    The problem was I hadn''t gone through with my divorce. If I suddenly abandoned Steven and Zachary to look after a random child, it would probably stain Zane''s image. I didn''t know how to respond at that moment.


    "I understand your situation now," he said, passing me a name card, and continued, "and that you need time to consider this. So, you don''t have to give me an answer now."


    I retrieved the ck business card with gold foil painting.


    Zane stood up. "I look forward to hearing back from you."


    I looked at his retreating figure and bit my lip. I had no money or a ce to stay, and I might really be homeless after the divorce.


    Now that a golden opportunity had served itself on a silver tter, I had to seize it.


    "One week."


    Zane turned around and looked at me, seemingly confused.


    I exined, "Give me one week, and I''ll finalize my divorce. By then, I''ll start working at your house. Would that be okay?"


    By then, even if they realized I wasn''t a good fit and fired me, I would still get paid. I could pay for my rental house and use it for daily living expenses while I searched for a new job. Zane seemed surprised. "Are you sure?"


    I nodded. "Yeah."


    My so-


    called family ignored my objection and had Jessica move into our home. Now, they could finally live happily as a family of four. However, I was still Steven''swful wife, and Jessica would inevitably bebeled as the homewrecker regardless. Since he loved her so much, he would never put her through any grievances. I was confident he wouldn''t take long to agree to the divorce.


    Zane smiled. "I look forward to your great news, then."Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    After Zane left, I packed my bags and left the ward. As I walked out of the door, I was determined to end my marriage. All that was left to do now was return home and proceed with the divorce, even if their faces repulsed me.


    It was already 8:00 pm when I arrived home. I pushed open the door and saw Jessica in the living room.


    It seemed I was the only one who remembered the baby we had lost. At that moment, they seemed to be celebrating about something. "Here''s to day one of Mommy Jessie moving in with us!" Zachary was ted, as he finally got what he wished for. "We must celebrate thi He carried a cake with candles, while Cody pped excitedly.


    Zachary continued, "And one more great news-Annoying Mommy is not home!"


    Jessica burst into a smile and poked at his nose. "Oh, you!"


    Then, he said mysteriously, "Close your eyes, Mommy Jessie."


    Jessica thought he wanted her to make a wish, so she closed her eyes. Thus, she sped her hands, mumbled to herself, and made her wish.


    Once confirming she couldn''t see him, he dashed into his bedroom, grabbed a bouquet of roses, and hid them behind his back. The roses wererge, barely conceble by his tiny body.


    After making her wish, Jessica opened her eyes and saw Zachary present the bouquet to her. "I''m so happy that you decided to be my mom!"


    Cody, too, presented his present to Jessica. At that moment, they seemed like a harmonious family of four. While I...


    I stood quietly at the door, watching them revel in their joyful asion as Jessica took my ce as thedy of the house.

 Chapter 17

    Jessica received the presents and thanked each of them. She was even moved to tears and choked out, "I can''t believe my dream came true. We''re actually bing a real family. I''m over the moon!"


    "Don''t say that." Steven appeared reluctant to see her cry and consoled her awkwardly, "Eat, or the food will go cold."


    They happily headed to the dining area.


    Right then, Steven halted suddenly and turned on his heels. I was standing right at the door, and his smile instantly froze. The others simrly turned toward me upon noticing his movement. When they realized I was back, their faces darkened. I looked at them, struggling to suppress my intense fury.


    It had been less than a week since I had a miscarriage, yet not only did my perpetrator feel zero ounce of remorse, but et pretended nothing had happened, celebrating in my house!


    I withdrew my icy gaze and went straight to my bedroom, not nning to waste a second interacting with them.


    Steven suddenly grabbed my wrist when I walked past him. "Just in time, honey. Come eat with us."


    Oven


    I stopped and scoffed at him. "You''re celebrating her and her son''s additions to the family as you all be a family of four. What am I celebrating? That you guys got what you wanted and made me lose my baby?"


    I had always been soft and gentle speaking at home, and no matter how ridiculous he acted, I would never humiliate him in front of others. This was the first time I made an exception. I was firm, cold, and harsh.


    Naturally, Steven wasn''t used to it. He was about to respond, but I couldn''t care less about what he had to say. Breaking free from his grip, I strode toward my bedroom.


    Right when I was about to push open the door, Zachary charged over and blocked my way like a cub protecting its territory. "This room belongs to Mommy Jessie. You can''t go in!"


    In other words, Jessica had upied my bedroom as well. She had truly infiltrated my house.


    Being blocked in my way, I turned to Steven behind Zachary and enunciated, "Exin."


    Steven chose his words carefully. "You haven''t been back in thest few days. Plus, she''s a single woman with a child... It won''t be convenient for her to squeeze into the guest room. "So, I thought she could move into this room first."


    I watched my husband invest so much thought into matters concerning another woman.


    Initially, I nned to disclose the evidence of Jessica inciting Zachary into harming me, just so he would feel embarrassed by how wrong he was about her. But I had changed my mind.


    From what I observed, Steven cared for Jessica so deeply that he continually lowered his boundaries, prioritizing her over his own family to keep her happy. Even if I gave him the evidence now, he would only presume I was making a big deal out of nothing in her defense. Thus, I nned not to let him have his way.


    Without any expression, I said, "But I''m back now.''


    Steven reluctantly refused, "It''s not a good time to make her move out now."


    "It''s okay, Steven. Don''t stress about this. I''ll leave." Jessica disyed her caringness. "I told you it wouldn''t make sense for me to stay in the master bedroom. After all, this is your home, while I''m just a guest."


    She looked like she was ready to leave.


    "No." Steven stopped her.


    Even Zachary rushed up to her and hugged her waist. "Mommy, from the day you moved in, this bedroom has been yours only!" Steven openly agreed with him, "He''s right."


    Then, Jessica looked apologetically at me. "I''m sorry, Annalise. It''s not that I''m trying to hog your room, but they''re not letting me go."


    Steven frowned. "You don''t have to apologize to her. It''s not your fault." Seemingly dissatisfied with my attitude, he berated me, "Hey, Annalise. I know you''re not supposed to be discharged yet." CERET 17FThis material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    2/20


    "And?" I had no n to put up with this. "Am I forbidden toe home just because you told your mistress to move in?"


    Yet, Steven was resolute. "Just stay in the guest room with me! What''s soplicated about this? All you ever do is crash the party. I don''t even know what you''re thinking."


    With that, he brought Jessica back to the living room.


    Pfft!


    "Shouldn''t you know best about what I''m thinking?" I snickered.


    Steven turned around.


    "Our son repeatedly told you how he wanted us to get a divorce." I stayed calm and enunciated, "You only care about Jessica, don''t you? If so, why not just get over with the divorce now? Once you agree, everything will be so much easier." Standing before me, Jessica, Zachary, and Cody stared at Steven with anticipation.


    My wonderful son was more decisive than his dad, urging, "Daddy, just say yes!"


    Steven stayed silent, so I continued, "After our divorce, I won''t be stepping into his house anymore. Anyone can move in for all I care. I won''t be bothered by whoever upies the master bedroom, either." Following that, I entered the bedroom.


    Outside the door was the exasperated family of four, banging on my door, calling me shameless for upying "Jessica''s room". But what about it?


    As long as I remained Steven''swful wife, I wouldn''t let them enjoy a single day offort in this house.


    That would be the interest for all the harmful acts they had done to me.


    ...


    Old habits died hard. I told myself I would rest more, yet I woke up at 6:00 am sharp.


    I opened my door and found Steven blocking my way with a disapproving look. "Honey, I''ve thought about it the whole night, and I genuinely think you should apologize to Jessica."


    Huh? Did he knock on his head or something? Why was he spewing bullshit so early in the morning?


    I looked at him with utter disdain.


    He continued staring at me and said, "I know you''re sad about the baby, but Jessica is our guest. You were really rude to herst night."


    Since the day we got married, I always agreed with him unconditionally. Perhaps Steven had be so ustomed to mypliance that he expected me to immediately apologize as soon as he asked.

 Chapter 18

    Of course, I wouldn''tply.


    My voice came out cold. "I don''t think I have done anything wrong, though."


    At my words, Steven became agitated. I ignored him and turned back into my bedroom.


    "Annalise!" Jessica suddenly piped up.


    I turned my head around to look at her. Indeed, she was beautiful. She looked stunning even with light makeup and a simple hairdo.


    For some reason, she needed to tell me, "I only prepared breakfast for four... I''m sorry. I was so used to preparing breakfast for them at my house that I forgot I''m not home now..." She spoke with lowered eyes, teary and heart-wrenching.


    "You did nothing wrong!" Steven couldn''t bear watching Jessica cry. "Don''t apologize to her."


    Her beady tears fell, and she said pitifully, "But Annalise dislikes me. She might actually resent me if I don''t get her forgiveness. She took my roomst night, and now..."


    She nced at me amid her words, tantly insinuating that I was targeting her.


    I took a mental note of everything I saw now. Once I exposed all her shameful deeds, I would stand before her again, tall and upright.


    I hoped she could maintain her lying, maniptive, and evil antics by then. Otherwise, it would be embarrassing for her.


    Steven was convinced. "Look at you, Annalise. Why can''t you be as kind as Jessica? She did nothing and was willing topromise and apologize to you.


    "And what did you do? You took her roomst night and frightened her, yet you don''t feel an ounce of remorse."


    He looked at me with me.


    I almost rolled my eyes at him because of how ridiculous he was. All of that just to frame me for something I didn''t do?


    I questioned back, "What did you expect? Was I supposed to get on my knees and beg her for my room after I came home? Should I thank you for so graciously letting me sleep in my own bed? Do I owe you my life for that?"


    I didn''t want to continue this conversation and headed to the main door. It seemed I had to finalize the divorce soon, or they would drive me crazy.


    Jessica looked like she was about to cry. "Annalise ignored me. Is she still ming me?"


    Steven''s heart ached for her. "I dare her!"


    Alright. Challenge epted.


    I arrived at a breakfast shop and ordered some sandwiches. After taking my seat, I fished out my spy brooch camera and recorder pen from my pocket.


    I had recorded everything that happened at home over thest few days. It was for backup, just in case. Perhaps these footage and recordings would help me against my case one day.


    People whomitted vicious acts were bound to pay someday.


    I smiled, fastening the brooch back onto my shirt.Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    I returned home after breakfast and bumped into Steven and the others at the door. His footsteps halted.


    Zachary exined, "It''s Saturday, and I don''t have sses. So, we''re having a family field trip today."


    Since Jessica moved into our home, Zachary had long regarded them as his new family. He didn''t bother concealing his disdain for me. "You''d better note uninvited because you''re just gonna be a downer!"


    Jessica told me with a smile, "But we''reing back for dinner tonight. So, thanks in advance for the meal, Annalise."

 Chapter 19

    She thought her cocky provocation would trigger me, but I ignored them and strode to the living room.


    Steven "kindly" exined to her on my behalf, "She''s just pissed at the moment. But don''t worry. I''m sure she''ll get over it by the time wee home." Zachary chimed in, "Yeah. She might be annoying, but she cooks great food! We''re gonna have a feast tonight!"


    Jessica was excited. "Really? Oh, I''m looking forward to it already!"


    They seemed to believe I still loved Steven and that I would drag my still-recovering body to make them a feast just to get his


    forgiveness, almost as if they failed to notice I had been looking at him like he was a random nutjob.


    After they left, I entered the storage room, found my suitcase, and brought it into my room. One after another, my belongings went into the suitcase.


    I had to pack up my stuff in advance so I could drag my suitcase and leave once Steven agreed to the divorce.


    There weren''t many items in the house that belonged to me. Other than a few shirts in theundry, phone chargers, and some documents, I stuffed everything into my suitcase.


    I opened one of the cabs and wanted to pack my skirts when I saw a cell phone ced above them. Under the phone was a piece of paper. I took a look at them.


    It turned out to be a pregnancy report, confirming Jessica was nine weeks pregnant. So, who was the father? Was it Steven?


    As I pondered, I pressed the power button on the phone and saw the screen lit up. It disyed the chat between Jessica and her ex-husband, where shest texted him yesterday.


    "I''m pregnant. The baby''s yours. Probably conceived it before you left the country two months ago.


    ording to Steven''s description, Jessica''s ex-husband was abusive. If that was the case, shouldn''t she be doing everything she could to stay away from him?


    Yet, she contacted him first.


    At that moment, I had an interesting epiphany. Did that mean Jessica had been getting entangled with Steven and staying connected with her ex-husband at the same time? And she was pregnant with thetter''s child? Oh, my!


    If Steven found out that the woman he found too precious to touch was bearing another man''s child, he would be devastated.


    I couldn''t help but smile at that thought. Obviously, now was not the best time to tell Steven about it. Oh, I looked forward to the day they had a face-off!


    Pulling out my phone, I captured a photo of their conversation and helped the careless Jessica remove her text.


    Then, I turned the phone off, set it aside with the report, folded my skirts, and packed them into my suitcase.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    I barely had any clothes. Even after tossing all my belongings into the bag, I hardly filled it up.


    After zipping it up, I ced it back into the storage room. I went to the living room to get myself a ss of water after getting thirsty from the long packing session. At that moment, Steven frantically barged into the house.


    He had always been coolheaded, yet his voice was tinged with utter remorse and regret this time. "Honey, Zachary has been kidnapped


    <

 Chapter 20

    I stood


    up


    and walked toward the bedroom, replying coldly, "Call the police, then. Whye to me?"


    Steven blocked my way. "The kidnapper is Jessica''s ex-husband."


    I wanted to circle away from him and return to the bedroom. My tone turned harsher. "Then, look for Jessica!"


    He followed me again, forbidding me from taking another step forward. "He thought I slept with Jessica and got mad. He wants you to spend a night with him before releasing Zachary."


    He seemed helpless and in pain. "Honey-"


    I already knew what he meant without hearing the rest of his words. My body trembled with utter fury, and I pped him across the face. "Are you a fucking man, Steven?"


    "Honey, he''s your son. You can''t forsake him!" Subsequently, he took a bottle of spray from behind and jetted it in my


    Immediately, I felt my limbs weakening and my brain fogging. That bastard had drugged me!


    I stumbled and dashed toward the nearest room amid his distraction, but no matter how hard I turned the doorknob, it wouldn''t budge at all. I went to open another room, and the same thing happened. Steven uttered slowly, "I''ve locked all the rooms, including the main door."


    Right then, I realized I had no way out. I couldn''t help but realize how cruel this man before me was!


    I questioned him harshly, "You agreed on my behalf?"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "I didn''t have a choice!" he roared. "He said if you don''t show up in two hours, he''ll kill Zachary! Honey, that''s the son we raised together. Can you really bear to watch him die?"


    I wanted to struggle but could barely move. Atst, I used all my might to scream, "I can!"


    "No, you can''t." Steven watched as I slowly lost consciousness. With a condescending posture, cold and ruthless, he said, "Haven''t you been wanting a divorce? Once you return, we''ll proceed with it."


    When I woke up again, my body remained lethargic. The room I was in seemed quiet, and Zachary had probably been rescued.


    I struggled to prop myself up, sitting up with great effort while going through my recollection regarding any clue of Jessica''s ex-husband.


    As far as I could remember, his name was Casper Gibson. At the height of his family''s sess, his assets were so substantial that they made most people envious.


    As the heir, Casper presented himself as the quintessential young gentleman, exuding charm and sophistication. He was handsome and cultured, the ideal choice for countless women dreaming of the perfect partner. However, something happened in thest two years, causing his family to go bankrupt. He was deeply affected by the situation, gradually bing unhinged and neglecting his appearance.


    In the meantime, I scanned my surroundings. The room door was locked from the outside, and the windows were sealed shut. Without a key, I couldn''t open the door or escape.


    An overwhelming panic engulfed me, but I reminded myself that I had to stay calm.


    I forced myself to appear rxed as I sat on the edge, staring at Casper, while my mind raced through countless solutions to navigate this danger.


    He had a scruffy beard and clearly wasn''t in a rush to engage with me. Instead, he focused intently on adjusting the camera equipment in front of him.


    "Do you know why I kidnapped your son?" he asked but didn''t intend on letting me answer. "It''s because Jessica wants to marry your husband. She did what she could, yet Steven took forever to divorce you.


    "In order to rece you and be his wife, she orchestrated this kidnapping scheme after learning I''ve returned to the country. She told me that as long as we had sex, Steven would divorce you without a second thought." I still had no solutions in mind at that point and could only go along with him in the hope of dragging things out. "She knows Steven quite well, then."


    Casper seemed surprised that I remained calm even when I was on the brink of danger. He stopped his movements, looked at me, and attempted to provoke me. "Would you like to know how your son fell into my hand?"

 Chapter 21

    Chapter


    21


    "It''s because Cody told him that Jessica would be his mom if he came to me."


    Yeah, that sounded like what that little rascal would do. I didn''t seem surprised and uttered, "Oh."


    Casper stood up. "Do you know what this equipment is for? It''s to record us. Once I send this to Steven tomorrow, he''ll watch it and finally move on from you." With that, he arrived before me. I observed his demeanor and quickly pieced the information in my mind with the scene before me.


    I thought of a solution almost instantly. Without breaking eye contact, I said, "So, you and Jessica are already divorced, yet you still take instructions from her." Casper shoved me, propelling me to fall backward against the hard bed, andy atop me.


    A man born with a silver spoon like him would never lose his pride, even in his downfall.


    I had no choice but to bet on my assumption. As such, I sped up my words. "Casper, your family has always nurtured you'' in line. I believe that even with the bankruptcy, you can rise from the ashes sooner orter."


    He was taken aback and looked at me, suddenly freezing while inches away from me.


    It seemed my bet was right!


    Breathing an air of relief, I continued, "But if you continue wasting your time on Jessica and be her proxy, going as far as breaking thew for her, what do you think awaits you? Are you really going to waste your whole life for this woman?" Casper removed himself from me and sat on the edge. "But..."


    He never nned to take instructions from Jessica, but she promised him money once she sessfully married Steven.


    Since his family''s bankruptcy, he drifted through life and became more reckless. In a moment of impulse, he agreed without considering the consequences.


    After a while, he muttered, "Can I really return to where I was?"


    he heir


    That question confirmed that I was out of the woods. I forcefully maintained a smile and my friendliness. "As long as you try hard, you will."


    Casper turned his head to me. After a long while, he asked, "Will you get a divorce once you return?"


    I was honest. "Yes."


    Not only that, but I would repay Steven for everything he did to me a thousandfold!


    He chuckled. "He''ll regret losing you one day."


    Coincidentally, when I arrived home, I saw Jessica handing Steven a medical report. The only report she had was probably the pregnancy report I found in my bedroom.


    Was she trying to scheme him into thinking he was the baby''s father? I couldn''t help but be amazed by how low this woman could go.


    Suppressing my repulse, I nned to expose her another day. That way, I could see the look on his face when Steven found out about the truth.


    Everything was as I expected. Jessica asked shyly, "Guess what this is."


    Steven casually nced at the report and then asked in disbelief, "You''re pregnant?"


    "Yeah." Her voice was as sweet as honey. "I know you''ve been sad after Annalise lost her baby. I was just thinking about how I could cheer you up, and then I found out we''re having a baby!" He stood there in a daze, staring at Jessica''s belly in silence for a long time.


    I scoffed, recalling how Steven repeatedly assured me that he hadn''t been intimate with fessica. Here came another lie, huh?


    Whatever-I had moved past the stage of caring.


    What I worried instead was that he would soon realize something amiss.


    As such, I pushed the door open and interrupted his train of thought, "Hey, Steven. Didn''t you say you''re going to divorce me once I Chapter 21


    return from Casper''s?"This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 22

    Hearing my voice, Steven turned to me with aplicated gaze. "Annalise... You... You''re back. He didn''t hurt you, d-did he?"


    How fake was he? Now that he thought I had done it with another man, he no longer called me "honey" anymore.


    "Oh, he didn''t do anything to me. We just chatted," I casually told them the truth.


    "I''m sorry, Annalise. I didn''t have a choice." He didn''t seem to believe me yet pretentiously apologized to me.


    I shrugged, expecting this exact reaction. Casper might be a key figure in helping me expose Jessica in the future, so I naturally wouldn''t disclose everything to Steven.


    Ignoring him, I headed straight to the storage room, pulled out my suitcase, and said, "Let''s go."


    Once we finalized our divorce, I would continue collecting evidence and only expose the truth while Steven and Zachary indulged themselves in this illusion.


    By then, it would be hard for them to continue being a happy family.


    Steven was particrly cooperative this time. We received our divorce certificate with ease, and I dragged my suitcase, ready to leave. Yet, he rushed up to me. "Annalise, I know I''m the one at fault. You left with nothing after the divorce, and with yourck of work experien "Why don''t you work at my house as a nanny? I''ll pay you."


    Was he nuts, or did he think I had a humiliation kink? Why should I go back to that hellhole and serve them?


    I red at him. "You''re quite shameless, aren''t you? But please, save your worry for me, Mr. Pelham."


    Steven seemed frustrated that I refused his kind gesture. "I was just looking out for you!"


    "Let''s see-thest time you imed to look out for me, you sent me to a rapist''s den." I barely had the energy to argue with him. And the time before that, you made me lose my baby." His expression froze.


    I asked, "What do you have in store for me this time?"


    Perhaps he was surprised by how openly I called out all his wrongdoings that he froze.


    I didn''t want to waste another second on him. I took a cab, told the driver my destination, and let the car take me away.


    In the vi district of the city center where Zane lived, I stood outside his vi and called him.


    He seemed rather surprised to receive my call. "What''s up?"


    I desperately needed a job and a ce to stay. "Does the offer still stand?"


    "Of course." Zane remained calm. "Have you resolved your


    matter?"


    I replied, "Yeah. I''m standing right outside your vi now."


    Within a minute, a security guard came informing me that I could enter.


    I walked in and immediately saw Zane in the yard. Logically, he should be at the office at his hour. However, he appeared to be taking an off day instead.


    Zane asked hesitatingly, "Could you please do something about Willow?"


    "What happened to her?" I asked.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    He exined, "Since thest time we parted at the hospital, she assumed you''de to our house the next day. You were still upied at that time. So, you couldn''te. "She was mad and kept crying. She ignored me and even refused to eat."


    Worried that she might cry so much that it could lead to trouble, Zane left his work behind and stayed home to apany her.


    I quickly asked, "No problem. Where is she?"


    Without hesitation, he led the wa

 Chapter 23

    Meanwhile, Willow was in her bedroom. Her room was huge and decorated like a princess'' room from an animated movie- exquisite andvish.


    She wore a princess gown and cradled a bunny plush toy, her back facing the door as she sat on the carpet silently.


    Zane was eager to lighten up her mood. "Willow, look who''s here."


    Willow turned around, ignored him, and stayed silent. He couldn''t help but turn to me with a helpless look.


    Although this was my job, I had always wanted a daughter. Besides, Willow looked like an adorable princess. As such, I started to take a liking to her.


    Pretending to be grumpy, I said, "Oh, so Willow doesn''t want me here."


    Once she heard my voice, she quickly turned around, shot up, and hurried to me. Then, she shook her head.


    I crouched down to meet her eyes. "Why aren''t you talking to me? Do you dislike me? Is that why you''re not speaki{


    Willow was ready to shake her head again, but perhaps worried I would misunderstand her intentions, she said, "No. I like you a lot."


    "I like you, too, Willow." I held her hand. "And I like hearing you talk. Would you chat with me more in the future?"


    Mimicking an adult, she sighed. "Alright."


    Since she hadn''t spoken in a long time, it would be too much to ask of her to initiate conversations with me. Thus, I took the lead. "I heard you haven''t been eatingtely. Are you hungry?" Willow lowered her head, her dainty fingers patting her tummy. "Yes!"


    I burst into a smile. "Let''s go eat, shall we?"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    She nodded initially, but seemingly afraid I''d be upset, she enunciated, "Okay!"


    By then, Zane seemed to have rxed greatly.


    I held Willow''s hand and was ready to bring her to the dining area when she suddenly stopped and stared at me.


    Confused, I asked, "What''s wrong?"


    "Mommy..." She lowered her head and asked somewhat embarrassingly, "Can you carry me to the living room?"


    I was about to say yes when Zane interjected, "No, Willow."


    Immediately, Willow''s big eyes turned teary.


    Zane carried her, looking in stark contrast to his usual cold demeanor.


    He was particrly warm before her. "Think about how she fell down the stairs just a few days ago. She bled a lot, and her body hasn''t fully recovered yet. Do you know how much she will be in pain if she carries you?" Honestly, I was surprised by Zane. I didn''t expect a CEO who ran a business empire to have such a thoughtful side.


    Upon hearing his words, Willow cried, "I''m sorry, Mommy. I''m a bad kid. I didn''t think you''d be in pain."


    My heart immediately melted at the sight of her tearful expression.


    I went up behind Zane, held Willow''s hand, and softly consoled her, "It''s okay, Willow. Don''t take it to heart."


    She gazed at me, uttering, "B-But..."


    I wiped away her tears with another hand. "But you understood and felt sorry for me, didn''t you? You didn''t insist I carry you anymore, did you?" Willow choked. "Yes."


    "And that''s enough!" I stroked her head. "We can be kind, but at the same time, we must change after realizing our mistake. Don''t you think so, Willow?


    "We can''t always use our mistakes to punish ourselves and make ourselves unhappy. Got it?"


    Willow was taken aback, and Zane appeared surprised as he looked at me.


    After a while, she epted my words and smiled. "Got it."


    "Good girl." I caressed her face and watched Zane ce her by the dining table. "Let''s eat."


    Willow had been raised well. During meals, she didn''t need anyone to coax or feed her. Instead, she sat quietly, enjoying her food. "She has schoolter." Zane was finally relieved to see Willow in a good mood, thanks to my help. He asked, "Could you please drop her off? Atst, I averted my gaze away from Willow. "Of course."


    "The thing is... she goes to the same kindergarten as Zachary."


    Zane was obviously worried that I would feel awkward seeing Steven at the kindergarten gate after our divorce.

 Chapter 24

    I looked at Zane, who then said, "They''re even in the same ss."


    Meanwhile, Willow seemed to be fishing for praise. "I observed all the kids in my ss and noticed Zachary was the most well taken care of! At that time, I thought it would be awesome if Zachary''s mommy could be mine!" She gave a sweet smile. "Now, my wish came true."


    She was so innocent and adorable. At that moment, I could feel her words melting my cold heart.


    I smiled at her. "Congrattions, Willow!"


    She giggled, then continued eating.


    "Since I''ve promised to be her mommy, I must act like one, including dropping her off and picking her up from schoo''


    to Zane. "I''ll be there no matter who''s at the kindergarten."


    Zane nodded. "Thank you for what you''re doing."Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    I casually answered, "No problem. It''s my job."


    I turned


    I thought Willow talking to me meant a step in progress for her condition, but she continued to ignore everyone else in the house and only nodded in response when Zane spoke with her.


    As I sat in the car and looked at Willow beside me, I began to understand why Zane hired me to be her mother. Otherwise, her condition might worsen.


    Once we arrived at the kindergarten gate, I held Willow''s hand and led her to the entrance.


    Since the previous incident, some teachers recognized me and began staring at me with caution.


    Seeing that, Zane furrowed his brows and went up to them. "This is Willow''s mother. She''ll be sending and picking her up from now on.


    "1


    The two teachers locked eyes. Although curious, they didn''t voice their questions and merely nodded. "Got it."


    I crouched down and looked at Willow. "Be good at school, and I''ll pick you up in the afternoon. Okay?"


    She seemed teary-eyed, as if reluctant to part with me. "Okay, but you muste early."


    Seemingly recalling my condition, she quickly added, "Orter is fine. I''ll wait for you, Mommy. Your health matters more."


    What an amazing girl! I was almost moved to tears. "Okay. I hear you."


    Willow had just taken three steps forward when she turned around, yelling, "Mommy!"


    I stared at her figure. "I''m right here."


    She began tearing up. "I''ll miss you."


    She had never spoken at school, and everyone tacitlybeled her as the mute kid. Now that she had spoken so many words at once, teachers at the gate exchanged shocking looks. Willow added, "Mommy, you must miss me, too!"


    ""I will."


    "Why are you here?"


    My sight was still on Willow when I suddenly heard Zachary''s voice. I turned around, only to see his hostile face staring at me.


    "Are you still hung up on us? Are you nning to kidnap me while everyone''s distracted?"


    He hated my guts and only harbored disdain toward me. But guess what? The feelings were mutual.


    the


    I paid no heed to him and was prepared to leave, yet he came blocking my way. "I''m telling you. I''ll nevere with you no matter how many times youe to my school!"


    "What nonsense are you talking about?" My countenance grew increasingly cold as I questioned him, "Why would I want to kidnap you? Who are you to me?"


    <

 Chapter 25

    Right then, Holly came to exin the situation. "This is Willow''s mother, Zachary. She''s here to drop her off. This is a misunderstanding." "Impossible!" Zachary refuted without hesitation. "She''s my mommy!"


    "Hey, don''t get all friendly," I interrupted him. "I definitely didn''t give birth to a son like you."


    He was taken aback.


    Holly quickly chimed in, "Did you forget? You said you didn''t know her when she came to pick you upst time."


    Why was he iming someone he supposedly didn''t know as his mother today? Strange.


    As Zachary watched me enter the car, looking nonchnt, he couldn''t contain his excitement.


    Atst, his Mean Mommy abandoned him! He could finally live a happy life with his Mommy Jessie!


    His displeasure from seeing me earlier quickly dissipated and was reced with utter joy.


    Woohoo! He had finally escaped from his Annoying Mommy!


    ted, he bolted into his ssroom.


    Meanwhile, Willow looked at his retreating figure and let out a huff. "Stupid boy! He doesn''t know how great of a mommy he''s lost!" Inside the car, the chauffeur took the driver''s seat, while Zane and I sat in the back seats. He looked at me, face full of inquiry.


    I''d had enough of his stare. "Are you curious why I was so cold to Zachary?"This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Zane didn''t deny it. "He''s your flesh and blood, after all."


    It suddenly urred to me that Zane was the first person to find me after I fell down the stairs, so he knew nothing about the full story. My voice turned as cold as ice. "Jessica


    tampered with the stairs. When Zachary saw me fall, he chose to ignore me and ran off. And the reason? Well, he desperately wanted me to divorce his dad so they all could live happily ever after as a family of four." While retelling the story, I turned to look at Zane and saw his surprised look.


    I could understand his reaction. "At that time, I couldn''t believe that the boy I patiently, lovingly looked after and nurtured turned out to be a traitor. I keptpromising, yet I ended up paying such a painful price time after time. "That''s why I feel nothing for them anymore."


    I knew I couldn''t hide my future ns from Zane, so I told him everything.


    "Between me and themy the child who never came into the world. Although I chose to divorce, it doesn''t mean I''d brush this matter aside lightly. If you wish for Willow''s mother to be a benevolent woman, I suggest you fire me." After a long silence, Zane responded, "I was just imagining what I''d do if I were in your shoes. Frankly, my ways would be more extreme than yours."


    I was pleasantly surprised that he understood me.


    "As long as Willow stays unaffected..." He naturally wasn''t going to turn a blind eye to everything I did. "You can do whatever you want."


    I contemted for a long time. "Don''t worry. I will never get Willow involved in that mess."


    "Then, we''re good," he said casually.


    As we passed by the hospital, I frantically informed the chauffeur, "Could you stop here? I need to get off."


    The driver immediately stepped on the brake pedal.


    I alighted from the car, shut the door, and told Zane through the rolled-down window, "Go ahead without me. There''s something I gotta do."


    Despite being unaware of what I nned to do, Zane respected my privacy and simply told the chauffeur to proceed.


    After taking a deep breath, I strode into the inpatient department.


    That was where I fell, and I needed to check if any surveince cameras were in the area. Perhaps I would even find someone who had overheard my conversation with Zachary.

 Chapter 26

    The Inpatient Department was packed. Some of the patients were not assigned to a hospital room, and they had no choice but to sleep In the hallway. A majority of them, who had been in the hospital for a long time, were severely ill. They had been around when I was admitted to the hospital, and they were still here when I was discharged. As I walked along the hallway, I saw some familiar faces.


    An elderly man asked, "Weren''t you discharged? Why are you in the hospital again?"


    "Well, I fell down the stairs a few days ago," I said honestly. After all, I wanted to know if any of them witnessed or caught the incident on camera, but I couldn''t tell them everything either.


    "The staircase was slippery; I think somebody did something to it. I wanted to see if any security cameras may have records of the culprit or if anybody identally filmed it."


    The old man advised, "Security cameras? There''s one in the hallway. You should be able to check the footage in the security room." "Okay, thanks! I''ll check it out now," I said happily. The security footage would make everything much easier.


    People rarely used the stairway in the Inpatient Department; it was silent. Meanwhile, the ce where I once fell had been cleaned, and no trace of blood could be seen.


    I looked up and saw a security camera above me. Then, I walked down the stairs. To no surprise, there was a security camera above the ce where I previously fell.


    This meant that the hospital had a lot of security cameras, even in obsolete ces like the stairway. I felt relieved at that discovery.


    I went to the security room and told them about what had happened. With the reason of wanting to identify the unknown liquid in the. stairway that led to my miscarriage, I demanded the security footage.


    The security team reluctantly showed me the footage from the approximate time when the incident happened. But to my surprise, all the security cameras were covered. I was stunned.


    That meant that even if I knew that it was jessica who had been behind everything, I wouldn''t have any evidence!


    The security guard said guiltily, "When we realized that something was off, we were going to investigate it. But as soon as we arrived, we heard news that somebody fell."


    Zachary was a child, and the security cameras would never have crossed his mind. That meant that the only person who knew about everything and was also meticulous enough to think of wiping the evidence...Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    It would have been none other than Jessica. After taking some time topose myself, I calmly said, "Sorry for troubling you. Upon arriving home from the hospital, I changed into slippers in the foyer, Zane was working in the living room. When he h door, he said without I sat down across from him. Zane got up and went to the refrigerator. He asked, "Would you like anything to drink?"


    I never enjoyed beverages. But since he asked, I answered politely, "Water is fine.


    the


    Zane got himself a ss of iced coffee, and then he served me a ss of water. After all the busyness in the day, I was getting a little thirsty. I took a few sips of the water that Zane gave me


    "It''s your first day here. You were getting Willow to eat and even sent her to school, so I had no opportunity to ask if you needed anything. If there''s anything you need, you can let me know anytime. I can get the housekeeper to buy what you need."


    I had expected Zane to talk to me about Willow, but I hadn''t expected him to be concerned for me instead.


    After a momentary shock, I answered politely, "Thank you, but I''ve brought everything I need. I don''t need anything right now."


    Zane''s usual icy, emotionless eyes curved into a slight smile. He said, "You don''t have to be so polite with me. Willow genuinely thinks of you as her mother, so you can make yourself at home."


    I paused. If this was home...


    <

 Chapter 27

    Chapter


    27


    If this was home, it would mean that I had an adorable daughter who loved me wholeheartedly. At that thought, I couldn''t help but smile.


    "Got it."


    Zane looked away and focused on work again. He said, "I think you haven''t unpacked yet."


    I got up and said, "I''ll do it now."


    00000


    My bedroom was on the eastmost side of the second floor. The room was big, and it also came with a walk-in closet. It was very well-lit, and it had arge balcony, too.


    The windows were open. Sunlight shone onto the bed, making me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I took some time to lie in bed and enjoy the peace


    At that moment, I suddenly thought it wasn''t too bad if the rest of my life looked like that.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    After catching up on rest, I pulled my suitcase into the closet. I opened the wardrobe, wanting to hang my clothes up, but I saw that the wardrobe was filled with clothes. There were dresses and tops, as well as many other clothes in various designs and styles. I was stunned for a long time. Then, I shut my suitcase and hurried downstairs. I saw that Zane was about to leave.


    I said, "I think the room Mr. Moore assigned me is upied."


    Zane calmly answered, "No, it was prepared for you."


    However, I was certain about what I saw. I said, "But the closet was filled with clothes."


    "Oh, Willow was excited to hear that you wereing. She made me shop with her to buy clothes for you."


    Just then, I suddenly realized that Zane wasn''t being polite with what he said in the living room. He had already prepared everything! needed, but he was worried that he may have overlooked things, hence the question.


    At the mention of Willow, Zane''s expression softened. He said, "She''s been looking forward to seeing her mother put on the clothes that she picked out."


    "But... They''re too expensive."


    I may not care about branded wear, but I knew the clothes were luxurious. However, Zane didn''t care about the money.


    "You can pretend like they''re clothes for work."


    I wanted to say more, but I eventually stayed silent


    Zane continued, "Starting today, you will be the mother of my child. That means we are responsible for your meals, clothes, and housing. Okay?"


    Before I could answer, Zane had put on his shoes and continued, "I''ll bring Willow out for a meal after picking her up. You should join us after you''re done unpacking. Willow would be happy to have you around! I''ll send you the address shortly." Then, Zane left


    As I stared at the door, the image of Willow''s face surfaced in my mind. As she shopped for the clothes, she must''ve thought of how I would look in each of them. I was touched beyond words.


    In the five years I had been Zachary''s mother, he had never paid so much attention to me. But Willow, despite not being rted to me by blood, cared so much about me even though we''ve only spent a few days together.


    I went upstairs and stored all the clothes that I brought with me in a small drawer at the bottom of the wardrobe. I also took out everything that I needed and ced them on the bedside table.


    After unpacking, Zane sent me the address. The restaurant was about 30 minutes away from home. I had intended to depart immediately, but just as I walked out of the bedroom, I suddenly remembered


    Willow must''ve carefully picked out the clothes for me in hopes that I would put them on when I met her. If I refused to wear them, Willow would be disappointed. On the contrary, if I put the outfit on, she would be delighted. She may even stare at me with her twinkling eyes At the thought of that, my heart became all warm and mushy. In the end, I returned to the closet and carefully picked my outfit. Since Willow wore a pink dress today, I picked a silk shirt and a pair of light-coloured trousers to match Willow. I was sure that people Chapter 27


    would assume Willow and I were mother and daughter.


    As I headed downstairs, I nned to hail a cab. But Richard suddenly said, "Mr. Huxham told me to pick you up."


    After arriving at the restaurant, I was about to head to the private room to meet Willow. Just then, an unknown nur


    I answered the call and said, "Hello?"


    "Hello? May I know if this is Zachary Pelham''s parent?"

 Chapter 28

    Chapter


    28


    The caller said, "I''m Zachary''s teacher. School''s over, but nobody''s picked him up. I was wondering if something happened at home?"


    Before I got divorced, Jessica enthusiastically picked Zachary up from school. But just after I divorced Steven, Jessica stopped caring about Zachary!


    I was shocked, but that family had nothing to do with me anymore. I wouldn''t put myself through the trouble.


    "I''m Willow Huxham''s mother, and I''m not rted to Zachary. I think you called the wrong person, ma''am," I said, chuckling


    The teacher immediately said, "I''m so sorry for disturbing you.!


    "It''s okay," I responded, and then I hung up on the call.


    Just as I walked into the elevator, my phone rang again. This time, Steven was calling. I answered the call.


    Steven said awkwardly, "Can I trouble you to pick Zachary up?"


    As I gazed into my reflection in the elevator, I remembered how I was all smiles just moments ago. But now, my expression was hard.


    I said coldly, "No. You must''ve forgotten, Mr. Pelham, but we''re divorced. Please don''t contact me if it''s nothing important."


    Steven said anxiously, "I''m shopping with Jessica..."


    "I''m not interested in yourThis content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    your life. You don''t have to tell me what you''re doing. "I said.


    "But Zachary is still at school, and nobody can pick him up. I''m not free to pick him up either. Annalise, I beg you... Steven hurriedly said, as it he feared that I would hang up on him. "You don''t have to beg me. I won''t say yes, anyway," I said, and then I hung up


    1. up.


    Steven and his family were history to me. If there was anything worth remembering, it would probably be the unborn child. Aside from that, we became strangers.


    I found my way to the private room that Zane told me about. But to my surprise, the lights were off. I wondered if they had not arrived. Just as I was about to call Zane, the lights in the room were suddenly switched on.


    The room was decorated in a dreamy and romantic theme. It was filled with beautiful flowers, balloons that formed a heart shape, and a child''s writing that said, "Wee, Mommy".


    In the middle of the room was a cake surrounded by roses. Willow was carrying arge bouquet. When she saw me, she jumped off the chair and waddled over to me.


    The flowers were too heavy for Willow, and she used up all her strength to carry the bouquet to me, Yet, Willow smiled at me and said, I''m so happy that you''re my Mommy!"


    It was the first time in my life that I had ever been valued so dearly. I squatted down and solemnly received the flowers. Then, I gave Willow a tight squeeze.


    "I''m honored to have such a great daughter like you, too."


    Willow carefully hugged me and said shyly,


    "Mw.pur clothes.


    they are matching!"


    Upon hearing that, I ruffled Willow''s hair and said, "I matched it to your outfit today. Do you like it?"


    Willow gazed at me with her twinkling eyes and said, "I love it!"


    "That''s great."


    Then, Willow said, "But we have to do the next step now.''


    I released Willow from my embrace, and she held my hand as we walked toward the dining table. The candle had been lit

 Chapter 29

    Willow sat down beside Zane, and then she patted the seat next to her. "Here, Mommy!"This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    Iplied and sat down. Willow turned to me and said, "Make a wish!"


    I gazed at the wavering candlelight, and then I closed my eyes. I silently made a wish. "I hope Willow will slowly recover, and I hope we can stay happy forever."


    Then, I opened my eyes and blew out the candles. Willow immediately drew closer and asked, "What wish did you make, Mommy?


    I was about to answer, but Zane answered on my behalf. He said, "Willow, wishes won''te true if they''re said out loud."


    Willow said disappointedly, "Okay,"


    I couldn''t help but chuckle at how adorable Willow looked as she pouted. I cut her a slice of cake and said, "Eat up."


    Willow pouted and said, "But Daddy said I can''t eat desserts at night. It''s bad for my teeth."


    She was telling on Zane, but she was also exining why she couldn''t eat cake. I looked at Zane, and he coughed awkwardly.


    "Today is a special day, so you can have a little."


    "Yay!" Willow cheered after getting Zane''s permission. She picked up the fork and put arge piece of cake into her mouth. As she savored the taste, she closed her eyes happily. "The cake is delicious!"


    As Willow ate away, I cut a slice for Zane, too. Then, I cut a slice for myself.


    Willow raised her te and said sweetly, "Cheers!"


    Hearing her innocent words, Zane and I raised our tes and clinked them with hers. Then, Willow continued to happily munch away.


    After we finished the cake, food was served. Perhaps it was out of concern for Willow and me, but Zane had ordered healthier foods. They tasted good, and Willow enjoyed her meal a lot. Wher


    we left the hotel after the meal, Willow''s belly was bloated. After getting into the car, Willow leaned into my arms and said, " Mommy, can you rub my belly, please? I think I ate too much."


    Upon hearing that, I chuckled and gently rubbed her belly; Willow closed her eyesfortably. By the time we arrived home, Willow had fallen asleep. I was about to carry Willow back to her room, but Zane promptly picked her up. Zane was careful not to wake Willow up. He whispered, "You''re not fully recovered yet. Let me do it."


    Zane''s tone was cold, but his actions were very considerate. As I gazed at his figure, I couldn''t help but recall my past marriage.


    I had been unwell mumerous times, yet each time, Steven would pretend that he was unaware. Over time, I had gotten used to it. No matter how ill I was or how much help I needed, I would try to endure it myself. when


    en I was still Steven''s wife, he had never been considerate of me. But now, even though I was with Zane, he was considerate of my health. I was amazed at how different people could be.


    After returning to my bedroom, my phone rang. I answered the call. "Annalise Jamison, I can''t believe you didn''t pick Zachary up!"


    simply in an employment rtionship


    Special Halloween Treat More Coins, More Thrills

 Chapter 30

    Steven was barking through the phone. When I nced at my screen, I suddenly realized I hadn''t blocked his number yet.


    "What were you expecting?"


    se you didn


    didn''t pick him up, he waited alone outside t


    the


    Angered by how nonchnt I sounded, Steven snarled, "Did you know? Because kindergarten. He got home at 9:00 pm."


    Treplied calmly, "Mr. Pelham, but I think you''re ming the wrong person Jessica is his mother now. And I..."


    I got up and walked out to the balcony. I looked into the distance and saw the starry skies and city lights.


    "I''m just a stranger."


    Steven took a deep breath and said, "Are you still angry at us?"


    "No. I''m just moving on with my life," I said slowly. "I think there''s no need for me to be tied down by things and people of the past. What do you think?


    Before Steven could answer, Thung up and blocked his number. Suddenly, somebody knocked on my door. I opened the door to find Willow and a long-cared bunny doll outside my room.


    Standing behind Willow, Zane said, "She had dessert, so she must brush her teeth tonight. I woke her up, but... She insisted on looking for you."Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Zane rubbed his brows. Willow was embarrassed, too. She said, "My friends say that their Mommy will brush their teeth with them. But My Mommy never did..."


    Willow''s voice trailed off. It was s a small wish, so I decided to fulfill her wish. I said, "Do you want to brush your teeth in my bathroom or yours?"


    Willow perked up and said, "In Mommy''s bathroom!


    gazed at me with her twinkling


    Willow handed me her doll, and then she ran back to her bedroom to collect her cup and toothbrush. She ga eyes. I casually put her bunny doll aside and said, "Let''s go." Willow skipped along behind me. I was amazed at how easily children can be satisfied.


    Willow was petite; she couldn''t be seen in the bathroom mirror. And so, Zane found her a stool. After thanking him, Willow stepped onto the stool and made funny faces at her reflection in the mirror. She grinned and said, "Mommy, look at my teeth. They''re white!"


    I peered over. In case I couldn''t see her teeth, Willow opened her mouth bigger. I yed along with Willow''s childish actions, and I found it fun, too.


    I said exaggeratedly, "Wow, they''re so white!"


    Willow proudly raised her chin and said, "I brush my teeth every day!"


    I felt an urge to rub Willow''s cheeks when I saw her proud expression, but I controlled myself. I said, "Good job, Willow."


    Upon hearing that, Willow smiled shyly. She put kids'' toothpaste on her toothbrush and stole several nces at me. She couldn''t hide her expression, but I didn''t call her out either.


    Finally, Willow couldn''t help but ask, "Mommy, can I ask for avor?"


    She asked very carefully, and it was as if she was afraid of getting rejected. Upon hearing her question, I didn''t agree immediately.


    Willow whispered, "I want to sleep with Mommy tonight." As she said that, she stopped brushing her teeth, too. Willow gazed intently


    "Can you promise me something, then?" I said, looking at Willow in the


    Willow immediately answered, "What is it?"


    eye


    after putting down my cup,


    I said slowly, "I know you don''t like talking to people, so I won''t force you to talk to other people. But at the very least, starting from today, you should talk to Daddy.

 Chapter 31

    "Talk to Daddy just like how you talk to Mommy. Do you think you can do that?"


    However, Willow looked troubled. I continued, "If you agree, you can sleep with me in my bedroom tonight.


    Willow looked at me, and then she turned to look around therge bedroom. She said, "Okay!"


    After brushing her teeth, Willow left her cup and toothbrush in my bathroom. Then, she walked outside and reached out to Zane. "Daddy." Zane paused. He squatted down in disbelief, wondering if he had misheard it. He said, "Were you just talking to me?"


    Willow nced at me, who was standing behind Zane. It was difficult, but Willow continued, "Yeah."


    Zane immediately picked Willow up. When Zane first found out that Willow was autistic, be brought Willow to a doctor, and she received various treatments. Yet, Willow still refused to speak


    At that time, Zane thought it was fine as long as Willow lived healthily. Butter, Willow encountered Annalise. When Willow was willing to speak to Annalise, Zane did not wish for more either. He thought it was great that Willow was willing to speak to someone, even if it weren''t him.


    However, Willow finally called out to Zane! It felt like a dream to him


    "It''s amazing.


    at if I am willing t


    willing to talk to you, she willThis content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org .


    Sensing Zane''s excitement, Willow lightly patted him on the back and said, "Mommy said that sleep with me tonight."


    Hearing that, Zane paused and gazed at me, I shed him a smile. Zane looked away and said, "She''s a great person."


    Willow said proudly, "Of course, I picked her out as my Mommy."


    Zane brought Willow back to her bedroom, and then he put her down. Willow immediately dived into the wardrobe and found herself a nightgown


    Before Zane could pick her up, Willow ran up to me. Meanwhile, Zane had been gazing lovingly at Willow.


    I smiled at Willow and asked, "What should you say to Daddy now?"


    After pondering for a moment, Willow answered, "I''m going to bed. Goodnight, Daddy."


    Then, Willow led me back to my bedroom. After closing the door, Willow handed me her nightgown and said, "Help me change, Mommy."


    "Sure.


    Willow was cooperative, and it was easy to get her dressed. She happily snuggled under the sheets and poked her head out. She giggled and said, "Mommy, I want a bedtime story."


    There were many illustrated books at home. I picked one that was suitable for her age, and I started reading from the first page.


    I wasn''t sure if Willow had been tired or if my voice was too soothing. By the second page, Willow was fast asleep.


    As I gazed at her innocent face, I couldn''t help but give her a peck on the cheek. I whispered, "Goodnight, darling."


    The next morning, I woke up early as usual, and I wanted to make breakfast for Willow. But when I went downstairs to the kitchen, I realized that someone else had already prepared breakfast. I went to the living room instead. "Are you hungry?" Zane said from behind me.


    Shaking my head, I turned around to gaze at Z


    at Zane. I said, "I used to prepare breakfast all the time."


    "You don''t have to anymore. We have chefs and housekeepers here. Aside from spending time with Willow, you can do anything you want," said Zane, who was sipping away on ck coffee on the couch.


    I sat down across from him. In the past, all my time used to be taken up by house chores. Now that I didn''t have to do any chores, I didn''t know what to do with all the extra time on hand. "Mommy!


    Just as I fell into deep thought, I suddenly heard Willow''s tearful cry. I looked up to see willow run downstairs, teary-eyed. 1 immediately approached Willow and asked, "What''s wrong?

 Chapter 32

    Willow looked upset. Sniffling, she said, "I woke up and couldn''t see Mommy. I thought you didn''t want me anymore, Mommy


    I held Willow''s hand and brought her to the living room. She sat down on the couch and couldn''t hold back her tears.


    As I wiped away Willow''s tears, I sald gently, "It''s Mommy''s fault. I woke up early and wanted to make breakfast for you, but I forgot that you will be upset if you can''t see me." With teary eyes, willow gazed at me and asked, "Really?"


    "Of course! So let''s not cry anymore, okay?" I said.


    Willow lightly nodded and stopped crying Then, she jumped into my arms.


    "But Mommy, it''s tiring to prepare breakfast in the morning. I want you to sleep more "


    Since someone else was already making breakfast, I didn''t have to do their job. I lightly rubbed Willow''s head and said, "That''s sweet of you, Willow."Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    Upon hearing that, Willow smiled shyly. Now that Willow was cheered up again, I asked, "Shall we wash up now?"


    Willow jumped off the couch and said, "Let''s go "


    As wi


    Willow walked to the staircase, she suddenly remembered something. She paused and then turned around to look at Zane; Zane was looking back at her, too.


    After a long silence, Willow said, "Good morning, Daddy."


    Zane''s icy expression melted into a smile. He said, "Good morning to you too, Willow."


    After hearing Zane''s answer, Willow went upstairs with her hand in mine.


    Though Willow was only five years old, she was very independent. She requested mypany, yet she did everything herself from brushing her teeth to washing her face. She even picked out and changed into her clothes by herself.


    I watched her do everything independently. Suddenly, I realized she had asked me to help her change into her nightgownst night. It was probably just because she wanted to experience what it was like to be pampered by her mother. After getting changed, Willow approached me and asked, "Mommy, can you tie my hair?" "Sure."


    Hearing my answer


    Willow immediately ran to her bedroom and picked up a box of hair ties. Then, she ran back to me and gave me the box. I picked out two hair ties from the box and started tob her hair.


    Willow still had some baby fat. After I braided all her hair, she looked like a princess from a fairy tale. After I was done, Willow rushed to the bathroom and gazed at herself in the mirror. Her jaw dropped. She said exaggeratingly, "Who''s Mommy did this? She must have delicate hands!"


    Willow was good at givingpliments; she was a very sweet girl. I answered, "It must be Willow''s mother."


    Willow said proudly, "I thought so, too!" But Willow wasn''t satisfied with only seeing her reflection in the mirror. Holding my hand,


    Willow nushed downstairs to Zane


    Zane said, "Hi, Willow."


    But before Zane could finish, Willow said, "Daddy, how did you know that Mominy tied my hair?"


    Zane was baffled. But Willow couldn''t settle with showing off to Zane only. She ran up to others, to


    Whenever other people greeted her, she could answ


    proudly, "I know, right? Mommy tied my hair very nicely."


    After showing off to every single person, Willow finally went back to her seat. I was happy to see how cheerful Willow seemed. Zane thought it was funny, too


    In the past, Willow rsed to speak Now that she finally spoke, it was to show off the hairstyle that her mother did for her. But after returning to the dining table, Willow became her usual self again. She was quiet

 Chapter 33

    When everyone else saw that Willow was willing to speak, they all tried to y with her. But aside from Zane and I, Willow refused to speak to anyone else.


    As I had my breakfast, I fell into deep thought. If Willow could be so overjoyed and speak to everyone else just because I did her hair, would that mean Willow would interact with others if I did more things for her? After breakfast, Willow held my hand and said goodbye to Zane. She said, "I''m going to school, Daddy."


    Zane had initially nned to head to work immediately. But after hearing Willow, he decided to change his ns. He said, "I''ll send


    you to school


    Willow was confused as to why Zane suddenly changed his mind. Zane drove the car closer and said, "Get in "


    Since Willow was still too young to sit in the front seat, I sat with her in the back seat.


    As Zane drove, he asked Willow, "I will free up my weekend to spend time with you. Is there anywhere that you want to go?"


    "Yes! My friends at kindergarten go to the theme park during their free time! I want to go with Mommy! I want them to see that I have the best Mommy in the world!"


    As Willow continued, she smiled brighter. She ended upughing out loud from her joy.


    Zane asked, "We''ll go to the theme park on one of the days. What about the other


    Willow seriously pondered, but she couldn''te up with an answer. Willow asked, "Mommy, is there anywhere that you want to go?"


    I answered, "I want to go to the library."


    Upon hearing that, Willow immediately said, "We''ll do as Mommy said, then!"


    As Willow said that, she jumped into my arms and hugged me. I hugged her back, too.


    Perhaps it was because Willow had lost her parents when she was much younger, but Willow was seemingly afraid of losing me. Whenever we were physically together, Willow would get very attached to me. She seemed very insecure. I lightly patted Willow on her back


    What I nned to do from now on was to treat Willow better until she finally could believe that no matter what happened, I would never abandon ber.


    When we arrived at the kindergarten, I got out of the car with Willow and walked her to the gate.


    But Willow was reluctant to part ways with me.


    She asked seriously, "Mommy, can youe to ss with me?"


    "I''m an adult, so I think I can''t attend kindergarten," I said.


    Upon hearing that, Willow was slightly disappointed. She said, "Okay."Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    I knew that Willow must be upset because we had to part ways after spending little time together. I said, "If you study well in school, I''ll y with you when youe home. Okay?"


    "Okay." After heating my promise, Willow turned around and went inside the kindergarten. I got up to leave, but somebody blocked my path


    It was Zachary.


    He gazed at me and said, "You should keep doing whatever you didst night. No matter who calls you, never pick me up. Mommy Jessle will believe that you don''t want me anymore, and she will treat me like I''m her own son!"

 Chapter 34

    Jessica had already be his mother, yet Zachary was still not satisfied. He seemed to be insistent on bing closer to Jessica. But what did that have to do with me?


    I gazed at him disdainfully and said, "Why are you telling me this? Do I know you?"


    Stunned, Zachary gazed at me in shock.


    Ifrowned and said, "You can do whatever you want to improve your rtionship with your mother. That''s your business, and it has nothing to do with me:


    "Please don''t notify me about it again and again. I don''t have time to waste, do you hear me?"


    After saving that, I walked past Zachary. But suddenly, I remembered something, and I turned to the kindergarten teacher.


    "I hope you can discipline your students, too. You shouldn''t condone him chatting with strangers."


    Then, I got into the car. Zane drove away from the kindergarten, and he peered at me curiously. After spending some time with him, I had an idea of thend of person that Zane was. I made myselffortable in the seat and asked, "Do you have questions?"


    "I just thought it was good for you to do that. You shouldn''t look back after making your choice," Zane looked away and said emotionlessly. I chuckled.


    Zane continued. "Have you thought of what you want to do next?"


    I shook my head and answered, "Not yet."


    "Should I get somebody to craft up a n for you?"


    Zane could see that Willow was getting better after spending time with me. In return, Zane had wished for my life to be better, too. I hurriedly answered, "No, thank you!" I was grateful that Zane!


    e was willing to take me in and give me a job when I had no money or home. I didn''t want to trouble him further.


    Now that I didn''t have to do any house chores, I knew I would have a lot of free time...Zane would have wis too Otherwise, I might get too bored


    Ichuckled and said, "Give me a few days. I should be able to figure out what I like or anThis material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    H


    wished for me to do something,


    industry that I''d be interested in."


    "Sure. You can walk around and see if there''s anything you want to buy. If you get bored, you can call me, and I will get the driver to send you home," Zane said after parking lus car outside the office Then, Zane went up to his office. Meanwhile, I walked around the area.


    There were


    many offices in the neighborhood, and many stores beverage stores


    were open downstairs. Most of them were


    restaurants, and some were


    Looking at the signboards and the photographs on their doors, I guessed what every store offered. Meanwhile, I also silently pondered. If I could start my own business, would I be willing to do something simr to theirs? I found myself concluding no, I wouldn''t


    First of all, running a store would require long working hours. It would disrupt the time that I get to spend with Willow. Secondly, aspared to a job that required me to work with people, I seemned to prefer a job that I could do at home. I slowed down my pace. Though I hadn''t looked at all the stores, I was clear about what I didn''t want to do. As for a job that I would be Interested in...


    I still had plenty of days ahead in my life. Plus, I didn''t need to think of an answer soon, so I fully focused on Willow for now. I had to be a good mother and do my best to help her get better.

 Chapter 35

    As for Willow, she was quite a unique child. I needed to know how to improve her condition. So, I had to read more books on autism and gain the necessary knowledge to help her.


    Fortunately, there was a bookshop nearby. I took broad strides to the massive bookshop with three floors. The third floor contained books with specific and professional information


    My eyes roamed past the categorybels on the bookshelves. From that, I figured out that psychology books were near the window. I first located the psychology section before finding some books on the introduction to autism. After paying for the books, I didn''t go home right away. Instead, I stayed in the sitting area on the first floor and flipped through the


    books


    There were many books on autism. However, most spoke of cases where autistic children were non-verbal since birth. Only a few books mentioned cases of children like Willow.


    She only stopped talking to people after a triggering or traumatizing experience. On top of that, she was only willing to socialize with specific people


    At some point, I ced the books back into the bag and leaned against my chair. It seemed I would have to find a solution to Willow''s


    condition on my DWTL.


    Willow was very clingy now and would stick by my side at all times if she could. She also made me do everything she wanted her mom to do with her. She would even excitedly tell her family about insignificant things I did with her, like how I braided her hair. While thinking about those things, I felt a pang of regret then. Many little moments in life were so beautiful that I couldn''t help but want to record them in some way


    s, such moments were sometimes too fleeting. Some conversations were so abrupt that one couldn''t whip out their camera or phone


    to record at in time.


    Images of Willow filled my brain just then. I ultimately couldn''t help but take out a pen I had just bought. Then, I sketched out the scenes of what happened earlier this morning with simple pen strokes.


    That felt like a good way of recording how much Willow touched me and filled my life with sweetness. Finally, I concentrated while writing what Willow said in a nk spot on the page.


    The corners of my lips couldn''t help but curve upward. It warmed me to know such a lovely child was now my daughter.


    Just then, my phone rang and I casually answered it. "Hello?


    Zane was straightforward in saying, "Willow will be done with school soon"


    Zane had always driven Willow home since she started attending kindergarten. Because of that, he was probably used to ending his work at this time every day and driving to pick Willow up from her kindergarten. Although Willow now had me as her mom and wasn''t as eager for Zane to drive her, Zane still couldn''t change his habit. He said, have to pick her up together


    "Alright, you cane downstairs to meet me now," I answered before packing my things and walking to hispany.


    Zane saw me and the bags I held once he drove out of the garage. He immediately asked once I got into the car, "What did you buy?" Some psychology books." I didn''t n on hiding/


    t from him. "I want to see if there are ways to help Willow get better with socializingOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org.


    H


    Zane retracted his stares and didn''t speak for a long time.


    He was probably thinking, "Most ordinary people would''ve secretly prayed for Willow to never improve if it meant they got to keep


    this amazing job. That way, they can keep staying by Willow''s side and earn a high sry while doing a simple job."


    My actions, which contradicted that thought process, probably surprised him.

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    Chapter


    36


    After all, I was trying to analyze why Willow had suddenly gotten better after seeing signs of her improvement. My thought process was maybe Willow could ovee her social avoidance if I continued to get along with her and help her grow in this direction Zane seemed to like people who genuinely cared for Willow. He said, "Most cases mentioned in books are significantly Willow''s situation." different


    from


    He had already taken Willow to the necessary doctors these past few years. Likewise, he had read all the books on autism. Yet, he still hadn''t found a way to help Willow.


    "Yeah." I didn''t deny his words as they were the truth. "But it''s clear from this morning that she''s willing to speak with others. So, I n on getting her tomunicate more with others while also doing things she''d be happy to tell others about, "My hope is maybe she''ll be more open to talking to others if she has something she''s excited to share with others, Once I try methods, I canpare which is better for her overall improvement."


    Of course, those were only my hopes. Zane was still Willow''s true guardian, so I needed his opinion. "What do you think?"


    Zane wasn''t opposed. "Just don''t force her tomunicate with others if she refuses when you ask her to.


    He was most likely worried that Willow would socially iste herself again after being too overstimted,


    My thoughts were the same. "That''s what I was thinking, too."


    Zane glimpsed at me through the rearview mirror, but it was only a split second. He soon looked away and resumed his usual emotionlessness. Everything about him appeared unweing and cold, but I could tell he was in a good mood. We soon arrived at the kindergarten. The past two times we came here, Zane would always wait in the car while I went to pick up Willow from the gate. Yet, this time, he came with me.


    We walked shoulder to shoulder ahead when he suddenly asked, "Do you want to have dinner at home, or shall we take Willow out for a


    I turned and raised my brows at him in confusion.


    "Willow seldom eats out, but she seemed happy doing so yesterday," Zane exined. He didn''t seem to expect much of Willow and only hoped she grew up happy and healthy.


    As a mother myself, I naturally understood his wishes. "How about you ask her when shees out in a bit?


    Zane stopped walking. He turned on his heel to face me just ther


    I voiced my thoughts, "We should still respect Willow''s opinions since we want the best for her."


    Zane was used to making decisions on Willow''s behalf when thetter was previously non-verbal. It became a habit over time, so he didn''t bother asking for Willow''s opinion anymore.


    It seemed he had only realized it now that I reminded him about children having their own opinions,


    Once it clicked in his mind, he continued walking forward. "Alright."


    Willow''s kindergarten sses ended on time. Today, she stood at the front of the line and walked faster once she saw me. s, Holly stopped her from running, which upset her. Despite being unhappy, she stillplied and slowed down I hurried over once she arrived at the gate. Zane did, too.


    Willow was also the first child to make it to the gate. "Daddy! Mommy!"


    Holly recognized me, so she allowed Willow to run over. Willow leaped into my arms for a hug. Her gentle, murmuring voice made it seem like she had a rough time. "I missed you, Mommy!"


    Before I could respond to Willow, Zane put on a wounded look and spoke up. "Do you not miss me, Willow?"


    Willow nodded with fervor just then. "I do!"


    Zane chuckled with satisfaction. That was when Willow softly added, "But not asText ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    much as I miss M


    Mommy."


    Zane gently pinched Willow''s cheek, which immediately caused Willow''s eyes to moisten. She then shot me a pitiful pout. "Mommy! Daddy''s bullying me."


    1 squatted down to gingerly blow on her cheek. "There, there. See? It doesn''t hurt anymore."


    Willow''s tears stopped at once like she was used to crying and stopping onmand. "You''re the best, Mommy! I love you!"

 Chapter 37

    Willow was very much willing to express her affection toward me. Naturally, I wanted to let her know I adored her, too "You''re the


    much!" best, too, Willow! I love you just as


    Now That Willow was okay with verbalizing with Zane, Zane refused to let go of any chance to get Willow to speak with him. He pretended to be jealous and asked, "Do you not love Daddy, then?"


    "I do!" Willow was displeased that Zane had interrupted her conversation with me. That said, she still answered his question with her sweet little voice. "I love Daddy loads, tool"


    Willow feared Zane would ask more questions after she finished consoling him. She held both sides of my cheeks and whispered into


    you, Mommy!" my ear, "But my most, Inost, most, most favorite person alive is


    She said several "most''s in a row. It was as if that were the only way to prove her love for me was one of a kind.


    After saying that, she even smugly raised her chin at Zane.


    Zane chuckled, and I couldn''t helpughing as well.


    Seeing that Zane hadn''t interrupted her this time, Willow merrily stood between me and Zane while holding our hands. I reciprocated by holding her hand tight.


    Willow gripped our hands and swung herself forward and back. Then, herughter, which had a pleasant lilt, rang out.


    I kept my eyes on Willow, who found joy in life''s smallest and simplest things. One didn''t need to spend much money on her, she was happy enough with just having her parents around.


    Eventually, I got into the car, and Willow sat in my arms while looking at the kindergarten''s gates. I looked in that direction as well. All the children had been picked up by their parents except Zachary, who remained at the gates. Nobody came to collect him, so only Holly kep I retracted my gaze. Willow hugged me tightly just then. She even pressed her cheek against my chest.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Icasually wrapped my arms around her shoulders and gently patted her back. That was when the bag containing my purchases from the bookshop caught Willow''s attention. She straightened her back to stare into my eyes. "Mommy, can I see what''s in that bag?" "Of course, you can."


    Willow was unfamiliar withplicated words since she was still a child. She set the psychology books aside. Following that, she noticed a sketch of a cute little girl. She looked up at me and asked, "Mommy, is that me?"


    I was unsure if she was okay with being drawn by me. Regardless, I answered, "Yep. That''s you. I wrote about how I braided your hair this morning above the drawing. You were adorable, so I wanted to capture that memory through this way-"


    I took the initiative to ask, "Are you okay with it, Willow? If not, I promise not to draw these things again."


    "I love it!" Willow raised her voice as though that was the only way to prove how deeply she liked my drawing


    Here


    reyes twinkled with excitement at me "Mommy, you''re awesome! I look so cute in your drawing! I like it a lot!"


    I gently stroked her hair in response. At the kindergarten''s gates, Holly phoned Steven. She informed thetter that no one hade to pick Zachary up.


    Yet, Steven sounded hesitant on the phone and didn''t once say he would bring Zachary home. Instead, he suggested, "Why don''t you contact Zachary''s biological mother?"


    Holly was helpless. "Quit joking around, Mr. Pelham. Zachary refused to acknowledge his biological mother when she first came to pick Zachary up. We even mistook her for an abductor and called the cops on her.


    "Then, when you asked us tocall her, she said she was Willow''s pate longer in the position to ask her to pick Zachary up."


    parent and had nothing to do with Zachary. At this rate, we''re no


    Upon hearing Holly''s words, Zachary snatched the phone and yelled into it. "Get Mommy Jessie to pick me up, Daddy!"

 Chapter 38

    That put Steven in a difficult position. "But Mommy Jessie''s pregnant. It''s not safe for her to pick you up from school,"


    It didn''t matter how Holly was. Even she became slightly annoyed at Steven''s refusal to bear the responsibility of collecting Zachary,"Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    In other words, you''re not free to pick up Zachary, and your wife is also unable toe due to her health."


    "Yeah..." replied a sheepish Steven.


    Holly couldn''t understand how such an irresponsible parent could exist. "Well, what do you n on doing about your child?"


    Steven didn''t know how to answer her question, so he stayed silent. The two remained in that stalemate for a while.


    Ultimately, Zachary was the one who broke the silence and offered a solution. "Daddy, how about we ask Ms. Dawson to send me home for now?" "Good idea!" Steven eagerly replied. "Thank you for your troubles, Ms. Dawson."


    n unreasonable


    Holly felt the strong urge to roll her eyes. In her many years of teaching, this was her first time encountering such an parent.


    That said, she still sent Zachary home for his safety. She even phoned the kindergarten''s principal to update thetter about the state of Zachary''s family.


    Zachary unlocked the door with his fingerprint and stood at the doorway to bid goodbye to Holly. Once Holly left, he walked into the living room, shut the door, and shouted, "Mommy!"


    He figured Jessica had to be home since Steven mentioned it was unsafe for her to go out earlier. Yet, nobody responded to him, no matter how much he called out.


    Not to mention, only the living room lights were on. The lights in the other rooms were off. He returned to his bedroom, took out his iPad, and wanted to call Jessica to ask where she was. Yet, he had just opened the Instagram app when he saw a new post from Jessica. He clicked on the post, which had just been uploaded. It was a photo of Jessica ying outdoors with Cody. Only then did Zachary realize Jessica was too busy keeping Codypany to care about him.


    "But Mommy Jessie would always bring me along if she ever took Cody out to y before my biological mom and dad got divorced... Why are things different now?" Zachary wondered, unable to understand Jessica''s sudden change. Zane was still driving on the road. Willow rested against the car window, her big, doe eyes focusing on the view outside. She seemed to notice something and suddenly whipped her head around with tears in her eyes. Then, she snuggled into my arms.


    She murmured in a way that sounded like she was down in the dumps. "Mommy..."


    I thought she was unwell and immediately asked, "What''s wrong?"


    "Daddy has never taken me shopping at a grocery store before." Willow softlyined, "I often hear my ssmates in kindergarten talking about how their parents take them shopping every few days..." She raised her head to gaze at me. "Well, we''re a family, too. Shouldn''t we


    Before she could finish speaking, Zane turned at the next intersection. He then parked at the nearest mall''s basement parking.


    Zane wanted to Impress Willow so she would love him more. So, after doing all of that, he even made sure to dere his intentions." Daddy will always do whatever you want with you."


    "Yay!" Willow hopped out of the car before urging us to join her. "Hurry up, Mommy and Daddy!"


    It was probably rare for Zane to see Willow this energized. He couldn''t help but share a look with me, which prompted me to join him outside the car


    Willow held my hand and immediately told us what to do. "I saw that many parents would say no whenever their kids want to buy something. Let''s try doing thatter!"


    an unusual request, but I wanted to fulfill her wishes. "Alright."


    This mall was the biggest one nearby. It had three floors, with a grocery store on the first-floor, and sold all sorts of items. Willow picked a shopping cart with a built-in child''s seat before stating straight at Zane.

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    Chapter


    39


    Zane was a total daddy''s girl and could never say no to Willow. Willow didn''t even need to ask for Zane''s help


    He picked her up and ced her into the child''s seat in the shopping cart right away. Then, he pushed the cart ahead while walking at lightning speed. Willow''s voice.


    I walked behind them, but it wasn''t long before I lost sight of them. That said, I could still hear W


    "slow down, Daddy!" Willow was clearly happy. Even herints wereced withughter. "I can''t even see Mommy anymore- ch! Mommy!"


    I happened to hear Willow from behind me, so I looked back. That was when 1 saw her waving at me, so I waved back


    In the next second, the two whooshed past me like a gust of wind. Meanwhile, I took my time strolling and seeing if there was anything I needed


    By the time Willow and Zane returned to my side again, I could tell Willow was bored of ying in the cart. She tilted her head at me, What are you doing, Mommy?"


    It turned out that I had instinctively looked at theundry detergent, wanting topare the different brands. Yet, I only realized something afterparing them for ages-I no longer needed to do house chores.


    Augh left my lips as I exined, "I was just looking around."


    I wasn''t used to having so much free time all of a sudden. Zane began examining the products on the shelves. He seemed to have recalled the drawings Willow took from my bag earlier and casually asked, "Do you like to draw?" "Yeah, I previously took sses for some time." I smilingly exined, "When I was a housewife, I''d get bored after doing house chores. So, I''d draw to pass the time."


    Zane pushed the shopping cart Willow sat in while walking beside me. He was silent for the longest time before saying, "Have you ever considered turning this into a casual, part-time career?"


    I stared wide-eyed at him. Indeed, I had never considered the possibility of doing such a thing


    Willow''s eyes lit up as she suggested, "Mommy, you can post your art online after you''ve drawn them. I''ve seen many people do it online."


    Willow couldn''t read many words and didn''t know the overall content of those posts. Still, that didn''t stop her from being in awe of such artists'' posts.


    What made Willow even happier was her mother was about to be an incredible artist like them, too. My mood brightened at once. Can I really do that?


    "Of course." Zane instantly broke down the benefits of doing so to me. "Your art will gain more exposure online. Who knows? Maybe your littleic-like drawings could get published, "Otherpanies may also take an interest in your drawings andmission you to designmercial art for them. All in all, there are many benefits to doing so."Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    The more they tried to convince me, the more I felt such a job would suit me better. "Alright, then. I''ll give it a shot once I have some free time."


    Willow boomed with boundless joy once I epted her and Zane''s suggestion. She raised a finger and asked, "Mommy, can I make another suggestion?" I nodded. "Sure."


    Willow shyly asked, "Can I choose the color of my dress if you want to make drawings of me again?"


    I chuckled lightly before answering "Of course you can."


    Willow was so over the moon that she ran in circles several times. She eventually stopped and was attracted to a pretty doll nearb Then, she stared straight at Zane. Turning down Willow''s requests was never an option for Zane "Let''s buy it-


    Before he could finish speaking, I spoke to him with a low, suppressed voice. "Have you forgotten what Willow told us to do when we first arrived?"

 Chapter 40

    Chapter


    40


    That was when Zane remembered Willow''s words. He put on a stern expression and said, "We''re not buying that doll."


    Willow wanted to pretend to lie on the ground and throw a tantrum. Yet, she looked around and realized there were people nearby. Her cheeks soon turned bright red as she hid behind Zane. "I don''t wanna pretend anymore."


    She seemed slightly embarrassed. I couldn''t help but chuckle at her. She was such a unique child.


    Zane picked Willow up. Willow buried her head against Zane''s chest and said, "Please stopughing, Mommy,"


    It was only then that I stopped. Zane carried Willow with one hand while pushing the shopping cart with his other hand.


    It seemed too exhausting for him, and I wanted to help ease his burden, so I took the shopping cart from him. "I''ll push the cart." "Sure." Zane didn''t refuse my help. "Our chef, Duncan Frye, is on leave tomorrow. We''ll have to eat out during the day." Willow voiced her prefe I was about to offer to cook since Chef Frye wouldn''t be around. However, I held back the suggestion when I heard Willow wanted


    but.


    to eat


    I knew most children who had nannies or special caretakers seldom ate out. Since the opportunity arose, I figured we could allow her to enjoy herself at a restaurant. It seemed like a pretty good idea, after all Zane wasn''t fussy when it came to food. So, heplied, "Let''s go with Willow''s choice."


    Upon getting her wish, Willow beamed with joy and wiggled out of Zane''s arms. "Let''s have a yummy, big meal in t about dinner..."


    She stood before the fresh meat aisle, eyed the broad selection of proteins, and waved me over. I did as she wanted.


    the afternoon. Now,


    "How about this? Daddy cane home early from work and help us cook some steak!" Willow stated before immediately turning to me. "The food Daddy makes is okay, but his steaks are the best in the world!"


    It seemed like Willow rarelyplimented Zane, which was why Zane puffed his chest out with pride. He dered, "Don''t worry. Daddy will make you the world''s yummiest steak tomorrow."


    That seemed to work well on Willow, who replied, "I can''t wait!"


    She also picked up a few pieces of packaged beef and ced them into our shopping cart. Yet, Zane returned the beef Willow had chosen to shelves.


    He then told her which types of meat would taste better when cooked as steak. Likewise, he taught her about the kinds of beef that would turn out dry and tough.


    Willow paid close attention to everything he said. She even nodded at times. Once Zane selected the ingredients for tomorrow''s dinner, he paid for them and brought us to the mall''s upper floors.


    To that, I was confused. "Why are we heading upstairs? Is there something else we need to buy?"


    "Since you n on drawing at home in the future, you''ll undoubtedly need some supplies. We should take this chance to get everything you need since we''re here today" Zane spoke while leading the way.


    The second floor mainly sold electronic appliances and devices. Digital drawing tablets weren''t the top-selling items, so only a littleer of the second floor had shops dedicated to selling them.


    Upon arrival, Zane had the shop assistant exin the difference between each model. He ultimately bought the most expensive tablet model, which allowed me to draw digitally and transfer a drawing on paper into aputer.


    I was so shocked that I didn''t know what to say after listening to the shop assistant''s exnation of the tablet''s functions. Had modern technology already advanced this much without me noticing?


    Once we bought everything necessary, Zane brought the shopping cart back to the car and took us home.


    Chef Frye had already prepared our meal beforehand. He made chicken noodle soup and some sd. The dishes were light and easy to digest for dinner.


    We could even taste the freshness of each leafy green in the sd. Willow sat at the din


    dining table, her gaze shooting from me to Zane.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    She seemed delighted that Zane and I would pick her up from school on time every day. Plus, we were willing to take the time to y with her. She probably felt like the most loved and blessed child now. Chapter 40


    Zane scooped some chicken noodle soup into a bowl before passing it to Willow.

 Chapter 41

    Chapter


    41


    Willow''s sweet voice rang out. "Thanks, Daddy."


    "You''re wee." Zane''s voice also softened significantly.


    Willow ate a spoonful of the chicken noodle soup before looking up at Zane and speaking up. "When will Chef Frye be back, Daddy?"


    Zane answered, "Next Monday"


    "Tomorrow''s Saturday.." Willow murmured while counting down the days in her mind. Then, she announced her n, "It''s settled! Let''s cook dinner as a family on Sunday."


    She eagerly wanted to experience the life of a regr family of three. Zane met my eyes, concerned that I would say no to Willow. However, I didn''t mind it one bit. "Sure!" Zane rxed upon hearing that. He caressed Willow''s cheek and said, "We''ll do as you say, then."Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org.


    On the other hand, Zachary hadn''t eaten anything since he got home earlier. He was so hungry that his stomach kept churning and making bubbling sounds. Desperate, he opened the fridge to check if there was anything to eat.


    s, the fridge was empty. Zachary rubbed his tummy while checking the freezer, which had plenty of ice cream.


    He hesitated, knowing Annalise, whom he referred to as "Mean Mommy," didn''t let him eat ice cream often because it was bad for the stomach


    "But Mean Mommy and Daddy were already divorced. She can''t control me anymore! I can eat whatever I want now!" Zachary thought. He ate one ice cream but still felt hungry, so he ate more. Eventually, all the ice cream left him feeling chilly, and his stomach hurt a lot. That was when the door clicked open. Following that, Zachary could hear Jessica and Steven merrily chatting


    "Zachary will be happy once he sees all these things we bought him." A smiling Jessica added, "Don''t you agree, Steven?"


    One could tell from Steven''s voice that he went along with everything Jessica said. "Yeah, he''s always hoping you can spoil and shower him with affection! I bet he''ll be touched to know you went to prepare a surprise for him even though you''re pregnant" Jessica only called out for Zachary after receiving the former''s assurance. "Zachary!"


    Zachary was in so much pain that he had no energy left. He unconsciously broke out in cold sweat, which dribbled down from his forebead. "I''m over here!"


    He wondered what surprise his new mommy had prepared for him. When Steven heard how weak Zachary sounded, he rushed to thetter at once


    His face darkened when he saw all the opened ice cream packaging on the ground. Yet, he knew that wasn''t the time to lecture his son. He picked Zachary up, rushed into the car, and floured the elerator to take Zachary to the hospital.


    Annalise was always busy caring for Zachary whenever thetter had health issues. Now that Annalise and Steven had divorced, Steven had to do everything alone.


    After all, he couldn''t let the pregnant Jessica look after his child. A nurse helped put Zachary on an IV drip, but while doing so, she made her disapproval known.


    "He''s still a kid! He wouldn''t know his limits like an adult would. How could you let him have that much ice cream?


    Steven didn''t know what to say, so he could only patiently listen to the former''sints


    "Daddy.." Zachary weakly snuggled closer to Steven''s chest as he asked, "Why can''t Mommy Jessie keep mepany? Mommy used to stay with me whenever I felt sick in the past "


    Now that Jessica had be Zachary''s mot, he felt she should be by his side whenever he was sick. Steven couldn''t bear to see Zachary so weak since thetter was his flesh and blood "Moramy Jessie has a baby in her tummy. She can''t wear herself out too much."


    Zachary couldn''t understand that. "But why could Mommy still look after me when she was pr


    pregnant with a baby?"

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    Chapter


    42


    Steven was taken aback by that question. It took him a while to answer, "Mommy Jessie can''t look after you


    because


    He wanted to say Jessica had already gone out to buy things and prepare a surprise for Zachary. However, before he could utter those words, he realized something was amiss.


    Jessica often said she needed to rest up and not overexert herself for the baby''s sake, or it would affect the baby''s development. Yet, wasn''t it also tough on her body to go shopping all day?


    Wouldn''t that mean Jessica didn''t mind exhausting her body to go shopping but refused to do the same to look after Zachary? Zachary noticed Steven was silent for a long time. He dubiously questioned, "What about Mommy Jessie?"


    "Nothing."Steven ultimately held Zachary dearly because thetter was his only biological son, It was natural that he valued Zachary more. "Let''s go home and tell Mommy Jessie that she has to pick you up from school, no matter how busy she is tomorrow. How about tha "Okay!" replied a satisfied Zachary. Then, he murmured, "I want all the lids in my ss to see how Mommy Jessie treats me better than if I were her biological son.."


    "She will." Steven chuckled in amusement. The Jessica he knew was a kind, loving woman. She couldn''t possibly bear to disappoint Zachary


    Willow would spend around half an hour on her electronic gadgets every day. She used to watch short videos before I came to live with ber. Now that I had be a part of her life, she preferred to stick with me and ask me to watch some television with her. That said, Willow seemed distracted today. She kept sneaking nces at me while watching the television.


    I restedzily against the couch with one hand behind my head. A smile curved on my face as I asked, "What''s wrong?"


    Willow grabbed the remote to turn off the television once she heard my question. Subsequently, she inched closer to me.


    As for Zane, he seemed confused after seeing Willow had turned off the television. In the past, Willow would always pout at him for more television or iPad time after her 30-minute limit ended.


    Yet, she had shockingly stopped watching television earlier than her time limit. Willow hung her head low, clearly feeling awloward about her following request.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    Mommy, I want you to help bathe me..." Her voice sounded like the tiniest squeak. Then, she hid her head in Zane''s embrace like she was afraid I would turn her down.


    She continued, "It''s okay if you don''t want to..."


    I smiled and asked, "Who said I didn''t want to?"


    Willow raised her head to gawp at me with wide eyes. "But people say it''s too troublesome to bathe a child,"


    Before I could say anything, Zane interrogated her with a stern frown. "Who told you that?"


    He seemed fully ready i


    y to fire the nannies be had hired if any of them dared utter such nonsense in front of Willow.


    Willow answered without much thought, "I heard it from a video."


    That rendered Zane speechless. It seemed he was worried for nothing. Yet, since we were already on this topic, he probably felt I was necessary to rify things.


    "Do any of the nannies grumble whenever they have to bathe you?


    Willow thought about it seriously. "Sometimes.."


    Zane''s expression withered just then. Yet, that was when Willow hesitantly added, "They''re upset that bath time''s too short Sometimes, they wish we could keep ying a little longer whenever I have bubble baths," Zane was exasperated as he pinched Willow''s cheek with barely any force. He scoffed. "Can you please finish your sentences in one go and not cut them oft halfway?"


    A mischievousugh came from Willow before she hugged Zane again and turned to ask me, "What about you, Mommy?" This time, she spoke cautiously. "Would you find it too troublesome?


    I reached out both arms. To that, Willow ditched Zane and ran over to me. I then pulled her into a hug before rubbing my cheek against hers.


    "Of course not. You''re my daughter, Willow. I''ll do whatever you want with you. Is that clear to you?"

 Chapter 43

    Willow giddily Laughed. She ced her arms around my neck, leaned closer to my face, and spoke proudly. "You''re the best, Mommy!" I hopped her tightly to reciprocate, "You''re the best, too, Willow!"


    Willow broke free from my embrace, held my hand, and led me upstairs in a hurry just then. "Come on, Mommy! I can''t wait for bath time!"


    There was a bathtub in Willow''s bathroom. She wanted a bath today, so I paid close attention to the water temperature while filling the


    tub.


    Meanwhile, Willow brought out her bath toys, like rubber ducks and other toys. She then ced them all in the tub before picking out a set of pajamas. Once she finished doing that, the faintest beads of sweat formed on her forehead.


    Yet, her eyes still twinkled with excitement. The tub was also filled by then. Willow obediently sat with her back against the side of the bathtub and looked up at me.


    It was strange. I didn''t do much for Willow. In fact, I only put in half the effort it took to care for Zachary,


    Even so, Willow depended on and liked me a lot. She made me feel like all my efforts would be reciprocated and were worth it,


    I was very much content with my current life because of her.


    "Mommy," Willow suddenly said. I sat beside the bathtub and asked, "What is it?"All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Willow was hesitant to ask for mypany when we first met. She feared I would say no to her. So, she always her requests.


    stuttered while voicing


    However, based on our conversation earlier, she finally believed I loved her and didn''t mind pampering her. She was no longer afraid of asking me to do things Willow animatedly asked, "Could you help blow-dry my hairter?"


    I casually rested my arm against the tub''s edges and smilingly replied, "But of course."


    Willow didn''t y the tub anymore after hearing that. She speedily cleaned herself before getting me to he


    help wash her hair.


    I merrily did as asked. Then, I turned on the shower head and covered Willow''s eyes, not wanting the water to get into them.


    In the meantime, Willow peacefullyy against the side of the tub. Her eyes sparkled at me as if she were trying to imprint this moment into her memories.


    Once I finished washing Willow''s hair, I reached for a towel, lightly dried her hair, and ced another fresh towel over her shoulders. Finally, I turned on the hairdryer.


    I dried her hair in the medium setting. That said, I knew it was still hot for a child, so I had to pay close attention to the temperature and avoid burning her.


    Willow''s smile grew wider. She kept smiling until I put the hairdryer away. Then, she rushed into my arms for a hug. "It''s great to


    have mommy."


    I hugged her back before lightly patting her back. "Indeed."


    Steven brought Zachary home after thetter received an IV drip at the hospital. The lights in the living room were already off. Because of that, the entire ce was dark and felt vacant. Steven couldn''t help frowning. Annalise would always keep the lights on back when he used to live with her. She made it so that he would feel wee whenever he got home.


    A deep frown marred Steven''s forehead. "Jessica!"


    "What is it?" Jessica spoke as if she had just awoken from her sleep. Her voice was soft and sounded almost pouty, but also like she was upset at Steven.


    Steven detected the displeasure in her tone. "Were you already asleep?"


    He could understand it if Jessica hadn''t gone with them to the hospital if she was too tired from being pregnant. That said, it had been two hours since he and Zachary had gone to the hospital. Vet, Jessica hadn''t given them a single phone call.


    That was when Steven suddenly realized something-although Jessica often imed to see Zachary as her biological son, her actions proved otherwise.

 Chapter 44

    Nobody could tell Jessica loved Zachary from how she treated him. Jessica was wide awake after hearing Steven''s words. Her eyes watered at him as she asked, "Are you ming me for falling asleep?" "No." Steven seldom had a good temper like this. Jessica could tell he genuinely wasn''t ming her and sighed in relief.


    That was when Steven cut to the chase. "But-"


    Jessica''s heart raced at once


    "You don''t seem to care about Zachary at all," Steven calmly finished.


    Jessica was quick to add, "I don''t know why either, but my pregnancy symptoms are intense. I just felt so tired and needed to sleep right after you left."


    Despite her reasons, Steven still gave her a condescending stare. "But you still haven''t asked about Zachary even now that we''ve returned."


    It was only after hearing him say so that Jessica realized she had made a grave mistake. Jessica had sessfully kicked Annalise out of the picture and took thetter''s ce.


    However, she now realized Zachary was still the most important thing in Steven''s heart. Jessica shouldn''t have neglected Zachary from the start. At the very least, she should have treated Zachary better around Steven. Jessica inhaled deeply. The main problem at hand was she needed to appease Steven. So, she said, "I''m sorry. I just woke up, so everything''s still a blur-"


    While saying that, Jessica cried at will and allowed her teardrops to fall to the ground. "I''m so sorry for forgetting to ask about ZacharyOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org.


    §±


    Steven softened when he saw the former crying. "Make sure to treat Zachary better from now on, okay? Zachary sees you as his biological mom, so you shouldn''t disappoint him." He then hugged Jessica, who answered, "Okay."


    Just then, Jessica shot the briefest taunting sneer at Zachary. Although she had agreed, it wasn''t like anyone would know how she treated Zachary whenever Steven wasn''t around. Willow usually liked sleeping in on the weekends, but she woke up early today. She stood outside Zane''s door, knocked on it, and eximed, "Get up, Daddy! Let''s go out for pizza!" Zane had long gotten changed into fresh clothes and was ready to head out, "Don''t you.


    love your mom more?"


    Since Annalise came to live with them, he no longer held the top stop in Willow''s heart. He wondered, "What''s happening today? Why did Willowe to my room first?" Zane was confused as he asked, "Aren''t you going to wake your mom?"


    "I wanted to let Mommy sleep in a little longer, "Willow answered matter-of-factly. That rendered Zane speechless, and he felt like he shouldn''t have bothered asking her that.


    I opened the door and immediately overbeard Zane and Willow''s conversation. With a smile, I greeted Willow, "Good morning, Willow.


    Willow no longer paid attention to Zane after she heard my voice. She ran straight to me instead. I squatted down and reached both arms out, and Willow leaped into my embrace. "We''ll go for pizza first. Then, we''ll have fun at the amusement park!" she dered.


    I hugged her tightly and answered, "Alright.


    The housekeepers realized Willow had be livelier and more chatty. So, they came over to tease her.


    Yet, Willow refused to say a single word to them. She merely held my hand and walked out of the living room in silence.


    I stopped looking at Willow after that and fell into deep thought. I thought Willow was getting better now that she seemed tomunicate normally in front of me and Zane. s, I never imagined she would still refuse to speak in front of strangers.


    It seemed that using such a subtler method of improving her social skills wouldn''t work. I needed to think of other ways. There was a popr pizza ce near Zane and Willow''s home, which was always full of customers. Only one table was avable when §â§Ñ§Ý§Ñ§Þ


    passed the menu to me. I pointed at the different types of

 Chapter 45

    Chapter


    45


    I


    After we sat down, the waiter handed us the menu to take our orders.


    pizza, describing the toppings on each one.


    She nodded eagerly. "Yummy."


    After going through the options, I asked her, "Which one do you want to try?"


    Willow blinked and replied, "I want them all."All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I handed the menu back to Zane and let him decide. Zane surely doted on Willow. He turned to the waiter and said, "One of each, please.


    The waiter replied politely, "Sure"


    Once the waiter left, Willow leaned into me and chattered excitedly, "Mommy, guess what?1 overheard my ssmates talking about Zachary. He has been having a really tough timetely.


    "After school, his new mommy doesn''t even want to pick him up. He has to wait at the school gate until after 9:00 pm every day." Kids couldn''t hold back their thoughts. They simply said whatever came to mind.


    Willow whispered, "How could he be so dumb? He had such a great mommy, but he didn''t appreciate it and chose a bad one instead." "Willow." I held her close. "Do you realize how lucky we are to be together as mother and daughter?"


    Willow didn''t quite understand why I was asking, but she nodded. I continued, "So why should we waste time on people who don''t matter? Let''s cherish the present and enjoy every second we have together, okay?"


    "Okay!" Willow nodded seriously. She stood up, hugged me, and gave me a big kiss. "From now on, I''ll only care about Mommy!"


    Zane, who had been quietly listening, finally looked up and observed me intently. After a moment, he teased Willow, "So, does that mean you won''t care about Daddy anymore?"


    Willow pondered for a while before answering hesitantly, "Um. I care about Daddy, too!"


    Zane could tell she was just saying it, but he didn''t mind. His usually stern face softened into a smile.


    In the past, Willow wouldn''t utter a word no matter what she went through. But now, whether it was good or bad, she was willing to speakup. It was clear she was getting better, wasn''t she? "Mommy." Zachary woke up from hunger. He knocked on Jessica''s door. "I''m hungry, can you make me something to eat?"


    Jessica responded impatiently, "Wait a little longer!"


    already past 8:00 am." Zachary''s voice grew softer. Jessica had be so mean. She wasn''t like this before.


    She finally got up, walked over, and handed him her phone. "Order takeout if you want something."


    Zachary retorted in a low voice, "But delivery takes so long


    Jessica snapped, "And making food for you doesn''t waste my time?


    Zachary was left speechless. When Annalise was around, she would get up early to make him breakfast whenever he wasn''t feeling well. He looked up at Jessica, but she turned May and headed back to her room


    "It you''re not eating, then stay hungry. You can eat when your dad gets home."


    Zachary was starving and quickly replied, "I''ll eat!"


    "Jessica handed him the phone again


    "Later, I''m taking Cody out. We''ll be back around 11:00 am."


    Zachary was about to browse the takeout options when he heard her mention going out. He immediately put down the phone and asked, "What time are we leaving?"" Jessica met his eager eyes and coldly said,


    noting with us!"

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    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.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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."


    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.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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 told


    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.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I turned to look at him.


    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.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    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.


    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."Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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

 Chapter 51

    Before Zachary could finish speaking, Jessica stormed in furiously.


    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.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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..."


    <

 Chapter 52

    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."


    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.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    <

 Chapter 53

    he got married to someone else..."


    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 ssmateContent (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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!"


    <

 Chapter 54

    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.This material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    "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.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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..


    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

 Chapter 56

    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-"All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "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.


    "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!"


    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,Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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?"

 Chapter 58

    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."Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.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.


    "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.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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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    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."


    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.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 61

    "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."Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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.


    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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    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."


    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."Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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.All rights ? 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.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    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

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    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.


    "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 thereThis material belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    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


    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?

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    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


    sketches


    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.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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

    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."All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    "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.


    "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."All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "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!"


    "Your mother has been picking you up from kindergarten for one year now. You even called her MommyProperty ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "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,"


    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.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "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?"


    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 72Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    §Ñ§á§å§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"


    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.


    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 eat


    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 haContent (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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 atContent (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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?"


    "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."


    "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."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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 ZacharyOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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,


    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

    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.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    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.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "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....


    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.


    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?"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "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."


    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."All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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 are


    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.


    "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.


    "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 thatContent (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "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."


    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....Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

 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.


    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?Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 85

    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?"


    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''sContent (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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?"


    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."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    <

 Chapter 87

    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!"


    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.


    <Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.

 Chapter 88

    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.


    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 theContent (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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."


    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"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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?"

 Chapter 90

    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!"Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "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.


    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!Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ""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!"


    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?"

 Chapter 92

    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.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    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 93

    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.


    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?Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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 94

    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."All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    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. Il 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 inAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    more she thought about this, the more excited she became.


    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 Zachary


    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.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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 betterOriginal content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    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.


    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."All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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 yourAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    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.Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    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.


    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 t


    ve


    yers," he exined calmly. "Ed 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?"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "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?"


    en


    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.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Steven leaned against his car near the kindergarten while watching the crowd. The moment he saw


    vel.


    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."


    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?"


    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!"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    en


    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 called her ''Mommy,'' she said I had the wrong person. She said she''s not my mommy and that Ms. Jessie is."


    11


    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."


    "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."This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    "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 torun 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."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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


    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 go let


    eyes zed with


    tion. "Yes!"


    "That''s my girl!" I carried her up to


    give her a kiss, but she squirmed et


    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.


    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.


    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.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    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.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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. 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.


    We had fallen into this patterntely.


    If he wanted to talk, he would


    near Willow''s room after she waite


    swho


    asleep.


    I followed him to the balcony and casually asked, "What''s up?"


    Leaning against the railing, he looked


    Coght at me. "We''ve paid yout


    the


    Check if you''ve received


    it


    wno


    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?"This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    "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 we


    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.


    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."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    She looked so pitiful with that tearful


    face.


    not even had a feeling if he did


    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


    en


    BUMS


    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?"


    Willow lifted her chin proudly. "I''ve been up forever! Mommy and I ranps and everything!"


    Zane gave me a surprised look.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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. 10 waved, and she waved back until she disappeared into the building. I felt oddly empty once she was gone.


    en


    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."

 Chapter 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 I had been?


    He begged, "Can you please forgive me?"This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Watching him cry his eyes out, I felt numb for some reason. "Does forgiveness even matter at this point?"


    His sobs were cut off as he stared at me, stunned.


    "Life''s about choices and consequences," I said calmly. "Some mistakes just can''t be undone."


    He wiped his tears frantically. "But I''m just a kid..."


    I replied evenly, "Kids still need to own their choices."


    He tried to pull himself together but could not stop crying.


    "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 go."


    He nodded. "Alright."


    ...


    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 quiet.


    She continued, "Are you thinking about getting back with Annalise?"


    Steven slid into the backseat without a word.


    Jessica''s stomach dropped.


    Why wouldn''t he answer? Could she 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. didn''t think so, either. I mean, she''s hardly a saint. She slept with my ex-husband while you were still married.


    "She even got herself filmed. And now, she''s managed to seduce Mr. Huxham."


    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 she felt that was not enough. She needed him to think she was the one he really loved.


    "That''s enough." Steven clearly felt ufortable hearing her words. Buckling 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 Amalise and Zane felt like total strangers. That thought lifted his mood a bit.


    Jessica clutched her skirt without realizing it. Was he seriously making excuses for Annalise?


    Steven concluded, "You''d better pretend nothing has happened."


    Seeing his expression, Jessica looked away, stone-faced. Then, it hit her.


    The video of Casper and Annalise was still her ace in the hole. As long as the video existed, Steven and Annalise would never get back together! Jessica could finally breathe easy.

 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?"


    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 are you nning to


    After a pause, he replied, "I don''t n to have kids."This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    down and have kids?" Coet


    Rowena nearly choked. She


    suppressed her fury. "Are you


    nning to just live with Willon et


    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.


    Zaneed his cool. "Are you Seems like you forgot ourstel


    trying to control my life again?


    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.

 Chapter 113

    However, Rowena wanted to vent her anger. So, she followed Zane into his office.


    "Why are you lounging around my son''s workce?" The hostility in her voice was aimed straight at me.


    I had barely set up myptop when I heard her. Looking up, I answered, "I''m working on illustrations."


    Zane knew Rowena was just looking to pick a fight, so he had to stop her. "Mom."


    Dissatisfied, she snapped, "What?"


    He said firmly, "I need to work."


    Clearly, he just wanted her gone.


    Rowena shot me a nasty look before storming out.


    ...


    Only after leaving Huxham Corporation did it hit Rowena. The building was full of empty offices. Why did Zane insist on sharing with Annalise?


    Could he possibly have feelings for her?


    ...


    I nced between my screen and Zane. Ever since my divorce, he and Willow had been so good to me. Now that I was paid such a huge bonus, I wanted to get them something to show my appreciation. Noticing my distraction, Zane stopped working and asked, "Is everything okay? Did my mom say anything to upset you just now?"


    "It''s not that." I had not given Rowena''s words a second thought.


    After hesitating, I decided work could wait. I nned to pick out some gifts instead. "I think I''ll do some shopping."


    Smiling, he said, "Go ahead, then."


    "Alright." I grabbed my bag and said cheerfully, "See youter!"


    ...


    The mall was huge. Clothing stores upied the second floor through the fourth.


    I had already made up my mind on my way there. Since Zane wore


    everywhere except at home yet


    was what I would get him,


    I headed straight for the menswear section on the second floor. I checked the prices and nearly had a heart attack.


    Regr suits were 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, could not afford it even with all my bonuses. Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    I quietly backed away.


    A suit was out. Maybe I could get him a tie instead.


    Steven was at the mall with Jessica to shop for Cody''s locket. It was then that he spotted Annalise in the suit store.


    Was Annalise shopping for a suit for


    him? Had Annalise finally realized she had been too cold? Perhaps she was worried about losing him, so she was trying to win him back with gifts.


    The thought of that made him feel relieved. He could not help grinning.


    It seemed that 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.


    There were all sorts of dainty dresses in the kids'' section.


    Imagining how Willow would look in them, could not resist grabbing a few for her. I also got her some workout clothes.


    After paying, 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." Ast


    spoke, I set the bags on the couch. Then, took out the tie and broughtProperty ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    it to him. "And this is


    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!"


    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.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    With a smirk, Zane said, "Is that so?


    Maybe


    have her help with


    my


    wardrobe, too. I''ve been needing someone''s eye for that."


    en


    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.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "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.


    Eric then told me he was worried I


    would run into some work-rted problems yet couldn''t find anyone to help I up bottling up my emotions and


    bo me. He thought I might end


    jelige


    bearing all the pressure alone, so he


    briefed me on what I could ask


    Yonne 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 aminov


    "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 th


    world would know about it.


    Annalise''s life would be ruined by


    then.


    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."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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 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.


    "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!"All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    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.All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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 otheDagain. 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 topicof 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.

 Chapter 120

    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?"


    Shed that she would be


    She thought long and hard about it before


    frank with me. "Yes. They weren''tContent (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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.


    "Then, you have to work hard to ovee your challenges," I said to encourage her.

 Chapter 121

    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.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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!"


    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 findet


    out, so she deliberately said, "But she doesn''t want you anymor


    "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.


    en


    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."


    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 pect that his properly didn''t raised d daughter had been wanting to eat street food all along.


    11


    he didn''t refuse. "Let''s tent belongs to


    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 thei offerings.


    Willow


    instinked at the long lines and instinctively thought that the foodet


    had


    be very good. She nced at


    Zane with eager eyes.


    belongs to en.kikiston


    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.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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!"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    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.


    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. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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 your time with Jessica now."


    Gavin''s tone was light and casual.


    Steven thought for a moment.


    Swing


    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.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    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


    running 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


    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.


    "I spoke to her teacher today..." Zane said.


    her


    He was very protective of Willow and naturally didn''t want to see her being bullied at school.

 Chapter 126

    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.


    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."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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."


    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.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    ...


    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.


    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.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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?"


    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...


    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!This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

 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!"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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.


    "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.


    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."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    "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.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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!"This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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.


    "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?"


    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."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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.


    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.


    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?This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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."


    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."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

 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."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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?"


    "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."


    Willow joyfully spun in ce. "That''s great!"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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.


    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?"This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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.


    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?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "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.


    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.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    ...Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    "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.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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."

 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?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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?


    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!Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "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."


    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.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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.


    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?


    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?Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    ...


    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?Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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.


    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?"


    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?"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    "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.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ...


    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.


    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.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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.


    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.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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.


    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."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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."


    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!"


    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?"This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    "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."


    "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.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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.


    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.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ...


    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.


    "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."


    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."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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?Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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."


    ...


    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.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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."


    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.


    "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!Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    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.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

 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.


    Fearing that Steven might dislike her again, Jessica kept her distance from him. "What did you get me?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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?

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    "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."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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?"


    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!"


    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.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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.


    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.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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.


    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!"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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.


    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.


    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.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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.


    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..."Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    ...


    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.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    "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."


    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.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "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?"


    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."This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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."Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "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.


    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."


    "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?"This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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.


    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."Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    ...


    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?"


    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."


    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?"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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!"


    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.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    "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."Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    "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."This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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.


    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.


    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.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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!"


    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."This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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.Property ? N?velDrama.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."


    Steven''s mind flickered back to Annalise, a sudden pang hitting him.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    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.


    "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.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    I shut down myputer and headed downstairs.


    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?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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.


    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."


    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."Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    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?"N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    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.Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    en


    SUMS


    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 oft 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.


    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.


    Cent belongs to


    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, told Mommy about it. She said you love me and wouldn''t me me. Is that true?"


    en


    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."


    ...


    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."Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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."Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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?"


    en


    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."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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.


    overnat


    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?

 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,


    ov


    "Mommy, are you going to bring Penelope home as well when fetch me in the afternoon?


    Remember to say hello to her family, of they''ll definitely worry


    Naturally, I wouldn''t object when she was being considerate to her friend. "Alright."


    ...N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    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.


    ¨¦t


    "I''m already in my final year of kindergarten, mommy!" she yelled from where she was, standing still and waying 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.


    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 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.  en


    When that time came, Steven would suffer even more than him!


    Zachary finally felt a little better at the thought.


    "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 encounteredN?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    him


    problems, he no longer red


    for help. ,


    Von


    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 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."


    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.


    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.


    "Thank you," Milton said dazedly.


    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. Afterall, 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!"Property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "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?"This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    "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."


    "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


    §Õ§Ö


    showcase on your homepage."


    Corporation''s products in the V¨¦


    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 onThis content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    it.


    en


    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.


    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 nowThis content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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 he 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.


    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?"


    "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?"


    ine


    "Step outside for a second. I''ve something important to tell you.'' Once Sasha realized she co get a job through Zane, a brilliant idea popped into her head.


    Zane eyed her warily.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    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. "Than


    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."This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.


    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?"


    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


    swnovel.n


    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.


    "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."N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    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.N?velDrama.Org owns all ? content.


    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?"


    "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. voice was filled with.


    l.ne


    osono 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 Sove


    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


    was


    my 20s as well. But I''de


    Miugh so much that my!


    t 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.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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?" "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


    BUMS


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 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.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Sasha raised an eyebrow but didn''t refuse. Nudging me gently with her shoulder, she asked, "Do you like


    them? I bought them


    "I love them," I said earnestly with a nod.


    you


    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@xcellent-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 replied without hesitation


    "Before Jessica cameet


    back, you were indifferent. After she returned, your treatment of me couldContent provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    only be described as awfor


    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. 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.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    en


    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."


    ...


    The agreed meeting spot was a


    private room at a bar. The room was full ofughter and chatter as


    Steven''s friends yed and


    around.


    joked


    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."

 Chapter 211

    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.


    Steven didn''t respond. He poured


    all in one go. He


    himself another drink and downed it


    until he was heavily into it


    Uncertain how to console Steven, he finally muttered, "No matter the result, she made her choice. She''s responsible for it."


    untikhe 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


    SO


    and Annalise were together, Annalise was pregnant with Zachary Steven was in the early stages of his business back then, s he was often out drinking. Whenever he got drunk, Annalise would be the one-despite her growing bellying to pick him up.


    At that time, Annalise didn''t show any contempt. There was only concern and love for Steven in her eyes.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    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 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!"


    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 withoutContent provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    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 ande 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?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 213

    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.


    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


    want to be with them all the


    But didn''t you kick Mommy


    should


    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


    Steven didn''t like the


    left him feeling frustrated,


    yet he didn''t know how to


    belongs to en. ont


    against Zachary''s words.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    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. 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 upto him."


    en


    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.


    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."  en


    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 wouldThis text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    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."


    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.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    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?4 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.


    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 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.All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    "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 untilAll text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    8:00 am, then went to wake Willow.


    en


    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.


    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?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 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.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    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


    the the with graceful precision,


    all


    keeping an eye on the


    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. 19


    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."ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    "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.


    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.


    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.N?velDrama.Org content rights.

 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 thinge 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?"


    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


    belongs to en.kikiont


    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!"N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    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. "OfAll rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    en


    Swr


    "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."


    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, go for a run. Now, Mr. Lardon says I''m fit enough, so he''s finally started teaching me the basics."


    en


    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."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 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.


    "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."Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "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."


    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.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    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.Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    ...


    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."


    "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.


    ...This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    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?"This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    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."


    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."


    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!"Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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?"


    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."This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    ...


    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?"


    "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!"Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    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."Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    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?"


    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.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    "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."


    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."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    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.Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    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.


    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."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    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.


    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?"Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    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.


    ...


    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."Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    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."


    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.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    ...


    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.


    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.This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    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.


    "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.


    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."This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "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."This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "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.

 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.


    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!"Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    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."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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?"


    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.


    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.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    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.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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?"


    IMS


    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."


    "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."


    Zane turned to look at me. "Really?"This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    "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 feet 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.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    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.


    en


    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.


    e.


    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?"


    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."


    ...This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    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 it


    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 1 just had a superior and subordinate rtionship. No matter what 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."


    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 heret


    dolls. Yet today, she could alreret belongs to en.kikisty


    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.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Willow went upstairs to brush her teeth,


    By thash her face, and exercise.


    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."


    belongs to ent


    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?"

 Chapter 252

    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,


    still found it hard to believe. I turned


    to Zane. "Willow can talk to


    vel?


    e normally now even without


    the walkie-talkies?"


    Zane was equally surprised. "It seems so."Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    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."

 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?"


    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."


    en


    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 furtherCcontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    instructions, Eric proactively


    v


    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


    novel.


    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.

 Chapter 254

    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."


    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."


    en


    I voiced my thoughts, "In that case, can we give more bonuses to the employees in theics department?"This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    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."  en

 Chapter 255

    "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.


    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


    oved by his words, repli


    "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 harm from you and


    Zachary. I would''ve been forand


    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 l


    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..."This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    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."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 256

    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."This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    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.


    "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 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


    ov


    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


    6osity, "Aren''t they w


    about being givenst-minute fasks 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.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    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.


    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


    uf


    ungrateful wretch! You have money now yet you''d rather spend iton 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, hfood 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


    money will be a testament


    to my resolve."


    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.df 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."  en


    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."All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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?"All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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."


    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?"


    en


    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


    er


    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. 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!"


    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?"


    en


    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


    Pe able to talk freely with


    Penelope, and now, they had


    eager to keep talkinge


    much to share. Penelope was just as


    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."This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 261

    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."N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    I nodded reassuringly, and only then did she focus back on her own te.


    vel


    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 joyfu


    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?"

 Chapter 262

    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 him¡ªnot 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!"


    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."Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    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. 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 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.

 Chapter 263

    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."


    b


    "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 t


    In


    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." C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    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.


    en


    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.


    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


    Jef.m


    contacts. Their chat history was stillC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    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.N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    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.


    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


    en


    "Yep," I said, heading to the car.


    GUMS


    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."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 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¨¦.


    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, "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"Sovel


    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.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.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    ...


    When we reached the door of the office, I saw Sasha leaning against the wall.


    When


    me


    us, she approached.


    824 20 outed, "Didn''t you guys se to the office earl


    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 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 "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!"T¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    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. "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.


    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.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    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.


    "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, did not contact Steven. Even if


    something did happen to him, you shouldn''t put the me on me."


    en


    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


    §Ö


    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 ''m kind enough not to cause her trouble. Wrap your head around


    it


    en


    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.


    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 upT¨ºxt belongs to N?velDrama.Org.


    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 the


    sure


    ove


    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 heart, she was sure he would pamper her and treat her


    over


    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?"

 Chapter 270

    "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.


    "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, + could lead a good life for the rest of my life even if I were to quit my job.  en N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "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. Itwas 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.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 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."


    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."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    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.


    "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.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "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.


    Sur


    "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.


    1.n


    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 ofit."


    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.


    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


    eagerme, her eyes shining with


    "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.


    swnovContent rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    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."Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    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?"


    "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.


    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.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    ...


    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.


    en


    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?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 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."


    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."Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    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 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.


    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?"


    en


    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 then et


    tenderness in Zane''s eyes andMaterial ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Annalise looking gentle as usual.


    Though there was nothing intimate about their interaction, his chest still tightened painfully. He wished be 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 reab problem.


    She was so used to avish lifestyle


    Of She could not bear the t


    She


    decided to call Steven


    poor. After some


    "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 s


    le. 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."N?velDrama.Org holds this content.


    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.


    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.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    ...


    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?"


    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."


    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?"Material ? N?velDrama.Org.


    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, "Jus 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.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 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.  en


    "Steven, only a mistress would be able to put up with you."


    Alone could


    DS 2 x 20x neliving room, Steven


    bet


    shake Zane''s words. TheyContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    rang true, even though he didney


    t 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? 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


    Gavin to as hospitalized so mane?


    Annalise


    ughout 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?


    ...Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    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.  en


    She hade so far in such a short time. I gazed at her lovingly.


    Noticing my look, Willow


    close.


    are you proud


    Sed t


    "Mommy, are you 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.


    swnoven


    "Time for fundamentals!" Zane''s stern voice interrupted our moment.


    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!"


    "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, seline.


    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 staine


    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."


    en


    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.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    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."


    "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?" Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    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?"Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    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


    Blow."


    your sry form Vine line!


    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


    thousanddors. Other


    merchandise is selling well, tool


    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.


    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!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 292

    Sasha rolled het etes. "I''m seriously speechless. Why do you think he''s so weled?"


    However, I was more concerned about something else. "Did your parents agree to the mage?


    Sasha replied haughtily. "My t


    v parents respect my opinion. Knowing that faldi''i liko hins, they orjected him on my behalf lost then, a reld, masculine voke an out, "But it won''t be long before you''ll be forced to marry him."


    sasha couldn''tprehend why Zane would say so.


    she asked


    He replied calmb.


    "The and


    answer is simple. These are


    de problems with every single one of the projects that your father is recently preparing to take on Shed up abuptly 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 could give them advice otherwise, your family really will be hovering on the edge of hankaupy


    "At that point, as long as the man you speak of can provide help, you end up marrying him whether you like it or not"


    Sasha looked 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 ted out, feeling rather panicked. "I''ll go immediately."


    "Have Richard drive you over," said calmly. "You''re quite agitated right now, so maraid you might get yourself into trouble on the road."


    Only after Sasha had left did dare ask Zane, "How did you know about all this?


    Jane''s tone became much gentle as he exined, "In our industry, pretty much wryone knows whichpany produces what project and whichpany eventually win 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 T koow are the project''s general de action and the other party''s line of thought" He continued half-heartedly, "Sasha used to pursue me. I don''t like hes. So, naturally, I felt no obligation to remind her. However, she''s your friend now. If she suddenly goes bankrupt, sha II 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 over in his voKE


    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 Ichuckled, 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, the hundy asked, "Could you hand the phone to Mr. Hushan


    Thanded my phone to him as she asked.


    Zare epted it casually, adding into the phone, "Is something the matter?"


    "To you have any time?" Sasha asked, sounding a little distressed. "My parents would like to meet with you.


    wholeheartedly wanta


    wanted what was best for them, yet they only to doubt her!N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    you. I told them your assessment after I got home, but neither of them believed me.


    *Implied Zane wisely, sounding as cold as usual "Make a reservation at a winehouseter, andrewmber to order dishes that our family likes, Annalise likes spky food, like rech


    and Willow preters 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?"


    "Whole Zetuted 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"

 Chapter 293

    Sasha wilted at Zane''s wor


    "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 had also heard their enthie conversation


    I couldn''t help butugh, replying, "Alright."


    Sirting 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 any 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 hat, "I have something I''d like to discuss with y you regarding your child. Would it be convenient for you?


    Holly wanted to talk to me about Willow? Of course I had the time it was for her, so replied, "Yes"


    She led over to add


    Once she saw that nobody was around, she whispered, "Zachary was feeling well 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 coldcium, 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."


    Hally hurriedly interjected, ''But


    I didn''t want to hear what she had to say, so 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 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, Ladded, "But you can certainlye to me about any matters rted in Willow"


    Holly watched my treating back, still dazedly rooted to her spot.


    By the time Willow was done ying with Penelope, the sky was alread


    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 ''Monamy, please forgive me. All our ssmates felt really sorry for him " Willow pursed her lips, continuing with some distress, "I think he deserved in, though. He hurt you so much back then but now he gets 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!"N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    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 poured, answering, "Yup!"


    Zane wasted for me to finish speaking belece informingus calmly, "I have something to doter, so the three of us will be having dinner at the cafeteria. even asked your mommy to order your favorite dishes, Willow" Willow''s eyes le up in an instant. "Daddy''s the best! I love Duty!"


    Zane chuckled "I love you, foo


    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 fit the drip down steadily. He couldn''t u


    Chloe was dannelsed to see him crying.


    *It''s all your mother''s fault!" she dered vehemently.


    stop


    op the tear


    tears flowing from his eyes.

 Chapter 294

    strength to retort loudly.


    Zachary no longes led to hear others speaking ill of Annalise, but he wasn''t in pool health right now, so he didn''t even have the stre


    As loudly as he could manzer, he asked, "What does Ma my have todawith


    Chle exined, "If Annalise had been willing to stay by your sale and take care of you, you definitely wouldn''t have been in this condition!"


    He refated immediately. But Mommy on left because Bally and 1 hand her. Before we betrayed her, the was always considerate toward the two of us. Every day, the would cook meals that fed mach because she was afraid my stomach would be uput" 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 sickness, 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, past based on what Daddy and I have done, the rightfully deserves to bate us for life 10 Tespen bes to forgive me or continue to be nice to me at all." Head still lowered, he continued. "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."


    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 minos 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?N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    He felt that his illness was the reason why he felt especially trail right now and why he couldn''t resist breaking down into tears after thinking about Annalise''s situation. He trulipwan scum to have treated her secuelly!


    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 you will feeling unwell?


    Zachary replied poorly, it''s nothing serious anymore."


    Steven looked at Chloe as he seed. "How about you head home fast, Mom? I''ll stay here with him."


    Chloe refused unmediately, saying, "You must be very tired right now after working hard the entire day, so hurry home and test. Leave Zachary to me."


    Zachry spoke up in the midst of their agent, saying, "Go home, Grandma."


    Che was just about to lecture him about how he didn''t know to be considerate toward theven


    However, before she could utter a word, Zachary continued, "I don''t want to see you right now, Daddy.


    Wheurin he saw Soeven, he couldn''t help but think of all the foolish things he''d done before.


    Steven, for his part, was also amare of what was bordering Zachary. He sat next to Zachary and said apologetically, "I know I''m in the wrong


    want me anymore!"


    "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 wa Such a simple sentence was like a knife digging deeply into seven''s heart. ile 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, be and Annalise could no longer return to how they were before their divorce. He stared off into the distance. For some reason, fie felt inexplicably upset when Zachary lost his temper at him.


    Images of past wents surfaced in his mind.


    Back then, he and arbaty seemed to have to lost their temperate for son, just so they could interact with Jessica more frequently. Steven Telt even more upset at the thought of that.

 Chapter 295

    How had Annalise endured Steven''s and Zachary''s mistreatments tend her back then? Had she simply fell that she shouldn''t take it to heart as it was a trivial matter?


    Had the then proceeded to hide hersell 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?


    He looked at Zachary and said calm. "know you hate me a lot right now, but know this-no matter what I did, it was all for your sakeTM


    Zachary was already sick and tired of hearing such words.


    "That you left me with mother How is that to my sake?" he yelled, tears streaming down his face."I don''t want anything but Mommy right now, Daddy!" Eventually, all the crying bed him out, and he tell into a deep sleep. walked forward to embrace him lovingly. He looked silently at Zachary, his expression unreadable.


    Atte: Zachary had fallen asleep, Chloe finally had the chance to speak. "Don''t you find Zachary''s behavior far too out of line, Staven? You work tirelessly day and night, all for his sake, ye


    yet he


    continued. "How about you not bak 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, u''Lat least hurve some to take care of you in your old age." Steven frowned, replying, "Enough, Mom Thave a n."


    Epon bearing his words, Chloe finally withdrew her gaze reluctantly. "But you must remember what I told you!"


    Cachary facet 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


    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.


    ngir 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, wallyrge. 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 s would say something out of line and offend someone he shouldn''t.


    "Dad" the admonished burnedly, ging her teeth. "Do you know how many people beg for an audience with M. Huxham, only to be unceremoniously turned down by him?"


    hadered what she wanted to say a vaguely as possible. Hopefully, Dous would understand what sh


    was getting at-to be more careful with what he said.


    "Mr. Mudun tus takes some tate time off to have dinner with you today, so you have potresque this hard-earned opportunity!" she continued. "If there''s anything regarding your work that you don''t understand, you can seize this dunce to ask him all about it! Having notared Sasha''s nervous, Zane told Dous calmly, "I forgot to make some introductions."Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    He pointed at Willow and said. "This is my daugh


    Dous greeted Willow with a cheery smile, saying, "Hello!"


    Willow nodded formally at him, mg just like a small adult. "Hello to you, too!"


    Zate then pointed at him and said. "This is Willow''s mother."


    Dun looked me up and down.


    I simply nodded at his


    Dous was confused Back when Leud goei


    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 ligae to Will?

 Chapter 296

    Dostured to look questioningly at Sha


    She mouthed at him, "T¨¹lespl?neverything when we get back home!!


    Only them 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 This face in an instant.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    In there any hope for them?" he asked tentatively.


    "There is," replied Zane, proceeding to provide him with the solution.


    As he listened intently to Zan''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 alorady made it painfully dear 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 duster, 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. Hexham I''ll definitely work diligently at thepany in the future! Zane modded. "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 that her rtionship with Annalise was great, so she spoke at a volume that was neither too quiet not too loud, "Monny, I want a mutlin." oded 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 ce to ept the beef brisket from her. "Thank you, sweetie."


    I Sinded widely. "You''re wee."


    Saswatched the two of us with a smile,


    What about me?" he asked.


    pitched in to try andpete for Willow''s attention


    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,


    * tied it just now," the dered. "Their mushroom soup is really fresh. Try if Daddy"


    Zane then epted the soup from her, feeling sarisfied. "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?" Douste pledunhurriedly, "Doesn''t he like you? Insponse, 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?"


    Sansha sat from across them and said, "Do you remember thatdy sitting next to Mr. Husham?"


    Dous and Helena nodded in unison.


    -


    "He mame is Annalise Jamison, and she''s the woman that Mr. Huxham likes," she exined curly. "He''s currently racking his brains trying to figure out how t driving a wedge between them by making her think he has feelings for me, Sasha paused and unorted before she threatened, "You''ll end up suffering the consequence


    Bar Dous stil didn''t believe it


    "Oh, that''s right," she continued. "He also helped me partly about the projects"


    to court her. If you end up


    because I''ve been really chummy with Annalise recently. It was simply to her take that he was willing towars the both of


    Dous and Helena exchanged nces, both locking rather disappointed "Alright then," they said

 Chapter 297

    Thy the time we arivedhome, we had pretty much digested our meal.


    When Howard noticed that we had gotten used to the one-meter run, he added another 200 meters to the total distance. Still, Willowpleted her run effortlessly, which made Incredibly pleased the then proceeded to make us practice some basic moves. Thy the mud 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


    headandexined, "I''m on my period, so I get tiredout intre quickly than usual."


    Then you should get some good rest." Willow admonished seriously before tugging me over to the fridge. "Badly, I heard that ginger tea is good for menstrual pain. Can we make some for Zane replied indulgently, "Of couL BE WIE


    Willow took a bag of sugar anda piece of geget 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 gingest, the same time, I felt incredibly fortunate to have been able in meet such a wonderfull family. After Zane was done boiling the ginger tea, he poured some into a coffee cup and ced it in front of the er your stomach."


    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 "Thank you, Willow older


    Then, I turned in 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


    Deentry and Milton were worried that Willow might red 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 rate of wrockers


    1 looked at Zane and asked, "Are you still bury with work?


    Adad. 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 creaming hot, so I slowly sipped at it.


    asking "What are your ns next


    Zane gazed at


    He knew that I was about to finish coloring in all the linearts i


    had umted and would therefore have a long period of avabilitying up


    Treplied honestly, "I think I''d start drawing another serializedic at 1 have the time for it."


    He walked patiently for me to borate


    I continued, "Although taking postermission came 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, sol''drather put all my focus on my cumes. 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 concern my future, alter


    It''s no wonder I''d think so carefully about le"


    Zane luoad at me, seemingly hesitating to sprak


    I rately daw such an expression on his face, which prompted to ask, "is there something you wanted to say to me?


    He continued to hem and how until finally he decided to contes, "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 trouble you be inpanion for the night


    I didn''t aper immediately and intra asked, "When does this dinner party begin?"


    ''he answered honestly. "It won''t get in the way of us picking up Willow -


    Apart from drawing wenyday, I didn''t trally have any other work lined up. "Alright"


    After obtaining my consent, he sighed in rebot. "I''ll ask to pick out a formal dress that''s suitable tomorrow morning and have it sent to the office for you to try out hand. I''ll also hire a makeup mudio code your makeup for you"


    Curious, Lasked, "this dinner party gang totally important one?


    But you don''t have to be nervous, because I''ll be with yo


    you. You won''t have to do anything


    Zane mulled over his words, saying carefully, "Yes, many of my business partners will be there. Bu other than to stay right test to mir Tinalipteased after listening to what her said.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

 Chapter 298

    Bowena''s allowance hadbeento off, but she wasn''t ready to give up. She called her daughter home. Tinsler sat on the rouch, biting into an apple without a second thought. "Mom, what''s up? Just say it.


    "ane''s stopped giving us any money,ined. "What do you think we should do about it


    Tinsley rarely involved herself in tamil matters. "Why would he do that all of a sudden? What''s his problem?


    Rowena''s frustration bodded over. "It''s all because of Annalise! He called me out of nowhere and said that he''s in love with her.


    Tinsley frowned. "I he''s in love, why not just let him be? He''s not a child he can make his own choices"


    Kena 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 food wither. If he fell for Annalise, it just means that she''s good enough for Rowena still couldn''t a


    ept it. She was convinced Annalise wasn''t good enough for Zane.


    Tinsley took another bite other 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 n? my monthly earnings, it still wouldn''t cover your spending. "What happen when the money runs out? Do we starve?"


    She passed, then added with a way smile, "Should I sell mypany to support you?"


    Tinsley let satisfied with her mother''s answer and continued eating her apple.


    Zachary lett 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 gn


    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


    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.


    I 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 beration. "I''m living alone right now. If you don''t mind, why not move in with now 1


    "In your ce far from the kindergarten" Zachary didn''t want to deal with a longmite every day. That would be exhausting


    Harry barunased. "The rent is pretty low, so yeah, it''s quite away from downtown.


    Zachary thought for a long moment before he finally said, "Duddy 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 "That sounds great, but do you think your father will agree?"


    "He should." Zachary replied, tively ident. He got into the car and pulled out his phone to call Steven.


    Steven answued coldly, "What is it?"


    Do you remember giving Ms Jessie a house? buld you I wanted the cue where Momy and I lived for five years," Zachary sad dctly. "You still haven''t transferred it to my name, so let''s pen the paperwork done when you have time." He had no desire for any of seven''s mansionsN?velDrama.Org is the owner.

 Chapter 299

    The only ce Zachary wanted was the house filled with memories of him and Annalise


    Seven replied. "When I bought that house, I put it directly under your name.


    Zachary hadn''t expected this at all, and he linkedin pine. Steven always bought properties under his own name. Even dating the divorce, there were barely any assets under Annalise''s


    Back then, she had been so hurt that she didn''t want anything - she just wanted to leave


    I this bee was winder 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 potten Harry''s peassurance, he rxed sligdy,


    pulled up to Chloe''s house, he called out to Harry and Hannah to help him


    Chloe peetedthen with a warm smile. "Zach, you''re back!"


    eah," Zachary implied, uncertain of how he should face Chloe. "I''ve been here long enough, and I don''t want to trouble you anymore. It''s time for me to go home." Ollie''s smile didn''t talter. "Take case and be sure to get along well with your dad Zachary didn''t respond dectly, and he simply mattered, "We''ll see."


    Since he hadn''t starved at Chlow''s for long, there wasn''t much to pack With Harry and Hannah''s help, his things were quickly gathered.


    Once bebid 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.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    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 distelier. "Me?" "Twah." Zachary replied in a child tone." you don''t want to move, that''s okay. We won''t force you


    Hannah eagerly Bodded. "I''ll cour


    Exctuary continued, "You can set up your bedroom went you!


    That way, I cat pretend Annaline is still bene with me.


    Both Hannah and Harry nodded in agreement


    After Zaduty returnedish, room, hey on the bed and stared at the ceiling


    Vigorshould stay as it is. When Mommy left, it looked just like this, and I don''t want it to change too much.


    The room still seemed to hold Annalise''s presence. He hugged a study pressing his round, chubby face ap "Motumy, can you sing metheme luby?" he whispered


    -against its soft belly


    Then, Zachary pulled out his taller. While staying at Chloe''s bouse, 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 Moming


    Zachary closed his eyes as his mind consumed with thoughts of Annalise e tried to convince himself that she was still with him, but diep down, he couldn''t stop the tears from falling.

 Chapter 300

    ames Zachary left, Chloe couldn''t shake her wry. As such, she called Seventocheck on him. "HasZachary gone back yet?" "Meven tepliedcalmly.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    chearing that, Chloe immediately puru aminus. "He said he was going back home, and he packed up all his things from here!!


    Fracing that something might happen to Zachary on his way, she quickly called him


    Zachary procell ammered the phone


    Chile asked. "Where are you


    "At the old horse," Zachary replied


    n''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.


    Our Chloe eelimed that Zachary was safe, the sighed in relied and asked, "Why didn''t you go to Daddy''s ce?"


    Zachary calmly responded. "Im''t he supposed to be focusing on building his rtionship with Ms. Jessie? I don''t want to interrupt him."


    Chike said. "You can stay here with me. You''re not that young anymore."


    The 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 thit sid tuman you wouldn''t have any time for yoursel


    He evenughed as he said that


    However, Chise fe pang in her heart. "Did you hear what I said to your dad?"


    Zartury answered without bestation, "Yes. You''ve always been good to me, and 1 appreciate it. Soon, you''ll have someone you like even more.


    "Ikan''t worry, I won''t get jealous, and 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 five years old, hii spake me


    Las id it were the most natural thing in the world.


    adied. She wanted to exin, but before she could say anything, the call ended


    Just as Zachary finished his call with Chloe, Leven''s call came the sigh


    Zachary politely asked, "Daddy, is something wrong? Why are you calling sote?"


    "Of course," Steven tapled "Aren''t you staying al Grandma''r an


    Zachary atmesed honestly," don''t like hearing her


    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 aid you can''t be without a gardian!"


    Zachary continued, "Don''t be 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 the tote - that''s why I''m moving out. It''s not a big deal, is it?'' Beven responded, Fill you don''t like her, thene back!"


    Au Zachary''s father, Steven felt responsible d''afety. He said dimly, "You d guardian to ensure you grow up healthy and safe"


    "Und you spend all your tune with Ms Jesse and let me behind when you and Mu drvanced? Back then, you didn''t care about me, Why are MET


    Zerbury questionedoldly


    pretending to be so concerned now?"


    1 Mommy. Fuddy, even though I''m still young. I''ve been through a lot. I''m more


    He continued with esche, "I was going andtened everything you said. What did that lead to? Lost Mo Mange now, and I can take responsibility for my choices, Please don''t try to stop me,"

 Chapter 301

    Pechaps 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 led 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 achiki.


    To his surprise, Zachary calmly asked, "Are you saying you don''t want to support me anyinare?"


    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 team." "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 wallond 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 handbokachon contained funds Annalise had saved to cover his tuition through college


    In the vi where Steven ved, 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. Alisely had his best interests at heart


    She feared he might one day be without any and left to endure hardships. Over the years, she had quietly built a financial sifery for him.


    Zachary carefully rested the wardrobe to its original state, theny back on his bed Silent tears streamed down hisce


    Tomorrow, he would take Harry and Hannah with him to Steven''s ce. He intended to releve everything he had left behind


    Willow had an amazing me outside. By the time she got home, she waspletely out of breath


    The moment she stepped into the living room, the Jushed 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 Intle 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 stacked her back. She felt sony and fragile 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 seed a whispered, "I missed you too, my dear Willow."


    Widow giggled in my aims, Laughter bright and contagious. She redher little boat 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


    pinched her soft, cubby cheeks. "Everyone''s different, but how could ever get annoyed with you? My dear Willow is so sweet and well-behaved. I love you too much to ever feel that way."


    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 poftly. "Don''t worry, I''ll love you for a lifetime."


    Willow tightened beg "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 myN?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.

 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,


    er all, she was destined to be his


    The isteme desire to possess Annalise ssaged within his dark eyes, but he quickly suppressed in.


    All of a sudden, his phone rang, and he answered caually, "Yes"


    Rowena hesitated, struggling to find the right words.


    "I''m busy." Zane udtly.


    Finally, Rowena saidreluctantly, "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 teplied 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 awardly but didn''t deny it.


    Zane continued, "If you want me to forgive you, it''s simple. Apologize to Annalise in front of me a long as the forgives you, let it go


    Immediately, Rowena''s face hardened as she snapped, "No way!"


    Then, Timley chimed in, "Mom, in that case, I might as well sell thepany."


    Rowena deted instantly, sighing as she replied, "Tine, Fido ?L"


    Zane''s response was as cal and detached as ever. "Good"


    When stepped out of my bed in the morning, I saw Willow tiptoring 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 testing!" Then, I gratly caressed her little face "Trer since I started eserching, I''ve been feeling much better Dean even run with


    muirnings without any problems."


    Willow still seemed unconvinced. Teally?"


    Dumiled at her and sincrichy replied, "Of course!


    Yet, Willow genuined worried she looked at me and added, "If you feel unwell, remember to stop right away"


    Then, she emphasized, "Don''t push yourselil


    I couldn''t help butugh. "I listen to you, Willow"


    Having heard my response, Willow scaled in satisfaction


    Zane walked over to us and added his own minder, "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 undelstand these things." Zane''s expression softened with a smile. "Good"


    After the run, Lcould feel the fatigue setting in. By the time I finished my workout, I was drenched in sweat


    theaded 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 the protected 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"N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Willow made a fum decision work harder than him from now on!"


    11 Zachary became even more outstanding people might say Annalise had poor judgment for passing on such a great son an She didn''t mind whe people said about her, but she couldn''t ept them speaking badly of Annalise. son and ending up with a daughters an

 Chapter 303

    Penelope looked confused. "Why do you look so serious all of a sudden?"


    Willow andwered earnestly. "I was just thinking that since Zachary''s working so hard, I can''t let him out dame!"


    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, the decided, "Well, I''ll just learn from you guys then."


    At that, Willow lifted her chin. "No problem. I''ll presonally 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 Zame and asked, "Are you here to see him? If so, I''ll find somewhere to sit so I don''t interrupt your


    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 minderstood youN?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    L


    "That''s why I''ve had issues with you and kept trying to find fault with you. I was wrong and 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 mach. 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"


    wars. "You''re really forgiving me just the that?"


    She frowned, asking. "Aren''t you going to state any conditions?"


    Rosemed a little uneasy.


    Thus, 1 raised an eyebrow. "Can I ask for something?"


    Rowena nodded. ", as long as it''s not too usonable, I can do it"


    Without hesitation, I said, "Can you treat Willow better from our 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


    Rowena seemed ufortable "try"


    *1 dunk you in advance," I replied calmly.


    After all, Rowena Willow''s grandmother. Though their interactions were limited town''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 bark."


    With that, Rowena left.


    Alter returning to my office, I sat down to work. Unfortunately, it wasn''t long before my back started to ache Tested 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.


    Trie quickly sustard over to my side and said, "Ms. Jamison, I have great news!"


    Laised an eyebrow, noticing the smug look on his face. "What bit?"


    "The animated series based on youres premiered yesterday, and despite theck of promotion from thepany, the viewership numbers have skyrocketed Eric said excitedly.

 Chapter 304

    Tlooked 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 waged me, "You should check out how the animated series turned out and see if it meets your expectations"


    Only then did 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 1 left Steven''s house as the story progressed at the time, I had nothing left, and thought I would face a period of hardship before things got better. To surprise, mye started improving from that very day


    Everything changed from my son, who had abwatenticized me, to the loving and caring daughter I had always wished for. Even my husband, who had never shown me affection, transformed intoa warm-hearted boss with a cold exterio Thinking back, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for divorcing Steven. If I hadn''t, I would never have had this wonderbal ide


    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?"


    Erichesitated 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?"N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    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


    I wouldn''t be appropriate in 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 fail to reward them with the money I earned


    Za gled 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." Lasked curiously, "Really? You''re not lying to me, are you?"


    Zane dhuckled lightly. "Whenever I decide to allocate money for them, it''s transferred auertly go their ounts with the next month''s sry. If you don''t believe me, you can ask Eric." I turned to Erie. "Is than true?"


    Eric stood up "That''s right Mr. Husum is always looking out for his employees."


    Then, I gave Zane an awkward mile before returning to the partition and asking Ecie, "Why didn''t you tell me that earlier?"


    Eric pped his forehead in embarrassment. "I forgot."


    Iwasan a loss for words, so I just stared at him


    Fight then, Frie quickly stood up. "I''ll get back to work now."


    After Eric let, Zane walked over and sat beside me, "How does it fell to see youric sessfully adapted into an animated series and loved by so many people?"

 Chapter 305

    on I


    I had been in shock earlier, but now was slowly recovering 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 actually mete 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 doc opened, and Jessica strode in


    After looking around and sering no one, she walked straight into the partitioned area.


    Zane browned.


    wasn''t an employee of thepany, nor was she a partner of anywhere. 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


    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


    1 devebrow 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! 1 didn''t believe a word she said


    When Steven impulsively brought her into our home, she had deliberately provoked me. Their was nothing innocent about her actions.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    I didn''t understand why she suddenly appeared before me and pretended to be weak "There''s nothing to forgive, Jessica. You can''t past brush away the things you''ve done to me with a couple of hollow apologies" Jessica quiddy asked, "What do you want me to


    1 teplied 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."


    Ikastole 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 attent


    Jessica just wanted Zane to notice her and remember her. Ideally, the wanted him to see her as a delicate, fragile woman. This would make it easier for her to put her next n into motion. Sewing that Zane''s expression remained unchanged, she decided to try and provoke me. "Do you really dislike me that much?"


    Jessica pretended to be confused "Why! Could it be because you still like Steven?"

 Chapter 306

    Chapter


    306Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    1 took a deep breath and said, "I''ve already made myself clean, Jessica, Indt because you enjoy being a mistress and sechicling mantled men doesn''t mean that''s home everyone operates. Do you understand?


    A mist of trans gathered in Jessica''seves


    Seeing here that reminded me of the time I had retuned home after my miscarriage. t was her and her family who hadhurtne. Yet, it almost seemed like everything was my fault because she was potting on a pititul act. 1 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


    (an act, and that you''re really just a show beneath it all?


    I didn''t respond to her usation. Instead, I said, "It 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" rearewely 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 be in return. Yet, she was now trying to turn the tables and use me.


    I found it almostughable. "I were really as mabolous 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 paled out his phone and called security. "Tour department has beenx. You''re letting anyone into the building. This woman just walked into my office. What if ommonswal sensitivepany documents? Who''s responsible for that? The security te am quickly apologized


    Zane continued, "From now on only employees okay partners are allowed to enter. No exceptions."


    Jessica''s heart burned with resentment Zane was being too harsh


    Show that if she stayed any longer, she would certainly be kicked out. After a briet hesitation, she decided to leave on her own.


    After Jessica lett, 1 lowered my head to continue working on the tasks from the morning


    The afternoon''s task was to color thee 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 right to the conference form.


    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 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 the 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 heating Zane''s words, Exic immediately understood where the problemy: "Well, there''s a possibility that she''s trying to actively pursue you and give up on Steven Likuid, "You see, not only are you better looking than Steven, but you''


    whe wealthies, and a better inan Since she''s about to be abandoned, it makes sense that she might want to move on to


    Like continued, "What could she even be acting for in front of


    I of Ma. Jamison otherwise?


    When Zane understood the situation, the coldness in his expression deepened. He immediately duled Steven''s number.


    Steven instinctively assumed it was a work-rted matter when he picked up has 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 husham Group and probably made it clear she was interested in Zane. Otherwise, Zane would''t have und that


    Steven, took a moment to collect his thoughts before calling Jessica.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    When she picked up, he voice was sweet "Did you need something


    Then, Steven asked emotionlessly. "Are you pursuing


    Jessica hesitated, unsure of how to respond. Il she adoitted the truth, she might line the chance of having a man willing to spend money on her before she seeded in winning Zane over. Fur Steven would eventually find out about her pursuit of Zane if she lied amway. After a long silence, Steven grew impatient. "Say something!"


    Jessica quickly came up with a brilliant excuse, "I''m doing this


    By shifting all the ment, she could continue het part of Zane under Steven''s watchful eye. Steven snerted. "Do you think I''m an iden


    Jessica quickly denied it. "Love thought that, Steven I know you Annalise, but Annalise is n


    arting with Zane. I figured it I win Zane over, you and Annalise can get back together.


    umphant glint shed in her eyes b


    i maintained her pitiful tone. "It''s okay. Don''t


    sory about what I''ve done. I just want you no


    ething I w


    I willingly do"


    As Jessica spoke, her voice quivered with emotion. "But I''ve been thinking of you with all my heart, Steven intumedatel telt guilty. "Im sorry" Jessica could tell that Steven had tallen for 18, know that I love you, andi only want you to be happy Steven quickly replied, "You don''t need to do so much to the can purse beijas introye Jessica sighed with a hint of sadness" believe that if I see the person I love happy, I Steven couldn''t find the right words to express his feelings. A strange and heavy sensation settled in his chest as i be tuppy son'' worl "I don''t how to repay you." he said after a pause "How abourt buy you sarit ja Jessica gave a bitter smile "Okay"


    jeny? You can pick it out,


    ( gratitude and guilt


    d pay for in


    Aher hanging up.


    stared at her phone, feeling incredulous that Steven''s my was so easy to get

 Chapter 308

    Chapter


    308


    Just as 1 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 me. "Mr. Hasham, is this her?" Zane nodded.


    Confused, Lasked, "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, men called out to me softly, Time to wake up."


    Right as 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 Zame with a smile and asked, "What do you think, Mr. Husham? Zane obrved me from across the room as I shifted ufortably. Something flickered in his dark eyes but he quiddy 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 Tasked, "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. Tmounting 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.N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Asedcarpet 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


    "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,

 Chapter 309

    Zane chuckled. "It reminds me of when Sasha used to poster me every day."


    Sasha''s cut in, "Are you talking about me?N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    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 the 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.


    Having heard that. Sasha red at him in divatisfaction


    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."


    Imet 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," need to talk to you."


    Zane replied smoothly. "Anything concerning my girlfriend concerns me. You don''t mind if I stay, do you, Mr. Pelha


    "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 vason 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. Pilham. 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, "Bring with Zane taught me what it feels 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 p


    y partner, Annalise Jamison"


    "Mes. Huxham!" They quickly ettered me a ss. "We must fast!"


    I took the ss while watching them drain theirs in one ga. Taking a deep breath, I was about to drink when Zano smoothly removed the ss from my hand. Expressionless, he said, "She doesn''t drink I''ll be disrespectful to me if anyone pushes her to-drink." anyone Zane was so protective of


    Those who had been ready to press drinks on me immediately backed off. They were not foolish enough to mess with an


    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 just smiled politely. Once the crowd dispersed, I whispered, "Is it okay that I didn''t drink?"


    "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 parted my back and said, "Go get something to eat. Don''t starve yourself."


    Then, Lasked, "What about you?


    Zane smiled. "I need to discuss some business matters with them."


    With that, I went to get some food.


    The buffet was Lavish 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 het te nature when men wide 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 continued enjoying my nival pressed on, "You haven''t answered my question."Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    The catering was excellent, and every dish was


    is perfectly prepared. As I was eating contentedly, Jessica pr "What''s there to answer? I dabbed my lips with a papin "Even I did 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 ku tyd 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?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Jessica''s faceted 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, held you when you were a baby!'' How am I supposed to remember that?"


    Then, she continued, "I''d seem rude it 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 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 lookedhway, 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 stor


    about."


    He still would not bebeve it "Even if you don''t love ne anymore, you''d need time to move on. You wouldn''t jump into something new so quickly."


    I took a deep breath," 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, "Bet Zane was diferent. He took me in, cared for me, and helped me heal from my husband and son''s betray 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 pursuft 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


    "I buy beadlines on every news site and let everyone know what you did"


    Steven red at hat impatiently. "This is between me and her. It''s none of your busi


    im Bonus For Free Every Day>


    not nice at all!


    im

 Chapter 312

    "I''m Annalise''s friend Sasha dered proudly as she polled up her chest. "Her business is my business! I''ll stand up for If you make her unhappy!"


    When Zane noticed me, hN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    he quickened his pac


    pace belone stepping in front of me. Then, he took my hand and acted every bit the concerned lover. "What''s wrong Ft. Jessica came to harm, then Steven showed up iming our rtionship isn''t real," ined Zxed upon seeing it wasn''t anything serious "Don''t worry, they''ll believe it eventually."


    As he spoke, he pulled me into his cobjace. 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 solle against his chest. Confused, he asked, "What''s so try?"


    "I''m just thinking that this is quite interesting"Ladmitted, "We''re reallymitted to this act."


    Jane''s arma tightenedunconsciously. "Otherwise, Steven will keep doubting us and finding excusen to bother you." Tagreed, "True enough."


    Not knowing many people at the event, Sasha headed toward Annalise after warning Steven


    When she spotted Annalise and me hugging from afar, she pulled out her phone before finding the perfect angle for a new 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!" In 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 ven worthy of it!


    Seeing the two of them embrace, Steven Belt 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 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 vent was crowded, everyone was in the front garden, and only the threw of them were in the back garden.


    After thinking hard, he tried to argue, "en''t you think you moving too fast "Compared to you, we''re still taking our time. I released Zane to face Steven.


    "How can you possibly call us fastpared to you two?"


    jessica pregnant while we were still married Meanwhile, Zane and I are just holdin


    holding handh


    Seven felt the logic but tried to argue away. "You''re a woman-you can''tpare your sell to me!"

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    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."


    I did not deny it." 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 Anmalise, did you think about our son before doing all this? Can he ept this new father figure?"


    I replied roolly, "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


    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 meN?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    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 ying harder give him another chance? He wasn''t sure. "When your Est 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, could always return to your family.


    "But now, Annalise doesn''t want you anymore. Sasha gload 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 be let her go without hesitation.


    Sasha continued, "Will it change the fact that they''re perfect together?"


    dup ke this? It''s because you cheated if not, your life would''ve been wonderful now, and everyone


    She snorted as she looked him up and down with contempt, "Do you know why you ended up wouldve envied you"


    Jessica approached in with one hand on her back and the other rubbing her belly She stopped short before Zare and I to block us off. Not wanting to talk to her, Zane pulled me behind him protectively. Expressionless as usual, he asked coldly, "Tes?"" "Sorven was rude earlier." Jessica unidsweedy, "I''m apologizing on his behalf."


    Ipevied around Zane and studied her. She had been so arrogant with me earlier. How could she suddenly be so police with Zane? Jessica sounded troubled as the corsed, "But he only acted that way because so much

 Chapter 314

    Chapter


    314


    After hearing Jessica''s words, I could not help butugh. "Is love now an excuse to hunt 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 hamanning me after I''ve made it clear countless times that I don''t want to see him, and you call that love sound 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." Her eyes darted toward Zane as she spoke, and I almostughed at her words. "If Steven knew hour desperate you ate to get rid of him, would he still fund your lifestyle?" Jessica Ice, but Zane out 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


    "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 mi then "


    "okay" i picked up a te, ready to serve myselfUpstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Sasha rushed over. "I''ve tried everything, so let me and the best dishes!"


    She began pointing out her favorites, and 1 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 fate in 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 Lace strangers! At least they haven''t hurt


    Her frustration made meugh "True enough"


    steven confronted Jessica She guessed why he hade but chose her words carefully. She needed to court him just right.


    "Who asked you to art on your own?" he snapped


    "I did nothing wrong, so why apologize to Zane for me?" Jessica''s mindraced. "If I didn''t, how would I get close enough to Zane in order to help you? How else can I support you Seven scared 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 hart 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 bood


    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 imerness spread through Steven''s heart, and he closed his eyes to force down the emotion! He them took a deep breath.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    He had


    lose 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 decerning har 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 i 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


    Sting beside him, Jessica quickly added, "Find out what type of persons to Seven turned to her, and she whispered, "We need to understand his preferences to t


    In target After her exnation, Steven told his friend, "Look into everything Jessica and I mentioned"


    get him effectively. That increase my chances of catching him and making your dreame true."


    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 du with this


    He casually set it aside. "I''ve already bought it, so let''s take it home"


    "Wasn''t it expense?" asked in surprise.

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    Chapter and


    Zane replied without hesitation, "It''s around 50 thousand dors, I think?" frowned "an''t wasted to buy such an expensive dress for just one evenci


    Zane met my eyes. "This is my girlfriend''s first dies for attending an event with me. Don''t you think that''s worth remembering"


    After a long look lid, "You''re quite theedian.


    Zane stepped clover 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 stayedifrupal. "But Analise, mypany in 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, 1 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, asked, "What should we do them?"


    Zane''s tone was persuasive. "Simple, Just treat me 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 would''t cover one dress.


    After careful thought, I replied, "Don''t buy me such expensive things anymore, Steven will know we''re take if you do."


    Zane was puzzled. "Why?"


    I exined, "Given my personality, I''d want to turn your gifts. If they''re expensive, I can''t afford to get you gifts for about the same price, so I wouldn''t ept them," Zane smiled alter hearing my words "Fair enough"


    Alter me and Zane came to an agement, 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 get 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!N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Then, she grinned mysteriously. "Guess why the teacher picked me instead of others?"


    1 listed a few qualities. "Because Willow practices speaking every day, speaks clearly, is adorable, and confident?"


    Her smile widened. "That to. 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 it 1 performed with Zachary? I won''t do it if you''re ufortable."


    She buttowed into my arms and wrapped her small arms around my waist, whulehel Tack 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 nteda ka "I knew Mommy''s the best!


    I scooped her up. "Ready to go home?"


    Willow nodded eagerly. "Yeah

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    Chupter


    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 toaddy''s vis" Harry was used "Why aren''t you seeing your mom today?"


    Had he grown tired of her? 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 atres you cut ties with your dad?" Zachary casually said. "Momoy bought me somemercial properties, and the annual cent 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." the divorce."N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Zachary lowered his eyes and continued, "If I hadn''t gone that far, she would''ve fought for custody even with th Harry ruffled his hair. "That''s all in the past." "Yeah"Zachary forced a brave


    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 boiled 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 mer some fresh fout She took an apple and opened her script, reading word by word


    I watched bercufully 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 markon 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

    Tooked at Willow in surprise. Most kids these days did not enjoy studying, but Willow actually wanted to learn on her ownUpstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    She exined matter-of-factly. "I want to get ahead so won''t fall behind when I start elementary school "


    "Desurse."Esupported her enthusiasm without hesitation. "I check the bookstore tomorrow for your textbook"


    Willow brand happily and said, "okay"


    Zane seemed surpised when he heard that too Just then, something ourred 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 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!


    Zare simply replied, "Yes"


    Overjoyed, she entered the room full of toys and picked up a b "Wow!"


    I watched from the doorway. She clearly loved the gifts. Her eyes were sparkling ke 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, the came back to us instead of opening anything


    Tasked, "What?"


    "still need to exercise," Willow said, reluctantly looking away from the "And since there are so many of them, could I open them with Penelope and y together?" "Of course!" Treplied instantly added, "I thought you might want that, so I bought doubles it a


    Excited, Willow asked, "Can I call Penelope toe over now?


    [everything"


    Willow immediately called Penelope and told her about Zane''s presents befine aking, "Do you want te over and y ligetting


    "Of course I do?" Penelope''s excitement was clean even though the phone, but then her tone dropped. "But I have to ask my "It''s okay if she doesn''t want go. I want to be a categ


    Upon hearing dut, Willow''s mood instantly fene smiled and said. "We


    (to pick her


    Willow quickly ryed this to Penelope, who asked Sury, "Macey, Happy her daughter had made a good friend, Suzy agreed, "Naproble


    -to Willow''s? Theng deyer will pick u


    I nned to go with Willow to get Penelope. But Milton and rothy volunterced, saying they had


    okay because she''s tired from work


    Hence, I stayed behind and watched them leave.


    Steven parked near Zame''s bu before scanning for Zachary''s cat. Not finding it, he called Zachary "Hello?" Zachary asked enolly,  something wrong Daddy?


    "Don''t you usuallye watch your mom near Zane''s house? I don''t see you today. Are you Zadury exined casually, Tadby, don''t you remember? I was hospitalized yesterday for much problems."


    there, or are you hiding from me?" He suspected Zachary was vooding him.

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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 mechly, "I''muill getting TV fluids today."


    Steven asked quickly, "Should Ie and take care of you?''


    Zachary refused, "No need. Harry and tanah are here, so don''t worry."N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    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 a dozen shops, and all of the annual rent would be paid to a separate bank ount


    Aude 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."


    some money ton


    Harry was sitting by his side when he heard what Zachary said "Don''t spend too freely. You should save some in Zachury said with a smile, "Don''t worry. I''ve set aside plenty for expenses." That reassured them


    At home, Willow first book 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. Notnding w what Penelope was doing, Willow copied hat andy beside her. The girls were happy just being together.


    I started to join them, but Zane caught my wist, getting toward Milion and Docothy


    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 he found a new purpose, Not wanting to interrupt, I went to the second-floor balcony Zane sat and reacted for my hand.


    Zase exined smoothly, "Your ex is watching We should show some affection"


    Heating that I offered my hand. Hisrge hand enveloped minepletely, and his usually ste


    im Bonus For Free Every Day


    stean expression held a hint of seduction. "Do you think this alone will convince him, that we''re

 Chapter 320

    Holding hands seemed intimate enough to me. "Trobably


    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 ndy. Then, Zane whispered seductively, "Just demonstrating " "Okay, I get it blushed, trying to rise.


    But Exte wouldn''t let go, "Why are you blushing so hard? Didn''t Steven ever hold you


    I nodded. "No. Since he didn''t love me, we only held hands and hugged. Nothing more."


    "Really?" As Zame 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 het my back and did not want to let go. Strangely, I did not mind has kiss at all.


    Sending 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 traze briefly But I pulled back almost immediately, so he chucked in a loving tone. "You''re learning"


    "course"leaned on his shoulder. It''s all for show I really want Steven to give up."N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    As Zane studied my confident and chan pratile, 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 hes properly, without using Steven as an excuse


    Concurrently, Steve watched from his car as they kissed passionately on the balcony. Annalise seemed to have melted from the kiss as she slid down weakly.

 Chapter 321

    Butane gripped Annalise''s waist possessively as he continued Imong her to kiss him. Her pale arms draped loosely around his neck.


    Even trematar, Steven muld 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 reall


    Steven''s eyes reddened, and his heart ached. He had truly lost Armalise, 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.


    Atst, his friend conceded, "Tine, 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 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 fitted 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. Sering Steven, the guard asked in confusion, "Can I help Steven frope. How could he exin? That the owners might be heading to this bedroom!


    With a twisted face, he called Zane.


    I help you!


    As Zane was about to set me down, his phone rang. When he showed me the scented 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


    Iscoffed. That''s one of his business."N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    "Indeed." As Zane por, he answered the call

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    "Zame," 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, Murted, "Annallise, 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 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.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    "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. Pein, 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 don''t love me, yet he acts like he cares to 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."


    llet out a quietugh. "Not loving me, yet refusing to let go... how absurd."


    Then, as if the reason suddenly clicked, 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 eat ties with Jessica either. So why pursue you


    Tpondered Zane''s question. "Maybe he thinks his love story


    sopry with Jessica needs an audience to be more meaningful.


    And I''m


    the perfect witness?"


    Cody was cast 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 pall toward him.


    Bet the had to admit one thing to hessell 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, Zate 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 Shirather hand gently over het 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 garing out at the brightly lit, yet eerily lonely courtyard "I have something important to ask you."


    Sarven clearly had no interest in visiting her "If it''s important, just say it over the phone."


    Jessica sensed his resistance but didn''t push" just wanted to know what Annalise kes. That way, when I see her again, I''ll have m


    11 Zane kad Annalise so much, all she had to do was figure out Annie''s preferences and mimic them.


    more to talk about."

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    Zane would certainly give Jessica a dew 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,


    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 just didn''t understand those things as being a straight guy, she''d forgive me without 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 Armalise. A dull ache swelled in his chest, malding 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 mald. No wonder Annalise had decisively and unflinchingly let go of him when she left she had absolutely no regrets


    Seven contimed, "So all know in that she used to love me and Zachary more than anything


    Willow and Penelope yed energetically upstairs until 8:30PM, finally stepping when they were both exhausted.


    Tenelope looked longingly at Willow''s toy house. "It''s gettingte. I should head home now," Penelope said eluctantly. "If I don''t, my mom will miss me."


    Willow grabbed Penelope''s hand. "Then I''ll walk you out."C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Milton and Docothy, 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 abour, their excited chatter fing 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 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 maled, his voiceced with venom. "Don''t me for what happens next!"


    Before Liam could act, Zane kicked the door open. The sharp bang started everyone Zastrode in his expression cold and unyielding. He immediately spotted Suzy tied up and Liam charging toward her with raised fiste Zane Wasted to


    delivering a powerful kick that sent Liam sprawling to the floor. "Hullying a single woman


    n-what a man you are," he said icily,


    Seeing a chance to escape, Sury 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 quirky, her voice trembling "okay"


    Zate shut the door firmly behinder and cured his attention back to Liam


    Sury stumbled out of the apartment, her disheveled appearance revealing the ordeal she had just endured Tears streamed from her


    Than sight shorlund both glols. Penelope rushed to Suzy''s side, her small face filled with worry. "Mom, was in the bad gay again?" The "bad guy" she referred to washer father, Liam eyes as she reached in

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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?


    1stepped 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. Tussing him onto the living room floor, Zane wiped his hands like he had just taken out the trash.


    Still unwilling to hack down, Liam red, "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-1 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 wally. "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."


    Suzy''s expression turned elder. "And you just believed him? Did you even check for pros?


    The p


    gaard had no answer, lowering his head in shame "It won''t happen again," the mumbled.


    "It better not," "Suzy snapped


    Once the guard left turned to Suzy "How exactly did get in?


    Suzy hesitated before exining, "elope had just left, barely two or there minutester, when someone knocked on the door. I assumed she''d forgotten something and didn''t bother checking the monitor Tjust opened the door...


    Be more cautious next time," I said gently, not wasting to me her further. "Also, whenever Penelopees over to y with Willow, feel free toe along too. It''ll be safer for


    Suzy nodded, her earlier exhaustion reced by lingering unease. "Alright, I will. "


    On the way home, Willow fall 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 Sury, it would extingith any possibility between us. So he asked preemptively, ready to rily the situation "Why would I mind?" I asked, confused by the question.


    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, pure and unburdened by theplexities of lifeC¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Heating 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 unmapped 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


    §¤§â


    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 ghorned, the ache momentanly subdued.


    Although his current lite telt 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 bone. "If I try to win your mom back on my own, it won''t work"


    Yawning Zachary felt no enthusiasm for the conversationN?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Steven continued, "I we want Annalise toe back to us, the best way is for us to team up


    "s useless," Zachary replied bluntly, curing 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 stranget Zachary didn''t want to see that icy expression over again, nor did he have any interest in Steven''sive schemes.


    "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 Seven could pond, Zachary ended the call, witched his phone to airne mode, and fell back asleep.


    Steven stared at his silent phone, but his thoughts were consed 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,sugning him entirely


    Desperate to escape the torment, Steven dialeda friend "Let''s go out for drinks."


    Understanding his recent troubles, none of his friends refused.


    Steven actived at the bar first, booking a private room and ordered several bottles of figur


    One by one, his friendsickled in Gavin took a seat beside him and asked, "What happened?"


    Perhaps it was the alcohol, or maybe the q


    question struck too close to home, but Steven''s emotions erupted. He broke diem in tears, sobbing uncontrobly,


    "Annalise has really given up on me!" he walled.


    "How could the 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 band Kissing another man?"N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    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 frie, watching him sob uncontrobly, all had the same though.


    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


    of the manage, 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 during to voler these truths aloud, atraid Steven might spiral even further


    Curvin, always tactful, tried to console his "Yeah, she''s in the wrong for moving on so fast."


    Steven immediately upped his anger boiling over. "How dare you say that about her?"


    The from 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 Irving room, waiting for Zachary to return home. When the clock struck ten and the dose 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 toddling Jessica''s child out of guilt, he was sorely mistaken.


    Chise 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


    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 caretally chosen just for you," Chloe said.


    Back when Annalise was married to Steven, I w


    bever 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, mam


    chloe took Jessica''s hand, her tone shifting to one of forced sincerity, "I know you and Steven and 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 muge toll bar eyes but maintained her act. "Tove to, but Stern 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. The only has eyes for Annalise now.


    Chloe, reassured by Jessica''s submissive tone, exhaled softly and gave a fum cod. "Leave Steven to me, I''ll handle ir "


    Jessica''s face it 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 Steren 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 het options, Chloe concluded that Zachary was the key.


    As Seven''s only son, Zachary held a special ce in Steven''s heart. If Zachary spoke up on Jessica''s behall, Steven would likely relent, at least temporarily. Without hesitation, Chile dialed Zachary''s number.


    The phone tang and uang, 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 UPM.


    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 tiered, since calling Zachury was just to talk about Steven anyway, she might as well address it directly now.


    "want you to concile with Jessica," the und without hesitation


    Steven sighed, rubbing his temples as the headache set in "I''t do that"


    Chiloe''s voice turned cold. "You haven''t even tried. How can you be so sure?


    "Mom, I Irved 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.


    Bedore Chion 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 Seven 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 fent, her tone full of emotion.


    I leaned again the doorframe, watching her with pride.


    Willow had grown up much over the past few months. I still remembered when she would only speak to me and needed encouragement to even talk to Zane.


    how, she had not only moved past her parents'' deaths but had also be cheerful and lively. She couldmunicate with averyone around her, and today, she was preparing to give a public speech Trouldn''t be prouder


    When Willow finishedN?velDrama.Org content rights.


    reading, she set down the paper anduan over to


    Lover to me. "Mom, how did I do?"


    "You were abuzing," I said without hesitation, my one full of praise.


    Willow was used to beingplimented, but her chest still putted up like a proud little swan. "Of course I wal


    Then, after ncing around to make sure Zane wasn''t nearby, the rugged in her bedroom and whispered, "Mom, do you have some money on your

 Chapter 328

    "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 died 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?" Het book 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 led 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 dad''s afraid you''ll take his money, so he won''t maday you?"


    Her expression turned serious in an instant. She spun on her heel and marched toward Zame''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


    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, Imudged Willow forward "Why don''t you ask daddy?"


    Willow immediately ran to Zane, wrapping her small arms around him "Daddy!"N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    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 loves 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 lessica bully be 7 Willow''s line face grew sad as she recalled those soments Her heart had almost broken watching it happen. How could Zachary be so heartless when my was


    She added angrily, "And Steven was always with Jessica too, malding mommy sad every single day."


    Her flustration was palpable as she recounted the past


    a so kind?


    Zane, who was fully aware of Willow''s deep affection for Annalise, chuckled softly. "Txdly. 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 pulled up in indignation. "If you ever at Steven, I won''t call you daddy anymore."


    o''t," Zane said, his tone gentle as he reassuredber. "know exactly wh


    Willow finallynd "Good"


    Her voice was wistful "But daddy, how long do we have to


    to wait before we can truly be a family with mommy?"


    Zane spolu 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?"


    Zam nodded. "Daddy wouldn''t lie to you."


    "That''s amazing Willow threw her arms around him in excitement. "Do you need my help?

 Chapter 329

    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 yoursel


    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-the was more outgoing, confident, and even eating better than usual.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    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, I was pure happiness.


    +


    Atterbeaktas, Zane and 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 had no choice but to be "Yes, that''s right."


    Wilow 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?


    Zaneled 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 scotted The only reason the 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 animated sigh, she stood up.


    One way or another, she would find a way to get in touch with him.


    he had the chauffeur drive her to kindergarten When she sported Zachary with his backpack, she quickly walked with a smile. "My sweet grandson." Zachary, sewing 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 sidestepher, heading toward the kindergarten entrance, but Chloe grabbed his arm.


    "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 homestecker who went after a married man! And my dad? He''s a scumbag who cheated on his wife while dragging a lid along to meet his mistress "I hate both of them. You want me to help he? Keep dreaming!

 Chapter 330

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


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


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


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


    "Thank you, Ms. Ludvig "Zachary sald with a grateful look. "If you hadn''te in time, who knows what would''ve happened." Hannah smiled gently "You''re my student. It''s only right that I protect you." When we arrivedal


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


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


    1 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


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


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


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


    Zane raised an eyebrow. "What about daddy?"


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


    inned and go into the car.


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


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


    "Drinking so much is bad for your health


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


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


    Hen Baper was filled with genuine concRITL


    But when Soren opened his eyes, the room was empty


    He realized in had been nothing more than a hallucination, and the bitterness of it all made himugh....... Before the divorce, he hadn''t thought much of Alieved 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 themN?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


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

 Chapter 331

    Steven get up, get dressed, and skipped breakdast before diving straight to Zane''s office garage, Mocking the entrance with his car


    Zane''s car was prompthe stuck, which forced him to step out and knock on Men''s window.


    Steven colled it down. "I need to talk to Annalise."


    Zane ucisked faintly. "Haven"") you two already said everything that needed to be said"


    "This is between me and hes." Steven''s voice pew firm. "Pring her here."


    But Zane didn''s more, standing there with an impassive pare.


    I noticed Zane had been gone for awhile and walked over to see what was happening. "What''s going on?"


    Seven''s face in up with exaggerated indignation. "I just wanted to talk to you, but he wouldn''t let t


    I sighed,dy feeling a headacheing on. "Steven, what''s the point of this?"


    "Please, lo the sale of what we once had" Steven Stone turned pleading. "For the sake of the love you used to have for me, the me onest chance. Let''s just talk for a moment, alone. Thesitated


    "Ten minutes. That''s all I''m asking for Steven pleaded desperately.


    1 cossed arm "Can you guarantee this will be thest time you bother me?"


    with that, I turned to leave.


    "Wait."Seven''s voice grew louder. "I just need to ask you something


    I stopped in my tracks.


    Za had a packed schedule, with several meetings lined up just for the mothing. Not wanting to take up his time, I decided to quickly brush Steven off. "Find somewhere else to go." Zane held my hand rightly. "Anna." "sl" id settly, putting the back of his hand. "I can handle this. Don''t worry about me and go back to work. I''ll be back soon.TM


    Having heard my assurance, Zane finally let go and said, "Call me if anythinges up


    The meeting ce w nearby bubble tea barN?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Stoven ced a cup of boltea intro of me, his tone almost wager, "I remember you used to like this."


    I didn''t touch it. Instead, I nced at the drink and chuckled


    Back when we wer


    married, all I wanted was a little thoughtfulness-not flowers, not extravagant gifts, just something as simple as this But he couldn''t mean do that


    Now that we were divorced and no longer cared for his gestures, he suddenly offered it unprompted.


    I looked away from the drink and spoke calmly. "There''s no need for all this Just say whatever you came here to say. Noted for pretense


    Steven stared at me. "I do


    understand why you chose Zane


    "Locally, being with him is


    Thad expected him 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


    hu to get hung up on this, and I couldn''t help butugh. "Actually, the difference between you two a significant,


    wen was condused. "What do you mean?"


    e Huxhams have a nanny, a che, and a chauffeur," I said, deliberately slowing my speech. "All I have to do is spend time with Willow, and tearn 80,000 dors a month.


    On top of that, Zane even got me data ie. Now, that side job alone pays me more than taking care of Willow dos"


    It wasir Tuntil I staged creatingics that I realized how much more! was capable of


    I continued after a pause, "Was with you, I had to do all the book, case the child, and take care of you, fut what did I get in the end? Walked away with nothing"

 Chapter 332

    1 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 in town yet?


    That, I thought, had little to do with me. But Trouldn''t say that outright. As I milled 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 home.


    Zane sat down beside me. "Mi. Pelham, I''d like to take this opportunity to ask you something too. Who exactly is this supposed true love of mine?


    Zane felt aware 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 would undoubtedly be even more challenging Steven froeal Zane''s pointed question


    Zane''s one was key as he spoke. "I understand the pain of losing someone you love, but that doesn''t give you the right to spread baseless rumors."


    Seven''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"N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Steven soled. "That''s imposable"


    Zane''s expression didn''t waver, but his lips curled into a faint smick. "Oh?"


    To win Annalise over


    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 uncoveted undeniable proof of Zane''s dishonesty


    Zane, however, kaned back again 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 trose as he struggled on e


    Bane stood, reaching for my hand. "Let''s go."


    "Alright." 1 followed him out, all 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 numes-of-fact. "Never."


    He shrugged. "I guess I gave much thought to rtionships


    "In high school, I was too focused on goofing off. Then I got serious about my studies, which left go room for anything else


    "And when university caround, I was consumed by my business ventures."


    I liked in surprise Sounds you had a pretty fulfilling lide."


    Zate smiled. "You could say that."


    Back at the office, adjusted my mindset and focused on my workly 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 beak. When I felt rented enough, I stood and told Zane, "I''m beading downstairs for a little walk"


    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 page soloened as he added. "Arer all, at least for now, your boylulend in name." The environment dowenitalis was serene, with lush trees and wilight filtering through the leaves, creating dappled patterns on the ground.


    1 strolled along at a leisurely pace, enjoying the


    stude and the quiet moment. For the first time in what felt like forever, experienced a profound sense of freedom

 Chapter 333

    Theard the familiar voice and instinctively drowned, tunning tock at the soupes.


    There was Chloe standing beyond the gate, ring at me with hostility. "You krally have no shame, do you?"


    Het baseless actuations were almostughable. The despised me so much that everything I did rubbed her the wrong way Loould understand that.


    kept my toe calm and unbothered "Go ahead, vent whatever you want to say Dove you''re done and enogh people have gathered, I''ll expose all things Steven has done."


    Tadded with a smirk, my mood lifting with each wood. "When hispany''s stock tanks, your life won''t be looking too tony either."


    Chloe snapped back, "Is threatening prople all you know how to da?"


    Without hesitation, Treplied, "Well, you tell me -does it


    She fell silent, ring at me. I wasn''t nning to entertain hen any further andturned to leave.


    "want the called it healed. "Come nude. I need to talk to you."


    This family was truly fascinating. Before the drout, they either avoided me or didn''t care about what I had to say. Now that the divorce was finall, they couldn''t seem to leave me around.


    i enough to y along "Talk here if you have something to say," I said tly, not even considering stepping out.


    Clearly aware than I wouldn''t give in, Chloe relented with visibly depleasure. "Did Sevene to see you this morning?


    1 mouldn''t help but wonder if they''d nned this together.


    First, one of them shows up, pretending it anal chat. Then, nat 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 thesete games just to mean with me?


    Chise''s expression darkened as the thiratened, "Do you realize he''s with Jessica now? If you know what''s good for you, stay out of his life. If you don''t-


    1 rutben a "First, do you even know where you''re right now?"


    Chloe nced around The Hushan Group


    "Lurth," I replied mohly cone heery 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, looiding fat me. "And then you have the audity me me for meeting with him?"


    1 didn''t bother sugarouting it. Don''t you think that''s absolutely ridiculous?


    Clor painted a finger at too angry to form words


    con managing your son first," Load sharply, leaving her fuming as I turged to


    away.


    Alter some thought, 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 fully deciding to head back to the office and just lie down.


    Pushing the office door open, aw Zane up at me and ask, "Why don''t you stout a bit longer?"


    ¦°


    walked into the cabirle dederly and topped the couch withour caring abour appearances. "Luan into chloe on my way demonstairs


    ementioned that Jessica and even at doing great togetherC¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    When I dide Tcontinue, Zane probed, "the word you might want to get back together with Stev


    foodded. "That''s exactly what mean igured day''s just one of those days where I keeping to annoying prople, so I thought staying in the office might be better. So, here I am. "Good timing." Zate said, setting his work aside and walking over to me. "I''w got some good news for you


    I sat op idrakejut quickly "What''s it?"

 Chapter 334

    Chupter 334


    i


    Zase 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 end, I pulled out my phone and opened the banking app. My bnce had increased over 200 thousand dors.


    "It was initially over 100 thousand dors, after taxes, you got just over 200 thousand dors in your ount. As for theprehensive benefits package, thepany handles all that, sono need to way!


    1 still found it hard to believe. "That''s a lot already is my first time earning this much through my own efforts


    Looking at Zane, Ladded. "Turns out, warning 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 perny goes. If I want to save it, I''ve it. I want to spend it, I will. It''s my freedom." For a brief moment, I regretted not taking this step earlier Lite could''ve been so much better.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    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 to 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


    Grade One textbooks:nguage and math Knowing that textbooks alone might not be enough to teach Willow, I also picked a few workbook to


    help her grasp the concepts more solidly.


    At the checkout counter, I asked the cache, "Do you sell fountain pans here?"


    She pointed at a nearby shelf. "All of themare over there."


    lon


    Carrying the books, I approached the shell. The pens ranged widely in price, from just a few dors tooves to thousand dors. My eyesnded on the price tag, and 1 hesitated for a moment, feeling a panget reluctance her 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 the 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 scanting in, 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


    ng me with a pointed look. "Are those things for Steven


    Thadn''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?"


    Paising an eyebrow, I said, "Sure, but after the divorce, I stopped having any feelings for him Jessica didn''t seem colored "Annale, don''t be stubborn. I know you''re still up about why "From now on, I''ll give up on Steven and return him to you." She looked like she had move to say


    TH


    ad in the past. I admit I was wrong

 Chapter 335

    "Enough" Let 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. 1 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 eat Willow Willow had worked so hard to recover and Jessica''s targeting her would surely undo all of that propen


    I crossed my arms and said coldly, "I will never allow you to be with Zane."


    Jemica''s expression soured. "You''re not his mother, What right do you have to interfere with my business with him?"Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Unbothered, I replied casually, "You must''ve heard how Zane introduced me at the banquetst time Jessica, I''m his girlfriend."


    She froze, clearly stoned. 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 bei pote, amused. "Then go ahead. Let''s see who wins."


    ''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 awry.


    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, the tested a hand on a searby chair for support and slowly sat down, her pregnant belly making every movement cumbersome. Taking out her phone, she dialed Steven''s


    Steven was working when his phone rang Anwering 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.


    Putning om f?r best forlorn expression, she spoke softly to Steven, her voiceced with subele 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 tome remained steady. "I know. But Jessica, this is something between me and her I''ll handle ir "


    He didn''t want Jessica toget involved of bear the beunt 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 Jessicale Jessica, however, was intent" I really want to help you w


    serven let out a faint chuckle. "The best way you can help me is to rest at home and locus on the baby. Leave the cost to me.


    ~Jessica, all of this was my tauh from start to finish. It has nothing to do with you"


    These were condusiont be had arved at after chiction 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

    -1 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 effo 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


    he silentices


    A flicker of regret passed through his eyes. "A few days ago, I was so desperate to reconcile with Annalise. Whe


    When you offered to help, I agreed on Impulse.


    "But now, something feels eff. If a man has to rely on another woman tochase 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


    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 Bet 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, Thanded the fountain pen I had just bought to Zane. "Here, it''s for you"


    He nced at the band on the pen and asked, "Why''d you buy such an expensive one?"


    Leaning casually against his desk Treplied, "Cheap pens don''tst, right? I figated a pricier one would hold up better"C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    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 bodded. "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 your beep treating me this well?"


    1


    1 chuckled. "You''ve probably had plenty of amazing women treat you well. If you didn''t fall to them, why would you fall for me?" Zane didn''t respond


    A knock on the door interrupted on


    Reluctantly, be released me "Come in," he called.


    Eric entered with a professional demeanor. "Mr. Hudam, your meeting starts in three minutes.


    Zane followed Eric to the door. Just as te stepped out, he turned back to look at me "Wait for me."


    With chat, he left the office.


    In the cordecence caso, tension filled the air as Zame 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,


    roll, a few brave souls


    uldn''t help but notice the fountain panelipped to his shirt pocket.


    Zane caught their states and, with surprising openess, took the pen out. "tow''d you know this was a gift from my friend?" he asked, a hint of pride in his usually cold voice. Though his tone remained by, 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 loved softened the once-intimidating Mr. Husam. The first presenter stepped forward to report, their nerves slightly less trayed as Zane listened with a neutral

 Chapter 337

    The present 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 the 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-cal, constructive feedback. There were multiple nces exchanged across the room, and an unspoken message was shared among the tram "May Zane and his girlfriendst forever" Once the meeting ended, everyone left swiftly and silently, as it by mutual agreement


    ","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 pil?"


    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 Erk''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,C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    Just a few days ago, I had so thousand followers, but now, the number had doubled to toothsand-and that was on my smallest tform.


    Revenue on the backend had surpassed an thousand dors


    Treviewed 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 po, over 15 thousand had already been sold. By month''s end, I estimated that figure could reach to thousand That meant my share from those sales alone would be at least 350 thousand dors.


    I stated an the numbers in datelet. Even without counting the sry Zane gave me, I was already earning over joo thousand dors. Adding in my other ie streams, was I actually getting rich!


    ting a hand over my chest, took a deep breath to steady myself and continued analyzing the data.


    Marchand revenue had also surged Although the prices were low, the sme hail doubled, by now, over to thousand items had been sold, and projections suggested sales could hit 60 dousand by month end


    From that, my share would be around go thousand dors Adding to Zane''s sry to the mix, I was looking at over Son thousand dor


    In just two months, muy pre-tax earnings would total mean do thousand dors,


    Ch, heaverd


    I took a deep breath again and feed myself to calm down. It took a long white before 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.


    Sthousand dors a month would amount to to thousand dors a year. At her current age, in her mid-goa, 1 would need to save for 50 years if she lived to 100-that mean


    That was assuming she stayed healthy as well, because the lod of illnesses with age.


    I did some quick mental calctions an addial thousand dors each month for her medical expenses...


    meat more than 3

 Chapter 338

    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. Sill, rather than saving all that money, it might make more sense to invest in medical insurance.


    Paying into 20 or 30 years would mean noe 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 poing 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 het, regardless of whether she would soold me or not After all, she was the one who led 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 to million dors. The more I thought about it the more excited I becameC¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    III 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.


    illetime.


    Sonly felt grateful ti ir weren''t for my good fortune in working with Zine, I would probably never be able to save this much money in my 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 had earned it all through my own abilities.


    **These 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 hardworlding":


    I smiled softly. "But it''s not easy to find a job that pays over 4 million dors a year-or even more."


    Zane said.


    The 50 thousand dors I had earned this month wasn''t even the peak Once the animated series was being promoted, tranted into other Languages, and aired in other countries, with theigning global poprity I couldn''t even imagine how much that ie might grow. Zane didn''t damit. "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 steam 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 seth work aside and sighed. "Then what should I do, Chloe? How can get her taforgive me and take me back?


    Chloe sat down across from him. "Simple Fuus on your life with Jessica and stop bothering Armalise."


    Steven shook his head, looding defeated. "The tried that already. It doesn''t work. When she sees me happy with someone else, the just feels relieved. She thinks it means I''ll stop bothering


    Steven couldn''t exin why, but any time he talked about Annalise, he felt a heavy weight in his chest.


    "Te doesn''t matter whether I''m doing well or not. She doesn''t care anymore," he added


    Chloe hotted "Then stop caring about her to

 Chapter 339

    "Tan''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 ticism. "I have to work, Men"


    ?n was an obvious attempt to dismiss her. Chloe, understanding her son''s willingness 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 amly


    After dishing out a few more sharp remarks about his inability to move on, Chloe finally loft, albeit reluctantly,


    Aloin 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 abends. 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, then wasn''t the time to che on such things


    While working, an idea suddenly struck him-away to see Annalise more often


    Her contic 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 r


    regrly.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    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 sen Annalise under the guise of a coboration. The thought of in brought a smile to his face as he called his secretary, Darren Cole,


    When Darrenamed, Steven wasted no time and instructed, "I want you to have our intellectual property team buy the rights to Annalise''sic."


    barren was well aware that Steven was trying to create an opportunity to interact with Annalise, but he didn''t interne "I''ll pass it on to the intellectual property team." Steven felt a wave of read only I''d thought of this earlier."


    Then perhaps, he wouldn''t have endured so much pain for so long


    While testing in my office, my phone rang with


    "Hello, I''m from the Intellectual Property Department at Pelham Group," the caller exined. "We''re interested in purchasing


    Pelum Group was Steven''spany,


    the rights to yourie. Would you be open to discussing


    I had no desire to engage with Steven any further Hence, I answered, "Myic right are already with Hudham Group If there''s anything to discuss you can contact them directly." The caber seemed taken aback I didn''t pie them a chance to respond and hung up Walking over to Zane, I shared the details of the call with him


    Comic intelectual property rights covered a lot-TV and film adaptations, gaming rights and more. But they didn''t specify whether they were in


    Honestly, in dida''t feel like they were serious about buying the rights


    Zane did answer directly. Instead, he asked. "What do you think?*


    interested in just one or all of them.


    "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

 Chapter 340

    "Is it because Steven genuinely values myics," I said slowly, "ee 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, Lemtinged, "Whatever the reason is, I think it''s better to keep my distance from Steven. I''d rather not sell the rights to him"


    Zase don''t give an immediate opinion. Instead, he asked, "If Steven doesn''t buy it and no one else does either, would you be disappointed?"


    1 shook my head. "No."N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Zane seemed to agree. "In that case, I can offer you another option."


    "What inn?" 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, Treplied. "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 some 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 "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 11. "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?" Laway."ob?"


    Fidgeting, the 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?" Joweta looked at me with hopefuleyen


    "Sorry," I said Since it was Zane''s money and I wasn''t actually his girlfriend, 1 margrally 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. The''s no need to trouble someone else unnecessarily."


    Howena lowered her bead and stared at her shoes. After hesitating for a long moment she finally shuttled over to Zane. "I was just afraid you''d say no "


    "Tanaper," 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."


    Al Rowena continued to linger awkwardly, Zane asked, "Is there something else?


    "Tinsley''spany is having some trouble." Rowena''s woke trailed off, growing softer with each word.


    "Have heroine see," Za sad coully.


    "okay." Rowena di ped, leaving the office in high spus. 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 urate. He uids vir the lush Group whenever you have time.

 Chapter 341

    Tinsley quickly said, "Then, I''ll go tomorrow"


    Born couldn''t contain hei excitement. "If there''s any problem, just ask your brother. He''ll help your"N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Tinsley emch lighter after hearing this.


    Thepany''s business had been declining rapidly 1 noently. She and the team had considered many solutions, but none of them worked.


    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,


    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 1 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 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."


    Zane then asked, "But will you me me?"


    I asked in contusion, "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 cate 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 led up on the sofa and began to consider a very impol cant question seriously.


    Aher 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


    Zame, 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 ctiously, "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 quiddy responded. "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 *T show you once I''m done."I decided to keep it mysterious for now. "You''ll find out,


    Zane sat down beside me. "I''m looking forward to ir"


    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 1 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 pluse at all..


    How should I en draw this?

 Chapter 342

    Labchi''n krom home to start diawing, and i fell into a deep thought as I stared at theputer screen.


    me noticed thai Thach It started to draw anything, he asked, "Mr you hitting a roadblock?"


    I looked at him. "Tiimim, I have a grisesalida, but when ites to actually hawing, my mind jus


    Zane then cahnh; advised me, "Il you sise you main ount to haw about us beling in ake rtionship, Steven will definitely sense that something''s wrong. But what if you use a


    Rudderde, Licht enlightened. "Why chichi''t I think of that before?"


    Linstanth badan idea and lowered my head to begin dhawing.


    suring next to the, Zane asked. "Have you decided on a specific theme?"


    "Yes,"I answered, Tis going to draw about a contrad manligt."


    Atriumphant 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 bee very kind to you, and I''m sure most of your time has been spent in doubt and pain. "You''ve turner trally enjoved love."


    contimand, "Il you want to know what love feels like, you can ask me.


    I looked at hot with contusion "But haven''t you never h


    Zane gently lifted my chin as soon as the words left


    had a girlfriend? Do you have any experience? my mouth.


    What was he trying to do?1 was even more confused


    When he alowby Lowered his face and bought me closer to him, my heart began to race


    fast as his lips were about to touch mine, stopped. "Are you feeling a little flustered, maybe even a little excited?"


    1 reflected on my feelings from just now. "Yes."


    -, ¨¨ you want to know what real love feel like, just heating 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?


    Tabe, who rarely read this type ofic, shrugged. "I don''t know."


    "Would you mond idi? Laud


    Lane passed, 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,


    Lane renprocated polling me into his embrace. Hisrge hand pressed firmly on my back, holding me tightly against him.


    I closed my eyes, savering his initiative.


    The two of us kated


    Zandey felt very fortunate that he had made this decision. Otherwise, he would never h Fually, when I could hardy heathe, Zate released: leated against the st?a, seribudraping "It does seem like in Zane, you''ll never find a gend with you being so ambiguous with me. have been able to be with Annalise or enjoy sach intimacy with her. Her smiled and trased, "If we keep acting like this, it feels like we''re actually a couple "


    for fun sake, should I keep my distance front him!


    Zave''stone was casual, but his expression was unusually so, how do you n topensate me?"


    Fodraliuwer Instead, I asked, "What kind ofpensation do you want?


    Hus dark epen surged with emotion as he said, "If I''m still single in a few years, then you marry me and be my wife. then aluck andurared,


    But dda''t you say you had no ns in find a girlfriend in the near future?


    endorsing bellion-dor deals, Candeveemed as uneasy as he did now, He met dan gaze. "Tra"


    1 hesitated and asked, "You want me to malny jou?"


    Zane dada 1 dny it. His heat early leaped out of his chestN?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Ithought seriously about his request.

 Chapter 343

    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 headed himsell on had lost their effect. He could only wait for my answer.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    I thought for a long time before 1 said, "I you rally consider marrying me, then no matter how outstanding the women around you are in the next few years, you can''t be moved.


    *You meat choose me, unwaveringly. I don''t want a man I treat like a husband to beating with other women. Can you ept that?"


    Zane replied with unprecedented seriousness "Of course I can."


    1 didn''t respond. -


    Then, he continued, "I''ve been single up


    p 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 line with anyone as well." In his heart, Zane quietly added. "Except for Anou"


    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 it didn''t work out? Would we part ways, then?


    Thadalways 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, "Suce."


    In fact, he regretted how he phased his request. Had he low, he would have given a more definite timeline. That way, he would have known exactly when I would be his wife.


    I watched him smille happily and then looked away. Only recently did male that telling him it was a take rtionship wasn''t much different from being in a real one.


    We held, hugged and kissed. We had done everything couples da


    He 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. ", are we really a couple now!"


    I didn''t deny it. "Hmm"


    tentatively asked, "scaneanse my boyflend''s privileges?


    Iughed and said, "of course.


    Zane gently cupped my Lace in his Lange hands. His eyes seemed to hold only me in them. "Your face is so small


    Al that moment, he looked incredibly affectionate.


    I tiled and replied. "Really"


    As soon as my words fell, Zane ked me. It was a fleeting loud, just a light brush of his lips before pulling away


    Then bssed my cheek, my toebead Finally, he hugged me, rettanto let


    In was knodbly swell


    When I had spent time with him before, experiencing his care and attention, I knew he would make a very considerate husband Tensually said, "I really didn''t expert you to be like this when you''re in love."


    Zane was eager to know my response. "Oh!"


    gently unked his check. "You''re not cold and distant but rather very clingy


    Zane buried his face in my shoulder. "Do you not


    "hot at all," I said, Ineling surprisingly happy. His affection made me feel needed. "But aren''t you very busy with work? Go Go ahead and work first."

 Chapter 344

    Tane just couldn''t bear to let go. "I want to stay with you a little longen."


    Haughed and replied, "But I''m right here. I''m not going anywhere. Zane, you still need to make money andcare for Willow. What will your inany employees do if you get lost in love and stop paying attention to thepany? Inally, Zane velictantly let go of me. But before returning to his desk, he pulled me into his arms do another deep ki


    After he left, 1 looked at theputer screen. I knew how to plowed with the next part of the daing news,


    Then on. I focused on sketching the thes


    Once I finished, I tuned around I was surprised to find Zane sequely watching we, and i walked over to him, "Don''t you feel like working right now?- "I''ve finished today''s tasks," he replied.


    day together. How does that sound?"


    Perhaps it was because we had just confusedou stionship, bot standing across from me, Zane felt like the distance between us was too great He grabbed may waist and pulled me into his embrace. you should make time to be with me too. Let''s consider it a celebration of our first d How hadi never noticed beloce that he was someone who valued couple inations?


    Though I found in a hole amusing, I decided to indulge him. "Ok"


    Zane was thrilled and beaned in to kiss me again


    "Dek" The once door was pushed open, and Zane''s Lace tuned ahen.


    He stinctively pulled me into his arms to shield me from being seen "Temember to knock next time when youe in."


    Sacha was surprised, asking is this what it''s like in the office with you two, just begging and cuddling?


    Was this how couples behave nowadays? Honestly, she felt a bit envious!


    When I heard Sasha''s voce, I quickly stood up.


    hes, she grabbed my hand and led me to the couch, earnestly saying "A wihan must love herself. Don''t let a man sweet talk you and then allow him to kiss and hug you surprised. "How do you know so much about love?


    wered immediately. "It''s simple. I''m jealous of you. I just made it up to try and get you to keep your distance."


    dien day on by arms. "But if I''m the one being intimate with you, then forget everything I just said."


    ca 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


    I definitely remembered "What kind of trouble has he caused this time?


    aha ipaka with apparent disdain. "He realized that offering to arrange a marriage didn''t work, so now he Inuows bow to judge whether a project in problematicN?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    (rmending new projects to my dad Ever sin


    Ever since my dad talked with Zan


    Zane, he


    "This time, he kept an eye and specifically looked at the project that the jerk contended to my dad. It turns out that very one of them had issues "My dad injected him that are right, and he didn''t forget to call me afterward, reminding me to stay far away from men like that! 1 agreed with Sasha''s father. Thus true. He says he likes you, but he won''t even pursue you p Sansha nodded in agreement. "Torty. He''s hoping to bankrupt my family''spany. That way, I''ll have no choice but to marry him."


    properly Instead, he resorts to such despicable methods. It''s really disgusting"


    un couldn''t understand how he could be so selfish. What would happen after she married him? Would be even treat her well? Basha wasn''t no mull?


    though that once 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


    told of her.

 Chapter 345

    At that time, sada suild he no way to fight back without her parents to back her up, or with any real abilities of bey on the would have to be the man''s house in digerare and bod


    The noir Sasha thright


    e she thought of the off


    the cospriation," Zane rabinly reminded "Theandbe alunwantedtoodfer you father the project in Maritaiitor."


    Kasha locked at Zane wasily. "Veupe not getting back at me for interrupting you moment with /


    Her dad hadaliraly sandthey riskida''t take on a single project Vet, Zane was offering an opposing view.


    "If you don''t trust me, then farget it," Zaur replied, unintere


    Seeing that he was serious, Sasha continued, "My dad said that


    of allibers. Becating it wondde''t be a probdson if our family was particrly wealthy


    hat 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, "Til take over and pastors up to secar this project if they pullout their investment. What she you Sasha looked confused "hs that trally possible?"


    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 the family could make it they socuted this project. How theirpany''s scale would jump several levels too Then, beither would tegetfully say that th family didn''t possessenough capatilities to make it happen.


    After thinking it ever, Sasha decided to my help her father out. "Then, I''ll call Bat and have hime over to discuss this cooperation with you in detail. Is that alright?


    Sasha inmediately took out her phone. "Bad, do you have time right? Zane tall to you about a cooperation


    Without hesitation, her father implied, "Yes, of course!"


    He fruttiedly added. The their right away."


    Sasha listened to the p


    (phone''s beeping sound, then leaned again the soda. "I really lupe Dadran mene soon.


    Sasha''s father, Dous, arrivedatpany 20 minutester.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    When he entered, he saw Analne in the oiler cubicle and warily asked, "Aren''t you poing to and then away?"


    Zane calmly replied, "One in your daughter, and the other is try geld lend Both are very frantwortly."


    Only then did Dousrx.


    Sastia stared at Dous, feeling vousually


    Dous took his time to discuss the project''s specific details with Zane Alter listening, Zase pointed out the boss with the project and proposed solutions.


    Thest time Dous interacted with Zane was when Zane had taught him how to augs wheller a project was problematic. This time, after a more detalled discussion, he realized that Zate wasn''t your airage Diy How could he consider every detail so thoroughly


    Dous had been in business for many years but could never grach Zane''s level. "Tow what I need to do now."


    "Alright." Zane repleduirinly. "Cant.


    "Mm." Dous waved to Sadhu "Conie, walk me dowuutalju."


    the elevator, Dous said, "The fact that Msham''s into your friend means she m

 Chapter 346

    Dous had felt sorry for Superiorly.


    She tried humbling herself and worked hard to chase after Zane. Yet Zane remained unmoved.


    After discussing the project with Zane today, heddenly realized Zane was someone Sasha would never be able to handle,


    Sasha Hired her chin, looking Incredibly proud. "Ofense Why would I choose her to be my good friend when I could have so many others?"Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    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 awkwardychackled. She wanted to tell her father that her judgment had never been good!


    She considered Annalise aantic tival in the beginning


    Sasha narrowed her eyes. The friends she had picked were all bad cholers hat 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."


    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 lett


    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 pul


    "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 fores your dad into apromise, they''ll definitely say yes. Then your dad will


    about the previous investments. They''ll most likely consider it a loss."


    1st sideways, watching Sasha across from me. "At this point, your dad can bring in Zane''s investment."


    understood. "So, if ites to that, does that mean the previous investments were basically a steal for us?


    Toodded. "That''s what''s likely to happen, but are will probably teach thema Tesson, 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 i


    I chuckled. "In business, making too many enemies is never a good thing something terrible happens to the Huxham Corporation in the future, people will take the chance to bring them down. So, it''s better at to go too far in most casei"


    Sasha mumbled softly. "Burleye going too far,"


    Darefully chose my words. "If hurting them once could cause theirpany to copse, maybe we could do in your way. But in reality, even if we take their money, it wouldn''t have a big Sacha said reluctantly, "Tion "


    It seemed her family was just too weak. The other party wouldn''t date to scheme against her family like this if they were more powerful.


    Sasha suddenly seemed to think of something and looked at Za "just ealized he''s quite cunning, isn''t he?"


    dar Tripletugh. "What made you anddenly realize this?"*


    Sasha turned to me and said, "I was just casually wing about that man pressuring manage 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 gare.


    Satha keenly sensed his disdain and became even more puzzled. Had she done something wrong?


    "You''re nning to start a gamingpany, aren''t you? 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. "Lean work here for the rest of my life, right?"


    I couldn''t make decisions for Zane since I was also an employee under him. Hooked 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 toug spot when she''s forced to take ever with no experience as her father gets older." 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 o option." Sasha immediately perked up "Oh?"


    "ce 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!"


    Zane didn''t expect her to be swayed easily. Then try to persuade your dad


    Sasha hesitated. "Forget it. My dad would kill me,


    s built thepany himself, and he took it very seriously


    a continued, feeling wronged, "I just make more effort while I''m young "


    She stood up, said goodbye to us, and gloomily left the office


    H


    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


    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 uw everything he did, I could appreciate is good intentions.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    Zane un down and casually pulled into his arm "I was worried you wouldn''t understand me just now."


    I found afortable position and luned against him. "Don''t worry. Fran ept it as long as it''s for our good


    Zane gazed at me quietly as I looked into his eyes.


    For the pegson, there was a bit of tension in the air. My heartbeat uncolly quickened


    Zane slowly brushed his lips against mine I closed my eyes, enjoying the kiss


    As we were both iminised in the kiss, the office door was suddenly pushed open

 Chapter 348

    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.


    Timleymddenly had a bad feeling. She pretended she hadn''t seen anything and took a few steps back.


    Iward the sound and quickly pushed Zane away. "Someone''s here."


    Zane looked a little regretful but still raised his eyes to look at Tingloy, who was about to close the door. "Come in." Tinsley awkwardly stood in front of his desk. "Zane."


    me sat down nkly and 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 paze unconsciously softened with a smile. "Yeah, that''s her." Thasley was afraid I might hear her and lowered her voice, "She''s so beautiful


    semu so gentle. She''s more than enough for you."


    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?"


    sunsley 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."


    Tinley was conded "Hmm?"


    ""You should focus an


    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.


    Tindley immediately understood what Zase meant and began categorizing the other small protams while outlining her approach to handing them. Zane apred. That''s about right.


    understand now!" Tinsley happily stood up. "Thank y


    you, Zane! -


    "If I have any questions in the future, can Ie to you for help?"


    Tinsley felt a bit unwary asking this, he 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 pulty toward Zone. She had been avoiding in 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 mer


    To him, she was still his tes,


    She immediately felt much more at ease. "Great"C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    After Tinsley lett, Erie came in with a pile of I documents for Zane lohandle.

 Chapter 349

    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 En?"


    Zane stood up and took my hand. "Okay"


    behang sering our hand intertwinedN?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    I had been married to Steven for many years, and he had never gotten osed to holding my hander 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 ftivolnus


    BetZane 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 use this and hurt your image?"


    Za 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 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


    1 h a lot more at ease after realizing this


    We had barely been at the Indergarten for two minutes when Willow and Penelope came out, happily holding hands


    When Pope saw Bary, she jumped 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 an over to Penelope and Suzy to share the good news.


    Sary, 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 the, and it''Y be very annoying "I don''t know how to solve this problem


    Ease 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?


    Sury 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, rightTM


    Zane agreed with her reasoning and quickly added, "I had promised to help you lute''a hoyguard, but I''ve been too busytely and forgot about it.


    "Since you''re with us today, 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,


    Tour Sury''s dry, the bodyguard had to have good character. After job


    dring i Zane realized that Howard, the family''s martial arts coach, would be the most suitable person for the


    remembered something and added, "You probably just need him to drive you to work and bring you home in the evening, right?**


    ite suddenly am


    Suryodded


    I you have any other needs, feel free to mention them," Zane said calmly. "It Howard''s schedule doesn''t allow it, we can look for another bodyguard" Suzy had interacted with Howard before and felt he was a


    as a good tit. "Let''s go with him."


    Zane responded, "Alright"


    en the basics, and once everything was finished, I led Suzy and the two kid back to the living room.


    Qure they got home, Howard, as usual, led the family in training. Afterward, he went over Zane aked Howard, "He is your family''s health now?"

 Chapter 361

    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?"N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    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.


    swn


    "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."


    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.


    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 too muovel.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?N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    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?"


    "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


    know your ce. If you really piss me off, I''m afraid you and Steven won''t have it easy either."


    ...


    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 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.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    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 someone intentionally ndering Annalise. Many people are criticizing her."

 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 ofN?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    approval as he said, "Anna, with your


    mindset, no matter what you do or


    what career you pursue, you will


    always seed."


    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


    ...


    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.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    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.


    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 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.


    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.C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    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


    ent belongs


    them 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.kikiston


    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."N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    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.


    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.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    "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 ad added on the dining table,


    father


    then 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. he''s


    Once


    swot 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.


    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.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    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


    d pretended like nothing bet


    PS Then, he calmly walked


    ahead.  walked


    tono


    "We did it!" After Zane entered the elevator, Sasha emerged and happily high-fived Madeline.


    Madeline couldn''t hide her pride either. "Yay!"


    theet


    Sasha lifted her chin, looking like a proud swan. "From now on, all the unpleasantness between Zane and me will be erased!" Content Belongs to


    Madeline quickly asked, "You know Mr. Huxham?"


    MS


    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."


    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." N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    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?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 371

    However, bis meidest terre cubile. They muddy''t


    ''I stoppedshat I was doing and walledup du?ane. "Tremender hearing you talk to your secretary about it. This project


    texined. "maturghi the''s too litle in the game departiment. Nie


    1. c) do her job property, jest grossiping all day.


    -111 absch find her abonder departiment to mock in, she might leave without having learned anything


    Hispado medijs


    skiet, epting the exnation. Okay, 1 po


    Cane vedly withd me his patratiei denalise sat down at the partiliom.


    I managed to make Annalise eat spicy food it prevented Zane from being able to kiss Annalise


    est time they had a meal together, Sasha would definitely rmeat something even spleier to Annallur,


    continued, would be even get to kiss Annalise ampumour).


    Zane winddidn''t let anyone zoblim of his intimate motornis with


    ? stood up and said to me, "Anna, I have to grout for a partnership dhcussion. Do you want toe with me?" "No"farfused decisively. "That''s work-rted for you. I don''t want is tag along. You go ahead."


    Zane smiled "Dley.


    Sasha and Madeline happily went to the new departiment.


    When they opened the door and looked inside, they saw that everyone was busy. Even the neers who had arrived couldn''t spare a nce. The department head approached them with a smile. "Are you two the new hires Mr. Huxham arranged for us?


    Madeline said Braightforwardly,


    The department headhu jedly pushed the two of them toward the office, "Don''t just stand there. Hurry up and help them."


    dha still preferred the working environment of her old department. "Hold on a minute. Let me pack up my things. I''lle to help you alter."


    The department head cheerfully said, "Don''t worry about that ''eady marke arraggements. They''ll pack your things and send them over for you.


    Kach of his words felt like a death sentence to Sasha. Her face turned pale as she reluctantly said, "Nol"


    Only then did she suddenly realize Zane must have figured out Sasha and Madeline were in calpots the must also know that making Annalise eat spicy food was the scheme! Bot Zane was so running. He pretended not to know and even arranged the new work for them with a casual attitude.


    He was trying to perent them from bing suspicious andrefusing his arrangementC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    By the time they realized it was already toote!


    That dans Zane m!


    Sasha nearly bearst autolears. Thate you!"


    Madeline looked utterly conded, "Why are so upset? You can always work overt


    fit gets too busy, and you''ll earn more, Isn''t that a win?

 Chapter 372

    (an ordinary employer.


    This was indeed an excellent opportunity for an op


    But Sasha wasn''t sheit en money, though the didn''t dare ahnit ?L


    Ther face was streaked with teams aishevaid, "Digest"


    Madeline seemed even more confused. "Then who are you crying!


    "I''m the fled "Sasha''s inner sadness had alteady boken fire. "Next month''s sry will definitely be a lot!TM


    Madeline''s eyes immediately lit up. "That''s right!"


    Zane had just left the office.


    Hiding not far away, Yvonne immediately called Jessica "Zane''s gone out"


    She quickly added. "Annalise is not with him this time."


    "okay. "Jessica was waiting nearby. "Thead over now."


    Jessica added. "By the way, you should hurry downstairs, to Find a good angle to take a picture of me and him. Make it look like we''re in an ambiguous position, and make sure to Annalise when you head back." Yvonne smiled happily. "No problem."


    > hung up the phone and quiddy pressed the down button. The elevator doors opened, and she stepped in.


    When the elevator reached the first flood, she got out and saw Zane''s car parked at the garage entrance, with Jessica standing in front of it.


    Yvonne immedalehrave and hid at an angle where Zane couldn''t see her. Then she took pictures with her phone


    Zanesat in the back seat, his eyes filled with disgust as he looked at the pregnant jessica


    Yesterday, she tried to m


    Zane dosed his na


    create trouble for Annalise online. And today, she shoved up at thepany again? Was she nning to upset Annalise once more? Although Annalise didn''t want his help, she was constantly being bothered by people like Jessica. It must be really annoying for her.


    He needed to think of a way to put an end to this once and for all


    Jessica had nned to rush out as soon as the car left the underground parking lot, pretending to be hit by the vehicle before it touched her.


    Then she would fall to the ground and wait for Zane to take her to the hospital


    Once there, she would use him of hitting a pregnant woman and demand that lie talresponsibility, or else she would post it online.


    At that point, Zane''spany''s stock would surely drop. Even if Zane were unwilling, he would have to take care other every day at the hospital Their rtionship would naturally grow with each passing day through constant contact. Jessica had it all nned out


    But she never expected that theiver would suddenly m on the brakes!


    Her n was instantly ruined.


    Jessica didn''t want to this such a good opportunity to get close to Zane. She collected herself and knocked on the car window


    Zolled down the window, curious about what kind of trouble Jessica was nning this time


    Jessica went straight to the point. "I want to talk to you about Annalise."C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Zane coldly replied, "If I want to know something, I cher directly. You don''t need to ry anything to me."


    He calmly asked, "Is there anything else?"


    "I know you love analise." Jessica printed her teeth as she spoke. The more Zane protected Annalise, the more she hated her. Why should a woman who couldn''t even keep her


    husband be treated so indulgently by someone else?


    She sheeted. "Andyou trust her sonnach. You don''t have to listen to me. You can keep being deceived by his for the rest of your life. "But can you guarantee that when you finally know the truth......." Chap


    Thom. "Deen il pescadon, 1 minut, you can hear me out at least. Altes you know the truth aubare sine you don''t care,


    ded to see boi homselt te motioned for the chiver toopen the passenger dau. "Viet in "

 Chapter 373

    Has Zane. However, she noticed how determined he was to keep his distance fresher and decreetly had the unease in face.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "TW you know how well desigoctive Mutalise was before she pet together with you??


    poohating this. Was that all bessica hal".


    ely dated ona besti fend, and they ended up getting mantled


    because her ex-husband cheated. How is a woman like that considetesdaeli-destinctive?


    Zane''s collgare


    i cold gare inadvertently fell on hey, his toneced with mockery. "Then what does that make you?"


    ispeechless, her expression tuning more impleasant.


    wils to be so intuiting She wanted to snap back at him, but she held back, is order to achieve her pul essandasked, "Detour you defend her, do you know how she lost the child she was caut


    knew that Jessica intended to smear Musalise with this topic:


    as alread aware, he didn''t amirovi Jessica Instead, he asked, "01""


    Jessica smiled, bei mood bring as she imagined Zane''s imminent anger toward analise because of her woods.


    e she was self-destructive. She cheated with my husband while mantied, had an affair with him, and that''s what causethet miscarriagels Jessica eagerly wanted Zane to be furious, thisking Annalise was such a disgrace. She expected him to pick up the phone and question Annalise, However, Zanie wasn''t as fed up as she anticipated


    Instead, be remained asposed as ever, his face still gold and expressalen."


    "First of all, you''ve already deconced the so-called husband you mentioned, 50, it shouldbe nedented inas


    diet cloudy, "Just because you seduced someone and became a mistress


    can you can''t deliberately alter your ex-husband''s rtionship history and minnar Annalise,


    "By doing so, you'' e implying that she''s like you, a woman who seduces other prople''s husbands. "Secondly, the time she miscaribed was before she had am tions with you ex-husband


    Although Zane didn''t know exactly what had happened that day, he was sure that Annalise was emotionally devastated, having just lost her child it was highly unlikely she had the mood to sleep with Jessica''s ex-husband


    Therefore, Zane could reasonably deduce that this was something that Jessica and Steven had schemed together


    He added, "Also, when she fell down the


    e stairs, it was me who took her to the hospital."


    Lane made it clear that he kwall about what had happened.


    there was no need for Jessica to lie, because he would e


    Jessica dich I''t understand his hint. "The baby was saved because you got her to the hospital in time! But she lost the baby when she messed around with my ex-husband!"


    ine snerted and asked. "Dol look like an idiot to you? How could the baby have survived after falling from such a bright?"

 Chapter 374

    "Why don''t you try it then? If your child is still alive after that, then I''ll believe what you say," Zane sneered


    After that, he said coldly, "Stop the car!"


    The driver pulled the car over to the side.


    Zane said with disdain, "It''s time for you to get out."


    Jessica was very tctant, but she could feel her attempt to provoke had failed.


    She got out of the car, dejected.


    The diver closed the door behind her, then stepped on the gas and drove away.


    Zane turned to look out the window. He had initially thought jessica''s tactics were sophisticated. But in the end, it was nothing impressive.


    Ye Steven was still willing to believe her words. What did that mean?


    Indant Steven was a fool who didn''t love Annalise. It seemed he had overestimated Steven after all.


    Zane scoffed, hiding the disgust in his eyes.


    Jessica stood still as she watched the car drive away.


    Weren''t all men concerned about whether their women we


    were pure or not? Why was Zane different?


    She had told him that Annalise cheated during her marriage, yet Zane seemedpletely unmoved.


    Jessica thought to herself, still convinced that what she had said was valid.


    She bit her lip.


    It seemed that what Zane cared about wasn''t what she had said.


    So, she would need to change her approach next time,


    Yvonne stood in front of the office, admiring the photos she had taken,


    Although the two were simply making eye contact, she had managed to capture it in a way that made it seem like they were fated to be entangled.


    If she showed these photos to a stranger, they would probably believe they were a couple from the start


    Yvonne knocked on the office door.


    I heard the sound and said without looking up, "Zane isn''t here."N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    "I''m here to see you, Yvonne said as she pushed open the office door and walked over to me. "Someone just sent me a set of photos, and I want you to take a look," I stopped my work and looked at Yvonne. She had clearly told me before that she was Jessica''s good friend. Yet now she was suddenly sharing photos with me?


    I couldn''t help but feel like she had ulterior motives.

 Chapter 375

    I said without a second thought, "Sorry, I''m not interested in your photos."


    However, Yvonne ced her phone directly before me. "Look, don''t Zane and Jessica look like a couple?


    "Jessica really is charming to be able to win over Zane so easily. But you....


    Yvonne mocked with disdain, "Why isn''t there anything about you that makes others like you?


    "When Soeven was your husband, Jessica easily took him away. Your son even happily calls her "Mommy Jessie''."


    "Now, just when you finally find a good boyfriend. Yvonne clicked her tongue. "She''s managed to attract him again."


    "Is that so I replied nonchntly. "ording to what you''re saying, she''s already sessfully gotten with Zane. Should I call Steven right now and let him know?" Yvonne''s expression froze.


    oh we like Zabe as her backing, she should''t need to rely on Steven''s money anymore,


    vonne tukid to grab my phone. "Tynor of your businead"


    cvost''ve noting in proot enough that Zane and jessica''s rtionship isn''t as probas you think


    I moulds 1. have to step in. Jessica Would have aleach boken up with steven heusell.


    Tonne finally realized that I had probably never believedbei. "When didvon figure it out?


    uldn''t be vwaneed by her little ticks. "You''re dying this because you want to provoke me and make me misunderstand Zane, right? In your n, am I supposed


    hesretically questioning him about why he betrayed me and chose Jessica/


    idea caused me back then?


    i done anything wrong, but if I suddenly questions him like that, he''s definitely going to be repulsed


    But, no matter how good the rtionship is cracks will start to form over time. As we grow farther apart."


    the the opportunity and take advantage of the situation."


    ''stace tuned pale. "You''ve just making exce! Annalise, forget the photos, Even if i showed you a video of them kissing, you still wouldn''t believe it. Because Zane is already the best


    you have ess to. You have to keep him. Soeven if he really cheated, you''d pretend not to see in "


    nis gather amusing. "you want me to beheve what you''re saving, it''s simple"


    propped my cheek with one hand and deed down my speech. "As long as you''re willing to repeat everything you just said in front of Zane."


    Ang to what you said. "Desibed cheerfully. The person he likes now is Jessica. Then you can speak up for him and tell him to get rid of me, the woman bothering him. He''d be


    pro wide: "you be too scared to do that, it only means I''m right."


    would very Baby lose her job. But if the dicht, her scheme would fail


    In the end.


    pression shifted rapidly.


    ked at me with a face full of frustration, saying, "I''m doing this to your own good, and you still don''t believe me. Once those two go public, don''te crying to me!" Sheer chi proudly and left with an air of superiority. Dous had arrived early at the hotel entrance. He stood at the door,miling as he waited.


    When he saw Zane''s car pull up, the quickly greeted him. "Mr. Hunham."


    Line nodded. "Mm.


    Dous took the initiative to shake Zane''s hand and then said, "The pricate room is ready. Let''s go inside and discuss."


    The private coom was on the third floor, and the food was already served.


    Dous handed Zane aN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    from


    briefcase "Here''s the partnership proposal you asked for."


    Zane took it, nced at it, and signed his name after confirming there were no issues.


    He said indifferently. "Once people see you''ve partnered with me, they will be curious..."


    After all, Husham Corporation held a significant position in the industry. Almost everypany wanted to be associated with them, but very few seeded Zane added mysteriously, "So just how exactly did you manage to do it?"

 Chapter 376

    Le motracted. "When they ask you, you must tell them that your daughter once patsord me.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "But treath dikke her Intact Leven canceled seves all projects with your family because of her


    Dvo thoughthill asked, "sols saving this others will lower the prand


    "Track"Zane exined stent. Those who are more priceptive might even ink I''ve tralized the partnership proposal is wed.


    "They would think I knew yourpany was going to copse and wanted to take advantage of this epportunity to seize yourpany''s assets.


    1. ts. I''m pretending to bury the hatchet..."


    Tane contmoed calmly. "And steing an olive bunch


    "They won''t suspect that we''ve already formed a deeper partnership behind the scenes.


    salle de think of everything"


    e didn''t want to waste time en polite formalities. "Mr. Weston, there''s no need for us to be sa courteous


    Hallo, once you get back, follow the n and carry out the projects you have. Once the other party confirms the withdrawal of funds, you can pass it on to me.


    Understood." Dous responded serioedy, knowing that thepany''s future depended on this. "I''ll follow your instructions thoroughly."


    I finished today''s plot and checked everything again, making sure the line act and coloring were perfect before I took a beak and turned off theputer. Hearing someone call my name, I instinctively looked up. "What''s up? sasha rushed to ie, crying. The new department is too busy! It''s been two hours since I got there, and I''ve been so busy I didn''t even have time to go to the bathroom!"


    hugged im waist and buried her face in my shoulder. "I''m going crazy! The only reason I can swak out now is because I say I''m going to buy something."


    solidn''t imagine what she would be if she stayed in this department until the project ended.


    andforted her," can see you''ve been really pushing yourself."


    sha prumbled, "is vicious!"


    He set such a big trap for her And she had naively thought Zane was doing it for her good.


    "Have you learned anything?" I asked with a smile


    "Yes" Sasha said wealdy. "Bureausted I don''t want to do anything now. I just want to return to the old department and ck off."


    understood that the sudden worldad increase was hard for Sasha to adjust ta


    ink about your father," I reminded her


    Sasha remained silent for a long time before looking up at me. "What if I find a man to marry into the family and have him take over my father''spany? Then I could just continue to After thinking it over, she te might not be a bad idea. At least sh I wouldn''t have that much pressure.


    1 caressed ber hair and said, "Let''s not do that. What it the man bes the actual controlling shareholder of yourpany and then kicks you out?


    "Wouldn''t you end up with nothing?"


    Sasha''s hopes were shattered, and she became somewhat discouraged. "Then just work properly."


    Just then, someone locked on the door.


    Irally said, "Come in "


    "Helo, I''d like to ask if Sacha is here?"


    Sashashly stood up and uld, "Tremy project manager. I''ll head back to work


    Timiled and said, "Go ahead"


    Satha forced a smile and quickly ran up the manager. "I''ming!"

 Chapter 377

    the detour head hate t


    Bang ietvated the coppidum iswabbathaschi and kissed my lig


    have me at call. That way why he could''t be babereltway sweet things to me


    never just showed me plei?ties of you sitting in the con talking ta jessica, and at the vul, you even let hert


    ve saving you isonges love me and that you''ve tallentes jessica by while you still have time, you should exin to me what''s really poligon came was shox lord, He had just met with besska, and someone had taken a picture at that they then bomediately brought the photos to diusalis.


    sherabond that he had alreach talleu into her trap hom the moment he met with fession.


    It seemed that levska was much more syning than he thought


    Zane exined?aludy. "She said you''ve been hiding things thomine, I shady''t intend to loten, bit then she said that definitely be affected. -C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    sted to see what kind of snowy she make up to cause trouble bus, sollet hes into the cas"


    I started to be mose interested as listened "so, what way?


    lichey kim the finth andter found out, ont rtionship


    1 ny to hide his decantos bessica "She said that when you tell how the stairs, it dich impact the baby punchi.


    vas when you hidot act carefully afterward and hatan affair with her ex-husband that''s what caused the subscge


    was afraid that I might misunderstand ash think he believed fessica. He quickly grabbed my hand and asked, "But I know who you are. Even if what she said was true, they definitely Zane''s unconditional must gradually softened the coldness in my beat.


    eves, since this mattes had alreadye to Zame''s attention, Helt I should exin it properly..


    "That day, I was at home cleaning things up when they suddenly came back antzidli that Zachary hadbeen kichapped. They told me that I had to sleep with Casper for him to release "At that point, I had already given up on Steven and Zachary, so there was no wayge to their conditions


    "Bat I don''t know what kind of song they sprayed on me, and I passedout immediately


    "When I woke up, I 1 found myself in Casper''s


    I''s house. You know that Casper''s family mell to be very wealthy. At that moment, it urred to me that he was being groomed as an helt


    "At the instant he was about toy hands on me, I told him that he could make aeback on his own through hard work"


    "He''s very proud man." I took a deep breath. "That''s why he stoppeddamElet me leave."


    - Zane suddenly huggedime. "Youueally went through a lot of suffering being with Steven''

 Chapter 378

    Fin


    Jessica and Steven were clearly in the wrong, but they made it seem like Annalise was the one at fault.


    In fact, they both came to him toin.


    The coldness on Zane''s face was hard to conceal


    I noticed something was off with Zane''s mood, so I changed the subject. "But as one of the main culprits, Jessica dared toe to you and spread rumors?"


    Zane''s voice softened as he said, "I told her that when you had the ident, it was me who took you to the hospital.


    "She even said that the baby could still be saved after falling down the stairs. It''s a miracle. But I didn''t believe it.


    "If she wants to prove she''s right, then she should fall down the stairs and show me."


    His voice held a trace of harshness.


    After thinking for a moment, I decided to tell him my thoughts. "Jessica''s baby must be kept."


    7a1-didn''t understand. "Why? Didn''t she cause you to lose yours? Don''t you want to take revenge for your child?"


    I answered seriously. "It''s precisely because I want to take revenge for my child. That''s why her child must be born.


    Zane, this child is the best tool for me to take revenge on Jessica and Steven"


    Zane keenly caught on to something "Is there something wrong with the child? Could it be?"


    He then guessed it on his own. "The child isn''t Steven''s?"


    "You''re smart," I said, taking out my phone and showing him the evidence I had captured


    Zane looked at me, a bit surprised. "I always thought that you didn''t want to deal with them because you had a good temper and didn''t want to get into conflicts. "But it turns out you''ve been nning this for a long time ago?This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Tanswered naturally, "Yes. On the day their child is born, I''ll be sending them a big gift


    "Revealing how Jessica caused my miscarriage... How she spread rumors about me and more


    "I''ve kept records of everything. When the timees, I''ll send it all out at once. And then, it''ll be their turn to be unhappy"


    I looked at Zane


    Zane gently rubbed my hand with his thumb. "If you need any help, just ask"


    "Okay." I didn''t refuse. "You''re my boyfriend, so I won''t be too polite with you"


    Zane finally smiled with satisfaction, but he didn''t let his guard down. He continued. "Recently, it seems like Jessica has been trying to destroy our rtionship."


    I bluntly stated Jessica''s true intentions, "She thinks you''re wealthier and more generous than Steven, so the wants to dump him and be with you.


    "Plus, I''m your girlfriend. She sees my presence and naturally thinks that since she was able to steal Steven from me, she can steal you as well."


    Zane lowered his gaze. "She''ll definitely resort to any means necessary to achieve her goal


    "Anna, we must be cautious of her. Otherwise, if one day we have a disagreement.....


    "She''ll definitely try to intervene. At that point, het n might seed."


    Lasked, "So what should we do?"


    "It''s simple." Zane gently caressed my cheek. "When problems arise in our rtionship, we shouldn''t focus on doubting each other but on how to resolve the issue. "And we mustmunicate with each other in time. This is the easiest and least hurtful way to handle things."


    It was then I suddenly realized just how different Zane was from Steven.


    Steven never thought aboutmunication.

 Chapter 379

    Whenever there was a conflict, Steven would just use the silent treatment on me, no matter whose fault it was.


    In the end, I would always be the one to apologize first.


    Over time, Factually forgot what regr, healthy interactions between people looked like,


    When Zane said this, I suddenly realized that for two people to live a good life together, they needed to be united in solving problems.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    I smiled and said, "I''ll remember that."

 Chapter 380

    "Then, I''ll go to the meeting list Zane asked zctantly.


    "Work is important "I looked into Zane''s eyes. "Goahead".


    Zane lett with reluctance.


    With my care


    rare free time, I opened thement section of my ount. I was shocked to find that there were still people trying to stir things up. probably jessica again.


    She had tried to ruin my reputation and failed. She tried to seduce Zane and failed.


    Jessica was probably very resentful, so after going home, she must have gotten angrier and angrier...


    hit with no ce to vent, she could only continue stirring trouble in myment section.


    Unfortunately, after her previous attempts at nder, my fans had likely confirmed that I had good character. So now, thements were mostly retuting her. Seeing this, I simply took screenshots to save the evidence. When Zane''s meeting ended, it was also time to pick up Willow


    As Zane and I arrived at the kindergarten, Willow had just finished school.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    She saw me and can straight toward me. "Mommy, Dadly, can Penelopee to out house and y? Is that okay?"


    Happy to see her malding friends, Zane said, "Of course. No problem"


    Willow happily ran to Penelope. "Sex, I told you my dad wouldn'' aetuse. My dad is the be


    Suzy also united. "Then should drive them?


    Back at home, the family followed Howard for training. Willow had already I


    It was Penelope and Suzy who were drenched in sweat from rahuustion.


    o this interize workout and didn''t think much of it.


    But Penelope, bring a child, recovered quickly. When she heard Willow say she was going upstairs to y with toys, Suzy slumped on the couch and tested for a long time


    She nced at the upstairs and then smiled. "After being disturbed by Liam for several days, In


    I asked, "With Howard around, did he still dare to cause trouble for you?


    nediately perked up and happily followed Willowupstairs


    remember the East time I had a peaceful day like today"


    "He wouldn''t dare," Sury said gleefully. "He''s just a bully who pick on the weak and fears the strong. To him, I''m a woman with no strength, and I''m also raising a daughter. "He thinks I have no way to fight back. That''s why he always dares toe knocking without "But now, everything has changed. Penelope and I train with you every day


    Sury''s eyes were filled with emotion. "Every day, someone drives Penelope and me home. He backed out when he saw men stronger than him. So, I don''t have to worry as mu "Imao very relieved to see your lite getting better day by day," I said. Bury looked rxed "Same her "


    duke''s bake anything and reported everything bulbilly


    After hearing thai, 1 sat back down


    nhan breve. Mayte and keep mepany?


    Once she finished, Zane said, "Vice this project is duse, we can give you a few days off.


    Suzy didn''t refuse. Achei prestosispany, she was always adigunta new project alter fading r ponylons one, the hardly bel any time off thereglent the year


    copportunity Dons, she wanted to spend


    unne finished docking the work matters with lies and budt ine, saying


    Iild tell that buty was indeed very capable...


    ne exnted. "I the propert she''s handling w


    The examples


    ople, but the miten matim behind it walYAN


    summarized it at steps, but to make on to the next requires a lot i


    Kudy was a little endartased "Mr. Thisham is exaggerating"


    bot Zane daci think so. "It''s because she''s way capalde. Many conjun


    third step by today. But she''s already at the sixth step


    iris she was at her previapany, ther was in high demand!


    "Il outpany hadic It kept such a close eyeom her, she woski''t have pointles


    ked at Nury and asked, "Hastle C100 of you prevkaispany crestactel you recently?"


    Thatpany''s business should have been gically affected after she left.


    Even if the new president was a food, they shuktalill be alde bojealize that the pain ab


    Just then, they world definitely try to find a way to get Suzy back


    She tokfeine about this and was u


    "Tay probably think ing laien


    that I''ve left thelppany, in otherpany woddy


    (I was working for yourpany, and my sry was sever


    heuftri they pave her was outrageous. They said i should ji


    Soury ondy umalized tom unterlievably foolish by previouspany was alter leaving them. "I told the


    "Holdthens I also get amission percentage on top of that


    They


    by thont the benefits at Hiusham Caapmation


    eter low hard they trind, theybket cali


    y boulter me a sry tale, just saying I diaba''t kaum kom to appreciate them. They sabbilepany hovested so musli manpower and e


    Ben I l?ramik capable, i abanded them and went to something lelle."


    Suayughed, saying, "Larminded them that I left because thepany fed me, there''s nothing lot me in feel guilty alsnit "


    Zame speaker cabinly, "Lveis it they hadn''t kedyou, yenu aldities desejar letter featburti "

 Chapter 381

    They chic'' offers you a sry increase, so it was only right for you to leave," Zane said wisely.


    ery had always been local taber previouspans. Even though her abilities at exceeded her current sry, thepany was unwilling to give her a small raise Every vemmpany in the industry felt it was unfair and wanted to posch het. But Suzy had never intended to leave.


    What wasugh Ne, though, was that thepan actually fired bri


    Sun apred. "Yeah. They didn''t want to spend money, but they expected me to give up my high-paying job and go back to being their cheapbor


    Mocking meself to the bone, making money to buy them hussy homes and cans while I was living a miserable life


    dal portacon wouldn''t work, so they tried to Hackmail me misally."


    I took Sery''s hand. "At least you''ve jumped out of that it now."


    Suns smiled, her eyes full of enteniment. "Yes."


    Zachary didn''t tallow me to the vi today to secretly watch her be happy with someone else.


    The kept his promise to Rowena and came to her house.


    Rowena had been waiting at the door for a while.


    Zachary active, she stepped forward to greet him. "You must have been through a lot these days, right?""


    ?n the past few days, one had cared about Zachary. He thought it wasn''t a big deal-it was all minores. He could handle it.


    But someone qued about today, and for some reason, Zachary felt an overwhelming sadness.


    Trace streamed down, and he felt inexplicably hurt. He said through his sobs, "Grandma, it''s all Daddy''s fault!


    Why did behave to cheat? Why did he bring me to meet Jessica? Why did he talk badly about Momay and praise Jessica in front of me?


    "To jest a little load. What do I know?"


    Zamary cried harder, wiping his tears." he hadn''t done all that, Mommy and I would definitely be fine now: 1 hate him!"


    weta quickly wiped his tears andforted him. "He really is no good. I also know that Zachary has already realized his mistakes. You''re a good child who can admit when you''re wrong" Zachary kapt sobbing, "it''s toote, Grand Mory doesn''t want me anymore." cher..........." Bowena''s voice was full of concern.


    Zamary quiddy interrupted, afraid of bearing Rowe Annalise, "But this all


    all happened because I was too extreme at the time.


    "It''s for Mommy''s fault. Mommy was really good to me before that happened Rowenta looked at him with tenderness. "Your mother really loved you and your father back t


    "The gave everything for you both. But you and your father betrayed her."


    had always hoped Annalise and Steven would make up, but she just couldn''t stand beeing her own daughter treated so badly by him anymore. She had long dupproved of seven, but the traditional mindset of the older generation kept telling her that a woman shouldn''t leave a man.


    She was also afraid that Annalise''s life would be hard without a man to rely on, which was why she wanted her daughter to endure and i concile.


    Ben star beard her daughter had found an excellent job, she felt that the times really had changed.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    trulise could live well on brown. So, Rowena no longer wanted to force her daughter to do something she didn''t want


    Rowena gently rubbed Zachary''s little head and said, "She might just not be able to ept it all at once"


    Zachary nodded. "I know."


    She looked at him with cone and asked, "So, are you living with Steven and Jessica now!"

 Chapter 382

    Zachary hang his head and said gloomih. "No. After my parents divorced and Jessica sessfully took her ce, she stopped caring about me


    "Every time my dad wasn''t home, she would abuse me. Sometimes, my dad would even take her side. He''d be het aplice and allow her to bully me " Zachary forced a smile. Later, I moved to Grandma Chloe''s house and lived with her for a while. But she loves the baby in Jessica''s belly more.


    "so, I moved out and started living on my own"


    Rowenthethroken, and she started to tear up "This Steven, does he have a problem with his brain? He threw his own son aside for the sake of a woman? Zachary added, "Yeah, now he doesn''t even give me money for living expenses."


    Howena quickly grabbed Zachary and led him to her bedroom "Grandma has money. Let me give you some"


    "None" Zachary rejected it immediately. "Before my mom and dad divorced, she saved up arge sum of money for me.


    "As long as I don''t fall into bad habits, this money will be enough for me to live a carefree life until I''m old"


    Rowena sighed. "Your mother tends to think things through carefully when faced with problems, and she abraps leaves room for contingencies. That''s a good quality of hers." Otherwise, she couldn''t even bear to think about how miserable Zachary''s life would be now. Zachary agreed. "Yes"


    Rowena continued, "But it''s unsate for a child to live alone."


    "That''s not the case" Zachary quickly exined, afraid on would worry. "The family driver and the tutor live with me. They''re both really good to me, so you don''t need to worry about


    Rowena was still uneasy. "Do you need me to move in with y


    "Can you?" Zachary had always felt that it didn''t matter much when he was estranged from Steven and Chloe


    But with someone he loved living in the same space, he thought he wouldn''t feel so sad anymore.


    Seeing that hopeful look in his eyes, Rowena gently touched his forehead and smiled. "Of course I can."


    "That''s great!" Zachary bounced around in Joy


    Rowena felt a bittersweet sensation in her heart after seeing how even such a small piece of good news made him so happy.


    "How about 1 find an opportunity to ask your mom toe back and have a talk with you?" the suggested.


    Zachary''s smile froze. "No need Grandma, I don''t want her to feel ufortable.


    The two lile girls held remote control, maneuvering toy cars around the optym first, they asionally let out exmations like "Wow!" and "Oh!" in By the end, they were gizling non-stop. Once they got tired of the toy cars, they pulled out a toy ne from the sideThis text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    After turning it on and getting familiar with the control buttons, they watched as the apne flew into the air...


    Willow''s face was full of surprise as she eximed to Penelope, "Look, it really flew!"


    Penelope walked over and asked, "How does it do that?-


    Willow was stumped. Although she was the smartest child in her kindergarten, she had no idea how this worked. She turned to Penelope and asked, "should we go ask Dad?" Willow was worried the airne might break, so she waited until itnded, then carefully put it away.


    She ran downstairs. "Dadly,e here for a minute."


    Zane cooperated and followed them upstairs.


    Penelope and Willow simultaneously took out the airnes, and one after the other, they made the nes By


    Willow asked, "Tuddy, how does it fly?"


    Zane had never studied physics-rted subjects in college, so he couldn''t exin it in too much detail


    He smiled and said, ""1 you really want to know, I can invite a teacher tomorrow and ask the teacher to exin how airnes work?"


    Willow jumped up in joy. "Tut''s great! Thank you, Daddy! I love you!"


    Penelope was also excited" "Thank you, Mr. Husban!"

 Chapter 383

    Zane continued, "but tomorrow, the teacher will mostly cover more professional theoretical knowledge. You probably won''t understand it all yet." Willow was shunned "Huh?"


    Zane gently rubbed Willow''s head and said, "But as long as you''re willing to study hard, when you grow up and study the rted subjects, you''ll understand itpletely." A spark of enthusiasm lit up in Willow''s eyes. "Daddy, I''ll definitely study hard in the future!"


    Penelope nodded. "Me too!"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    "As long as you''re willing to learn," Zane said, somewhat surprised. He hadn''t expected something so small could inspire the two girls to love learning


    He was pleased. "Well, keep ying then "


    Mon and Dothy sat in the room full of toys, watching from a distance as Willow and Penelope yed.


    The exchanged a nce after heating Zane''s words. They couldn''t help but feel a wave of emotion


    betose moving here, they knew Zane loved Willow, but they hadn''t witnessed it firsthand. They had always felt a sense of unease inside.


    But after living here, they had seen Willow change from a quiet, reserved child into a more chatty one


    They both realized that Zane was truly dedicated to Willow Especially in their daily interactions, they could see that Zane treated Willow like his own. The two of them finally tease Sering


    the two little girls found the upstairs space to cramped and inconvenient for ying, they brought the airne downstairs.


    vhile, Zane and the other apanied them to the yard.


    Milton and Dorothy returned to their bedroom silently


    Dorothy took out a wooden box from the bookshelf and gently opened it, revealing the emerald bracelet inside.


    She gently stroked it, saying, "Milton, I''ve been thinking about this for a long time."


    Milton sat down across from her. "Ilmm?"


    "originally nned to leave this for our daughter."


    Dorothy still remembered before their daughter get married, she hade to her, pouting "Mom, this bracelet is so beautiful. I really like it. Can you give it to me when I get married?" She agreed Later, when their daughter got married, Dorothy wanted to give i


    ve the bracelet to her as a gift but her daughter refused,


    She said such an expensive bracelet might get damaged it taken out, so it would be better to leave it at home.


    At that time, Dorothy kept thinking she would find an opportunity to give the bracelet to her daughter.


    Unfortunately, her daughter passed away, and the bracelet was never given to her.


    Dorothy''s gaze was filled with deep affection. "It''s a pity our daughter didn''t have the fortune to receive it.


    "Willow is still young now. I''m afraid we won''t live to see the day she gets married. So I thought, maybe we should give this bracelet to Annalise."


    Milton was silent for a long time before he said, "I support your decision."


    The two of them reached ¨¤ consensus.

 Chapter 384

    Afterward, they walked to the living room holding the boo


    Sury had already left with Penelope.


    At this moment, Willow was in Annalle''s arms, acting spoiled, and Alise, with her usual temper, indulged her mischiet


    Dorothy handed the bottom, saying, "Here, this is for you"


    cand asked, "What''s inside?


    and sat "An emea acelet. Open it and see if you like it."


    1. 1.


    it aistinprimed the box. The emerald bacelet was clearly valuable.


    then closed the box" can''t ept such an expensive gift. How about giving it to Willow? After all, Willow is your daughter''s child" Dietate


    state and said. "But we''ve already decided."


    I


    2 veiled and said, "II you give it to me, then it''s mine. I can give it to whoever I want, and you won''t be able to control that."


    wand by


    Boch Miton and he were clearly surprised by my response and froze. They exchanged a look.


    sitron sighed and said, "Se you''ve decided, we won''t force you."


    * 1 handed the box to Willow. "This is a very expensive gift from your grandparents. You must keep it safe."


    frame and looked at me, then at the box before her


    His mund was saving with thoughts, and in the end, she handed it to Zane. "Daddy, please keep it for me."


    book, the b acelet and headed upstairs. T''ll put it in the safe."


    then at Milton and Docothy, and gave them a sweet smile. "Thank you, Grandpa, Grandma."


    dhon and Dovethy were both very pleased. "You''re wee.


    i hugged me and said, "Thank you, Mommy."


    *1 grinth patted her back. "Tr''ste. It''s time for a bath and then bed"


    weady gotten used to going to bed early. Upon hearing this, she quickly waved goodbye to Milton and Dorothy


    ach move sensible now, and she didn''t need me to apany her for many things anymore.


    washing up andy in bed, I told her a bedtime story. Afterward, she drifted into a deep sleep


    I stepped out of the bedroom. Zane was waiting at the door, "shall we chat on the balcony ?


    had more time to ourselves now, most of it was spent working in thepany. Both of us were busy with our jobs, and we rarely had time to talk. asleep and we had time, it was a good opportunity to chat


    1 smiled and said, "sure"


    Steven sat in the


    watching the two people on the balcony


    A few days ago, they were all over each other, but now, they simply held hunds. Somehow, to Steven, it felt like they had be even closer. Ive seemed different now.


    Betoce, whenever he wronged her, Annalise would always feel very ufortable, eager to exin herself.N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    it seemed like everything had changed.


    He had misunderstood Annalise and even wanted to call be to scold her, but to his disappointment, he couldn''t reach her at all


    When he finally managed to reach Zane, Zane cut him off directly, not giving him a chance to upset Annalise.


    Chabise''s days were probably very happy now. Because someone was protecting her.


    Steven''s heart ached terribly. He couldn''t understand why, even though he had already divorced Annalise


    adaliwady realized that the person he loved was Annalise


    Even though he had already regretted it


    He


    found himself angry and looking for ways to upset Annalise because of a few words from Jessica

 Chapter 385

    Kreven couldn''t stop thinking. Did he often make Annalise suffer when they were still married? Probably so


    Otherwise, why would Zane say that Annalise wouldn''t choose him anymore?


    She had no reason to jump back in once she had jumped out of this barning p?t.


    Seven sat in the cat, staring at Annalise from a distance, as his tears fell uncontrobly.


    His logical side told him that he needed to stay away from her if he wanted Annalise to be happy. It should be enough as long as Annalise was happy.


    But he couldn''t do


    Even now, if he''s sneak peek at Annalise after work, he felt like he would fall apart any second.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Sadden, his phone rang


    Steven nced at the screen and saw Jessica calling. He picked up the phone and casually greeted her. "Hello?"


    This afternoon, Annalise had people cyberbully me Jessica t-out lied. "You''ve defended me, right?


    "ates we hang up, you never contacted me again. Can I know what happened after?"


    steven''s expression suddenly turned grim after hearing her words. "Do I look like a fool to you? Jessica, is it because I''ve been giving you some leewaytely? "Have I give you the illusion that I still love you? So now you think you can boss me around and use me however you like?


    jessica said incredulously, "Steven, I don''t understand what you mean.


    Sven was fed up. " know you understand well enough. You went online looking for trouble with Annalise and got countered by her.


    "The readers couldn''t stand you stirring things up, so they started criticizing you


    "And what did you tell me? That Annalise started the online bullying against you!"


    Steven felt ridiculous just recalling it. "I believed you and went to find Annalise to stand up for you.


    "And what did I get in return? I only learned what was going on after getting ripped a new one! Worse still, I had no way to refute it.


    "Jessica, from now on, I won''t believe a single word you say!"


    Jessica hadn''t expected Steven to expose her lies so tantly. Her face turned ashen. She knew that it she continued to lie, it would only make him angrier.


    So, she apologized. "Sorry. Steven, I was just really emotional after being scolded during my pregnancy. So, I wanted you to stand up for me.


    "If you don''t like it, I won''t do it again."


    Jessica pressed her lips together, her gaze falling on her belly. Steven didn''t care about her, but he cared about the child inside her.


    Steven sneered "Is that so?"


    It seemed like persuading Steven was useless.


    Jessica decided to try another tactic. She covered her belly and pretended to be in pain, saying, "Steven,e here quickly. My stomach hurts so much!" Her voice was sharp and full of panic. "Could it be a miscarriage? Steven had already fallen out with Zachary and no longer cared about him. All his h


    This hopes were now pinned on the child in Jessica''s belly.


    If something really happened to the child, he knew he would never forgive himself.


    "Don''t be scared, I''lle right now!" Steven said anxiously.


    Jessica responded in a coy tone, "Okay."


    She couldn''t help but feel a sense of triumph inside. Didn''t he say he wouldn''t believe her? Steven still took the bait with a small lie.

 Chapter 386

    The cool wind on the balcony brushed gently against the skin, making it feel exceptionallyfortable.


    Tleaned against the raling, gazing at the distant streetlights.


    Zane looked at me and said. "Willow''s grandparents really like you!


    "They love the house and everything in it." I didn''t think I had that much charm.


    I turned to meet Zane''s eye and saw admiration shining in them.


    I pently caressed his cheek. "You''re different. You actually love me."


    "Yes," Zane dicht deny it. "The first time I saw you was in the hospital Willow pointed at you and said, "You''re Zachary''s mother."


    "At that time, you seemed fragile but gentle and beautiful


    "Then I saw you again after you fell down the stairs and had a miscarriage.


    "You were lying there in a pool of blood with your pale body.


    "That''s when I realized how pitiful you were, that you had been hallied to such an extent.


    "As we spent more time together, I slowly started to understand the real you."


    "You''re independent, resilient, and have your con poah."


    "At that point, I could''t control my attraction to you. By the time I realized it, I was already in love with you to the point where I couldn''t escape." Zane only wanted to confirm his feelings. He didn''t seem in a hurry far my response. Hisrge hands cupped my face, and he slowly leaned in for a diss


    I closed my eyes, panely epting his kiss.


    Steven rushed to Jessica''s hou


    She was lying on the ground, her face pale


    Steven adoly kissed her. "Are you okay?"


    "Not very well," Jessica said waldy. "Take me to the hospital"


    Steven was very afraid. He was worried that something might happen to Jessica or that there might be problems with the child in her belly


    His voice was trembling, "y, don''t be afraid. I''m here."


    Steven quickly picked up Jessica and rushed outside.


    Jessica wrapped her arms around his neck. "Men"


    She rested has head on his shoulder, her eyes full of contempt.


    Tiktik sk


    Steven was indeed a hypocrite. He said he didn''t like her, but he would still be concerned whenever something happened to her.


    And what did do when Annalise had her miscarriage?


    He took the mistress who had ruined his rtionship with Annalise and let her stay at his house.


    Jessica even suspected that the person Steven truly loved was still her, but he hadn''t realized ityC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Steven carefully ced Jessica into the car and softly said, "I''ll drive a little faster on the way. Don''t worry. Nothing will happen to you," Jessica managed to fore a smile "hust you" With fewer people on the road at night, revendove quickly. Fortunately, there w


    were green lights all the way. In just over ten minutes, he arrived at the hospital After parking the car, he carried Jessica into the emergency room and exined her condition to the doctor. With a serious face, the doctor immediately took Jessica for an examination.


    The results co


    The baby nude her was healthy.


    The doctor told Steven,


    Steven finally sighed in relief and said, "Thank you, docto


    He helped Jessica sit to the side and spoke softly, as afraid to start her, "Everything is fine."


    Jessica gently caressed her belly. "That''s great.


    Het dace was full of joy. "If anything had happened to the baby, Irally wouldn''t know how to face you." Steven was chuiled, too. "Don''t say such depressing lengk"

 Chapter 387

    think it''s still Annie''s fault." Jessica had already figured out how to resolve the situation beforeing here, "If she hadn''t responded, no one would have criticized me. My stomach uldn''t have hust"


    Jessica''s voice grew softer. "Then you wouldn''t have had to take me here tonight."


    She tentatively looked at Steven. "Can you contact Annalise and say something to her?


    "After all, I''m pregnant. She should be a little more thoughtful of me. Think of it as caring for the child in my belly!"


    By the end, Jessica even gripped Steven''s sleeve.


    Steven immediately answered, "No way, that''s too ridiculous! If you really don''t want to have a conflict with her, the best solution is not to get involved with her!"


    "Landshar!" Jessic. Immediately responded. "I love you, and the person you love happens to be her!This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "Whenever I see her living well, I can''t help but feel jealous! I can''t stop thinking that maybe only if I''m as outstanding as her will I deserve your love,"


    Jessica continued with her head lowered, "But no matter how hard I try, I can''t be like her, to have to bring her down a notch to make it seem like the gap between us isn''t that wide. This


    By the end, her voice choked. "If you tell me to stop, I feel like I''ll suffocate.


    "Steven, just for the sake of the child. Please, help me."


    Steven looked at Jessica. He hadn''t expected that she would use the child to thawaten him. But he had to admit, it was an effective move.


    Ultimately, Stevenpromised. He didn''t call Annalise from his own phone because it was blocked.


    So, he borrowed someone else''s phone to call Annalis


    malise picked up. "Who is this?"


    "h''s Steven." He probably also knew Analise didn''t want to talk to him. "Don''t hang up yet. 1 have something very important to tell you."

 Chapter 388

    Annalise sounded impatiens "What do you want to say?"


    Steven asked shamelessly, "Can you not respond the next time Jessica says something about you? After your response today, she was severely criticized. The child in her belly was greatly affected, and the almost had a miscarriage" I found Steven''s words ridiculous. Did he even realize what he was saying?


    I didn''t do anything wrong back then, but Jessica caused the death of my child.


    But when Jessica stirred up trouble, he med me for my rightful retaliation, saying it almost harmed Jessica''s child?


    I coldly said, "Steven, don''t you think what you''re saying is absurd Also, please make sure you understand I''m the victim here.


    "Just because her child was affected, I''m not allowed to fight back? Am I supposed to just step back? Why should?N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Steven said, "She''s pregnant!"


    "she can spread rumors about me online and hurt me?" 1 raised my voice, saying, "Steven,


    1. n. I just want to ask you de


    one thing. Is the child in her belly mine?


    stand what twas saying "\n"


    (~1 knew that hevska could be the ball keep Steven and, she cos''t let anything happen to the child.


    keep tonn woman asan Dunn me. Otherwise, my retaliation won''t just be as simple as telling the truth next time."


    ktus I tinished speaking, I hung up the phone.


    tin mood and took my hand 154 Stevenrall


    Thos."1 took a deep breath. " backed bis mumber, but he becrowed a phone to callme."


    KNE KVETIN?. "THE VIv¨¢n going all out just to speak up box Jessica."


    Ispeaking, his phone rang


    ad to his sanguise, it was also avall tom Steven,


    abess partner, her couldn''t reject the call. He casually answered, "Mt. Pelham, what''s the matter?"


    bought going after Tane was a good way to handle jessica being attacked online,


    (not give Annalise too many tesomuovi Steven asked


    dch I''t pu?e. Annalise, het expose would decrease, and her fan base would fellow suit, eventually leading to a reduction in active followers. way, when frowa caused trouble, no one would speak up for Annalise if she retaliated. The essa detely won''t be upset anymore.


    Zare was so speechless. It was almostical. "Mypany''s attairs are not something Mr. Pelham should be concerned with, right?


    Steven di''t know how to respond to that.


    onnued, "And besides, I have money and resources. If I don''t give them to her, who else should give them to?"


    The move an interacted with


    Steven, the more he felt that something was wrong with his brain. He couldn''t even understand how Steven''spany had grown to the size it was today. "But di Annalise didn''t have so many fams, then Jessica wouldn''t get criticized so badly. Steven shared his thoughts se was somewhat inpatient. "That''s your business. I jessica hadn''t started trouble, everything would have been fine, and no one would have criticized her, right? "Thope Mc. Priham can understand where the root of the problem


    Not act as you do now-making the victim step back at every tum


    Seven suddenly felt an aboard sense of realization as he looked at the beeping phos.


    It seemed he had already been locked into a situation with Jessica without him even realizing it.


    Jessica always had a way to manipte him. No matter how wrong Jessica was, as long as she showed him a pitiful side or threatened him with the child


    He would obediently turn into a tool in Jessica''s hunds. If Jessica told him to attack someone, he would attack them


    Steven couldn''t understand why this was happening As he thought about it, memories of the years after he married Annalise resurfaced.

 Chapter 389

    sa adangi turvely was with Annalise, dae was always straightforward. She never lied and never caused unnecessary trouble that made him feel ufortable.


    a waudiferent jesura abeys put her feelings first. If she were unhappy, she would look for someone to me


    right, as long as they didn''t go along with her, she would give them an earful.


    When he helped her set, be ended up getting wedded as well.


    tienen padded This actingtemples. What shouldbe do to change this sitiutka!


    Tresan didi ''n pan the phone on. he speaker, so she didn''t know muactly what was said between him and Zane..."


    warked. "What happened? Did Annalise agres to back down?


    cwished, I put serdded" Steven delta frustration he couldn''t express. "And Annalise didn''t agree at all!


    can inexplicable diber when he saw the expression o


    What was she smiling about!


    jessica beld treven''s hand, hiding her smile, and pretended tofort him. "I''m sorry, I just dide''t have any man to rely on, I thought of asking you to help me, I didn''t expect Annalise "Min Meven was toozy to prolite rojenica anymore and didn''t want stay ahe


    (with her made him feel like a well-behaved dogN?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Steven standup. "I''te, Thave work tomorrow I''m heading back now"


    Jessica badalorady achieved her pul, ssthere was no


    he stood at the door, watching Meren as he enteredt


    Merentappedon the gas pedal, and the rar quickly disappear


    and the door and toni


    and she wasn''t ping to let it slip by


    Zane answered the call "Hello?"


    "I''s me, Jessica," salt, feeling by heathaicken


    was extremely nervous as she asked, "ane, did even contact Annalise


    could thighher childish tactics at a nce a h


    Jessica sounded piritul as she said, "I didn''t exp


    levantees to him. Who kne


    e''d suddenly get angry and then call you


    ed by Jessica and help her out.


    Zane''s expression darkened as he said, "You don''t need to exin because


    Jessica but her lip and put on a


    it on a pitiful expression. "Are you saying 18


    inted to step on Steven, pretending to be incent and pitiful in front of


    Not at all." Zane calmly countered. "Jessica, you were the one who started this whole thing. But her Anna presented evidence and sessfully fought bark, everyone started criticizing matter should have ended these, but you couldn''t ept it. You had to go find someone else to help you vent.


    "And then, you had to pretend to be


    This is reallyughable."


    derstanding in tim


    , putting all the me on Steven, who helped you


    t he was getting after thinking of you at evytan.


    Zane neex hntly asked, "It even leathed that this is the


    It was only at this mattent


    en that a


    ne bsleares understanding of Jessica


    Jessica was really pot using everyone around her then avantage. To some reason, these people were all willing to help her.


    Zaenkende teh that maybe he couldn''t underestimate Jessica alter all.


    She hadn''t yet secuted Zane''s support, and it Steven didn''t take case of hei, suaviving on her own would be a problem.

 Chapter 390

    Het tone became a bite stilt as she said, "Mr. Hoxham, an acto, surely you wouli''t be so bored as toin to others about small matters, right?" Zame casually responded, "I''ll just casually mention it during work"


    Jessica fell silent


    Zane disby''t seem interested in continuing the conversation and immediately hung up-


    Jessica staredconfusedly at the phone screen. Didn''t men always preter wensen who were acted more delicately? Why didn''t Zane fall for that? very dissatisfied but dich ''Tintend to give up.


    Jessica thought about changing the subject, but she coukhi''t get through, no matter how hard she tried to call.


    The prompt always said the other person was busy.


    Even Jessica, as slow as she was, understood Zane had blocked her.


    she opened her photo album, found a gorgeous selfie, and sent it to him. Zane must like beautiful women, right?


    Seeing how gorgeous she looked, he might be moved.


    But the photo still wouldn''t send over!


    Jessica mai so led up that she almost threw her phone but ultimately restrained herself.


    Zane turned around Annalise had just gone downstairs.


    He leaned against the railing, lost in thought


    Clearly. Jessica still hadn''t given up on him even though he had already made it clear to Jessica that he was not interested in her. She acted this was even though the child in her belly was What should be do?


    Zane took out his phone and scrolled through the contacts list. After a while, he found a familiar name and dialed.


    The person on the other end was surprised. "Mr. Husham, why are you calling me''tar: <<N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    Zane replied, "know you''re currently working hard on your business, but youck funding"


    Caper didn''t understand why Zane suddenly brought up this topic but still went with it. "Yes. Everyone thinks I live a title of luxury, enjoying everything as a scion. They''re afraid that giving me money will only result in their investment going down the drain. So, no one dares to invest in me."


    Casper understood their mindset, so he had neverined.


    Zane directly stated his purpose, "I can provide funding for you."


    Casper was suprised and asked, "Then, Mr. Huxham, what do you need me to do in return?


    Zane slowed his speech. "Do you still like Jessica?"


    Casper didn''t answer


    Zane continued, "You also know that jessica likes wealthy men. Once you get the startup hands, I believe you''ll be able to get yourpany on track in the shortest


    "When you make a sessfuleback and ask for reconciliation, she''ll definitely agree."


    Casper finally wavered. "So, what do you need me to do?"


    After convincing Casper, Zane did not hide anything "Create an Instagram ount in my name, add jessica, and then chat with her."


    Casper was confused. "Why do you want me to do this?"


    t time possible.


    Zane and slowly, "Because she''s been constantly bothering me recently, which is obviously affecting my rtionship with my friend. Once you start chatting with her and disting her, I think she''ll stop bothering me. Casper didn''t believe Zane''s words. In his opinion, although Jessica loved money, the only man she truly cared about was him.


    But he didn''t want to exin that. Because he low no one would believe him no matter how much he exined.


    Lane wasn''t in a hurry to get an answer from Casper. "You don''t need to give me an answer right away."

 Chapter 391

    Chapter


    391


    "Teel free to contact me when you''ve figued thingyout. It''s not geni," Zane sakt


    After Casper had followed Zane''s instructions, he would see that jessica had no concept of love sharing theit conversations, the only desight aleest inney.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    Cope would realize that everything lessica had said about loving and depending on his was a lie.


    In aeality, from the moment they divorced, Casper was already a thing of the past to Jessica.


    When het chili''s sdentity was revealed, Steven would no longer want her.


    Casper, having seen through Jessica''s cold-blooded nature, would also give up on her...


    Zane''s lips curled into a smile. As for him...


    Jessica would never be able to verbe neat bins.


    Jessica''s expression would be fascinating when that time came


    In order to his n to seed, he hoped Caspes wouldn''t disappoint him.


    "What are you thinking about?" I handed Zane a ss of water, seeing him smiling happily.


    Zane didn''t hide his thoughts. "I''m thinking about the surprise I''ll give you once Jessica''s child is born. You''ll definitely be delighted when you see it. Although I was curious, I didn''t press further. "I''ll be waiting for it." Zane took the water and sipped from it.


    1 gently patted Zane''s shoulder. "It''s gettingte. You should go cest,"

 Chapter 392

    "Wait"Zane held onto my hand and then set the water aside,


    . "I''ve been banytely, but we


    Lined together when things calm down. I think we need to spend some time getting troed


    to each other


    "Is that really necessary?


    "Of course." Zane looked at me seriously and said, "Since we started getting to know each other, it seems like we haven''t had any major conflicts. So, I''m worried that it we do have disagreements in the future, we won''t know how to handle them "They say that many problemse up when you travel together. So, we''ll see when the timees if we can handle those problems caliny."


    Zane smiled and added, "This will be important for our future."


    "Wright" Since he had already decided, I didn''t want to argue. "How about we wait for Willow''s school break? That way, we can travel for a longer time.!


    Zane indulgently said, "No problem, I''ll listen to


    hugged Zane. Honestly, I really enjoyed the days I spent with him.


    Though there weren''t many dramatic, chastic moments, it was peaceful enough to make me feel at ease.


    I said softly," only Steven and his family didn''te to disturb me, it would be perfect."


    "It won''t be long before the day you''re hoping for bes a reality," Zane said slowly.


    I looked up at him "Hmm?""


    Zane exined, "We''re in a rcionship, and we get along very well. The longer we''re together, the more we''ll realize that we''re a perfect match.


    "In the future, we''ll definitely walk down the alde together. When that timees, Steven will finally realize that he has no hope left. He''ll give up and might even start avolding you He gently parted my back. emiled and said, "I hope that dayes soon


    "I will." Zane chuckled, "old you before that I n to hand over thepany to


    I was a bit surprised. "She''s only five, fun''t that a bit too early?"


    y to Willow, right? Soon, I''m nning to start training het."


    need so have them around when they''ve young and influence them bit by bit.


    wing fou a shout tona but then takes aww, disappearing in the end. Therefore, she needs to have a broader vision.


    en teally goodtame


    teat het like me PWT.


    BALL IL SA, you don''t need to worry about me


    and beach hiet some of the principlesTM


    s on the bed, and stared at the ceiling


    best of the time to work on another Lomance eveni


    king move money would give me a


    ime a greater sense of security.


    ing fra ottes the many benvtitu


    now he could only stay in a small and cramped ce:


    investment be tu anatered to my ount?


    long as you can guarantee that you won''t dess to essica that the person she''s talking to is you, not me.


    a development. I can help you solve them.


    O Casper. "I won''t say anythin


    Lanother phone, created a new Instagram ount, and set a friend request to Jessica


    and managed Casper. "Why did you agree to add me?


    de contacted Jessica just a few days ago, she said the person the loved was him and that she hadn''t let anyone else contact bet.


    in in her current state. That was why she hadn''t been able to reply to his messages right away.


    very delicate. But what he did expect was that it was almost midnight now, and Jessica was still on her phoneN?velDrama.Org is the owner.

 Chapter 393

    When Jessica that Dane kchuly replied to her, the was thrilled and quickly sent him a Haage. "Do you think what you said to me earlier was too harsh? Are you trying to apologize Cradually sink the more they talked. "You''re overthinking"


    He took out another phone and opened then


    Jessica. The screen was filled with green text boxes-messages he had sent to her.


    octant to ply. She always had something else to do attesa couple of replies.


    b to talk to him.


    Jessica who was unwilling to pay attention to him was eagerly messaging Zane.


    In this moment that Casper realized that Jessica had decrived him.


    Jessica replied moedatch. "Tox, you''sThis text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    to damage Zane''s image, so when Jessica sent several messages afterward, be decided not to reply.


    heart ached with every passing moment.


    about to go look for Willow, I saw Zane squatting in front of her, telling her a story.


    had been eager to get away from Zane and find me, but as the story reached a crucial part, she slowly became engrossed. By the m


    and started drawing our the deeper meaning Willow''s face lit up with realization.


    She eagerly asked, "Daddy, do you have more stories lo


    You promised"""1


    said, parting Willow''s back. "Go get ready, and I''ll tell you on the way to school."


    watched Zane expectantly. "You can''t change your mind!"


    It seemed that Willow really these stories.


    Wow rushed into the bedroom to start brushing her teeth.


    I walked over to Zane and said. "It seems like your method really works."


    "Yeah," Zine replied, feeling quite satisfied. "I''m d Willow is willing to listen. I was thinking earlier


    Should I open a small shop for Willow and have her munage it?"


    I was shocked. "Do you know how old she is?"


    Zane nodded. "''s exactly because I know that, so I give upon the idea."


    Flet out a sigh of relief and then shared my thoughts. "Let her try it when she''s in college. It''s too early now."


    Zane held my hand. "That''s what I thought too but after the enters university, we should let her explore on her own for the first two years


    "Then she''ll take over thepany for thest two years. And when the graduates, we can travel around the world.


    t at least two more years.


    I looked at him and said, "No Zane, even at the graduates, you can''t retire right away. You should stay by her side for at


    "Let her fully adjust before youpletely let go. Otherwise, I''m afraid the pressure will be too much for her."


    But Zane didn''t agree. "I did it all on my own back then


    "But times are different now," I countered. "And yourpany is something you built step by step. You know how big Hasham Corporation is now. "they had handed over such a hugepany to you after you just graduated, would you have been able to manage it well?" Chapter 394


    Zane was caught off guard by my question.


    I didn''t rush him to answer but calmly watched him.


    After thinking for a moment, Zane agreed with my reasoning. "Alight, we''ll do it your way


    I finally telt elieved "Good"


    After finishing hemming routine, Willow an up to me "Money, let''s potrain together."


    Although she was still young, she was very disciplined. Every morning, she would read and run on her own,pleting the tasks even without supervision. gote''s hand and took Willow''s hand

 Chapter 394

    Willow looked


    then at Zare, and ultimately, took his hand as well. "Daddy shoulde too"


    Noctually, Willow would just grab my hand and run. But this time, she included Zane.


    I raised an eyebrew and looked at him.


    Zane couldn''t hide the smile on his face. "Alright"


    It seemed his storytelling was really effective. He would need to tell Willow more stories from now un


    The three of us went downstairs together,


    After training, we continued practicing basic fighting techniques. Once we had finished everything and had washed up, we sat down at the dining table. Milton still felt bad for Willow. "She''s still young Making her wake up early and run every day will affect her sleep" Wiio defended herself, saying, "But Grandpa, I feel like my body is getting stronger after training!" Milton was surprised "Really?"


    "yes" Willow nodded. "Before, I didn''t have much appetite, but now, no matter what i eat, it all tastes really good."


    Moron naturally had no objections since Willow was happy with it. "That''s good."


    Willow knew that Milton was concerned about her. She smiled at him, then lowered her head and started eating


    Dorothy, who was nearby, remarked, "Our Willow is growing up."


    Most kids didn''t exercise much. They preferred to stay at home and y a little longer.


    But Willow was different. At such a young age, she already understood the benefits of exercise and was willing to stick with it.


    After breakfast, Zane and 1 apanied her to school.


    Usually, she led to stick close to me. However, today, she was drawn in by the story and stayed close to Zane, looking at him eagerly,N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Jane was very pleased. Itsrge hand rested on her back, gently patting her as he told her a story.


    I listened along as well. The more I listened, the more surprised I became,


    waspletely different from everyone else I knew


    Oths liked to preach with grand principles, but he turned those principles into small, everyday stories.


    Willow felt like these things had really happened after listening to them


    She cased her head, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Zane. "Daddy, were these your friends experiences?"


    Zane didn''t deny it. "You could say that


    "I noticed that many of the lessons you talked about were about bosses refusing to give employees more money," Willow said, puzzled. "But if employees got more money, they could work harder and being more profit to thepany. Don''t they want thepany to do well?".


    Zanedly ruded Wicke''s little head "Not necessarily."


    Willow''s expression pre more confused.


    Zane smiled and exined, "At first, it was probably because the startup


    p didn''t have enough funds, so they didn''t have much to give. Then, when they made moneyter, they idn''t want to

 Chapter 395

    "Alilow, you must understand that human nature is always greedy," Zane cald


    Willow tilted by head. "Why do you say that?"


    "Let me use you as an example," Zane pently pinched her check. "Let''s say I give you 200 bucks at pocket money every month, and you can buy whatever you want with no one in the family Interfering" Willow remarked longingle, "Wouldn''t that be great?


    "Yes," Zane continued, "But what if you want a toy that costs 1,000 bucks, and your money isn''t enough? What should you do?


    Willow oldn''t think of an answe


    Zane pressed on. "You, in oily save earn money, but you''d need five months to save all that money. Or, you can work with Penelope to earn more. You promise to give Penelope half of what you can as her sry" Willow seriously counted her fingers, trying to do the math.


    Zase watched her chubby little fingers moving back and forth, and he felt his mood unconsciously lift


    "In the first month, you earn goo backs and give her 200 bucks. At this point, you''ll still be 600 dors short. In the second month, you eat 800 dors."


    Zane continued, "You can give her 200 dors and keep 600 dors for yourself to buy the toy you want. Or, you can give her 400 dors and keep 400 dors for yourself. What would you


    Willow was very conflicted. "If ghee her goo dors, then I''ll have to wait another month


    Zane didn''t much her to give him an exact answer. "That''s right. Once you''re able to ovee greed and properly give others their fair share of money, that''s when you''ll be a qualified businessperson Willow nodded. "Don''t worry, Dad. I''ll work hard at it."


    Jane looked at her with a pleased expression.


    Willow paused for a long time before asking "By the way, Daddy, do I have to be a businessperson in the future??


    Zane was caught off guard. He had always hoped to leave thepany to Willow and have her inherit it, but he had never really considered whether she even wanted that


    ?After a long silence, he asked. "You don''t want to be a businessperson?"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Willow thought about it seriously. "I don''t know either.


    The car stopped in front of the kindergarten.


    Willow got out of the car, and when she saw Penelope not far away, she immediately ran over to share Zane''s story.


    Peneloped patiently.


    Zachary, who usually walked quickly past Willow, slowed down today as he was inexplicably drawn to what she was paying, He subtly slowed his pace and tried to listen in


    Zanent in the car with a serious expression.


    Tasked, "What are you thinking about?"


    Zane rubbed his brows. "I suddenly realized we were too optimistic before. We kept thinking that once Willow graduated from university, we would hand thepany over to her. But we never considered what would happen if she wasn''t interested in managing thepany"


    This was indeed a problem.


    hesitated and asked, "Are there any other potential heirs?"


    Zane shook his head. "No. There are a lot of children in distant rtives'' families, but i in''t trust them


    "Their rtionship with Willow in quite distant. If I really handed thepany over to them, what if they weren''t willing to give Willow a monthly allowance? What would we do then?" I couldn''t help butugh. "Are you thinking too far ahead?"


    "No matter what, I am her father," Zane said calmly. These are things I should consider."


    "True." I parted Zane''s hand. "But all these thoughts you''re having are based on the assumption that she doesn''t want to take over thepany. But Zane, interest can be cultivated, right?" Cheer Ne


    ei sobth. I believe (but one day, shee to love making money."


    We was abworntalent, inthemand in business, but he had no experience at all when it came to raising chilen


    talking


    The box hand, and Zane''s mood ally camed down. "Thank you."


    Himmediately, sat down at his desk and began working.


    << I sat down, I recorived a lot of message


    Yvonne


    specifically sent me these


    logs were rted to Jessica.

 Chapter 396

    hat I wouldn''t understand, so she added an exnation. "Last night, Zane added Jessica using a fake ount and chatted with her untilte. ? loops you? Some he''s not all that different


    as before. She was chatting with someone saved under the name "Zane'', and it was clear from the conversation that she was very enthusiastic, ecson were cold and tew.


    westerday. Zane had told me that when I made Jessica''s actions public, he would also prepare a surprise for me.


    my phone and cautiously asked, "Is this surprise you prepared for me?"


    hat''s right. But don''t worry, I didn''t waste any time on her. She''s chatting with her ex-husband"


    or''s letention at that moment


    et Jessica could dearly manipte right now. One was State and the other was Casper. But Jessica wasn''t satisfied and still wanted to get with Zane.


    Ticed at being ninstantly bothered by Jessica, Zane was nning revenge.


    a Casper''s status, getting him to chat with Jessica was obviously the best choice


    That way, Jessica would duty upset Steven when her child''s identity was revealed. After losing her connection with Steven, she would definitely try totch onto Zane imament, the person she had been conversing with revealed he was none other than Casper.


    would definitely feel hopeless then because she would have lost her final card.


    "Are you nning to invest in Casper?"


    Hurprised. "How did you know?"


    chudded. "That would be a way to break her heart."


    per had no money, Jessica wouldn''t care about him.


    fun if Casper g?r rachi, again, she would definitely regret losing a man who loved her and still had money.


    e deing it. "You understand well"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    a bat unfair to Jessica if she''s the only target?" I thought that Steven had also been very harsh in this marriage, xk my lund. "Don''t worry, in''s already in the works."

 Chapter 397

    Just wait and see," Zane cold me.


    Steven was foolish, always blindly obeying Jessica at her slightest provocation


    we knew, the child in Jessica''s womb wasn''t Steven''s. He had also fallen out with his biological son


    As far as we


    To secure benefit for the child, Jessica would definitely encourage Steven to get a vasectomy.


    At that point, even if Steven found out the child wasn''t his, he would have to swallow back his anger because he could never have a child of his own again.


    I clicked my tongue.


    Zane didn''t even need to get too involved. All he had to do was quietly watch Steven''s downfall.


    1." Altes getting Zane''s confirmation, I felt more at ease. "As long as I''m sure the person chatting with her in''t you, I won''t misunderstand."


    A smile appeared in Zane''s eyes. "It''s good that you''re willing to talk to me about things. Otherwise, if you keep everything bottled up inside, even if nothing''s actually happened, it could -damage our rtionship. "Yeah." Lused to be willing tomunicate and exin things clearly to Steven, but he never wanted to cooperate.


    He would often impatiently ask, "Is it necessary to care about such small matters?"


    Or be would say, "Once something''s passed, just forget it."


    Every time, it seemed like 1 v


    was being petty


    Later, I realized that talking to him about it wouldn''t solve the problem, sol became silent


    Now that I''ve met someone who shared my views, i materally felt happy


    I thanked him. "Zane, I''m really d that you''re thinking about me.


    "You don''t need to thank me." Zane said, his thumb gently rubbing my hand just made a few small adjustments based on your n."


    Zane''s phone rang suddenly. He answered it and put it on speaker. "Hello?"


    "Mr. Huxham, Casper is already waiting in the meeting room. When would you be avable to meet with him?"


    "Now!" Zane had specifically cleared his morning schedule for this moment.


    He quickly stood up and said, "I''m going to talk to Casper about the coboration. You can continue with your work."


    I could''t help butugh. "Alright"


    Zane speed-ward to the meeting room and saw CasperProperty ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Casper looked somewhat awkward to see him. He stood up and greeted him, "Mr. Huxham."


    "Please sit," Zane said, sitting down across from him


    His long arm casually rested on the table. "Before I send the investitient money, would you mind if I take a look at your business proposal?" Zane asked. Casper understood that Zane was very capable and busy. Many people begged Zane to help them review their business proposals, but he rarely had time for it. But now, he was willing to help Casper


    Casper naturally knew to seize this opportunity. He took a stack of documents from his briefcase and handed them to Zane


    Zane took them, flipping through a few pages before looking at Casper. "Do you have a pen?"


    Casper quiddy nodded. "Yes!"


    He hurriedly pulled a pen from his suit pocket.


    Zane handed the documents back to Casper and then started pointing out the issues one by one Casper quieldy took notes


    Dure Zane finished summarizing, he told Casper how each detail should be adjusted.


    Casper felt that he had gained a lot alter writing everything down. "Thank you, Mr. Huxham."


    "You''re wee.""Zane said indifferently. "Leave your ount number with meter, and I''ll have my secretary transfer the money."


    Casper was at a loss for words. He was how to express his feelings at that moment. "Once mypany develops, I''ll remember Mr. Hushun''s support." Zane repliedly. "There''s no need for such formalities." Guddenly, Casper seemed to remember something. He looked at Zane, then lowered his head again.


    Zane said, "If you''ve got something to say, just say it Noted to hold back."


    "I heard."Casper looked ufortable. "Is Annalise your pellriend?"


    Zane''s cold expression shifted slightly, and his face became more serious. "Thur''s right."


    Casper asked cautiously, "Do you know that her ex-husband once sent her to my bed?"

 Chapter 398

    Zane looked at Casper. He hadn''t interacted with Casper much, so he didn''t know what kind of person Casper was


    Zame couldn''t press what Casper was about to say. Was he siding with Jessica and Steven, trying to prove that he had slept with Annalise, or he wanted to express something else? the calmly respondyl. "Tkrim -


    Casper hesitated for a long time but finally decided to be honest, "Actually, I didn''t do anything to her that day.


    Zane Eightly tapped the amoest of the chair.


    To be more precise. I''m actually very grateful to her," Casper said, taking a deep breath. "If it wasn''t for her trying so hard to convince me that day, I''d probably still be wandering Casper contimed, "Sot hope she can be happy"


    11. Alueed to dy anything, but he did anyway


    - sincerely said, "Thank you."


    It''s the beast Leuld do," Casper replied as he handed over a piece of paper with his bank ount number written on it.


    the paper. "If you have any more questions in the future, feel free toe ask me. 111 have time, I''ll definitely help you out.. Caspel, right ne 11 want yourpam to seed more than anyone else."


    was very happy. "Is it because I just exined things for Annalise?"


    That was partly the reason. However, Zane didn''t n to say that. "Mainly, I''m optimistic about the potential of your project." Casper said. "Then I''ll work hard now


    Zane watched as Casper left, and the smile on his face widened.


    thew myself into drawingics.


    dashy style with Willow was more cute and fresh, not requiring much detail, so the work progressed faster.


    Once I finished. I saved the file. Then I opened my other project.


    I didn''t I


    why, but I felt inspired while drawing romanceics these past two days.


    Vithout even realizing it, I had already saved manypleted drawings. They were all neatly testing in my folder.


    wanted to post theic but didn''t have an ount for it. So 1 had to wait


    Thrus wese many readers who enjoyed love stories these days, so I felt that historic was posted, it would get a better market response,


    ben, the sales of the merchandise andics would rise, and my eachings would double.


    retough money to provide for my mom''s retirement in just a few months. That way, my mom wouldn''t have to work anymore.


    thinking about that made me feel uncontrobly happy


    Even work became more motivating


    Seeing that no one was in the meeting room, Eric knocked on the door before pushing it open. "Mr. Huxham


    e elegantly crossed his long legs "Speak"


    "After Annalise handed the PF crisis so well the other day, the merchandise sales skyrocketed," Eric reported. "We originally thought it would only sell for one day. However, many marketing ounts picked up on the litue "They collectively summarized the conflict between Annalise and Jessica and posted it, which attracted huge in affic."


    Exir sened astonished as he flipped through the data. "So, the merchandise sales have remained high those past few days. Next month, Annalise''s share of the earnings will likelyC0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Zane nodded in i modedquent. "Tut''s good news."


    "But in the next few months, the sales may start to decline, and her earnings will slowly return to what they should be." Fwtud Erir was crying


    Eric was politing wat that the traffic generated by Jessica''s provocations would eventuallyde,

 Chapter 399

    Eric continued. "I hope you can help get her mentally prepared."


    "You seem to have forgotten something "Zane said calmly. "We''ll also increase our promotional efforts, which means her exposure will rise." The sales the merchandise would only keep increasing in that case.


    Eik suddenly remembered this aspect. "You''ve right. It seems Leverthought it"


    He continued, "I''ve alread been in contact with the publisher, and we''re cuttently working out the details


    "The ware o gol is to make Annalite''s works popr worldwide, it doesn''t matter if we make a little less money on each book


    "but the quality has to be good ever all. What do you think?"


    Tric had hoi ewn thoughts, but whether they would be adopted depended on Zame.


    iset too high, readers definitely won''t be able to afford it. So, it''s


    I agreed, saving "Tuth. There will be several more volumes of theics released in the future. If the price is set


    ceptable for the ooitgame to take a slight step back."


    Erk''s smile was hard to control. "In that case, we can reach an agreement with the publisher.


    A to the factories, the market has been bad ently, and many factories producing simr products are closing down.


    -1 took a look and soughly estimated the future sales of theics. Since there are also game departments under Husham Corporation''s name that can produce merchandise, I roughly estumisted the demand.


    think acquiring ten factories should be just enough to meet our needs."


    Eric was afraid that Zane might think he had obtained too many factories, so he quickly added, "Of course, if the factories are idle, we can also coborate with otherpanies."


    xe now," Zane said. "For the time being, we should focus on producing ourpany''s products."


    "Alright." Eric was relieved that Zane don''t criticize him for obtaining too many factories.


    e then continued. "As for the international publishers, I''m still having the HR department recruit the relevant heads, so progress isn''t very obvious right now."N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Zase was satisfied. That''s time. We can take our time with the overseas business."


    Eric let out a sigh of relet..


    "By the way." Zane asked. "Is one factory enough to keep up with the sales of Anna''sic merchandise?"


    Ene shook his head. "That''s why I had other factories start producing as well."


    Zane finally rxed "Good Your capabilities have improved a lot, and I can''t let you work in vain


    I''ve been thinking it through. Thepany takes arge share of Anna''sic ie. We c


    a portion of thepany''s earnings and give it to you as a cenmission. What do you


    an a few thousand dors a month. But with themission, are might not be a cap.


    To raise an employer''s sry had its cap, and at most they would earn a


    Eric asked incredulously.


    Although Annalise''s earnings from the revenue share were still rtively small, Eric could easily make two to three hundred thousand dors a month at a 15%mission. Even then, that ie would still considered to be at a low point, and the earnings could definitely increase day by day.


    Erle could hardly imagine how much he would be able to make in the future.


    Zane found in somewhat amusing. "You know I never lie,"


    Thank you, Mr. Huxham Eric stood up straight. "I will definitely work hard from now on! I will make sure to live up t


    up to your expectations!"


    Zane thought Eric''s current performance was already excellent. But if Eric were willing to improve, he certainly wouldn''t oppose it Zane smiled and said, "but you must remember, your health is the most important thing"


    Steven returned to thepany, and upon seeing Darren reporting by the desk, he asked, "Has the copyright for Annalise''s work been acquired?"


    was this topic as an excuse to chat with Annulis.


    He

 Chapter 400

    by wasonly after Steven asked the question did Dacken sealize this was the polist.


    Diuen amweird. "She asked me to contact herpany, but I think she probably doesn''t want to sell in the copyright, steven booked up toht


    He had originally nned to often a low price to get a legitimate excuse forcontact Annalise But now, Thur


    Dacortexined. "Theard bei merchandise sales que doing way well Last month, hes shat e was conse


    Titus month, the sales are still increasing, and it''s expectedto troch over to thousandaers.


    Annalise clearly didn''t care to the low price even win offering


    steven thought about il sestosh. "Sasce she thinks the price is too low, we''ll just i also it a bit."


    INtten could tell by Steven''s expression that he was hesitant to spend.


    He was speechless. He dich it hesitate to spend millions of dors on jewelry for Jessica, but now he was crucia (to pay a trastrable price for a copyright? Yet he imed to love Annalise? Who would believe that? tharjen lowered his head, choosing not toment.


    Steven continued, "As long as the copyright price doesn''t exceed one million do


    just keep negotiating with them.


    nalise''s monthly ie is high, it''s far from teaching the million dor mark. It letter hes that much money at once, she''ll definitely be swayed.


    hed out to grab Steven''s eat and say, "Did you even listen to what


    mentioned eat lies that Armalise''sbined ie from the past two months was already 700 thousand dors And it was expected to grow significantly!


    inceste might eveti surpass a million dors! Would she possibly cate about this small amount of money?


    that to himsell, not intending to say it out load.N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Following Zane''s instructions, he contacted the head of the voic department for copyright issues.


    He politely sent a message. "Hello, I spoke with Annalisest time and wanted to discuss purchasing the copyright.


    alne asked me to contact you. May Task why you''re unwilling to sell us the copyright? Is it because you think the price we offer is tookw?


    (didn''t peply


    "Last time, we agreed on a price of sou thousand dors. This time, we can ad fon another to thousand dors. What do you think? The reply said, "bury, Annaline''s copyright is not for sale. Thepany discussed it in a meet and decided to keep and develop it ourselves."


    Darben knew this was the likely oue. "What about you thousand dors?"


    Fit a man about the money


    Burien decided to pa for it and sent unest message. "One million dors?


    dhe pang though the process, thaiennded the plune to Steven. "Ma. I''vm,


    Silously stood up. "Tiueady to bump the price tone million dors. I''ve already been very respectful.


    On se¨¹? Any they trying to jarkup the price?"


    Buren caboly ¨¢talyzed, "Mi Pellum, haer you considered the possibility that Annalise ha


    ted the benefits of the news that


    "Right now, Huidam Corporation''s publicity is still in its waily stages, and she''s already making this much every month. that it the copyright development is fully promoted, she could easily make more than the damay you be dieting with her shaved the retuliige "It the same to thank bag til pake while her home is the


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 401

    Steven took a deep breath and said, "If she''s really focused on the profit share, then no matter how high we raise the price for buying the rights, she won''t sell."


    Darren agreed. "That''s right. After all, Huxham Corporation is confident of her work. She could have endless, limitless benefits if they took over all her copyrights and developed them." Steven didn''t want to miss the chance to connect with Annalise. "So what should I do in this situation?"


    Darren replied, "It''s simple. You can either coborate with Huxham Corporation to jointly develop Annalise''s copyrights or have thepany nurture its ownic authors." However, Steven wasn''t really interested inics; he just wanted an opportunity to get closer to Annalise. "Are there any other options?" he asked. "Yes."


    Steven was intrigued. "What?"


    Darren replied casually, "I just haven''te up with anything yet."


    ...


    Jessica got up and had the driver take her son to kindergarten. After enjoying a lovely breakfast in the living room, she settled onto the couch, thoughtfully considering her next steps.


    Zane was finally willing to chat with her. While their conversations were brief, she understood that someone like Zane was naturally reserved with his words. Hence, she wasn''t bothered at all.


    Jessica was worried about


    Annalise''s close rtionship with


    Zane. If Jessica didn''t find a way to undermine Annalise, then no matter


    how long she spent trying to


    connect with Zane, she would never be able to take Annalise''s ce in his heart.


    Jessica needed a n to publicly embarrass Annalise. Only then would Zane realize that Annalise wasn''t all that special.


    After that, she could make her move, presenting herself as the better option. Inparison, Zane would realize that Annalise wasn''t as impressive as he thought, while Jessica was much more appealing than he knew. The more Jessica thought about it, the more she felt victory was within her grasp. A smile spread across her face as ideas raced through her mind.


    It seemed like she had just the right person to help her take action against Annalise. She picked up her phone and dialed Chloe''s number.


    Chloe had always been fond of Jessica and disliked Annalise. As soon as Chloe picked up, Jessica recounted the events from a few days ago without holding back. She also announced, "I''m pregnant too."


    Jessica knew that Chloe was


    particrly concerned about the baby in her womb. Therefore, she always emphasized the child''s importance in her conversations. This way, she could maximize Chloe''s protective instincts toward her.


    Jessica continued to belittle Annalise. "Annalise is just a woman that Steven doesn''t want. She should just listen obediently to my instructions, but she dared to retort and almost caused me to miscarry! She''s really evil."


    Jessica continued pitifully, "Mom, you have to stand up for me!"


    Chloe, feeling ignored by Zachary, wanted to show that she valued Jessica. She wanted to show Zachary that she wasn''t dependent on him. Without hesitation, she replied, "Of course.


    "Honestly, Annalise really doesn''t know how to treat a pregnant woman with respect. What if something happens to my precious grandchild? Is she going to be responsible?"novelbin

 Chapter 402

    Chloe responded indignantly, "Exactly."


    Jessica said pitifully, "Yesterday, Steven stood up for me, and Annalise scolded him. Looks like I''ll have to avoid Annalise from now on. Otherwise, no one wille to my defense if she bullies me. She''ll definitely try to pick a fight with me. If I keep my distance, I can avoid a lot of trouble." Chloe was furious to hear that Jessica was suffering. "No way! I''m going to confront her right now. She really has some nerve to offend everyone. Has she forgotten how I taught her a lesson back home?"


    "Mom!" Jessica eximed, touched. She covered her mouth with her hands, revealing only her tear-filled eyes.


    "I''m so moved that you''re willing to stand up for me. Honestly, I feel so much better now. I think the baby in my belly will be happy too. His grandma cares so much about him."


    When Jessica realized Chloe couldn''t see her over the phone, she pouted. She wiped away her tears, revealing a disdainful smile.


    Chloe thought about Jessica''s pregnancy and smiled with satisfaction. "Wait for my good news!"


    ...


    After hanging up the call, Chloe got into her car and had the driver take her to Huxham Corporation. She didn''t intend to go upstairs, knowing thepany had strong security measures. In any case, Annalise was in the wrong. So, Chloe didn''t mind making a scene.


    Her voice was loud enough to attract attention from those around her. "Annalise is so shameless! She deliberately bullied a pregnant woman."


    I was working upstairs when I heard themotion, but I didn''t rush to intervene. Instead, I opened myputer and gathered all the evidence before calmly taking the elevator down to face Chloe. Sasha also came down and stood beside me, listening to Chloe''s usations. I could see the anger on her face and that she was itching to confront Chloe. However, I grabbed her hand. "Don''t act rashly. I have my way of dealing with this."


    Sasha looked incredulous. "Did you hear what she''s saying about you?"


    I smiled reassuringly. "Trust me."


    Reluctantly, Sasha stepped back to stand by my side.


    lete


    When Chloe saw me, she marched right up and pointed a finger at my face, shouting, "You wretch! My son dumped you, but you still can''t let him go. Seeing him with Jessica makes you jealous, and now you''re encouraging others to attack my pregnant daughter-inw-online.


    "You''re trying to provoke her into a miscarriage! Why are you so wicked?"


    Chloe''s finger nearly poked my face as she continued, "I never expected you to do so many despicable things and still have the nerve to show up here!"


    I replied calmly, "First of all, you need to understand that I didn''t do any of those things."


    "Secondly I paused for effect.novelbin


    "Even if I did everything you used


    me of, it still palespared to what you did back in the day." raised my voice slightly, making sure those around us could hear.


    Chloe stared at me in disbelief. "What do you mean?"


    "It''s simple," I replied, pointing to therge screen nearby. "Take a look at the evidence."


    Initially, I viewed Chloe''s conflicts with me as typical mother-inw and daughter-inw issues. I never intended to expose them. But who would have thought that even after the divorce, Chloe would still try to assert her authority and belittle me?


    I felt it was important for others to know about her past actions. Everyone turned their attention to the big screen.

 Chapter 403

    The video that yed was evidence of all the times Chloe had bullied me in the past. Each incident she hadmitted was far worse than what she had just imed.


    As Chloe watched, her face suddenly turned pale. "Did I permit you to y that? Imand you to turn off the video right now!"


    I chuckled and replied, "Why should I listen to you?"


    Chloe immediately shot back, "I''m your mother-inw!"


    I reminded her, "But I''ve divorced your son, so let''s be precise here. You''re my ex-mother-inw."


    As everyone watched the unfolding drama, their expressions toward Chloe shifted to disdain.


    Chloe''s expression darkened, but she stubbornly retorted, "What are you looking at? Back then, she was my son''s wife! How I chose to discipline her is our family matter. It''s none of your business."


    I nodded. "True. I didn''t stand up to you back then. That was my weakness, and I deserved it. So I swallowed my grievances and said nothing."novelbin


    Chloe''s expression softened slightly as she tried to redirect the focus. "What we should be discussing now is Jessica."


    The next video yed revealed Chloe discussing her rtionship with Steven with Jessica. Everyone was shocked.


    "What? A mother helping her son find a mistress?"


    "What kind of mother is this?"


    "She ims it''s for Annalise''s sake while undermining her. Was it all just to enable her son to cheat?"


    People began to gather around Chloe, pointing fingers and whispering. Even though Chloe was quite shameless, she struggled to handle the scrutiny. "How long ago was that? Why are you bringing it up now? You''re so petty!" she yelled.


    Sasha looked at me in surprise. "Did you put this together just now?"


    I replied with a smile, "Pretty much. I''ve wanted to share this for a while. I just never had the chance."


    Sasha raised an eyebrow.


    Chloe''s outburst was an attempt to


    make everyone criticize me.


    Unexpectedly, I cleverly seized the


    opportunity to counterattack,


    tarnishing Chloe''s reputation in the


    process.


    en


    Sasha looked at me with admiration. She had always thought Zane was intelligent, but now she realized I was no slouch either.


    Chloe, growing impatient, continued,


    I at


    "This is why I don''t like you. came


    how Jessica would handle the


    situation-she wouldn''t care at all."


    Even at this point, she was still trying to tarnish my name. I raised my chin and gestured toward the big screen.


    "Not so fast. The video isn''t finished yet. Keep watching."


    Chloe turned stiffly, just in time to see Jessica deliberately stirring trouble while I acted defensively.


    The crowd''s disdain only grew. "Her new daughter-inw is ying the mistress and ruining someone else''s rtionship. And she wants to spread rumors to make the original partner look bad?"


    "Honestly, she deserves every criticism!" Everyone began to voice their disapproval of Jessica.


    Chloe''s expression was increasingly grim, but she still clung to her defense.


    "Even if what you''re saying about Jessica is true, she''s a pregnant woman. It''s normal for her to be emotional. You should be more amodating." "Why should I?" I challenged.

 Chapter 404

    Chloe was momentarily speechless.


    I maintained myposure and said, "First of all, you need to understand the situation. I have never made things difficult for Jessica. She has always been annoyed with me, and I was just responding in kind. However, you spread rumors indiscriminately and came to mypany to nder me." Chloe seemed taken aback by the seriousness of my words. She retorted, "Well, you reap what you sow. You should reflect on why she has issues with you!"


    She thenunched into a tirade. She had used this tactic many times before, and it often yielded good results. Over time, she seemed to believe that this approach was effective.


    I decided to call the police upon seeing Chloe''s aggressive demeanor. She looked down at me and threatened, "If you don''t stop, I''ll go straight to Steven and tell him not toe looking for you."


    "Is that so?" I replied as I provided the police with thepany''s address.


    Chloe''s face turned pale. "I haven''t done anything wrong. What can the police do to me?"


    If it were just typical insults, the police might not have taken action. However, since I was considered a public figure, Chloe''s actions could easily damage my reputation and affect the sales of my products. Moreover, Chloe had insulted Huxham Corporation, which could have serious repercussions.


    I submitted the evidence to the police, who were also surprised that Chloe was still causing trouble. They dutifully took her away for questioning.


    Chloe finally began to feel fearful and struggled against being taken. Unfortunately for her, it was toote.novelbin


    I watched her leave and then exined, "Everyone saw what just happened. If I truly loved her son, I wouldn''t want his mother to end up in police custody. Besides, I have a boyfriend now. We have a great rtionship."


    Sasha still couldn''t understand why


    Belr


    Chloe was so shameless. "What is wrong with her? You''vepletely cut ties with her son, yet she still shows up at yourpany to confront you over Jessica. And she act''s like you should amodate her daughter-inw? Who does she think she is?"


    I shook my head. "I don''t know."


    Sasha wanted to continue the conversation, but she noticed someone approaching quickly and instinctively crouched down to hide among the crowd before slipping away.


    Before leaving, she reminded me, "If Mr. Huxham asks if you''ve seen me, remember to say you haven''t!"


    I chuckled and replied, "Sure."


    Just then, Zane appeared beside me. "What happened just now?"


    I was surprised he hade over and felt a bit incredulous, but I answered calmly, "Same old story. Jessica was criticized online a few days age and med me for it. First, she tried to get Steven to help her salvage the situation. When that failed, sheined to Chloe."


    Zane raised an eyebrow. I added, "Good thing I was prepared and had evidence of Jessica''s wrongdoings. Chloe wasn''t satisfied and continued to insult me. It was quite harsh, so I called the police."


    Zane gently ruffled my hair. "As long as you''re not bullied, that''s what matters."


    I smiled and replied, "Don''t worry. I''m smart."


    Someone nearby saw us talking and curiously asked, "Is he your boyfriend?"


    I looked at Zane, who clearly had no intention of hiding the truth. "Yes." Everyone around us was astonished. "Her current boyfriend is Mr. Huxham?"

 Chapter 405

    The crowd couldn''t stop gossiping.


    "Mr. Huxham is so much better than her ex-husband! Who could argue with that?"


    "Mr. Huxham is sessful and a man with integrity. Her ex-husband cheated on her and was stingy!"


    "Only a fool would still cling to their ex-husband, right?"


    After discussing it, everyone reached a consensus. "Seriously, that olddy just imed Annalise loves her ex-husband? Does she think we are fools?"


    As the chatter continued, Zane and I returned to the office.


    I sighed and said, "It''s clear that Jessica is at fault. Yet when sheins to others, she can twist the truth around. I really admire her ability to lie so effortlessly."


    Zane took my hand and casually asked, "Isn''t it possible that she''s trying to make things difficult for you on purpose?"


    Zane exined, "Yourics are doing well right now. She might be feeling jealous and want to affect your mindset, making you frustrated every day. That way, you won''t be able to make any money. You''ll end up depending on a man just like she does."


    I was puzzled. "Why would she want to bother with me?"


    My expression turned serious. "Isn''t that just too cruel? I absolutely can''t let her seed!"


    Since she wanted me to get angry, I''ll just have to make sure I live happily every day.


    Zane nodded in satisfaction. "As long as you understand their motives and see their tactics, everything bes clear. If I''m right, Jessica should be chatting with Casper right now. Their conversation is probably about belittling you before him while praising herself."


    §ï§Ý§Ö


    ...


    Zane was right. Jessica had indeed messaged Casper.


    "Did Chloe head to Huxham Corporation to cause trouble?" she asked.novelbin


    Casper was busy handling work and didn''t have time to reply. He just nced at the message and continued with his tasks.


    Upon seeing theck of response,


    Jessica took her time and sent another message. "I''m sorry. I.


    advised her not to go, but she insisted. I couldn''t stop her no


    matter what."


    en


    Casper paused his work and replied slowly, "Really? She''s older, and you''re younger. If you genuinely wanted to stop her, you should be able to."


    Jessica thought he was ming her and quickly exined, "But I''m pregnant. I''m worried about the baby."


    When Jessica didn''t get a response, she pretended to sigh and continued, "I don''t know why, but it seems like everyone around me likes me, and they all dislike Annalise.


    "Look at my grandma. Ever since I got together with Steven, she has treated me like her granddaughter. She won''t let me do any chores and always saves the best food for me.


    "But when Annalise was still married


    to Steven, she wasn''t treated like this. I heard my mother-inw set rules for Annalise every day, making her life miserable. Why do you t that is? Is it because I''m better?"


    think


    Casper stared at the messages in the chat, increasingly confused about how to respond without harming Zane''s reputation. He decided to take a screenshot and send it to Zane. "How should I reply?" he asked.

 Chapter 406

    Zane replied instantly, "Just tell her that maybe Annalise doesn''t talk badly about others behind their backs like she does."


    Casper thought for a moment, copied the message, and changed a few words before sending it to Jessica.


    Jessica remained silent for a long time. Just when Casper thought she wouldn''t respond, her enthusiastic response was contrary to his expectations.


    "Let''s not mention anything else. Annalise must have felt extremely embarrassed just now, right?"


    Casper scrolled through their chat history. He had always initiated conversations with Jessica. If he said something wrong, she would get upset and ignore him. Never before had she taken the initiative to chat with him like today. Suddenly, Casper felt like a clown-it was ridiculous andughable.


    Jessica continued texting. "If the same situation happened to me, I would definitely handle it well. I wouldn''t lose control like Annalise and make you feel embarrassed."


    Her words felt like a sharp knife stabbing Casper''s heart; his feelings for Jessica were a joke. Though he felt a heaviness in his heart, he maintained a calm facade and replied, "She handled it well."


    Although Casper hadn''t interacted much with Annalise, he knew she was capable. She should be able to handle problems easily.


    Casper continued, "And today''s incident has caused quite a stir; you can check online."


    Jessica quickly opened her phone and, upon checking, found that even more people were criticizing her online. She became even angrier.


    ...


    Chloe was so foolish!


    Jessica wanted Chloe to drag


    Annalise down, making Annalise lose control and embarrass herself But instead, Chloe had made it


    known that Jessica was the


    mistress! Wasn''t Chloe intentionally making her life difficult?


    Jessica tried to calm herself down


    and then messaged Casper, pretending to be pitiful. "Her ex-mother-inw went to thepany, and instead of


    confronting her, Annalise turned the topic to me. Does she really dislike me that much?"


    Jessica feigned ignorance and asked, "Why do you think she has such malice toward me?"


    Casper replied almost instantly, "You should be asking yourself that question. Think about what you''ve done to her, and you might have the answer." Jessica was speechless. She wanted to retort, but after typing for a while, she silently deleted her response.


    Jessica suddenly felt that what Casper said made a lot of sense.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Chloe sat in the police station, patiently listening to the officers'' advice, appearingpliant. However, she was still dissatisfied internally.


    Annalise''s marriage to her son made her her daughter-inw. So what if they were divorced? Why did that matter? Chloe could still control Annalise if she wanted to. The police asked, "Do you understand your mistake?"


    Chloe quickly replied, "I understand."


    Although her situation was serious,


    it wasn''t severe enough for


    detention. After seeing herpliant attitude, the police suggested, "Why don''t you call someone to pick you up?" novelbin


    After some thought, Chloe decided to contact Steven.

 Chapter 407

    Steven answered the phone and asked, "Mom, what''s up?"


    Chloe replied ufortably, "I''m at the police station. Can youe pick me up?"


    Steven asked incredulously, "Why on earth are you at the police station?"


    Chloe wanted to curse Annalise, but she knew some things were unsuitable to say in a police station. So, she impatiently replied, "I''ll tell you on the way back."


    "Okay."


    ...


    Steven wasn''t busy. So, he hung up the phone, set aside his work, and drove directly to the police station.


    The officers reiterated to him, "Your mother is getting older and confused. As her son, you need to remind her that since you''ve divorced your ex-wife, so your mother shouldn''t bother her. Do you understand? We don''t need to intervene if she goes to find your ex-wife, but the things she said..."


    The police shook their heads before continuing, "They were particrly harsh."


    Steven replied cooperatively, "I''ll make sure to do that."


    With that, the police finally let Chloe go. She hurried out of the police station and got into the car, still feeling very dissatisfied.


    "Don''t you think Annalise is crazy? I just went to herpany to have a chat, and she called the police. Am I no longer qualified to speak with her as her ex-mother-inw?"


    Steven gripped the steering wheel, barely looking at her. "If what you''re saying is true, the police wouldn''t have arrested you."


    His voice grew colder as he continued, "So you''d better exin clearly what happened. Otherwise, don''t contact me if something like this happens again."


    Chloe felt the weight of his words and lowered her head, muttering softly, "It''s because you''re weak. Jessica is pregnant with your child.


    Annalise bullied her, and you


    NP


    stood up for Jessica, you got scolded. I just wanted Annalise to know we aren''t one to mess with!"


    Steven scoffed in frustration. He never expected Jessica to manipte him and drag his mother into this mess.


    Steven exined impatiently, "Mom, you need to understand that Annalise fights back purely because Jessica is looking for trouble." Chloe fell silent at that.


    He continued, "If you want to live peacefully in the future, it''s best to keep your distance from Jessica."


    Chloe asked in confusion, "Why?"novelbin


    "Because she loves to stir up trouble," Steven replied in annoyance.


    Chloe had a different perspective. "Then you just have to put up with it. You''re no longer responsible for Zachary The child in Jessica''s belly is all you have left. If you don''t treat her better, and she gets upset and loses the baby, what will you do then? Are you going to find another wife and start over?"


    Steven didn''t know how to respond to his mother''s concerns and remained silent. Chloe continued, "You need to understand that everything I''m doing is for your own good."


    Suddenly, Steven realized how chaotic his life had be since marrying Jessica after divorcing Annalise He hadn''t experienced single day of peace. Initially, hez found this new lifestyle exciting, but over time, he began to miss the tranquility of his past.


    "Who are you to Annalise?" he questioned.


    gel


    a


    Chloe couldn''t help butin, "I still think it''s Annalise''s fault for being so unreasonable andcking in manners! Themon understanding these days is that we should amodate pregnant women. Look at Annalise..." Steven finally understood that Chloe hadn''t taken in anything he had said earlier.

 Chapter 408

    Chloe replied without hesitation, "I''m her ex-mother-inw."


    Steven scoffed. "So that means you aren''t rted. Why should Annalise amodate to you?"


    Chloe retorted as if the facts were obvious, "But you''re her ex-husband! She used to love you more than anything else."


    Each word from Chloe felt like a needle piercing Steven''s heart. Yes, Annalise had married him shortly after graduating. Back then, she was so innocent, believing that marrying for love made her the happiest woman in the world. Her eyes were filled with adoration for him. But what happenedter?


    Steven had betrayed her trust, and now he was facing the consequences of his actions.


    Chloe continued, "Even though you two are divorced, Annalise should still care about you. She should think of your well-being."


    Steven replied dejectedly, "But Mom, Annalise doesn''t love me anymore. She has a new boyfriend now, and he''s much better than I am."


    He found it difficult to express himself. "She has no feelings for me now. If Jessica would just stay home and take care of herself without causing trouble, Annalise wouldn''t even bother talking to me anymore."


    Chloe frowned. "Isn''t that a bit heartless? Can someone who once cared for you just let go so easily?"


    Steven didn''t deny it. He simply smiled and said, "Maybe during our six years together, she had already stopped feeling anything for me. Then, when I got involved with Jessica, she finally gave up on me for good. She must have made up her mind to move on." "Fine," Chloe said, still feeling unconvinced. However, she knew that Steven would just counter her points if she continued arguing.


    Chloe lowered her head and considered the situation seriously.


    Before the divorce, Annalise had been obedient and understanding; no matter how much Chloe criticized her, Annalise would patiently listen. After the divorce, however, it was as if Annalise had be a fiery woman. It was infuriating to speak to her.


    Chloe knew she couldn''t vent her frustrations on Annalise. But Annalise had a son. Even if she couldn''t deal with an adult, could she not handle a preschooler?


    ...


    Zane finished his work and set the


    documents aside. Then, he remembered that Willow was very interested in the principles of the toy airne''s flight. Taking advantage of this, he decided to contact a teacher for her.


    After some consideration, Zane contacted the head of the HR department, exined his needs, and asked for assistance in finding a suitable teacher. Money would not be an issue.


    The HR head happened to have a candidate in mind. After discussing Zane''s budget and reaching an agreement with the teacher, he reported back to Zane.


    Zane was satisfied and arranged for the teacher toe to his home that evening to give lessons to Willow and Penelope.


    Once he had sorted out the arrangements for Willow, Zane stood up and walked toward the cubicle.novelbin


    I finished drawing today''sic and nced at the saved drafts of my romanceic. They were ready to be sent out. Unfortunately, I didn''t have any extra phone numbers for new ounts.

 Chapter 409

    Zane sat down next to me and asked, "What are you thinking about?"


    I focused on him and replied honestly, "A while back, I mentioned wanting to draw romanceics while I still had the time, right?"


    Zane casually draped his arm over my shoulder. "Yeah?"


    I felt a bit troubled. "I''ve finished theic, but I don''t have any extra ounts to publish it with."


    After understanding my dilemma, Zane asked, "So?"


    I looked at him and said, "I want to use your phone number to register ounts on various tforms to publish thisic. If you think this might harm your image, then it''s okay if we don''t."


    "Not at all," Zane said, pulling out his phone and handing it to me. "You can do it yourself."


    I stared at his phone in disbelief. "You''re just giving it to me like that?"


    Given Zane''s position as a high-ranking CEO, I assumed his phone would be filled with confidential information.novelbin


    Zane chuckled and ruffled my hair. "What else would I do? You''re my girlfriend and the woman I really want to spend my life with. I have nothing to hide from you."


    I looked at him in surprise. He waspletely different from Steven. Throughout my marriage with Steven-from having a child to getting divorced he had never allowed me even a glimpse of his phone.


    Steven had always insisted that his phone contained many confidential coboration projects, making it inconvenient for me to use it. He often said that he couldn''t bear the responsibility if anything went wrong. Zane''spany wasrger and had a broader scope than Steven''s, yet he never thought to hide anything from me.


    While feeling a surge of emotion rise within me, I said, "Thank you."


    "You''re wee," Zane replied, gently lifting my chin and leaning in for a light kiss. "It''s what I should do."


    After escaping a turbulent marriage with Steven, I felt incredibly fortunate to have met such a wonderful man like Zane. I thought I might never get married again.


    I lowered my gaze and began


    registering ounts on various


    tforms using Zane''s phone. Next,


    I sent him the video of thepletedic and used his


    phone to personally post it.


    Once I finished everything, I handed the phone back to Zane. "Here you go."


    Zane casually epted the phone without checking what I had done with it.


    "You finished so quickly?" he asked.


    "Yes," I said while hugging him affectionately.


    Zane gently patted the back of my hand. "Are you nning to take on advertisements with this ount?"


    I replied calmly, "I haven''t thought about that yet."


    Zane exined casually, "Advertising can significantly increase your ie. However, it might also reduce your merchandise sales, so you should consider it seriously."


    I made a quick decision. "Then I''ll stick to selling merchandise."


    Zane looked surprised. "Oh?"


    "I''m using your ount, after all. If I take on advertisements and anything goes wrong, it could negatively impact your reputation. I don''t want to implicate you."


    Zane didn''t respond to that. He just smiled and said, "The merchandise sales will slow down eventually, and then you won''t have any ie."


    I knew he was looking out for me. "If


    ites to that, I can take a break and enjoy some time off with my savings. I can also continue being a full-time mom for Willow. How great would that be?"


    Zane seemed taken aback. "You really have a positive outlook."


    I epted hispliment with a smile. "Of course! And who knows, I might get new inspiration while I''m taking care of her. I could use that inspiration to create new works."


    Zane agreed. That makes sense.


    Thepany can promote it like your first work and continue selling merchandise. But Annalise, you need to be cautious. Once you make a decision, there''s no turning back."

 Chapter 410

    I said firmly, "Don''t worry. I won''t regret it."


    ...


    Matilda promised Zachary she would move into his house to care for him. She quickly packed her belongings and was about to call for a car to help with the move when she heard a knock at the door.


    When she opened it, she found Harry standing there. He said politely, "Zachary sent us to help you move your things."


    "Thank you so much. I was just thinking about how I would manage all this stuff if I had to get a car myself," Matilda said in relief.


    Harry smiled and said, "Just leave it to me."


    Matilda didn''t have much to bring her luggage mainly consisted of clothes. She had left therger items behind since Zachary already had them in the house, and bringing them along would only take up space. Harry ced Matilda''s luggage in the trunk and sat in the driver''s seat. He sighed and said, "Zachary has it tough too. He''s only five years old, yet his biological father abandoned him."


    Matilda teared up after hearing about Zachary''s situation. "Yeah, I can''t believe Steven is so heartless."


    Harry added, "Honestly, I often see Zachary secretly wiping away his tears."


    Matilda felt her heart ache. "Steven is truly despicable. He''s doing all he can to get Zachary to bond with the mistress. He wants Zachary to treat her like his real mother and just get rid of my daughter.novelbin


    "In the end, Steven thinks of Zachary as a burden. If he knew it would turn out this way, why go to such lengths to take the child away?"


    Harry also felt sorry for Zachary. "Exactly! If he had just cheated without dragging Zachary into it, Zachary would probably be living happily with his mother now."


    "Yeah!" Matilda grew angrier as she


    thought about it. "You need to drop me off at Steven''spany. I have fat to find a way to confront him. Otherwise, I won''t be able to ease


    my resentment!"


    Harry agreed readily. "Sure!"


    ...


    After dropping off Chloe, Steven returned to his office alone. He stood quietly in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, suddenly feeling like he was going insane. He didn''t understand why he always allowed Jessica to make Annalise suffer. Every time Annalise faced unfair treatment, she would distance herself from him. Steven knew this pattern but kept making the same mistakes. What pained him the most was that his heart would ache terribly whenever he couldn''t see Annalise. How wonderful it would be to go back in time. If only Steven could say goodbye to Jessica and live happily with Annalise. Unfortunately, it was all toote.


    Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. Stevenposed himself and coldly said, "Come in."


    Matilda pushed the door open with a furious expression. "Steven, what on earth is going on with you?"


    Beli


    Steven quickly stood up to greet her. Although Annalise had given up on him and Zachary, Matilda was someone Annalise couldn''t distance herself from. If he left a good impression on Matilda, perhaps she would see him as a perfect man and encourage Annalise to reconcile with him.


    Steven forced a smile. "Please sit down."


    Matilda sat down and raised her voice to reprimand him, "You divorced my daughter and got together with Jessica. I thought you must have found true love, so I didn''t say anything before."


    She felt it was unfair for Annalise. When Annalise was with Steven, he had nothing.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 411

    Annalise had silently supported Steven, helping him achieve his current sess.


    Steven was now wealthy. As soon as his first love, Jessica, returned to the country, all he could think about was her.


    Matilda couldn''t help but feel disdain for him, but she kept it to herself.


    Steven quickly apologized, "I know I was wrong."


    Matilda wasn''t a naive young girl; she could easily sense the insincerity in his words. "Really?"


    Steven nodded earnestly. "Absolutely!"


    Matilda replied coldly, "But I don''t feel that way. If you truly regretted your actions, you wouldn''t be clinging to Jessica daily while neglecting your son!"


    Steven countered, "Have you ever considered why I''m doing this?"


    Matilda''s disdain for him deepened as he continued to make excuses. "Steven, no matter what your reasons are, ignoring a child who can''t fend for himself only proves you''re a scoundrel. I don''t want toment too much about matters of the heart." In the past, Annalise always looked lifeless when she visited Matilda. However, thest time was different-Annalise seemed genuinely happy, and her beautiful face glowed with radiance.


    Upon seeing Annalise with a different outlook, Matilda felt a bit more at ease.


    Annalise had mentioned that she now had a good job and was capable of supporting herself, which made Matilda genuinely happy for her.


    Steven, however, was taken aback by how strongly Matilda felt against him and quickly tried to exin, "But there are reasons for this. After I got together with Jessica, Zachary always caused trouble."


    Matilda was shocked that things had escted to this point and that Steven was still making excuses.


    She mmed her hand on the table


    and said coldly, "I know very well how much Zachary loved Jessica. He even ejected his mother for her. And now you tell me that as soon as Jessica is with you, Zachary


    suddenly had issues with her? Are


    you out of your mind?"


    Her words struck Steven hard, and he turned pale. After seeing his reaction, Matilda lost interest in continuing the conversation.


    "I''ve said all I need to say. You''re being unfair to Zachary if you don''t provide him with living expenses. Don''tin when he refuses to care for you when you''re old."


    Matilda''s refusal to support him while defending Zachary only added to Steven''s frustration.novelbin


    "You can rest assured; I won''t have anyints about that. Jessica is pregnant with my child. Once the baby is born, I will leave all my assets to him. There''s no need to involve Zachary in this," Steven retorted.


    Matilda suddenly understood why Annalise felt the need to leave Steven. As the saying went, Steven was willing to throw his own flesh and blood to the wolves. If Steven could be so cruel to his son, how could Annalise expect any kindness from him?


    After she witnessed Steven''s


    character, Matilda didn''t continue to


    hold much hope for him. "If that''s the case, then you should recorda video as evidence. In the video mention what year it is, the scale of yourpany, and your annual profits," she suggested.


    This way, when Steven got older and came to rely on Zachary, Zachary could simply present the video to everyone and show that Steven had ignored him while making money. Everyone would see Steven


    as


    ungrateful, giving Zachary a valid


    reason not to support him.


    Matilda continued, "Also include your age and Zachary''s age this year. Finally, state that you''ve decided not to take care of Zachary and that he won''t have to support you in the future.


    "Once you do that and I get the video, I promise I won''t disturb you again. Don''t worry. Even if Zachary has no money, I''ll find a way to support him myself. I absolutely won''t let him ask you for money. What do you think?"

 Chapter 412

    Steven found Matilda''s suggestion to be quite ridiculous. He had initially intended to teach Zachary a lesson. Once Zachary ran out of money, he would realize his mistakes. Steven would eventually forgive him and continue to provide financial support. But with Matilda causing such a scene, Steve considered not wanting to care for Zachary at all.


    Still, Steven didn''t directly agree with what Matilda suggested, saying, "This is what you proposed."


    Matilda nodded in response. "It is."


    After all, Zachary still had money-enough to support himself for a long time. Matilda felt at ease to speak more harshly.


    Upon seeing her determination, Steven picked up his phone, pointed it to face him, and began recording the video. Once finished, he sent it to Matilda.


    "I hope you never regret this," he said coldly.


    "Don''t worry." After Matilda received the video, she checked it thoroughly. Once she confirmed there were no issues, she sighed in relief. "I will never regret it." Matilda''s only regret was that she didn''t support Annalise''s decision when she returned home and expressed her desire for a divorce.


    At that moment, Matilda suddenly realized that if her daughter had stayed married to Steven and tried to make it work, she would likely be suffering now. After leaving the office, Matilda sat in the car and felt an inexplicable sense of guilt toward Annalise. She took out her phone and dialed Annalise''s number. Once the call connected, Matilda spoke up. "Hello?"


    Annalise asked in confusion. "Mom? What made you think to contact me all of a sudden?"


    Matilda sighed and said, "Before I continue, I need to apologize."


    Annalise was even more confused. "Huh?"


    "I used to have a rather conservative view." Matilda hesitated before continuing, "I thought Steven was a decent person and that you shouldn''t divorce him.


    "But after talking with him today, I suddenly realized he''s a beast. He cheated to be with his first love abandoned the wife who suffered alongside him, and even took the child away.


    "And now he doesn''t even care for Zachary. His mother is just as foolish; instead of using this opportunity to be good to Zachary, she''s trying to please Jessica! Leaving their family was definitely the right decision."


    ...


    As I listened to Matilda''s voice on the phone, a smile unconsciously spread across my face.novelbin


    That meant Steven and Chloe had both given up on Zachary. When they eventually found out Jessica was carrying a child that wasn''t even Steven''s, they would surely regret it!


    Iughed and said, "That''s exactly the kind of thing they would do."


    Matilda sighed again. "I''vee to understand what kind of people they are. Annalise, from now on, do whatever you want. I will support you."


    I felt genuinely grateful. "Thank you, Mom."


    Matilda''s heart seemed to have melted upon hearing Annalise''s voice. She suddenly realized that she had previously overlooked Annalise''s feelings.


    "Why are you being so formal with me? There''s no need for that."


    I was just about to respond when Matilda hurriedly said, "I still have to pack my things, so I''ll hang up now."


    Before I could answer, she hung up the phone.


    I couldn''t help but smile while looking at the screen.


    "Was that my mother-inw calling?" Zane asked as he walked over, familiar with our conversation.


    He was already addressing her so


    affectionately even before we were married. I looked up at Zane but didn''t correct his term of §Ö endearment; instead, I smiled and replied, "Yes."


    Zane gave me a knowing smile. "You seem really happy. She must have said something that made you feel good?"

 Chapter 413

    I admitted honestly, "My mom used to think that a woman must have a man no matter what. So, she always hoped I would reconcile with Steven and live a good life. But after talking to him, she suddenly realized that Steven''s whole family were scumbags. Now she Zane nodded in agreement. "That''s good. It saves you from being unhappy in the future."


    supports my decision to divorce."


    "Exactly. So I need to work even harder to earn money!" I said earnestly.


    Zane had initially nned toe over and be affectionate, but seeing me so focused and determined in my work brought a warm smile to his face.


    Just then, someone knocked at the door. Zane looked up and said, "Come in."


    Eric entered and approached Zane, reporting on theic''s progress. "We''ve finalized the details for the print edition with the publisher. It should be published within a few months."


    I was shocked. "So soon?"


    Eric smiled and replied, "That''s right. Given that the physical book market is struggling and they haven''t had a hit book in a while, they''re currently operating at a loss.


    "After seeing our merchandise sales grow rapidly, they believe your book sales will do well. They want to try using your book to turn their losses into profits. So they''ve prioritized your book, and the publication process is moving faster than others."


    I understood the situation better now. "I see!"


    Eric continued, "We''ve also hired someone to contact overseas publishers. He just started his job and has already contacted them. They are very optimistic about this book and want us to let him handle everything. The revenue share will follow the normal distribution." As I listened, I felt increasingly pleased with my job at Huxham Corporation. I could focus on my responsibilities while they took care of everything else.


    Eric then looked at Zane and asked, "Do you have any objections, Mr. Huxham?"


    Zane shook his head. "No."


    After a brief silence, Eric added, "Now that we''ve covered the good news, there''s some bad news."


    I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. In the past, Eric''s reports were almost entirely positive. Why was there suddenly bad news today?


    Zane maintained a serious expression. "Go on."


    Eric chose his words carefully.novelbin


    "Recently, there''s a weic being


    serialized online. The plot is highly simr to Annalise''s. However, the storyline contains many


    elements about both of you. It ims Ms. Jamison had an affair during her marriage and that Mr. Huxham was the third party."


    He lowered his head, clearly hesitant to meet Zane''s gaze. "It also suggests that Steven waspletely unaware and only decided to divorce Annalise after


    swnovel


    discovering your rtionship."


    As Eric spoke, I opened my phone and clicked on theic he mentioned. A quick nce confirmed that the plot was indeed as described.


    Eric continued, "Some people have


    "Mr. Huxham, do you think we need to exin ourselves?"


    Zane''s expression remained unchanged throughout the report; he simply turned to me and asked, "What do you think?"


    I didn''t answer but asked, "If we don''t exin this, will it affect thepany''s stock price?"

 Chapter 414

    Eric replied, "That won''t be a problem. Mr. Huxham is quite well-known in our city. There are many characters based on him. If this fictional plot could affect the stock price, then the people would really be foolish."


    I smiled and said, "Since it won''t have any impact, let''s not bother about rifying it."


    Zane looked puzzled. "Aren''t you worried about being criticized?"


    I answered seriously, "When I hadn''t experienced this kind of thing before, being suddenly criticized felt unfair. I hadn''t done anything wrong, so why should I be med? But then I realized they weren''t my real friends and didn''t know me at all. It''spletely normal for them to be swayed by public opinion."


    I continued calmly, "In situations like this, what matters is that I know who I am, what I want, and whether what others say is true. If it''s not true, I don''t need to take it to heart."


    Eric gave me a thumbs-up. "Impressive."


    I replied, "Thanks. Right now, people are criticizing me because of thisic. But if they want to understand what kind of person I really am, they''ll likely pay attention to me and check out my work.


    "What if they end up enjoying myics? I can guide them to buy my merchandise! Even those who just want to criticize will stille to myment section. Most importantly, I''ve already addressed these issues in thements before. Some readers know that I haven''t done anything wrong in this situation.


    "If they rify things for me, maybe those who criticized me will feel guilty and buy some of my merchandise."


    Iughed and said, "No matter how you look at it, I''m in a win-win situation."


    Eric stared at me in disbelief. "You can turn criticism into an advantage? You''re so optimistic."


    "At this point, there''s no use crying over spilled milk. Isn''t that right?"novelbin


    Eric nodded. "True."


    Then, since Eric worked for Zane, he decided to seek his opinion. "Mr. Huxham, should I inform the PR department not to respond?"


    Zane replied calmly, "Yes."


    I lowered my gaze to hide the amusement in my eyes.


    If I wasn''t mistaken, the author of theic that was tarnishing my reputation had to be Jessica. If I chose not to respond now, everyone would likely believe that Jessica was as genuine and kind as portrayed in theic.


    People would grow fond of Jessica.


    And when the day came that her misdeeds were exposed, she would face public bacsh, and everyone woulde to dislike her. At that point, I could just sit back and watch the drama unfold.


    After all, Jessica seemed to think she could manipte public opinion against me without facing any consequences. Little did she know that I had already nned everything behind the scenes hoped she could handle it when the time came.


    I felt my mood instantly lift. After Eric finished briefing the PR department who had initially nned to respond but decided to wait and see-he hung up the phone and remembered something important he hadn''t mentioned yet.


    "Yvonne has applied to create merchandise for thisic."


    Zane raised an eyebrow. Eric continued, "Theic is drawn by Jessica."

 Chapter 415

    Zane never knew such weird people existed.


    Dumbfounded, Zane said, "She is the one at fault. How can she have the audacity to nder Anna and me in theics? And now, she wants me to release merchandise for her? Do I look like an easy target?"


    Eric asked, "Should I reject Yvonne and tell her we can''t do that right now?"novelbin


    "When Jessica gets exposedter, her supporters who bought the merchandise will feel betrayed. If we release the merchandise, and if people ask for a refund... Wouldn''t that mean we''ll have to bear all the losses?" Zane said calmly. Eric said, "You''re right. I''ll let Yvonne know, then."


    "Alright."


    ...


    After Eric left Zane''s office, he went to Yvonne, who had been waiting in the hallway.


    Eric said, "Youric has published too few chapters; there aren''t many readers either. If we release merchandise now, thepany might suffer losses."


    Of course, Eric couldn''t tell Yvonne what Zane actually said. Otherwise, Yvonne and Jessica would cause a scene at thepany. As such, Eric tried to be less direct about it.


    Without much thought, Yvonne asked, "But didn''t Annalise''sic start selling merchandise not too long after publishing?"


    Eric answered formally, "That is because even if she suffered losses, Mr. Huxham could support her. But what about you?"


    That left Yvonne speechless.


    Eric continued, saying, "Also, even though herics were not statistically the best-performing, it was the most stable. Right now, Jessica''sic cannot measure up to hers. But of course, if you''re willing to invest some money to support Jessica''sic... "Thepany can consider releasing some merchandise for her, too. What do you think?"


    Yvonne considered it carefully. After analyzing Annalise''sic and merchandise, she noticed that thepany invested a lot of money in them, but there wasn''t much profit.


    If Yvonne did as Eric suggested, Yvonne may end up losing all her savings.


    As she didn''t want to take that much


    risk for Jessica, Yvonne said, "Forget


    it, then It''s not toote to release merchandise when thepany thinks Jessica''s work is performing well."


    en


    Then, Yvonne hurriedly returned to her office in case Eric changed his mind. Eric chuckled and looked away.


    While seated next to me, Zane held my hand and lightly caressed it. He said, "Your merchandise is selling pretty well. Because of that, many creators-in theicmunity and othermunities-are starting to sell merchandise, too."


    Compared to kisses, Zane seemed to prefer holding handstely. I thought it was an interesting change to see in him.


    I said, "That''s nice. We can encourage the readers to support official goods. That way, our merchandise would sell better, too." Zane asked, "But aren''t you angry that Jessica is imitating you?"


    Without much thought, I said, "As long as she doesn''te picking a fight with me for no reason, I don''t care what she does."


    Then, Zane put his other arm on my shoulder and said, "But I think she will definitely pick a fight with youter on.


    "It may start with Jessica alone, but


    when Yvonne sees therge profit,


    she will be envious, too. I''m sure


    Yvonne will pull some petty tricket


    ?


    just to get her hands on the resources for advertisement and merchandise.


    "I can resolve the major issues for you, but I won''t even know of the minor issues. It may cause you a lot of problems."


    I could tell that Zane wanted me to be happier.


    I patted Zane''s hand in response and said, "Don''t worry. I won''t take it personally. After all, no matter what they do, it wouldn''t affect my ie."


    After hearing that, Zane became more at ease. He said, "It''s great you can think that way."


    "Since you know Yvonne and Jessica''s characters, why don''t you fire them?" Sasha suddenly asked curiously.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 416

    Zane and I turned to look at Sasha.


    Confused, Sasha said, "Well, carry on. Why are you looking at me?"


    Zane asked, "Since when were you here?"


    Sasha replied honestly, "When your secretary went outside."


    I chuckled and said, "I didn''t notice you arrived."


    Meanwhile, Zane looked away.


    Sasha continued, "If Yvonne is fired from thepany, wouldn''t that resolve the root of the problem?"


    Instead of giving his input, Zane agreed with Sasha, saying, "That''s a good way to resolve it."


    Upon hearing that, Sasha smiled. But Zane said, "But have you considered an important fact?" Sasha asked, "What?"


    "Yvonne and Jessica both hate Anna. If we have them under our watch, we will know what they''re up to. But if we let them go... What if she has an evil n, and we fail to notice it? That would also mean we cannote up with a solution immediately," said Zane. In response, Sasha nodded and said, "You''re right."


    Then Zane continued, "But now, we let her stay in thepany. If she has nothing better to do, she will try to find trouble with Anna. In that case, I can assign her work, evaluate all her ideas, predict her next move, and identify the mastermind behind everything she did." Aftering to a realization, Sasha eximed, "I see!"


    Upon seeing how dazed Sasha looked, Zane said, "If you encounter any problems, don''t focus only on what''s ahead of you. You should try to look at the big picture. Do you understand?" Sasha nodded and said, "Got it."


    Sasha suddenly thought that the world of adults was soplicated. All she wanted to do was to live in the present.


    After the two wrapped up their discussion, I asked Sasha, "How''s your new department?"


    Immediately, Sasha felt like tearing up. She wailed, "Tiring! It''s so tiring! I''m busy, from the moment I get to work until I get off work. There is no time for me to rest! I only geta break during meal times."


    With a sorrowful expression, Sasha gazed at Zane and asked, "Isn''t Huxham Corporation known for its high pay and good benefits? Why would thepany allow such a tiring department to exist?"


    In response, Zane calmly said, "That is because this department has the most intense workaholics in thepany."


    Sasha froze upon hearing that.


    Zane continued, "They approached


    me, saying they didn''t need a pay raise. All they wanted was to work Since it seemed like they couldn''t endure a rxed lifestyle, I told them that would reward them with of the project''s profits.


    50%


    "I thought that would help them rx a little, but I hadn''t expected them to work even harder."


    When Sasha heard that, she subconsciously straightened her posture, and her eyes glistened brightly.


    Sasha wanted to say that she wasn''tnovelbin


    a workaholic and wanted a rxed


    lifestyle. She had intended toin about her department assignment, but after hearing what Zane said, she suddenly thought it was sometimes okay to bea workaholic.

 Chapter 417

    Sasha''s co-workers told her of the bonus entitlement after the project ended. It could sustain a regr person to livefortably for several lifetimes. Sasha smiled and asked, "Am I entitled to the bonus too?"


    Zane looked at her weirdly and said, "You''re part of the team. Of course, you are."


    Suddenly, Sasha didn''t feel tired anymore. She asked, "If I get the money, shouldn''t that mean I can spend all of it?"


    Zane gazed at her sympathetically. If Sasha could receive the bonus, she would probably not have the time to spend the money.


    Curious, I asked, "If the benefits are so great, I''d think any ambitious individual will try to get a spot in this department... Why aren''t people willing to join this team?" Zane said calmly, "Because this project is not guaranteed to make a profit. Most people think receiving a sry is good enough, and they don''t want to take risks."


    Sasha also couldn''t understand their reasoning. She asked, "Even if the project didn''t profit as much as expected, won''t they still have a sry?"


    Zane replied nonchntly, "Maybe they all think that if they worked so hard, yet the project failed to profit as expected, it would be a waste of their efforts."


    Ever since Sasha heard of therge bonus, she had fallen in love with the project. She asked, "Why can''t they hope for the project to be sessful and hope to earn arge profit from it?"


    As he was aware of everyone''s concerns, Zane exined, "Maybe it''s because such games don''t exist in the market yet. There''s too much risk."


    "I see. But I like risks," Sasha said, finally understanding the situation better.


    Then, Sasha sat next to me. She clung to my arm and leaned on my shoulder. I could tell that something was on her mind.


    I chuckled and asked, "Is there something you want to say?"novelbin


    "Yes! Do you remember the guy who tried to pursue me and then sought a stand-in lover after I rejected him? Shane Winslow?" Sasha asked grumpily. Surprised, I said, "Yes. What''s up?"


    I was curious to know what that person had done again.


    When Shane was mentioned, Sasha felt baffled. She said, "He''s been telling my dad many things. He said something was wrong with my dad''spany. He also said that if my dad allows him to marry me, he will reluctantly agree to help my dad resolve that crisis.


    "What a joke. He''s just a good-for-nothing rich kid! How can he help my dad out?"


    As Sasha said that, she rolled her eyes. Meanwhile, Zane looked at me.


    Upon noticing the contempt in Sasha''s tone, I couldn''t control my urge tough. I asked, "And what happened?"


    Sasha took a deep breath and said, "You have no idea how weird he is! On one hand, he was trying to convince my dad for my hand in marriage. But on the other hand, he was entangled with that stand-in lover of his. I really respect them."


    Confused, I asked, "Is he still in contact with that girlfriend?"


    Sasha didn''t hide her disgust as she said, "Yeah. I don''t know what nonsense they''re up to... But I heard that he broke up with his girlfriend When she heard that he didn''t want her anymore, she lost her will to live and decided to take her own life.


    "I heard from my friend that it was a touching moment. The two


    embraced each other and expressed their true thoughts, crying and all Everyone who watched them felt sad, too. But if it didn''t involve me, I would''ve agreed that it was a touching scene!"


    When I heard that, I was in disbelief. I asked, "What does it have to do with you?"


    "Exactly! I asked my friend who was at the scene. My friend said that Shane embraced his girlfriend, and he said this...


    "Sasha Weston, if it weren''t for you, my girlfriend wouldn''t have tried to kill herself. Starting today, you''re going to pay for this." Sasha thought she was going to go crazy because of this.

 Chapter 418

    At that time, when Sasha heard what her friend said, she felt confused. Then, she wanted to curse Shane out.


    The two put on a dramatic show about their romance and involved a person who had exited their lives, had been focusing on her job, and had not been in contact with them.


    Sasha wondered if she was an essential part of their dramatic rtionship.


    Frowning, Sasha asked, "Are they nuts?"


    I agreed and said, "I think so."


    Zane also thought that they were odd. He wondered if such weird people existed in this world.


    After hearing my response, Sasha felt a little better. She said, "I thought so too. I heard from my dad, but Shane called my dad in a frenzy that night. He said that my dad was irresponsible to have educated me into a cruel woman who didn''t care about human life. He said that my dad had to pay for it, too."


    I hurriedly asked, "How did your father respond?"


    "He recorded the call and sent it to Shane''s father," Sasha said.


    After taking a deep breath, she continued, "Then, my father blocked his number."


    I held my fist to my chin as I tried to recall what Sasha had said earlier. Then, I asked, "Are they immersed in some roley as a CEO and his stand-in lover?"


    But Sasha wasn''t curious about their lives." It beats me. Poor me. I was just doing my own thing, but I was turned into the viin in their love story. Isn''t that ridiculous?"


    Sasha thought it would make sense if she had been like Jessica-texting Shane every day, pretending to be weak or uninterested, yet contacting him daily. If so, it would have been rational for the couple to hate her.


    If they disliked Sasha for that, it would''ve been eptable. But the truth was Sasha had never done any of that.


    I nodded and said, "It''s ridiculous, indeed."


    After listening to our conversation, Zane chimed in and asked, "When he was threatening your father, did he say what he nned to do to your father?"novelbin


    Sasha shook her head and said, "I


    have no idea My dad never told me about it. He always says I''m still young and doesn''t want me to worry about the business. I know that my father hopes that I can always be a happy little girl."


    Sasha grew up in a very happy family. Her parents doted on and loved her a lot.


    Sasha continued, "My n right now is to do a good job with the project at hand. If it performs well when itunches, I can also make a lot of money!


    "That way, even if anything goes wrong with my dad''s business, I can support them financially."


    With a proud expression, Sasha said, "My dad wouldn''t have expected his daughter to be so independent."


    I lightly patted Sasha on her


    shoulder and said, "You''ve grown a lot in just a few days. Your parents would be happy to see this. Lately I''ve also started to earn money If you need any funds, just let me know. I''ll do my best to help you."


    Sasha, feeling touched, jumped into my embrace and said, "Thank you! You''re amazing. I love you."


    I hummed lightly and patted Sasha on her shoulders.


    Sasha grumpily said, "I heard the crazy couple is still trying to find trouble with me. I hope I don''t encounter them." Just then, Zane was done with his work. He said, "Let''s go for lunch."


    And so, I got up and said, "Let''s go."


    The three of us went downstairs to the cafeteria together, but something happened just after ordering our food.

 Chapter 419

    Just after ordering our food, there was a man who spoke in an irritated tone.


    "Sasha Weston, I thought you didn''t like me. Why did you hurt her? And why did you text her, ming her for snatching your man away and asking her to die?"


    The man''s tone was filled with contempt and hatred. When Sasha turned around and saw his face, she felt dumbfounded. Sasha thought she was really unlucky. Irritated, Sasha said, "Shane Winslow, let me ask you a question. When was the text sent out?"


    Without much thought, Shane answered, "At 4:00 pm. yesterday."


    Sasha rolled her eyes at him after hearing that. Zane nced at Sasha, and then he said, "Do you mind if I say something?"


    Shane was surprised to see that Zane was intervening. Shane nodded and said, "Sure."


    "About the time that you just mentioned... Sasha had just been transferred to the busiest department in ourpany," Zane said nonchntly.


    However, Shane thought Zane was trying to cover for Sasha. Shane snapped and asked, "Why? Does transferring to this department mean she can''t use her phone?"


    Then, as if he didn''t notice the sarcasm in Shane''s question, Zane replied, "That''s right. To prevent the team members from being distracted from work by their phones, her current department confiscates all of their phones once they enter the office." Shane frowned hard after hearing that.


    Zane continued and said, "That means it''s impossible for her to text you."


    Irritated, Shane said, "She''s your employee. Of course, you will be on her side."


    In response, Zane said calmly, "If you don''t believe me, you can tour her department. Then, you''ll know if I was telling you the truth."


    Sasha waited until Zane was done


    before saying, "All you''ve said is built


    on the assumption that I''m interested in you. But the truth is, I''m not interested in you at all. Why would I view your girlfriend as an enemy and attack her?"


    After taking a deep breath, Sasha continued, "Honestly, I will rejoice if the two of you are happily together!"


    There was a woman standing behind Shane the whole time. She hid behind Shane as if she was scared of Sasha.


    Sasha had already been annoyed


    when she saws


    Now that


    Sasha saw the woman, she became


    even more furious. Not only did the


    two assume Sasha was an enemy for no reason, but they were also putting up an act in front of her now. Sasha was in disbelief!


    Sasha said sternly, "I must emphasize that Mr. Huxham is right. I don''t have time to do meaningless things like this!"


    After hearing that, Shane looked at Jenny Garcia, the woman, and asked, "And how would you exin that?"novelbin


    While avoiding his gaze, Jenny suggested, "Maybe somebody texted me with her phone?"


    Sasha hadn''t expected Jenny to still lie at this point. Raising her voice, Sasha said, "First of all, I don''t have your phone number! Second of aff you''re not a celebrity! None of my friends know you! Why would they text you for no reason?


    "The both of you are saying weird things to me. People aware of the situation would just think you''re a pair of lovebirds. Otherwise, to those who don''t know, it would just seem like you two ganged up to mess with me!" Suddenly, Jenny started to cry. Shane immediately embraced her and consoled her gently.


    After Jenny calmed down, Shane red at Sasha and said, "Even if it wasn''t you, can''t you be more gentle? Look, you scared her!"

 Chapter 420

    Sasha rolled her eyes and said, "I''ve been very kind not to p the both of you. Shane, I''m not sure what both of you are trying to say, but what''s certain is that you may not have jobs, but I do. "Hence, I do not have time for your love games, and I am not interested in being a sacrifice in your love story. Please don''t get me involved in your rtionship!"


    Sasha couldn''t understand why they were so relentless. She continued, "I left the social circle you were in just to keep a distance from you. Did that not clearlymunicate my attitude already?" Shane''s expression fell. He asked, "Are you sure you''ve never had feelings for me?"


    At that moment, Sasha felt relieved that she had never developed any feelings for Shane. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have been able to exin herself.


    Sasha nodded and said, "If I loved you, why would I pursue Zane and not you?"


    After hearing that, Shane looked at Zane.


    Zane calmly said, "It''s because I''m outstanding."


    Sasha continued, "Later, Zane rejected me. I thought his girlfriend was a good person, so I started to hang out with his girlfriend. Even then, I never went to you. I thought I was being very clear about my stance."


    In a soft voice, Jenny asked, "What if you think doing that can make him love you even more?"


    Sasha had mentally prepared herself, but she was in disbelief when she heard what Jenny said.


    I said, "Disappearing from his world and never contacting him... Did it seem like Sasha was using push and pull tactics in that rtionship?"novelbin


    Jenny nodded and said, "Yeah."


    "If that''s what you think, why didn''t you stop contacting Shane for as long as Sasha stopped contacting him? Wouldn''t that work out?" I asked gently. Jenny didn''t know how to respond to that.


    I continued and said, "That would make Shane love you more, wouldn''t it?"


    Sasha added on, saying, "I won''t contact him for the next few years."


    With a smile, I asked Jenny, "Did you hear that? Sasha is bold and charismatic, which is why Shane


    couldn''t let her go. If you learn from Sasha''s ways, wouldn''t Shane love you more?"


    Jenny turned pale and gazed at Shane. When Shane saw how fragile Jenny seemed, he felt protective of Jenny.


    Shane remarked, "Are the both of you proud that you are bullying a weak woman like this?"


    I felt the need to correct him, so l said, "We came here for lunch, as usual. You two were the ones who came questioning us unreasonably. We were just trying to defend


    ourselves. Furthermore...


    "I was just bouncing off what she said. If you think that what I said was too offensive, wouldn''t that mean that you think that your girlfriend''s statements are problematic?" Then, I smiled.


    Shane didn''t know how to respond


    to my question. While trying to change the topic, he looked at Zane and said, "Mr. Huxham, don''t you think it''s rude for your woman to be making so much noise in public?"


    "She''s my girlfriend, not an essory. I don''t need her to depend on me," Zane said, not giving in to Shane''s question.


    Zane continued, "That is why she can live without being wary of my opinions. She can express her emotions freely. I will not interfere with that. Also..."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 421

    In response to Shane''s question, Zane said, "Also, I don''t think there is anything wrong with what she said."


    When Shane heard that, he knew full well that he was in the wrong. Even if he tried to get Zane to stand up for him, Zane wouldn''t.


    While holding Jenny''s hand, Shane said angrily, "Very well. Since you are all unreasonable, I don''t see a need to waste my time with you."


    In response, Zane sneered. "Well, it''s amazing that you crashed our lunch, tried to pick a fight with us, and now shift the me to us."


    When Zane said that, he exuded a domineering demeanor. Shane felt intimidated but didn''t want to embarrass himself in front of Jenny. Shane said, "Mr. Huxham, I''m just trying to seek justice for my girlfriend."


    Shane thought that since he couldn''t criticize Zane''s girlfriend, it would be fine for him to criticize Zane''s employee, whom he considered unimportant.


    In response, Zane said nonchntly, "Sasha has exined what she needed to. She has never done what you used her of, and you were the ones who wrongly used her." Shane said, "But I trust my girlfriend wouldn''t lie."


    "Your trust does not represent the truth. Are you going to ignore the evidence presented to you and simply believe in what she says?" Zane asked inly.


    Shane answered determinedly, "Yes. Since you''re trying to cover for your employee, I guess I can''t say much. Let''s go, Jenny."


    And so, Shane left with Jenny. But as Jenny left, she made it seem like she was bullied, crying as she followed Shane out. After they left, Sasha felt relieved.


    Sasha leaned back in her seat and said, "I hope they hate me after what happened today. It would be great if they stoppeding to me."


    "You should be careful. Shane''s feelings for Jenny aren''t that deep yet," said Zane, reminding Sasha.


    Zane continued, "That is why Jenny


    will always tell Shane about you, gossiping and using you of harming her. That way, Shane would think that you''re a bad person and that she''s a good person, having more pity for her in the process. Likewise, he would hate yo


    more


    and more."


    Sasha dragged her hands over her face and asked, "When will she stop?"


    After analyzing the situation, Zane said, "She may never stop. If there is a conflict between them, she will use ake


    you as an excuse. That way, they


    can reconcile quickly without


    affecting their rtionship. It''s only


    beneficial for them."


    By this point, Sasha had given up. She said, "Whatever they say, as long as they don''t say weird things in front of me, I don''t care."novelbin


    Zane shot Sasha a meaningful look and said, "They will definitelye to you frequently after this."


    When Sasha imagined what might happen, she felt her heart sink with dread. Sasha asked, "Mr. Huxham, can I stay in the office 24 hours a day?"


    Sasha figured if she never left the office, Shane would never be able to disturb her!


    "No way. Ourpany does not allow excessive overtime work," Zane said. With a sullen face, Sasha said, "Fine."


    Then, I asked, "Logically, Shane''s family is pretty well-off. He should be capable of resolving the problem between him and his girlfriend, right? He doesn''t need to disturb Sasha every day."


    Sasha became hopeful after hearing that.


    In response to my question, Zane said gently, "Think about it. Who are the people in their social circle?"

 Chapter 422

    When Sasha heard Zane''s question, she immediately raised her hand. She had the answer to his question! Sasha said, "Hooligans!"


    When Sasha used to spend time with those people, she never noticed it. But now that she detached herself from that circle and Shane was disturbing her, Sasha had be grudgeful about those people.


    Zane said, "That''s right. People with established careers don''t associate with them. However, they also can''t associate with rich kids from wealthy families with good personalities.


    "And so, the circle is left with rich kids who are uneducated and uncultured. Their parents condone their behavior, and their friends tter them. Over time, they would inevitably be arrogant."


    With a hint of contempt in his voice, Zane said, "When things go wrong, they don''t know how to find the root of the problem. They are just like headless chickens, rushing forward when someone else takes advantage of them." Sasha eximed, "I''m d that I''m no longer associated with them! Otherwise, I would end up like one of them-brainless idiots."


    Zane didn''t deny what Sasha said. "Considering everything I just said, my guess is... After this, somebody will egg Shane on, and Shane will likely continue finding trouble with you."


    Sasha took a deep breath. Upon seeing how down Sasha seemed, Zaneforted her.


    "Don''t worry. Since you''re working at ourpany, I''ll try to fix this for you."


    "Really?" Sasha asked excitedly.


    Zane nodded and said, "Yes."


    Meanwhile, I gazed at Zane. He was the most normal man I''ve ever met. He was also willing to protect his employees; when they ran into trouble, he never turned a blind eye. Zane also treated everyone kindly. Zane turned around and met my eyes. Then, he held my hand.novelbin


    Just then, food was served.


    With a serious expression, Sasha said, "As my token of thanks, I will get back to work immediately after lunch. I will not procrastinate anymore!"


    Sasha stopped chatting with us and focused on eating. She was determined to work hard and be an important asset to thepany.


    Sasha dreamed of climbing to a high


    position in thepany. That way, if Shane came to see her, her secretary would have to say, "m sorry, but she''s busy right now!"


    Then, Shane would have to wait hours to finally meet her and beg to coborate with her. Sasha would then shoot Shane an icy look and say, I''m sorry, but yourpany is not good enough!"


    At that thought, Sasha became even §Ö more motivated. After finishing her meal, she bid us farewell and said, "Enjoy your meal. I''m going to get back to work!"


    Sasha wasn''t scared of all the workaholics on her team. After all, she was determined to be the greatest workaholic of them all!


    ...


    I chuckled as I watched Sasha walk away.


    Zane asked, "Don''t you think she bounces back really quickly?"


    I nodded and said, "Yeah. She was angry moments ago, but she''s all okay now!"


    Zane said nonchntly, "Such is youth. Her emotionse and go so quickly."


    Then, Zane patted my hand and said, "We should focus on our meal. Otherwise, the food will go cold."


    "Okay," I said, shifting my focus to the food.


    Today''s lunch was delicious and perfectly suited to my taste.

 Chapter 423

    I was amazed how Zane could always find good restaurants like this. Zane stared at me for a while. After making sure that I enjoyed the food, he looked away. After the meal, we left the restaurant.


    Zane held my hand. I turned to him and asked, "Are we going back to work?"


    Zane answered, "No. Let''s go for a walk. A lot has happenedtely, and I think we haven''t talked as much as we used to. We should take advantage of this opportunity to talk more. After all, our rtionship is the priority over work and money."


    I never expected a man to prioritize a rtionship so much. I thought only women would be so sensitive to emotions while men were focused on work.


    But after getting to know Zane, I realized there wasn''t a great difference between men and women. The differencey in love, or theck of it.


    Zane was willing to take time to build our rtionship because... he loved me.novelbin


    When I was married to Steven, he was always stingy aboutmunicating with me. That was because he never loved me, and of course, he never valued me.


    After gaining some rity, I felt my mood lift. I said, "You''re right!"


    We walked side-by-side along the quiet street, with only the birds chirping away. Without the need to work at the moment, I could enjoy the silence. Suddenly, I thought living a peaceful life like this would be nice.


    Zane asked gently, "Have you ever thought of your life after retirement?"


    I replied, "No, but I enjoy drawing now. Long ago, I''ve been thinking that I should draw for life. So, for as long as I''m alive, and as long as I can draw, I will continue to draw."


    Zane hadn''t expected me to be so passionate about my career. He said, "That''s good."


    After expressing my thoughts, I asked, "What about you?"


    "I''m thinking of having a small garden next to the vi," said Zane.


    After so long in the industry, Zane had long lost his passion. If it weren''t for the livelihoods of his many employees, Zane might have already retired from work to live a


    simpler life.


    en


    Zane continued, "I would nt some vegetables and fruits and maybe raise some fish... That way, I could enjoy fresh produce every season."


    He looked at me and continued in a


    hopeful tone, saying, "By then, you


    can stay home and draw.


    Meanwhile, I will be farming away in the garden. Life will be great


    As I imagined what Zane had described, I also began to long for that future. "Yeah." "Willow would be 30 years old then. I would have to ask about her marriage ns," Zane said inly. Willow may still be young, but these were things that Willow had to experience.


    "Given her identity and status, finding somebody who genuinely loved her would be difficult. Most would think they can find a shortcut to life by marrying her. They would only consider her a stepping stone to a better life.


    "If she wants to get married, I hope she will meet a partner who genuinely loves her."


    Zane was determined to keep a lookout for Willow. After all, he had a keen eye.


    Zane added, "It''s fine if she doesn''t want to get married, but she must know what it would cost to stay single. Then, she can make her decision." After expressing his thoughts, Zane looked at me.


    I nodded in agreement and said, "It seems like you''re a very open-minded parent."


    After hearing that, Zane chuckled and asked, "What do you think, then?"

 Chapter 424

    After giving it a long thought, I said, "I once married the wrong person, and I know too well the consequences of that. But now that I recall it, it does feel like a necessary part of my life. After all, it was those experiences that made me who I am now. "So, my thought is as long as she is physically safe, I would respect her opinion. After all, life is only going tost for a few fleeting decades... It would be boring to live under the protection of her parents, wouldn''t it?" In a serious tone, I added, "I just hope that she can live freely."


    Zane didn''t answer immediately. Instead, he pondered on what I said. After a long time, Zane looked at me and asked, "Don''t you regret it?"


    In case I didn''t understand what he was referring to, Zane added, "Marrying Steven?"


    "I don''t regret it. After all, he was all I thought about at that time," I said calmly.


    "After devoting all my love and being let down... I finally realized that I was not living for anyone else but myself."


    Zaneughed after he heard that and said, "You''re right, Anna. I suddenly realized that as Willow grows older, I should gradually let go, too. I should let her face the world alone unless she needs my help." Before I could say anything, Zane''s phone rang. He took out his phone.


    After noticing the serious expression on his face, I whispered, "I''ll go upstairs, then?"


    Zane didn''t want to waste my time, so he nodded and said, "Yeah, go on."


    As Zane watched me walk away, he answered the call. "Hello?"


    In a serious tone, Dous said, "Shane''s father suddenly contacted me, saying that he doesn''t want me to work on this project anymore."


    Zane could guess why that happened. It was likely because Sasha had put Shane down. Shane must have felt upset and whined to his father, asking him to pressure Dous.novelbin


    But to Zane, it was easy to deal with such situations.


    Zane asked, "Didn''t you tell him? If he cancels the coboration at thest minute, he has to pay a penalty fee that''s ten times the original sum. If he''s willing to pay up, just take it."


    en


    UM


    Back then, Zane had advised Dous to set a high penalty fee for contract breach in anticipation of this day.


    After hearing his words, Dous hurriedly said, "That''s what I told him, but he''s saying they n to retract their funds. He also said that I might lose more money if I can''t


    produce it in the agreed time


    "But the point now is that we can do it," Zane said calmly.


    Finally, Dous rxed a bit and said, "In that case... do you n to inject the funds right now?"


    Just then, Zane realized that Dous had been beating around the bush just to ask one question. Zane thought it was rather funny. Zane asked, not giving a straight answer, "Remember what I told you to do before this? What is the progress looking like?"


    Before Zane officially took over the project, he had to ensure that the Winslow family explicitly stated their decision not to get involved. It would have to be on the record, too. That way, they could confidently win in case of awsuit in the future.


    After all, Zane was never one to make uncertain decisions.


    "It''s all done!" Dous answered hurriedly. "In fact, we got the video and audio recordings. I even brought an attorney along when it happened. The attorney can testify to it."

 Chapter 425

    Upon hearing that Dous had done as instructed, Zane nodded approvingly. "Very well. You can take advantage of this opportunity to fire people who have been unloyal to thepany." Dous asked in disbelief, "I can do that?"


    "Of course," Zane said calmly.novelbin


    Dous took Zane''s advice and said, "I''ll contact you after I settle these matters, then."


    "Sure."


    ...


    After returning to the office, Zane poured two sses of water. Then, he handed me one of the cups and said, "As expected, the Winslow family did exactly what I predicted."


    I epted the ss of water and said confusedly, "He used to like Sasha, and he even attacked her family so that they would let her marry him. Why would he still do that if he''s in love with someone else?"


    Zane sat down next to me and said, "He may just be upset that he has never won her over. For people like him, as long as he wanted something, his family would try to serve it to him. Over time, he developed a habit. As long as he liked something, they would do everything to get their hands on it."


    In a disdainful tone, I asked, "Can''t they use that mindset in their careers?"


    "Careers depend on an individual''s capabilities," Zane said inly.


    "Plus, the industry wouldn''t favor them because of their backgrounds. Because of that, work will only be challenging for them. After realizing they are incapable in society, they will eventually return to theirfort zones."


    But I still couldn''t understand, so I asked, "But as the saying goes, isn''t failure the key to sess? I think it''s okay to fail initially, but as long as you figure out where the problem lies and work on it, you will eventually seed. Isn''t that so?" Zane gazed at me and said, "But not everyonees to the same conclusion."


    Pouting, I said, "You''re right. But inparison to doing weird things like these, I think it''s better to work hard at my job. That way, I can earn money with my hard work."


    Whenever my ie increased, I would be more motivated. That kept me hopeful about life, too.


    Suddenly, somebody knocked on the door.


    Zane said, "Come in."


    When Eric entered the office, he didn''t look at Zane. Instead, Eric walked to the cubicle and began his report.


    "The foreign publishers have finalized the details of the publication. They''ve sent it over for us to proofread. If there are any errors, they can edit them."


    Eric handed the sample publication to Zane.


    Zane nced at the book and asked, "Are we in charge of menial things like proofreading?"


    Upon hearing that question, Eric made an expression that suggested he knew Zane would ask that.


    Eric quirked a mysterious smile and said, "It''s been proofread already. I just wanted to show you the sample publication."


    Zane looked at Eric confusedly.


    Eric continued, "We''ve shipped out


    the first few batches of merchandise sold. The good news is that merchandise production is slowly catching up to the sales volume. They''ve also begun to proofread the second volume of theic.


    "As for the animation, they''ve begun scouting for a trantor and voice actors. When they find the right people, they will get started with the usual process. By the time a


    sufficient number of episodes of the animation has been released, we''ll hire people for advertising."


    After participating in Annalise''s project, Eric finally realized that it brought in a lot of profit. Of course, it required a lot of funds in the early stages.


    Upon seeing how Eric had everything nned out, Zane nodded approvingly. "Very well."


    Then, Eric made another mysterious expression and said, "With Jessica''s help, the views on Annalise''sic began to increase. Her number of fans is skyrocketing, too.


    "I wanted to take advantage of this


    incident to attract more fans. So, I requested some marketing funds


    from the finance department. Wet


    looked into the statistics, and they''re great. You can have a look at it, too."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 426

    Eric obviously knew that I hadn''t been looking at the statistics. He was looking forward to my reaction to the statistics, too. Upon hearing Eric''s words, I took out my phone. Meanwhile, Zane was expressing his approval of Eric''s capabilities. Zane said, "You did a good job with theic. But unfortunately, we can''t give you a pay raise any time soon."


    On top of that, they were in an important phase of the project, so Zane couldn''t give Eric a vacation bonus either. However, Zane saw how hard Eric had worked.


    "But thepany can give you additional paid vacation. When you''re tired and want to rx a little, you can take some time off work to rest."


    Without skipping a beat, Eric said, "Mr. Huxham, I''m very satisfied with my current pay."


    After all, Eric''s pay was higher than that of manypany CEOs. Eric continued and said, "Plus, I getmissions. Not manypanies can provide these benefits! I''m very satisfied now."


    Eric was not a short-sighted person. He never imagined himself leaving Huxham Corporation and finding another job that would reward hard work.


    "As for vacations... I have the weekends off, and we also get extra vacation days on public holidays. I''m very satisfied with that."


    Upon hearing Eric''s words, Zane felt relieved. Zane said, "That''s great."


    "Holy..." I eximed when I saw the statistics.


    When I first saw the statistics, I wondered if I was seeing things or if the statistics were bugged. After leaving the page and essing it multiple times, I realized that the statistics were the same as what I thought I had seen. I finally confirmed that the statistics were real. Seeing my reaction, Ericughed and said, "Shocking, right?"


    I asked Eric, "Did this increase in the number of followers happen in the past few days?"


    Eric said, "Yeah."


    It felt like I was dreaming. Zane looked at me and then at Eric. Then, Zane sat next to me and asked, "How many followers do you have now?"


    "Among all the tforms, the one with the least number of followers recorded 1.5 million followers."


    When Ist checked, I only had around 100,000 followers. But in just a few days, it increased to over one million!


    I handed my phone to Zane in a daze. When Zane looked at the statistics, he was amazed by the growth, too.


    "The views on every tform are


    above 2 million. One of the


    tform''s view counts is highly valued; the ie from this tform, in addition to the ie from the homepage advertisement, would add up to about 300,000 dors!"


    When Zane first ventured into theic business, he was just testing the waters, but he hadn''t expected such great influence and


    profitability. Zane continued to scroll through the page and said, "When we first sold 5,000 dolls, we thought that was a lot. But look at it now, it''s increased to 180,000!"


    At this point, Zane finally understood why people loved online noise marketing. After all, any noise


    marketing would mean in


    awareness, and people would be curious about the actual content. If any part of that attention were converted into followers or readers, it would bring great profit to the content itself.


    Zane asked, "The ie that we gain from this would be about 2 million dors, right?"novelbin


    Eric confirmed it and said, "You''re right."


    Zane continued looking at the rest of the statistics.


    "We went from zero merchandise sales to a total sales volume of 360,000 units. If I make a rough calction now, that would mean a profit of about 540,000 dors. If we add that to your sry..." Zane looked at me and said, "Next month, your payout before tax deductions will add up to at least 3 million dors."

 Chapter 427

    That was a shocking figure. Eric smiled as he observed our reaction. If I could gain this much profit, that would also mean Eric would be earning a lot from it, too.


    Eric said, "Ipared it with simr kinds of merchandise sales abroad, and I found out that their merchandise profits can go up to several billions in a year. If we convert that to our currency, that would be over tens of billions. "This doesn''t include copyright profits or other various kinds of profits. If we can globalize the project, the profit would be rather significant."


    When Eric first took over the project, he hadn''t expected much from it. When Zane exined his future ns to Eric, Eric thought that Zane was simply biased toward his girlfriend and that Zane was simply exaggerating things. However, when Eric got to know more, he realized that the merchandise industry had a lot of potential! It also had many ways to bring in profit. Because of that, Eric finally had a shift in perspective.


    On top of that, Zane promised Eric argemission ratio. With that, Eric became all the more willing to put effort into the project.


    Upon seeing the results, Eric smiled and said, "I shall get back to work now."


    "Okay," Zane said, seeing Eric off.novelbin


    Then, Zane patted me on my shoulder and said, "Hey, it''s time toe back to reality."


    "I couldn''t believe it when we could earn 500,000 dors. But I hadn''t expected a sudden six-fold increase!" I said sincerely.


    In response, Zane said, "This means the market is muchrger than we can imagine."


    I agreed with Zane''s words. I said, "I hope our ie can be maintained at the same level. That way, in just a few months, I would have enough funds for Mom''s and my retirement. Once retirement is covered for, I can do what I want with the rest of the money."


    "This is only the first of our many peaks. After this, the profits would only increase," Zane exined.


    "Think about it: theic isn''t famous yet, but it''s already performing so well in sales. When we start advertising it, won''t more people get to know about it?


    "Plus, there are so many people in this world. If they all know of youric and are willing to buy your merchandise, then how much money would that bring in?"


    I could imagine the extraordinary and awe-spiring amount of ie that it would bring. With my hand on my cheek, I said, "That''s nice."


    Perhaps I had been too used to being a housewife. In the past, I never imagined myself earning so much money.


    After exining his analysis of the market potential, Zane asked calmly, "You said that you will do what you want after you have enough money. Can you tell me more about what you want to do?"


    Without much thought, I said, "Sure! But I only have a vague direction.


    "Whether it''s starting a retail business or a manufacturing business, I just want to provide a good work environment to other


    people I don''t care if I earn mone


    from it, but I want to share most of


    the profit with them by making it their sry.


    "That way, they can earn more money without having to work 12 hours every day only to earn 3,000 dors. Would also decrease their work hours. They would only have to work half-days. This will make living morefortable."


    Zane said, surprised, "You can continue to think about it, then. When you''re clearer about what to do, you can tell me, and we can discuss it together." I asked delightfully, "Really?"

 Chapter 428

    It was public knowledge that Zane was very capable at work. With his help, my n would definitely seed. I looked forward to it.


    Chuckling, Zane rubbed my hair and said, "Of course. I''m d that you''re willing to trust me."


    After hearing what Zane had said, I became more motivated.


    "Okay, cool! I''ll continue to work and try my best to earn enough money to support my lifestyle. I will start many new businesses and help many people!"


    ...


    Zane gazed at the woman; he admired her for her dedication to her work. Despite all that she had been through, she was not affected by her past and was still able to stay kind. That was not an easy feat.novelbin


    Even when she had her payback on other people, it wasn''t particrly malicious. It seemed as if her hatred was not as intense as other people''s. Somehow, Zane felt like his love for Annalise had only been increasing.


    Zane quickly nced at the time. He had another hour before Willow was done with school. And so, Zane returned to his desk and focused on finishing up his work for the day.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Steven was on the verge of going crazy in his own office. He couldn''t stop thinking about Annalise''s smiling face and how she used to love him. Yet, it had all turned into hatred.


    As Steven recalled everything that happened between them, he realized that it had all been Annalise''s efforts. Meanwhile, he had pushed Annalise away because of Jessica.


    The thought of losing Annalise tormented Steven. In the end, Steven couldn''t endure the misery and came to meet Annalise at Huxham Corporation, only to be stopped by security. And so, Steven began shouting outside the entrance. He yelled, "Come out, Annalise! Let''s talk!"


    ...


    It attracted a lot of attention. I heard themotion, too. After I finished my task at hand, I went downstairs and met Steven, who had bloodshot eyes.


    I asked icily, "What business do you have with me?"


    "I have something to tell you," Steven said.


    When Steven saw me, he finally felt as if his broken heart was pieced back together. Steven didn''t want to be entangled with Jessica anymore. All he wanted was to reconcile with me and to live happily together.


    Steven said, "I want to patch things up with you, Anna."


    Upon hearing that, I frowned. Just as I was about to respond, Steven beat me to it and said, "If you''re willing to reconcile with me, I can agree to any request that you make. eto


    I can break up with Jessica, and I


    won''t mind that you dated. Zane."


    Then, Steven teared up and said, "Anna, please say yes. Okay?"


    However, I wanted tough at how pitiful Steven sounded. I asked, "But what is there for you to pick on? Please remember, Steven. We''re divorced.


    "You have a girlfriend, and I have a boyfriend. We''re unrted, so you are not entitled to have opinions about my life, right?"


    Steven was speechless. I stared back at him in aposed manner.


    Steven said painfully, "But we''ve been together for six years. Can you really forget about those six years?"


    Steven was trying to win me over


    with our past. He missed our past, yet he forgot that every single day of that past was torture to me. After escaping from that rtionship and going into a new rtionship, I''ve only ever been d that I let myself walk away.

 Chapter 429

    An airy chuckle escaped me as I replied, "Yes."


    Steven argued, "At least do it for Zachary!"


    "Didn''t you wash your hands of him long ago?" My voice was even. "You shut out and push away those around you whenever you''re in a bad mood. That''s just the way you work, Steven. "Remember when you told me you loved Jessica? Look at how that turned out. And now, you im you love me and want me to go back to you. Is your love that cheap, Steven?" He shook his head frantically. "That''s not true, Annalise. I can change. If you like, I''ll¡ª"


    I cut him off, "No, I want nothing from you. I''m not getting back together with you because I''m done with the pain and suffering you put me through.


    "What if you fall for another woman someday and betray me again?" I eyed him grimly. "Do you know why I chose Zane?"


    Steven gave another shake of his head. He genuinely didn''t know.


    Warmth and indulgence filled my eyes as I exined, "Because I never have to worry about him hurting me the way you did."


    Steven retorted almost instinctively, "How would you know? How are you so sure? Don''t fool yourself into thinking he''s a saint, Annalise!


    "All men are the same; we won''t settle for the woman of our dreams. We''ll always think about other women."


    I pointed out slowly, "Technically, that''s not true. You, for example, believed Jessica was the best you could have before you made things official between you. After we divorced and you got together with her, you changed your mind and thought I was the best. "You''ll always want what you can''t have, believing that what is out of reach is the best for you. And that''s why you can never get what you want.


    "But Zane is different. He believed he couldn''t love anyone more than he loved me. Unlike you, his heart only has enough room for one."novelbin


    Steven said stubbornly, "That''s because he hasn''t met another woman who can change his mind."


    "And if he never meets another woman, he''ll be loyal to me forever," I countered coolly. "Sounds splendid, doesn''t it?"


    Steven was trying to convince me that Zane was just as bad as him. He pressed, "But there''s still such a long way ahead for both of you. Who''s to say the love of his life won''t appear in the future?"


    I racked my brain for an answer to Steven''s question, but Zane appeared behind me and pped a hand on my shoulder. "The love of my life has already appeared."


    I nced over my shoulder at Zane, and he sped my hand reassuringly.


    Steven eyed Zane darkly. "I treated Annalise like a queen before Jessica came along "


    "The fact that you switched up on Annalise after Jessica appeared shows that you never loved Annalise Zane interrupted, his logic cutting off Steven''s argument. genuinely admired Annalise and her many strengths before gradually falling for her.


    "I knew considered that I would encounter many problems if I got together with Annalise, and I was prepared to deal with them. I knew we would get through any hardship together."


    Steven must not have expected someone toe along and love Annalise so wholeheartedly. He had mistreated her during their marriage, and it irked him to know that someone else cherished her.


    "A man like you can have any woman he wants, so how could you possibly fall for Annalise? She''s a divorc¨¦e with a kid, and you''ve never dated. You can''t seriously think she''s good enough for you!" It seemed Steven had resorted to denigrating me after failing to get me back. I smirked and did not correct him.


    "You must not appreciate or


    genuinely like Annalise if you think of


    her that way," Zane pointed out as he fixed Steven with a grave look. He added emphatically, "The way see it, Annalise is gentle and quiet, but she is braver and tougher than she looks. Not to mention, she has great foresight.


    "You didn''t notice how extraordinary she was because you confined her to the role of a housewife during your marriage. She was forced to bury her many talents because of you, yet you med her for not being as aplished as others."

 Chapter 430

    Zane''s voice dropped to a deep, icy timbre. "I''d say you were the problem all along. If you had been generous enough to hire a nanny and a chef to help Annalise out at home, she might have had the time to do what she wanted. You would have been able to see her put her talents to good use. "She would have dazzled in whichever industry she chose to dabble in, and she would be popr among her peers. In truth..."


    He slowed his speech as he drove his point home. "You''re only putting her down because deep down, you know Annalise has always been perfect just the way she is."


    Steven retorted without hesitation, "As if!"


    "You wouldn''t want her back so desperately if you thought any lesser of her, right?" Zane countered evenly.


    Steven said nothing and instead kept his gaze on me, but the only person that mattered to me at that moment was Zane. He had, indeed, seen all of my strengths and sacrifices.


    Steven''s lips pressed into a thin, grim line, his heart tightening to the point of pain. "You''ll find someone better than Annalise in the future-"


    "There is no one better than her," Zane cut him off firmly.


    I had heard all I needed to. I knew now that Steven was vilifying me so that Zane would think less of me and break up with me. "Do you see the huge difference between you and Zane now, Steven?" I asked indifferently.


    When he did not respond, I continued, "I hope you''ll do yourself a favor and stop pining after me. No matter how I look at it, Zane is better than you in more ways than you can count. I don''t see why I should leave him for you when you aren''t even half the man he is." Steven seemed to finally understand I had moved on from him, for he said, "Yes, he is a fine gentleman, that much I''ll admit. But I was kind to you when we first started dating as well. How are you so confident that Zane won''t turn out like me in the future?"


    I did not answer him, so he added, "If Zane ever lets you down one day, Annalise, you can alwayse back to me."


    "He won''t," I bit out firmly, full of conviction.


    I continued, "I know he won''t betray


    me. If he does, I''ll leave him. But don''t think for a second that I will get back together with you, Steven. Living alone mighte with uncertainties, but I''d choose those over the six years I wasted on you."


    My gaze bore into Steven''s, and I feltnovelbin


    more resolved than I ever did as


    said, "I''ve never thought about going back to you since the day we


    The tears glistening in Steven''s eyes finally spilled out, and he seemed flustered as he said bitterly, "I''ll keep that in mind." Steven hurried off and slid into his car. He gripped the steering wheel tightly as he glowered in Annalise and Zane''s direction.


    Fiery hatred filled him as he cursed


    them inwardly. He did not deserve to be punished by Annalise over a tiny mistake! Everyone made mistakes, so why wasn''t he allowed a second chance?


    Steven dried his tears, the brutal rejection threatening to shatter his heart. At that moment, his phone rang, and he put the call through. "Hello?"


    The person on the other line cut to the chase. "Remember how you told me to look into Zane?"


    Baffled, Steven asked, "Did you find anything?"


    "Yes," the caller answered, sounding pleased. "I found something interesting, and it goes back to Zane''s junior high days..."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 431

    "Apparently, Zane had a first love back in junior high," the caller informed. Steven''s disappointment vanished as he asked incredulously, "Really?"


    The caller feigned offense. "Don''t believe me?"


    "Well, it looks like Zane and I aren''t so different after all," Steven mused triumphantly. He had been convinced that Zane was as perfect as Annalise had made him out to be. He instructed the person on the other line, "Find out more information on this." "Got it."


    Steven''s spirits were visibly lifted after he hung up. He just had to be patient for a little while longer.


    Once Zane''s first love showed up, Zane''s loyalty would sway, and he was bound to hurt Annalise the way Steven had. When that happened, Annalise would be Steven''s for the taking.


    It took superhuman effort on Steven''s part to will himself to be patient and not rush things along. At the end of the day, nothing else mattered as long as he could get Annalise back.


    He took a deep breath. When his gaze fell on Zane again, it was full of mockery. The man was still hung up on a mysterious first love he had back in junior high, yet he imed to love Annalise. He was not so much a fine specimen as he was a smooth liar. Not that Steven should tell Annalise about this now. He had to first gather enough evidence so that when he exposed Zane''s true colors to her, she would be so disappointed that she''d give up on Zane entirely!


    A vile thought crossed Steven''s mind at that moment: if he couldn''t have Annalise, no one else could. He would never admit this out loud, but ever since he lost Annalise, he felt like he was swallowing acid whenever he saw her living happily with Zane.


    It wasn''t until Zane had finished his work that he picked up his phone and called Shane''s father, Carlisle Winslow.


    When the call went through, Carlisle greeted politely on the other line, "Yes, Mr. Huxham?"


    "It seems your constituents have


    little to no regard for Huxham Corporation," Zane said evenly, though itwas obvious he was displeased. "They even came by thepany and picked a fight with one of our most important employees."


    Carlisle chuckled as he exined, "No, that can be right. I, for one, have great respect for you, Mr.


    Huxham Despite his courtesy, it et


    wasn''t hard to tell that he didn''t mean a single word he said. He


    might as well have been joking.


    He continued lightheartedly, "I would never dream of disrespecting your employees during normal business transactions, let alone raise my voice at them. I shudder at such crude behavior. There must have been a misunderstanding!" Zane narrowed his eyes. He heard only excuses from Carlisle but no solutions. He knew, of course, that Carlisle was merely pushing off the me and trying to sweep things under the rug.


    He had no ns to let that happen,


    so he cut to the chase. "Is that so? In other words, even though your son instigated trouble in mypany you have no intention of resolving this and merely want to brush this off as an ident. Is that it?"


    Zane was no pushover. "And what if the employee in question forgives you and your son? Will you expect the rest of my employees to also overlook such matters in the future?" The smile on Carlisle''s face slipped as he demanded, "How do you want me to resolve this, then?"


    Shane was his son, and the employee in question was an irrelevant character. Why should he choose to side with thetter?


    Zane let out an icy chuckle. Shane was at fault, to begin with, yet Carlisle refused to be held ountable for his son''s misdemeanor and made it sound like Zane was in the wrong. Carlisle even had the nerve to be irritated by this confrontation.


    Zane had never been one to waste time on matters like this. "I hope you won''t interfere with this."


    With that, he hung up. I was in the next room when I overheard Zane speaking on the phone. I could tell he was in a bad mood after that.


    Setting my work aside, I walked up to him and asked in concern, "Is everything okay?"

 Chapter 432

    Zane''s face softened when he saw me. "His son was the one who stormed up to me and picked on my staff, yet he seems to think it was no big deal. Maybe he''s under the impression that he''s better than others because of his prestigious family, but in reality, aren''t we all


    equal?"


    He held my gaze, and I nodded as I answered without hesitation, "We are."


    Admiration shone in Zane''s eyes as he patted my arm. "But don''t worry. I''ll put him in his ce and teach him some manners."


    Just as I was wondering what he nned to do about Shane''s misdemeanor, he called Eric and asked, "Part of our ongoing contract with the Winslows has been fulfilled, yes?"


    Eric reported, "That''s right, but their products have fallen behind in the market and have lost poprity. As things are, we''re looking to put our coboration on hold, but we don''t have a legitimate excuse."


    "We do now," Zane said evenly. "I distinctly remember you telling me there are otherpanies whose products are of far superior quality than the Winslows''. Is that still true?"


    "Yes," Eric answered dutifully.


    "In that case, we''ll just have to find the most suitable partner among thosepanies." Zane made the call without even batting an eye. "We''re switching up on the Winslows."


    Eric sounded conflicted as he pointed out, "We''ve been working together with the Winslows for years. They won''t be happy to learn that we''ve dropped them."


    Zane drawled, "Leave that to me. I''ll handle them."


    It was only then that Eric agreed to the n. "Very well, sir."


    Having given Eric the green light to drop the Winslows, Zane pressed, "If I recall correctly, we have a few projects lined up that we think have potential and are nning to coborate with the Winslows, right?"


    Eric searched his memory and listed the projects by name, only for Zane to say, "Scrap them. We''ll look for other coborators."


    Eric was stunned and silently questioned if there was a need to cut the Winslows off so ruthlessly. However, he considered Zane''s farsightedness. Even if his decisions seemed questionable at first, they always turned out right in the end. As such, Eric chose to keep his faith in Zane. "All right."


    After hanging up, Zane reached for my hand. He led me to the cubicle and sat down.


    I was still reeling from his conversation with Eric. "You scrapped all coborations with the Winslows?"


    "Mm-hmm," Zane hummed as hisrge palm caressed the back of my hand. "Shane is a lost cause if his tantrums are any indication. The Winslows'' family business will fall into ruin in a matter of years if Carlisle passes it down to him.


    "I only called Carlisle earlier to see if


    he nned to take his son''s wrongdoing seriously. If he were a reasonable man and offered to put Shane in his ce, I would have highlighted the areas in which Shane needed improvement. I wouldn''t have to scrap our coborations.


    "And yet, Carlisle seems to be as unreasonable as Shane. He holds himself in such high regard that he couldn''t care less about others." Zane exined solemnly, "If we continued working together with him, we''d be jeopardizing Huxham Corporation''s future.


    "So I figured we should cut ties before the real losses kicked in. At least then, we''d have time to look for new coborators."


    I stared at Zane, impressed by his cool analysis. "You''re quite thorough with your considerations."


    "Yes, well, ites with the work. I am the head of thepany, after all," Zane pointed out, already used to being level-headed and


    calctive. "The alternative will end with ourpany being wound up, and what will happen to our staffers then? I have their futures to think of,


    too."


    I leaned into his embrace and murmured, "You have a point."


    Zane''s phone rang, and he put the call through. "Hello?"


    Dous was on the other line, and he seemed baffled as he asked, "What in the world is going on?"

 Chapter 433

    "I was going to bring you the evidence when Carlisle called me. He said if I told you Shane had already apologized to Sasha and that she had explicitly forgiven him, he''d continue investing in my business," Dous exined.


    Zane snorted and spared no details when he told Dous how Shane had shown up at the restaurant with his girlfriend, osted Sasha, and had given her trouble.


    Dous was furious. "If I hadn''t called you, I would have blindly agreed to Carlisle''s request! I would have unwittingly epted Carlisle''s investment at my daughter''s expense! How preposterous!"


    Zane knew Dous was upset about Sasha''s predicament. However, he couldn''t risk Dous being swayed by Carlisle''s offer, so he said, "Even if you''d agreed to do as he asked, he would still pester you in theing weeks. You''re better off turning him down and nipping things in the bud.""


    "Oh, don''t you worry, Mr. Huxham!" Dous promised solemnly without hesitation, "I will not stand for my daughter getting bullied like this! I''ll call you after I sort out this mess."


    Zane suggested, "Come to the office once you''ve handled the matter."


    "Yes, of course," Dous replied.


    After hanging up, Dous grew belligerent and called Carlisle. He even recorded the phone conversation just to gather evidence. "What''s the matter with you and your family? Your son went and found himself a girlfriend after Sasha rejected him, and look what she did! "She told him Sasha was picking on her, and Shane believed her without question!"


    Just recounting what Shane did made him wonder if the young man was out of his mind.


    "He even marched up to my


    daughter and demanded that she apologize to his little girlfriend!


    Sasha has been working so hard et


    that she barely hangs out with her friends anymore, and now, she has to put up with your kid''s nonsense!


    "All Mr. Huxham did wase to Sasha''s defense. How dare you use business investments as leverage against me to force Sasha into forgiving Shane?"


    Dous was so incredulous he could have spat through the phone. "Don''t you see how ridiculous your behavior is?"


    "No, I don''t," Carlisle replied


    pointedly. With the Westons relying on the Winslows for their livelihood, he did not see why he should treat Dous with respect or see him as an equal. "I won''t make youpromise if you''re so against it, but do prepare yourself for when we pull our investments."


    love


    He was outright ckmailing Dous, not that thetter was scared. "Go ahead and pull your investments, then! I''d sooner go broke than let my daughter suffer."


    Carlisle chuckled. "How honorable of


    you! In that case, I''ll give you what you want. Keep whatever returns you owe us from our initial investments. Without my family''s money, I reckon your cash flow would take a hit... Let''s see who''ll


    help you then!"


    He believed Dous was only throwing a fit now and that he would find a way to manipte him into giving in.


    Dous snapped, "My cash flow is none of your concern!" He hung up after that and let out an angry grunt.


    Carlisle acted as if Shane were the victim and ought to be shielded from the consequences of his behavior, but what about Sasha? She was the one who had been osted and insulted. Did she not deserve justice?

 Chapter 434

    Dous would not stand for such indignation. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He stormed out of thepany, got into the car, and had the driver drop him off at Huxham Corporation. Zane leaned into the couch and stared at the ceiling, counting down under his breath, "Three, two, one..."


    His phone rang as if on cue. He nced at the screen, and sure enough, Carlisle''s name was shing on it. Indifference radiated off him as he picked up the call.


    "Mr. Huxham, must you go to such lengths to make a point?" Carlisle was pacing frantically through his office.


    His secretary had informed him earlier, with no small amount of trepidation, that Huxham Corporation had severed all ongoing and to-be-renewed coborations between them out of the blue. Even the contracts that had not been fulfilled were terminated. It was only then that Carlisle realized Zane was well and truly angry with him. If anything, it deepened the grudge he held against Zane.


    As far as Carlisle was concerned, Zane was overreacting. Why did he have to get so worked up over something so trivial?


    Zane''s tone was firm and dispassionate, "Our values don''t align, Mr. Winslow. We''re better off going our separate ways. You have your ideals and beliefs, none of which I agree with. So, I decided it''s in our best interests that we stop all coborations at once." There was a threatening edge to Carlisle''s words as he growled, "Don''t forget the astronomical profit ourpany brings you every year! If it weren''t for us, Huxham Corporation wouldn''t have expanded so quickly in such a short time."


    He sounded like he had done Zane a great favor. And it was only then that Zane realized something: Carlisle''s haughtiness before him was not an extension of his character. Rather, the man truly believed Huxham Corporation''s revenue was riding on their coborations. Zane suddenly wanted to scoff.


    Thinking he had sessfully


    intimidated Zane, Carlisle pressed on, "You realize you''re risking a huge loss of yearly profit by terminating our partnership, don''t you? How will you exin that to the other shareholders?"


    "You''re not the only yer in your industry, Mr. Winslow," Zane drawled unaffectedly. "I can always choose to work with someone else, so thanks for your concern over mypany''s well-being." With that, he hung up.


    ...


    Carlisle stared at the phone and hissed, "I hope you won''t regret doing this once I find anotherpany to coborate with!"


    He immediately summoned his secretary and had him look for other coborators. He would only be giving Zane the satisfaction if he yielded now. As things were, he was


    ???


    determined to show Zane thwas


    he


    and hispany would do just fine without Huxham Corporation!


    When Zane heard the knocks on the door, he knew Dous had arrived. "Come in," he said.


    Dous opened the door and entered. He stopped before Zane''s desk and handed the evidence he''d gathered to thetter.


    While Zane had some knowledge of


    thew, he was no expert. As such, he reached out to the legal department and had them send up one of their members with the most outstanding portfolios. It took only three minutes for thewyer to show up before Zane.


    After Zane told him what they needed, he exined in the simplest terms how each piece of evidence could be used to rebut the arguments they anticipated Carlisle would bring up in awsuit. Zane, however, caught on to an important point and asked, "So, what you''re saying is that our evidence can be used?"

 Chapter 435

    Zane continued, "And there are no obvious loopholes among the evidence we''ve gathered?"


    Thewyer answered solemnly, "That''s right."


    Relieved, Zane gave Dous a meaningful look and said, "We''ve already cut off all their possible fallbacks, anyway. Shall we publicly announce our newly established coboration?" Dous nodded. "Yes."


    Now that his services were no longer needed, thewyer left without prompting. As for Dous, he contacted his staff and told them to release a press statement iming that they had secured a partnership with a giant corporation like Huxham Corporation. Zane, too, informed the relevant staffers in Huxham Corporation to release a simr press statement.


    Dous couldn''t help beaming at how things turned out.


    As Zane sat down behind his desk, he eyed Dous meaningfully and offered, "Your staff might not be adequately equipped to procure or handle a project of this scale. How about I send over a few of my staffers to lend you a hand?" Dous was taken aback by Zane''s generosity. "That would be great!"


    With Huxham Corporation''s help, he was confident that the project would be executed smoothly. He was grinning from ear to ear when he left Zane''s office.


    Yvonne stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows as bitter resentment coursed through her.


    Annalise had made a lot of money from her work because Zane had backed her up, yet thepany expected Yvonne to bankroll Jessica on her paycheck. It was the most ridiculous thing she ever heard!


    Her resentment grew. She might not have the money, but Jessica did.


    It didn''t take long for inspiration to strike Yvonne.


    She smirked as she dialed Jessica''s


    number and ryed her


    conversation with the secretary to thetter verbatim. After that, she asked, "Would you be willing to fork out the money? Your work is amazing, Jessica. If you''re willing to market it, I promise you''d be making more money than Annalise..."


    Jessica was quiet on the other line, and the glee on Yvonne''s face


    vanished instantly. "What, you don''t


    want to fork out the money e


    tell me you''re content to see Annalise''s work be a


    §¿§Ý


    worldwide sensation while you eke out a living as an unknownic artist.


    "Would you rather watch Annalise make it big while you survive on meager revenue shares each month?"


    After a long pause, Jessica said, "The thing is, Steven and I aren''t on good termstely, Yvonne. All he thinks about these days is Annalise. I don''t even know where I stand with him anymore."


    She might have manipted Steven into siding with her, but she could only bait him when he was dumb enough to rise to it. In truth, he was still in love with Annalise.


    Jessica suggested, "Maybe we should forget about this. Right now, I should focus on getting some money from Steven and saving it for emergencies."


    Yvonne seethed, "But Annalise is earning a lot. She''s earning so much that... You probably don''t know this, but she''s making enough money to make me jealous.


    "She made 200 thousand dors this month alone, though the money is technicallyst month''s royalty pay-out."


    Just looking at Annalise''s earnings convinced Yvonne that if she and Jessica missed this opportunity, they would regret it forever. "She''ll make even more next month, considering this month''s hefty revenue share pay-out.


    "We''re looking at millions here,


    Jessica, and that''s for the work she hasn''t even officiallyunched yet. Once the marketing starts, Annalise stands to earn more than hundreds of millions of dors. I don''t even know manypanies whose profits can match that figure!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 436

    Spite welled up in Yvonne. She hadn''t received any education in art when she was a child. If she did and had such a fine opportunity to make money from it, she would have seized it immediately. She said with a hint of desperation, "Sleep on it, will you? Jessica, I''m not joking. I''ve seen Huxham Corporation''s revenue share structure. It''s one of the best in the industry.


    "You might not even get such benefits if you joined anotherpany." She pressed, "You''ll regret it if you pass this up."


    Jessica had to admit that she was tempted by Yvonne''s argument. "I''ll talk to Steven and see if I can persuade him to sponsor me."


    Yvonne heaved a sigh of relief at Jessica''s assent. "I await your good news."


    "Okay."


    After hanging up, Jessica made her way down to the first floor and headed for the garden. She perched on the swing as she took in the lush greenery around her, her lips curling. Steven was nothing more than a dog to her now. He might not love her, but she could manipte him into doing what she wanted. She fished out her phone and called him. Steven was sulking after Annalise had rejected him in public. Glumly, he answered Jessica''s call and asked, "Is something wrong?"


    Jessica hummed before answering softly, "Annalise picked on me again."


    Steven''s temple throbbed as he heard the same old line from Jessica. She always made up stories like this and yed the victim to get him to confront Annalise.


    However, when he did, he would discover that Jessica had lied to him, and he would end up getting disparaged for defending her. He then had to return with his tail between his legs. He demanded irritably, "What is it?"


    Jessica could sense his displeasure through the phone, so her tone softened to the point where she sounded like she was on the verge of tears.


    "Annalise came up to me to gloat


    about the money she''s making. She said herics were average, yet she could make a ton of money because of Zane. Even Yvonne had to agree that Annalise''sic was bad and wouldn''t have be a hit on the market under normal circumstances. Content Belongs to


    "But my work is different. Myics are great, but I can''t evenunch official merchandise because I don''t have a sponsor like Annalise."


    Steven recalled what Annalise had looked like when he saw her outside Huxham Corporation earlier. She seemed more confident, and he reckoned she must have made it big as aic artist.


    He marveled at the huge change she


    had gone through since leaving him, and at that moment, he understood the change had to do with money had let Annalise get a taste of financial freedom, and she ngw


    Zane


    vn 248


    knew what it meant to be


    self-sufficient.


    Steven asked, "How much do you want?"


    He figured Annalise liked Zane because he helped herunch a profitable career. Suppose Jessica started earning more with his help that might persuade Annalise to reconsider Zane. She might even regret leaving Steven in the first ce.


    Jessica didn''t expect Steven to agree so readily. She was still stunned as she said, "I don''t know, either." She had prepared tounch into a long-winded persuasion and did note up with a sum. "I''ll have to ask Yvonne." Steven said patiently, "I''ll wait for your answer, then. I''ll wire you the money once she gives you a figure."


    "Thank you!" Jessica added with some degree of sincerity, "I know you don''t love me, but you''ve done a lot for me. I truly am grateful for your help."

 Chapter 437

    Steven hadn''t expected such courtesy from Jessica. "You''re wee," he replied. "We might not be married, Jessica, but I still want you to do well."


    Jessica''s lips curled. She knew it was hard for any man to resist her charms. After hanging up on Steven, she called Yvonne and asked about the sum she should have Steven invest in her work. Yvonne replied, "I''m not sure about that, either. I''ll ask our secretary and get back to you on this."


    "All right."


    Yvonne stood outside Eric''s office and knocked on the door.


    Yvonne stopped before him and dipped her head as she asked quietly, "How much do we need to invest in Jessica''sic before thepany agrees tounch official merchandise?"


    Eric said tly, "Come in."


    Eric recalled Zane''s warning that Jessica was problematic. If theyunched merchandise for heric and the customers demanded a refund after learning about her true colors, thepany would take a huge hit.


    However, the fact that Yvonne was here and asking him about merchandising meant she was prepared to help Jessica at all costs. If he tried to dissuade her from such an attempt, she might think he was giving them a hard time on purpose.


    As such, Eric had toe up with a way to help themunch their merchandise without involving Huxham Corporation.


    He eyed Yvonne thoughtfully, and within seconds, a bright idea came to him. He smiled and said, "You might be able toe up with the money, but if you think about it, Huxham Corporation will be taking a huge cut of the profits if you produce andunch the merchandise under ourpany."


    Yvonne considered this and found herself agreeing with Eric. He continued, "So I was thinking that you could keep your job at Huxham Corporation and transfer the rights to Jessica''s work to anotherpany.


    "That way, you''d be fully responsible for the merchandising, and Jessica would have better resources. She would be encouraged to better her work, and not to mention, you''d be earning a lot more."


    Eric could tell Yvonne was swayed by the suggestion, so he added with no small amount of satisfaction, "Perhaps you should consider this and let me know your final decision."


    "No consideration needed!" Yvonne thought the suggestion was brilliant. "I''ll terminate Jessica''s work with Huxham Corporation at your earliest convenience, then."


    J.not


    Eric stood up. Now that he had the opportunity to get rid of Jessica, he saw no point in dawdling. He had seal the deal before Yvonne changed her mind, yet he feigned courtesy as he said, "We can do it now."


    "All right!" Yvonne was buzzing with excitement. "Let''s get to it, then."


    With Eric around, the contract termination went smoothly. It took less than half an hour for the paperwork to be signed.


    Yvonne turned to look at Eric with admiration. "You''re kinder than I thought."


    Eric couldn''t deny that. "Yes, well, I''m just looking out for my fellow employees."


    When Yvonne returned to thepany, she ryed Eric''s brilliant suggestion to Jessica. However, she left out the part where she had terminated Jessica''s contract with Huxham Corporation without first seeking thetter''s approval.


    Maniptive as she was, she asked, "So, what do you think? Do you want to let Huxham Corporation have control over your work, or do you want to terminate your contract with them and transfer your copyrights to anotherpany?"


    Jessica thought thetter option was more profitable than the first, so she said without hesitation, "The second. I don''t want to stay with Huxham Corporation if it means having to live in Annalise''s shadow. "You said it yourself that my work is better than hers. In that case, I ought to work toward bing richer and more famous than her, right?"

 Chapter 438

    Yvonne was thrilled to hear Jessica agree to her n. "Of course!"


    Brimming with confidence, Jessica said, "In that case, we''ll have to work smart. I''ll convince Steven toe up with the investment money while you sort out the termination." "Roger that!" Yvonne said happily.


    Jessica was about to call Steven after getting off the phone with Yvonne when she stopped herself. She figured she should talk to him about this in person, so she had the driver drop her off at Pelham Group.


    The staff at Pelham Group knew her and did not stop her from seeing Steven. They were a couple, after all.


    Jessica made her way toward Steven''s office without hassle. She knocked on his door, and upon getting his permission to enter, she opened it.


    Steven was alone in his office. She pulled out a chair across from him and took a seat, propping her face up with her hands as she stared at him earnestly.


    He barely looked up from his work as he said tly, "If there''s something you need to tell me, spit it out."


    Jessica tested the waters. "Don''t you think we''d be making a loss if we invested in Huxham Corporation for only a meager return?"


    Steven paused in his work and looked up at her. "What do you mean?"


    She leaned forward, seemingly nervous. "I asked Yvonne about it. Right now, Annalise is only getting 15% in royalties for her work. Can you imagine how much merchandise we''d have to sell before we get our investment back?" Steven hadn''t nned to make money off Jessica''s work in the first ce. He only wanted to use this chance to show Annalise that he could give her whatever benefits Zane was affording her, if not more.


    He wanted Annalise to see that he was more generous to Jessica than Zane was to her. That way, Annalise would startparing herself to Jessica and realize what a mistake it was to leave him for Zane! He met Jessica''s gaze and asked, "And?"


    Jessica leaned forward after hearing his prompting. "I was thinking I could sign with yourpany instead. That way, you''ll be raking in the profits, and I won''t lose out on my revenue share."


    Instead of getting on board right


    away, Steven leaned into his chair and seriously considered Jessica''s proposition. She knew he no ger had feelings for her, and the chances of him investing in her merchandise in her best interests were slim to none.


    She thought quickly and said with a grin, "I know yourpany is doing well as it is, and the profits myic can make don''t mean much to you. But consider this: if you invest the money you made off my work into marketing, I''ll be earning more than Annalise.


    "She''ll think the mighty Huxham Corporation is ripping her off andpare her circumstances with mine. Once she sees how much revenue share you''re willing to give me, she might think Zane is not half


    as generous as you are."


    That reason alone was enough to convince Steven this was a good idea. He grinned-suddenly ambitious-as he said, "True. In that case, we''ll do as you say."


    Jessica was pleased to learn that her n worked. "I''ll follow up with Yvonne on the contract termination at Huxham Corporation, then."


    Steven nodded. "Go ahead."


    At once, Jessica called Yvonne and asked, "How are things on your end?" She heard Yvonne take a deep breath on the other line, and a bad feeling washed over her. "Please don''t tell me they refused to terminate the contract." "They were reluctant at first..." Yvonne lied. The termination had gone smoothly, but she had to put on a show for Jessica so that thetter would think her services were valuable.

 Chapter 439

    Yvonne acted tired and said, "Honestly, I''m just d I stuck to my guns. I made it clear from the start that I was done with this contract. So they had no choice but to cave." Jessica smiled and said, "You''re amazing."


    "Well, yeah." Yvonne kept a straight face as she took thepliment. "I mean, you''re my friend. It''s only right I make a little sacrifice for you."


    "Fair enough," Jessica replied. Once she got the answer she needed, she ended the call with Yvonne.


    Then, she turned to Steven. "Good news-myic''s contract is officially canceled!"


    Steven immediately contacted Darren to let him know Pelham Group had signed Jessica''s work. He asked Darren to make the announcement public so everyone would be in the loop, and Darren agreed.


    Before long, news that Pelham Group had signed Jessica''sic went viral across the inte. Meanwhile, other stories were stealing the spotlight. For example, the Winslow family made a huge announcement, saying they were ending their partnership with the Weston family.


    They even went as far as to im that anyone working with the Westons was basically picking a side against them. But then, Huxham Corporation quickly stepped in and announced a partnership with the Weston family.


    Since everyone was already used to the Winslows'' arrogance and didn''t like them, seeing them flex their power online at first made people feel a little bad for the Westons; however, since Huxham Corporation stepped in and announced they were backing the Westons, the entire inte blew up, with people rushing to troll the Winslows.


    "About time!"


    "The Winslow family might be doing okay, but they''re no match for Huxham Corporation, right?"


    "It''s not just ''no match.'' They''re on a whole different level!"


    "Exactly. Finally, someone''s putting the Winslows in their ce."


    Everyone had been buzzing about the three major families when they suddenly saw the news that Pelham Group had signed Jessica''sic. Everyone was left scratching their heads. "Who''s Jessica Shardlow?"


    "Is she a famousic artist?"


    "I know who she is! She used to drawics and was pretty popr, but her main audience wasn''t here-it was overseas! But something happened, and she just dropped off the map."


    "And now she''s drawing again?"


    "Well, I''ve definitely got to check it out!"


    Jessica quickly became the talk of the town. People were curious about her work, wondering what kind ofic she created and if it was any good.


    Pelham Group caught onto all the buzz and quickly posted theic online. Right after that, they started selling merchandise even though they hadn''t even made it yet.


    Their n was simple: sell it first,


    and if people bought it, they''d figure out manufacturingter. As Jessica watched the sales numbers for the merchandise keep rising, she couldn''t help but feel happier with every passing minute.


    She didn''t have to worry about anything during all those years with Casper It got so dull that she started drawingics. Looking back, it turned out to be the best decision she ever made.


    Even though she hadn''t made much money back then, she''d managed to build some recognition. Now, that reputation was finally paying off.


    Jessica''s mood lifted even more. She couldn''t stop imagining what the future might bring, especially since the merchandise was flying off the shelves right from the start.

 Chapter 440

    Jessica couldn''t help but think about the possibility of her ie skyrocketing overnight. What if she ended up making more than Annalise? Maybe even tens of millions a month?


    Just the thought of those numbers made her heart race. She had to calm herself down before turning to Steven across from her. "You''ve got a lot going on, huh? I guess I should leave you alone then." "Yeah," Steven replied. "Be careful heading back."


    Jessica gave a casual hum in response. She left the office and got into her car, still in a daze. She''d always relied on men, never really thought she could make afortable, happy life on her own. Jessica looked out the window. If thepany signing her wasn''t Pelham Group but somewhere that actually recognized her potential, did that mean she could finally stand on her own? She didn''t think about it for long before looking down. She figured it was fine even if no one wanted to sign her. She could always start herpany once she had enough money. The more Jessica thought about it, the better the future looked. She dialed Yvonne''s number. "Hey, what do you think abouting to work at Pelham Group and handling my projects?" "No, thanks," Yvonne answered right away. "I''ve got way less on my te here. It''s easy. Plus, staying at Huxham Corporation lets me use their resources to help promote you." Jessica hadn''t even considered that. Sheughed. "Well, that works, too."


    What Yvonne didn''t say was that the real reason she turned it down was because she didn''t think Steven was all that bright. Compared to Zane, Steven was way behind as a leader.


    Yvonne just didn''t have much faith in Steven, thinking his business might crash and burn sooner rather thanter. In the end, sticking with Huxham Corporation just felt like the safer option.


    Once Steven finished his work, he drove straight to the entrance of Huxham Corporation to block Annalise from leaving. Sure, he''d heard Jessica''s side, but he didn''t really buy that Annalise had mistreated her-he just needed a reason to see Annalise.


    §Ò§Ý§à§Ø


    Steven wasn''t sure why, but today, he just really felt like seeing her. He''d lost it not long ago, insisting she


    to meet him. He knew that wouldn''t work again so he figured he''d try a different approach.


    He called Zane directly. "Tell Annalise toe down. I need to talk to her."


    Zane''s voice was cold. "I thought you two already worked things out-"


    Steven brushed off Zane''s words. "You''d better pass that along if you don''t want me causing a scene down here."


    In the office, Zane stared at his phone with a grim look.


    I looked at him. "Was that Steven?"


    "Yeah," Zane replied. "I''ll go down and handle it. You stay here."


    I got up. "He''s here for me. He''ll keep pushing if I don''t go. You still have work to finish, so let me handle it."


    But in the end, Zane was too worried to leave me alone, so he got up, too. "We''ll go together."


    I couldn''t help but smile at him. "I''m not a kid anymore. You really don''t have to tag along for everything. You''ve got your stuff to handle, too."


    Zane took my hand. "I might listen to you if this were about anything else."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 441

    "But this is about Steven, so I can''t let you deal with him alone. I must be there with you, or I won''t feel right about it."


    When I heard Zane say that, I stopped pushing and quietly headed downstairs.


    Steven''s car was parked right in front of Huxham Corporation. I watched him from a distance and slowly walked up to him.


    Steven got straight to the point. "Annalise, I never said a word about you seeing someone else. Don''t you think what you did is crossing the line?"


    Suddenly, he couldn''t help but feel pathetic, using a reason like that just to get close to Annalise. What was even worse was that just seeing her seemed to pull him out of his funk and back to feeling like a real person. For some reason, that felt oddlyforting, and he liked it.


    Steven continued, "She''s pregnant. How could you upset her like that?"


    I was confused. "Upset her? When did I even get the chance to do that? Steven, I''m not the one you can take your bad mood out on. Maybe I never mentioned this, but I''m totally buried in work. I''ve got myic to focus on."


    I had already started on the second volume.


    "I''d spend every minute of my break on it if I could!" I added. "I barely have time to catch my breath, let alone do whatever you''re using me of. You got that?"


    Without missing a beat, Steven shot back, "She told me everything. Are you saying she''s lying then?"


    I was at a loss for words with how confident he sounded. I asked, "Fine, what exactly did I do?"


    "You''re using the fact that you''re Zane''s girlfriend to have your team push your work. Even if Jessica''s


    blocking anyone from promoting it. How is that not on you?" Steven questioned.


    Zane stepped in front of me, defending me. "That''s not on her. I started theic department to see how we could grow theic publishingpany using Anna''s work. We need to get that right before we even think about bringing in other artists.


    "We haven''t expanded or officially nned to bring in more artists yet, but one of our editors went ahead and signed your girlfriend''s work.


    "That said, we''ve provided all the standard resources. So, there''s no issue of targeting her or holding her back."


    The way Zane defended Annalise hit Steven like a punch to the gut. In the six years they''d been together, he''d never once stood up for her like that. He wondered if she had been through more than he even realized. Steven couldn''t help but me himself. Why hadn''t he noticed something was off when they were together? Why was he only seeing it now?


    "Why are the resources you gave Annalise so much better?" Steven blurted.


    "I''ve already exined that. We''re only working on one book right now, so it''s easier and cheaper to figure out how to run aic publishingpany, create a hit, and sell the merchandise," Zane said


    §à


    matter-of-factly.


    Steven went silent.


    I stared at him, who looked nk, and said, "Look, I have no reason to do what you''re using me of. I''d rather work on more pages if I''ve got any free time. "And if I''m too tired to draw, I''ll take a break. Both of those things actually help me get better. So why would I go after Jessica? What would I even gain from that?"

 Chapter 442

    Steven went quiet for a long while, then finally said, "Is it possible that now your life''s going well, so you''re rubbing it in the woman who stole your guy?"


    "That''d only be true if I still cared about you," I shot back. "If I was hung up on you, bitter, and trying to show off now that I''ve got my life together, then sure. But honestly? I stopped caring about you a long time ago. "So whether I''m doing well or not, there''s no reason to unt anything before you guys, right? Besides, you''re saying I contacted Jessica and that I was upsetting her. Well, how exactly did I reach out to her?" Without missing a beat, Steven answered, "By phone?"


    I was amused. "I already blocked both your numbers."


    He fell silent. I continued, "As far as I''m concerned, you''re just part of my past now. The best thing in my life right now is having Willow and Zane around and not having to deal with you at all.


    "I know that might sound harsh, but it''s the truth. Not having you in my life makes me so much happier.


    "Why would I want to hold on to you and make myself miserable? What would I get out of that? Nothing."


    I paused, looked at Steven, and said, "Correct me if I''m wrong, but after Jessica told you all this, you decided to sign her to yourbel and start pushing her, right?"


    A bystander jumped in, "Exactly! I just saw Pelham Group''s big ad campaign-Jessica''s one of their signed artists now!"


    I sneered. "I haven''t had a chance to check online, so I didn''t know. But it looks like you''ve been quick to take action."


    I wasn''t bothered by it and added, "At the end of the day, Jessica''s the oneing out on top. So why would I do something that gives her the advantage while I take all the heat? Think about it." With that, I turned to Zane. "Let''s go."


    Zane didn''t take his eyes off Steven until he was sure he wasn''t going to follow us. Steven just kept staring at my back.


    Before I entered the underground


    parking garage, I looked back at him.


    "I really hope you start thinking for


    yourself and stop letting others push


    you intoing after me.


    "I honestly don''t have time to waste on you. And there''s one more thing that you need to get through your head: I''m not interested in you anymore.


    "I don''t even want to waste a second on you. I''d rather be spending my time with the people who actually matter to me. Doesn''t that sound better?"


    Steven saw the cold look on


    Annalise''s face, and it felt like hisz heart was being ripped out. He knew things would always end up like this when he saw her, but he just couldn''t stop himself.


    He loved her. The thought of going even a single day without seeing her would tear him up.


    Steven rushed forward, catching up to me. "Annalise, I''m not finished-"


    Panic set in the moment he saw me walking away.


    "I don''t want to hear it," I said, getting into Zane''s car. "Last warning, Steven You onlye running to me because Jessica''s running her mouth about me to you.


    "Maybe that''s some ''game'' you two like to y. Normally, I wouldn''t care, but I still hope you both leave me out of it."


    It was just the right time to go pick up Willow. Zane stepped on the gas, and we drove off.

 Chapter 443

    Steven stayed rooted to the spot, watching Annalise disappear from view. He was only making things harder for her because of Jessica, and it was just pushing Annalise further away. But he''d have no reason to see her if he didn''t do that. Steven feltpletely lost. How was he supposed to get close to Annalise without making her angry?


    The car pulled up to the kindergarten just as Willow was finishing ss. The second she saw me, she grabbed Penelope''s hand and ran over, shouting, "Mommy, I missed you so much!"


    I bent down, scooped Willow up, and said softly, "I missed you, too."


    She snuggled into my arms, giggling with joy.


    Penelope darted over to Suzy, already looking for attention.


    Willow fixed her gaze on Penelope. Zane caught on to what Willow was thinking and calmly asked, "Didn''t you two want to know how toy nes flew the other day? I got a teacher toe by and give you a little lesson."


    He turned to Penelope. "Do you want toe over tonight and join us?"


    Penelope looked at Suzy, her face lighting up. "Mommy, is that okay?"


    "Of course," Suzy replied with a warm smile. She''d be going home with Howard anyway.


    Willow was thrilled. "That''s awesome!"


    I carried Willow into the car, and on the way home, she couldn''t stop talking about her day at school. Penelope sat beside me. She chimed in whenever Willow paused for a breath.


    It was already pretty lively with just the two of them.


    Zachary stood at the school entrance, watching them drive off, feeling strangely off-bnce.


    Penelope had barely spent time with Willow, but they already seemed like family. The more he thought about it, the more it felt unfair.


    If Steven hadn''t pushed him into meeting dessica-constantly going on about how Jessica was better than Annalise-he''d probably be living with Annalise at the Huxham residence by now.


    He''d be looking after Willow like she was his little sister. Tears welled up in his eyes as jealousy gnawed at him.


    He got in the car and said to Harry, "Let''s follow them."


    Harry hesitated. "Your Grandma


    Matilda''s already settled in at home. It''s her first day there. She''ll be alone if you''re away and probably think you''re not happy she''s here.


    Zachary paused for a moment. That made sense.


    "Alright, let''s head home," he said.


    Just as Harry was about to start the car, someone knocked on the window. Zachary nced over and saw Steven standing outside. A wave of anger hit him, but he pushed it down.


    He rolled down the window and asked, "What do you want?"


    "Your Grandma Matilda came by to see me today," Steven said, jumping straight to the point. "She asked me to record a video saying I''m cutting ties with you." "Oh?" Zachary was confused as to why Steven was bringing this up out of nowhere.


    "I recorded the video."


    "And?" Zachary frowned.


    Steven couldn''t help but vent about Matilda. "You''re my son. How could I possibly ignore you? She''s making me do this to tear us apart!"


    Upon gearing how self-righteous


    Steven sounded and seeing the serious look on his face, Zachary couldn''t help butugh. "But you were already ignoring me before Grandma Matilda even brought this up weren''t you?"

 Chapter 444

    Steven froze.


    Zachary continued, "Daddy, do you really want me to remind you how you treated me after you and Mommy split up?"


    At first, thinking back on everything that went down during that time still stung. But eventually, Zachary started toe to terms with it.


    When Steven was struggling financially, Annalise was there for him unconditionally. But to him, she was just a useless stay-at-home mother. By the time Jessica came back, it was bad enough that Steven had already walked away from Annalise, and then he did the same thing to Zachary.


    Steven opened his mouth, but no words came out.


    "Jessica treated me badly," Zachary said tly. "I told you exactly what she did, but all you saw was me ''holding a grudge'' against her. And then what? You still came after me..."


    He chuckled and added, "So I moved out, finally getting away from Jessica''s mistreatment. In the end, Grandma Chloe picked Cody over me, and you did the same. You even told me you weren''t giving me a dime." When Zachary first heard that, it felt like his brain just shut down. But eventually, he came to terms with it.


    "To me, that was already enough to say we weren''t father and son anymore. Grandma Matilda went to see you just to gather evidence. I wouldn''t exactly call it trying to mess up whatever was left between us." Steven never realized how much his actions had hurt Zachary. "The money your mom left you might be enough to get by. But that driver you''ve got? I''m the one paying for that!"


    Since Zachary was his flesh and blood-his firstborn son-Steven just couldn''t bring himself to cut ties with him. He threatened, "If you really want to cut me out, Zachary, I''m not paying for your driver anymore." He thought that would make Zachary back off. He didn''t expect Zachary to respond with a smirk.


    "I had him return hisst paycheck to you. Didn''t you get it?" Zachary asked.


    Steven couldn''t believe it. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his transaction history. Nearly every charge was six figures, all for Jessica. .


    Kon


    There was some ieing in too. Hidden between them was a deposit of slightly over ten grand. Steven stopped dead in his tracks.


    That had to be Harry''s pay. So, Zachary really didn''t need him anymore? He stared at Zachary,pletely stunned.


    Zachary


    "Daddy, is there anything else you want to say? If not, I''m heading


    back Grandma Matilda''s stilbwaiting for me."


    bered expressionless.


    on


    Aside from Annalise, Matilda was the only family Zachary had left. He didn''t want her to wait too long.


    Steven didn''t know what else to say. "I''m your dad-"


    "You''re Cody''s dad and Jessica''s husband. You''re not my dad," Zachary shot back, unbothered.


    Steven gaped at Zachary. Zachary turned to Harry. "Let''s go."


    "Alright," Harry replied, hitting the gas. The car zoomed off, leaving Steven frozen for what felt like forever.

 Chapter 445

    Chloe stood outside Rowena''s vi, took a deep breath, and rang the doorbell. She''d been feeling suffocated the past few days at home, especially whenever she thought about how Annalise sent her straight to the police station over a couple ofments. Seriously, what was Annalise even good for? She was just a housewife who didn''t lift a finger for the family. Annalise was supposed to be out on the streets after leaving Steven, barely scraping by and never knowing where her next meal woulde from. Chloe just couldn''t understand how Annalise managed tond such an easy life.


    What really bothered Chloe was how Annalise, who used to be so meek, suddenly had the guts to speak up. Where the heck did she find the courage?


    "Who''s there?" Rowena didn''t open the door right away. Her voice sounded tired and uninterested.


    Chloe was there for one reason to get Rowena to treat Annalise just as badly-if not worse than Chloe had. The only way Chloe could feel like things were finally back on track was by making Annalise''s life even more miserable. Forcing a smile, Chloe said, "It''s me, Annalise''s ex-mother-inw."


    "I don''t know you," Rowena replied. She and Chloe had never met. "You must have the wrong person."


    "No!" Chloe eximed, worried Rowena might brush her off. She quickly added, "Annalise is Zane''s girlfriend now. You probably haven''t spent much time with her, so you might not really get what she''s like. But I do. I know her better than anyone." After a moment, Rowena finally told security to let Chloe in. Chloe let out a sigh of relief and walked into the living room, where Rowena was lounging on the couch with a face mask on.


    Despite being in her 50s, Rowena looked youthful, and Chloe couldn''t help but feel a stab of jealousy.


    Rowena gave her a look. "Alright, get to the point."


    "Well, we''re both Annalise''s mother-inw," Chloe said, trying to bridge the gap between them. "Annalise has caused both of us trouble. You feel that, too, don''t you?"


    Rowena had a lot of say in this. She straightened up, ready to speak, but remembered what Tinsley had told


    her: she had no way to support herself and was totally reliant on Zane if she pissed him off enough that he cut off her allowance, Tinsley might have to sell thepany to keep afloat.


    Rowena wasn''t about to put that on Tinsley. So, sheid back down and asked casually, "She''s been giving you trouble at home?"


    "Of course," Chloe said, her face twisting in disgust. "Let''s be real-someone like Annalise doesn''t deserve my son, Steven, let alone your son, Zane!" Rowena quietly agreed, but she kept her thoughts to herself. "So?"


    Chloe finally let everything spill out. "But she''s too shameless! Steven tried to break up with her a few times, but she''d either cry or y the victim. "Steven''s too soft and can''t stand seeing a woman cry. That''s the only reason he even agreed to marry her in the first ce."


    Rowena''s lips curled up. She thought if Steven was that weak, it was his problem.


    Tinsley was about to make Chloe a cup of coffee in the kitchen. But after hearing the


    conversation-especially how Chloe kept gushing over Steven like he was some kind of treasure-Tinsley roffed her eyes.


    Instead of using the nice cup, she grabbed a disposable one and filled it with water. Then, she walked into the living room and handed it to Chloe. Feeling thirsty after all her talking, Chloe took the cup with a smile. "Thanks. At least you''ve got some manners. You''d be perfect for Steven."


    Tinsley almost rolled her eyes again. She flopped down beside Rowena.


    Rowena absolutely adored Tinsley. Her expression tightened when she heard what Chloe said.


    "Steven''s divorced, and he''s not


    nearly as good as Tinsley when ites to work. Yet you think he''s perfect for her? Seriously? It''s obvious Steven''s not even close to being worthy of Tinsley," Rowena snapped.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 446

    Chloe instantly realized she''d messed up and quickly said, "My bad! You''re right. Steven''s not the one for Tinsley!" That was when Rowena finally seemed satisfied.


    Chloe picked up where she left off. "Can you believe it? Not long after Annalise tied the knot, she was already pregnant. She just stayed home, did nothing, and let Steven handle everything. "Think about it. Steven''s got so much pressure at work every day, and she won''t even try to find a job to help out. All she wants is to just chill at home! A woman like her is a lot to handle!" Zane was the main provider in the Huxham family. So, going by Chloe''s logic, didn''t that mean Rowena and everyone else living off Zane were just as guilty?


    Rowena held back her frustration. She''d thought maybe she and Chloe had something inmon, but after hearing that, it felt more like Chloe was throwing shade at her, implying Rowena should get a job instead of living off of Zane''s money. Rowena pursed her lips, shooting Chloe a sharp look as her mind raced. Were Chloe''s reasons for not liking Annalise that ridiculous? Rowena couldn''t help but wonder if she''d been that petty when she went after Annalise. Was she seriously forcing her pregnant daughter-inw to work?


    Rowena turned to Tinsley. Tinsley gave her a light pat on the shoulder, leaned in, and whispered, "Rx. You''re not nearly as bad as she is."


    Rowena let out a relieved sigh.


    Meanwhile, Chloe noticed that Tinsley and Rowena were quiet and asked, "So, don''t you think I''ve got a point?"


    Tinsley didn''t give a straight answer. "If you''ve got something to say, just say it. My mom and I have stuff to do, so we don''t have time for this."


    Rowena nodded, clearly backing Tinsley up. Eventually, Chloe stopped pressing them for an answer. "As a mother-inw, I have every right to set her straight, don''t you agree?"


    Rowena looked puzzled. "Set her straight?"


    It was wild that Chloe was still pulling that kind of stuff these days. Was she really that out of touch?


    "Exactly. If I catch her just sitting around the house, doing nothing for Steven, I call her out on it every single day," Chloe said.


    If Tinsley hadn''t been worried that Rowena might be influenced and do something crazy to Annalise, she would''ve alreadye up with an excuse to sneak off to her room. Listening to Chloe was pure torture.


    Chloe kept going, looking way too proud of herself. "I make her get up and cook at 5:00 am every day. And when she''s done, she can''t eat right away She has to get down on her knees and scrub the floor first."


    She went on and on, clearly loving it.


    Tinsley looked utterly disgusted, and she could barely hide it. Instead of calling Chloe out, she asked, "Does Steven just sit back and let you treat Annalise like that? Doesn''t it bother him? Does he never stand up for


    her?"


    "Of course not!" Chloe said, her voice full of pride. "I''ve always told Steven that once he''s married, he can''t just treat his wife too nicely and disrespect his mom.


    "That''d be like turning his back on the woman who gave him life, and people would hate him for it. Steven''s thoughtful and cares about me a lot, so yeah, he''s always got my back."


    As Chloe spoke, she shot Rowena a sympathetic look. "It''s a shame about Zane. He''s got all this status, but he doesn''t treat his mom nearly as well as his wife."


    Then, she threw in some unsolicited


    17.


    advice. "If you want Zane to have your back more, just do what I do. Put your daughter-inw in check Once Zane sees you''ve got things under control, he''ll definitely have your back!"

 Chapter 447

    "Weren''t you always putting up with Annalise before? Well, here''s your chance to let it all out," Chloe said, giving Rowena''s shoulder a pat. "If you''re calling the shots with her, she''ll be walking on eggshells, trying to keep you happy. "Once you two are on the same page, Zane''s going to be happy to see you and Annalise getting along, don''t you think?"


    Tinsley rolled her eyes and looked away when she saw Rowena starting to fall for it. She knew it-Rowena was that easy to sway.


    Chloe noticed and got up. "I''ve got stuff to take care of, so I''ll head out."


    "Alright," Tinsley said. She saw right through Chloe''s move and didn''t bother with the niceties. "My mom and I''ve got a few things to take care of, so we won''t walk you out."


    "Okay."


    After Chloe left, Tinsley grabbed a small stool, sat down in front of Rowena, and said calmly, "Mom, I think it might be better if you keep your distance from her from now on.''


    At first, Rowena thought Chloe was being a little out of line. But as Chloe continued, it was like she was making all the right points. By the end, Rowena actually thought Chloe made a lot of sense.


    "Why?" Rowena asked. "I mean, we can''t believe everything she says, but there are definitely parts worth considering."


    "Mom, seriously, not a single word she says is worth your time!" Tinsley insisted. "She just kept going on and on about how you need to set your daughter-inw straight. It''s obvious she wants you to go after Annalise!


    "Steven''s totally clueless and wouldn''t stand up for his wife. But Zane? He''s sharp. If he finds out you''re not getting along with Annalise, he''ll definitely step in and back her up."


    Rowena thought it over and felt like it made sense. "Yeah, you''re right."


    "By then, our family would fall apart, fighting all the time," Tinsley said. "And Chloe? She''d sit back and watch you deal with the people she can''t stand.


    "Then, Zane would cut off your money. Chloe wouldn''t be affected at all. She''d have a front-row seat to all the drama and be loving every second of it." Rowena''s face fell. How had she never thought of that before?


    Noticing Rowena''s change in attitude, Tinsley continued, "Think about it: if I were in Annalise''s shoes, married to someone like Steven, pregnant with a huge belly, and getting pushed around by his mom, I''d feel totally betrayed if he didn''t stand up for me!"


    Rowena, who absolutely adored Tinsley, couldn''t stand the idea of her being mistreated. "If your husband ever treated you like that, I''d send men to his door and make his whole family pay for it! Then, I''d make them apologize! The nerve of them!"


    Tinsley was pleased with Rowena''s reaction. Seeing that Rowena was still upset, Tinsley said, "Exactly! So, what do you think will happen if you listen to Chloe? Annalise''s mom will definitely step in to defend her


    daughter when she sees her getting treated like that!"


    Rowena didn''t say anything.


    Slowing her tone on purpose, Tinsley continued, "And, Mom, think about it: Annalise and Steven are already divorced but Chloe still wants to make life hell for her


    Chloe''s just being a horribl


    ex-daughter-inw. In other words,


    mother-inw! And you know what''s the most frustrating part?"

 Chapter 448

    "Chloe might have gone to pick a fight with Annalise, but Annalise wasn''t having any of it and shot her down right away, making her look bad," Tinsley said. "When Chloe realized she couldn''t control Annalise, she switched gears and started trying to turn you against her." She grabbed Rowena''s hand and added, "If I ever end up divorced and stuck with a mother-inw like that¡ª"


    "Then, I''d be giving your mother-inw a piece of my mind, too!" Rowena snapped. After she said that, she seemed to catch herself and looked up at Tinsley.


    Tinsley grinned. "Yeah, so don''t be like her."


    Rowena nodded solemnly, looking relieved. "Thank God you''re here, or I might''ve actually fallen for her nonsense. Chloe''s just nasty."


    Tinsley nodded. "Yeah, no doubt."


    Rowena was frustrated. "She really thinks she can use me? No way, I''m going to figure out a way to get back at her. Otherwise, that old hag will think I''m an idiot!"


    Tinsley watched Rowena leave, then casually flopped onto the couch and grabbed her phone to call Zane. "Hey, Zane, did Annalise''s ex-mother-inw show up at your office trying to start something with her?"


    Zane was slightly surprised but answered honestly, "Yeah. Chloe''s current daughter-inw is Jessica Shardlow. She''s the one who screwed up Steven and Annalise''s rtionship, but after he got with Jessica, he realized he still loved Annalise.


    "Jessica saw Steven constantly bothering Annalise and figured if she stuck by him, he''d eventually leave her. So she''s been scrambling to find someone else to pay her way.


    "And guess who''s caught her eye? Me. She''s been causing trouble every day, trying to mess with my rtionship with Annalise."


    When Zane talked about it, his tone was calm, almost detached.


    "But every time, Annalise just sorts it out effortlessly. Jessica got really pissed, so she went straight to Chloe, twisting the story and saying Annalise didn''t like her and was out to get her.


    "Chloe wanted to back up her daughter-inw, so she caused a scene at ourpany, trying to drag Annalise''s name through the mud. In the end, Annalise called the police.


    "But Chloe''s pretty stubborn. Even though she knows Jessica started all this mess, she still thinks Jessica''s in the right and that Annalise is the one at fault.


    "Honestly, Annalise is focused on her work right now. She doesn''t have the time or energy to deal with them."


    Tinsley hesitated for a moment


    before asking, "So, what you''re


    saying is: Chloe''s doing all this work,


    but she''s actually clearing the path for Jessica to end up marrying you?"


    en


    Zane didn''t deny it. "Yeah."


    Tinsley couldn''t believe it. "Does Steven know?"


    "He probably doesn''t."


    Steven didn''t even know the baby Jessica was carrying wasn''t his. But Zane didn''t mention that this secret was something Annalise could use against Steven. Revealing it now would mess up Annalise''s ns.


    "But how do you know all this?" Zane asked.


    "Because Chloe came over to our ce," Tinsley said matter-of-factly. "She was trying to get Mom to start something with Annalise." "Oh?" Zane sounded calm.


    Afraid Zane might start worrying, Tinsley quickly said, "But don''t worry. Mom didn''t buy it."


    Zane knew Rowena could be easily influenced, and Chloe was really good at manipting people. He also knew Rowena probably hadn''t been swayed because Tinsley had been keeping an eye on her.


    "Thanks," he said.

 Chapter 449

    Tinsley felt a little awkward and said, "It''s nothing. We''re family."


    "Wasn''t yourpany looking for more partners recently?" Zane asked, his tone slower.


    Tinsley wasn''t sure why Zane suddenly brought up work, but she answered frankly, "Yeah."


    "Are you free right now?" Zane asked casually.


    Tinsley thought for a moment. It waste, and she didn''t have much going on. So, she said, "Yeah."


    "I''ve got a few projects I''m teaming up with Steven on. After assessing it, I think yourpany would be a great fit. Come by my ce, and we''ll talk it through," Zane said.


    Tinsley was so pumped that she almost leaped out of her seat. "I''m on my way, Zane!"


    "Okay."


    Tinsley hung up the phone and rushed upstairs, practically buzzing with excitement. She burst into Rowena''s room and shouted, "Mom, you won''t believe this!"


    Rowena was still chatting with her friends about how to get back at Chloe. When she heard Tinsley, she quickly turned around. "What''s up?"


    "I told Zane what Chloe did, and then he gave me a ton of projects!" Tinsley beamed, stepping forward to give Rowena a hug. "Look, as long as we stick with Zane, there''ll be all kinds of opportunities! But if we go against him, we''ll have nothing!" "He''s willing to back you up, so he''s got to be a pretty solid guy," Rowena said, clearly happy about it.


    "So..." Tinsley put a hand on Rowena''s shoulder and said earnestly, "From now on, don''t let anyone else steer you away from sticking with our family, okay?"


    Rowena was fond of Tinsley, mostly because she was meek and knew how to stay in line. But Zane? No matter what Rowena said, he was never the type to listen.


    Rowena was pretty annoyed with Zane, so she didn''t really want to take Tinsley''s advice, but she didn''t want to upset her either.


    In the end, Rowena finally muttered, "Fine."


    After that, she couldn''t help but vent, "That nasty Chloe must really hate seeing me do well! How dare shee to my ce and try to set me up?"


    Tinsley didn''t say anything when she


    noticed Rowena change the subject. Instead, she just took her hand and said, "Yeah, so Mom, if you ever run into something and aren''t sure what to do, juste to me. I''ll help you figure it out.


    "People who aren''t close to you will try to take advantage, but I''m your daughter, and I''ve always got your back, no matter what."


    Rowena saw the sincerity in Tinsley''s eyes and felt a little better. "Okay."


    Today, Howard showed up a bitter


    than usual. He exined that he''d been checking in on Willow and Penelope''s physical assessments. After making sure they could handle the current training load, he nned to step it up a notch.


    Willow didn''t mind at all and actually jumped at the chance. Seeing her reaction, Zane and I exchanged a smile and went along.


    Penelope turned to Suzy, who bit her lip and said firmly, "We''re fine with it, too."


    Everyone was on the same page.


    Howard had them kick off their training right after that. The run was pushed to two kilometers, and the training was extended to half an hour. By the end, Willow and Penelope were so wiped out


    elin


    copsed on the lush, green grass.


    Over time, my fitness had really improved, and I even had enough energy to scoop Willow up and carry her back to the living room.


    Suzy was wiped out, too, but she knew if she didn''t help Penelope, no one else would. She stepped up to carry Penelope.

 Chapter 450

    However, Howard beat Suzy to it, already holding Penelope in his arms. He smiled at Suzy and said, "I''ve got this. You take a break." Suzy went along and said sincerely, "Thanks."


    "Anytime."


    Everyone headed back to the living room for dinner. The dining table was a little cramped for all of us, so we ended up splitting into two tables.


    Penelope and Willow sat together at one of the tables, talking nonstop as soon as they started eating. Every once in a while, they''d pause and ask questions if something didn''t quite make sense. The house was buzzing with life.


    I really liked this vibe. When I was living at Steven''s, he hardly had time for me. Even after Zachary was born, Steven would only leave him with me when he was a handful.


    Once Zachary got a bit older and could feed himself, Steven would take him out for nice dinners in the evenings, leaving me alone to sit in the living room.


    Back then, I never imagined I''d have so much talking andughter in my life. It felt amazing. I finally had someone to hang out with.


    After dinner, Willow came running over, her eyes lighting up as she said, "Mommy!"


    I ran my fingers through her hair and asked, "What''s up?"


    "Can we y freeze tag?" she asked, practically bouncing with excitement.


    I nodded. "Of course!"


    Penelope''s job was to convince Suzy. And since Suzy was a mother who adored her daughter, she wasn''t going to say no to anything Penelope asked.


    Suzy and I exchanged a nce, both of us with helpless smiles. The house was packed, and there were plenty of people around who''d be happy to hang out with the kids. So, we headed out to the yard.


    Zane took on the role of "it." He was usually pretty serious and was not the type to show much emotion, but now he was making silly faces, running around, and teasing the kids yfully. He had this burst of energy that was totally unlike his usual self.


    We ran around, trying to avoid him. Whenever he tagged Willow or Penelope, I''d hurry over and untag them.


    Willow and Penelope couldn''t stop giggling. Hearing themugh, I couldn''t help but feel lighter. It hit me just how easy it was to make kids happy. They were so easily entertained and content.


    After about ten minutes of ying, everyone started getting too tired to keep going. Willow and Penelope still wanted to keep ying, but then the teacher that Zane had arranged for them showed up.


    She was in her early 40s and wore sses. Her hair was all neat, and she had a pretty serious vibe.


    Leah Zeller turned to Zane. "So, which two girls want to learn how toy nes work?"


    Willow and Penelope were still at the age where teachers made them nervous. They were scared of how serious Leah looked and went to hide.


    Willow grabbed onto the hem of my


    shirt, peeking at Leah from behind


    me. She was worried that if she didn''t get what Leah was sayingter, Leah might snap at her. So, to avoid that, Willow made up her mind


    to pay extra close attention from then on.


    Meanwhile, Penelope didn''t even dare look Leah in the eye. She found her pretty scary.


    Zane scooped up one of the girls in each arm and carried them over to Leah. "These are the ones."


    Leah could tell both girls were afraid, so she forced a smile and said, "Alright, you two, go ahead and bring out your toys."


    "Huh?" Willow looked surprised. "We get to y with our toy nes?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 451

    Leah said calmly, "Of course, that''s no problem."


    With the teacher''s approval, Willow held Penelope''s hand and headed upstairs. Their excitement was evident as they ran up the stairs,pletely forgetting their earlier fears of Leah.


    Leah said to Zane with a serious expression. "Don''t worry. Since I''ve epted your payment, I''ll make sure they learn something."


    "I''m just d you''re willing to share your knowledge with them," he replied.


    Leah was a reputable figure in the industry. It was rare for anyone to be able to hire her, regardless of the amount offered. They wouldn''t have had a chance to talk to her if she hadn''t been cash-strapped recently. Leah rxed a little upon learning of Zane''s trust in her. "Thank you," she said.


    Meanwhile, the two children yed with toy airnes as they ran down the stairs.


    Given their young age, Leah exined the principles behind their toys in simple terms. Willow and Penelope listened intently and asionally asked questions when they didn''t understand.


    Leah had initially thought she would just be ying with the kids, but she was pleasantly surprised by how seriously they were taking it. This made her even happier, and she eagerly shared everything they wanted to know.


    ...


    I watched the three of them from a distance.


    Willow and Penelope were ying with a remote-controlled airne.


    The teacher asionally spoke to them, guiding them as theynded the ne and inspected it.


    Suzy, feeling rare rxation, leaned back with a contented smile and said, "If only I could have a little time like this to unwind every day."


    At home, she was usually the one solely responsible for taking care of Penelope, shouldering most of the workload herself. Opportunities to rx were few and far between.


    Ever since Penelope started ying with Willow and visited the Huxham residence daily, Suzy felt as though a significant weight had been lifted from her shoulders.


    "Well, why note over here every day after school?" I suggested since I was also happy to see Willow havingpany.


    Suzy replied without hesitation, "Sure."


    As we talked, a young woman suddenly pushed open the door and walked straight to Zane.


    Zane said something to her before turning to head into the living room. The woman followed him with a broad smile.


    Suzy frowned and asked, "Who is she? Do you know her?"


    "I don''t," I replied, pulling my gaze


    back. "But she''s probably a rtive. If she


    weren''t, she wouldn''t be


    showing up at Zane''s house thiste at night."


    "Aren''t you worried? What if she isn''t a rtive, but Zane''s secret lover?" Suzy asked.


    She seemed genuinely concerned that Zane might no longer love me.


    I chuckled softly. "If Zane had


    he liked, then he wouldnt


    ome looking for me in


    first


    would he?" Content, belongs to


    "What if he met someone he truly likes after getting together with you?"


    "As long as he''s honest with me, I''d step aside without hesitation."


    Suzy seemed surprised that I was so nonchnt about it. "Don''t you feel resentment?"


    I smiled. "None at all. I''ve earned plenty of money after being with Zane. And for a time, he genuinely treated me well, enough for me understand what a normaltic rtionship is supposed to feel like. That''s more than enough."


    I''ve long since stopped demanding too much.


    After brief contemtion, Suzy nodded, agreeing. "That''s true."


    "What''s more, I''ve already been through a failed marriage once. The only thing I truly learned from that experience is..."

 Chapter 452

    "If we aren''t suitable, we should just end it. Clinging to a broken thread will only hurt us more deeply."


    I smiled as I continued, "I''m serious. Before letting go, we always deceive ourselves, thinking that as long as we hold on, things will turn out fine.


    "But in reality, it''s only after letting go and embracing a new life that we realize the past that we couldn''t part with was actually a torment."


    As I spoke, I lowered my gaze to my toes. "I think the biggest difference in me now is that I''ve be braver."


    Suzy, having gone through simr experiences, felt the same way. "Absolutely. During my marriage, I was so hurt when my husband cheated. Yet, people around me kept brainwashing me, saying that it''s normal for men to cheat. Some even med me, saying it was my fault he strayed."


    She stared ahead, her expression calm. "But after the divorce, I finally realized it wasn''t my fault. The fault was his. It had nothing to do with me. We just need to be responsible for ourselves. I don''t need to worry about others."


    In the study, Tinsley couldn''t help but feel nervous upon seeing Zane. She kept her head down, unsure of how to begin.


    Zane, on the other hand, casually tapped his fingers on the desk in front of him. He spoke about a few strategic directions for coboration.


    Tinsely looked up in surprise. "How did you know ourpany recently ventured into these industries?"


    Zane replied nonchntly, "I''ve always been keeping an eye on you. I''ve wanted to help you, but I was afraid you''d resent me for interfering too much and feel like you couldn''t learn to be independent. So, I never brought it up." Tinsley was in disbelief. "You don''t hate me?" she asked.


    This was something that had always weighed on her mind.


    "Why would I hate you?" Zane asked, puzzled.


    "Well, Mom handed thepany to me back then and gave you nothing."


    Tinsley had seen too many people fall out over unfair family inheritance. She had even thought that, even if Zane didn''t resent her, he wouldn''t want to have anything to do with her anymore.


    Zane chuckled. "Do you really think I''d care about such trivial benefits?"


    "True," Tinsley admitted, finally letting out a sigh of relief. She could tell Zane still cared deeply for her.


    With a hint ofint, she asked, "Then why didn''t you tell me earlier? I''ve been wanting to coborate with you but didn''t know how to bring it up. was worried you''d still hold a grudge about thepany"


    Although theirst interaction had reassured Tinsley that Zane didn''t seem to mind, she couldn''t shake the worry that he might just be using this as a way to reconcile. Deep


    down, she feared he still cared.


    After all, during their previous encounter, Zane had only discussedpany matters with her and hadn''t offered any real help.


    Of course, Tinsley knew she was in the wrong, so she hadn''t dared to ask for anything.


    Upon seeing her conflicted expression, Zane couldn''t help butugh. "Do you really think I''m that petty?"


    Tinsley blurted out without hesitation, "No. It''s just that most people around me would care about thepany''s ownership and fight over it. I instinctively assumed you''d be the same."


    "I watched you grow up. You should know better than anyone what kind of person I am."


    Tinsley shed a sheepish smile. "Well, people can act differently when money''s involved."


    Zane sighed, but he wasn''t going to dwell on it. To him, the past was the past, and there was no point wasting time on it.


    He kept his expression calm and said, "But let me remind you of one thing-when I work with others, my expectations might not be too high."

 Chapter 453

    "But you are different. You''re my sister. So, I''ll be stricter with you," Zane said.


    Tinsley knew Zane simply wanted her to approach the projects with a serious attitude. Ideally, he hoped she could learn as much as possible through these projects. That way, even if they stopped coborating in the future, she would have the skills to pave her path. "No problem," Tinsley replied without hesitation.


    Zane handed Tinsley a stack of documents and said, "Take these back and draft the proposals for these projects. Submit them to me, and I''ll review them for you." Tinsley eagerly epted the materials. "Got it."


    With Zane''s help, she felt it wouldn''t be long before she became one of the top professionals in the industry.


    Tinsley said with excitement, "Don''t worry. I''ll do these projects with 200% effort! It''ste now. I shall take my leave."


    "All right."


    Zane watched her leave, then nced at the time it was already 9.30 pm.


    ...


    After gently coaxing Willow to sleep and carefully stepping out of the bedroom, I saw Zane standing by the study.


    I stood still, watching him.


    Zane nced toward the balcony. "Shall we talk?"


    "Sure."


    ...


    The balcony was spacious, with a table and two chairs that still left it feeling open.


    The bright lights cast a glow over Zane and me while the distance remained cloaked in darkness. The only visible illumination came from the streetlights lining the road, stretching endlessly into the horizon.


    sw now


    After leaning backfortably in the chair, I closed my eyes and listened to the birds chirping. For a moment, the tranquility of this life felt fulfilling.


    Upon seeing that I wasn''t speaking, Zane took the lead. "You probably haven''t met the girl that came to look for me earlier."


    I didn''t deny it. "You''re right. It''s my first time seeing her."


    Zane stood up and walked over to me. "Don''t you think I should exin myself?"


    "Not really," I said while opening my eyes. "Your interaction seemed perfectly normal. You didn''t do anything inappropriate. Is she your rtive? Am I right?"


    Zane stayed silent for a long while before taking my hand. His tone was calm as he said, "But if a couplecksmunication and relies only on guesses, they can''t be together for long."


    I froze. I suddenly realized how much those six years with Steven had impacted me. For instance, I had be ustomed to guessing rtionships.


    Before Steven and I got divorced, it was always like this. When I asked about the identity of a man or a woman who appeared around him, he would always scold me.


    "No matter who I talk to, you always


    have to figure out who they are! Do you know how suffocating this is for me? I feel like I don''t have any privacy I feel like you''re constantly monitoring me," Steven would say.


    Towards the end, Steven even threatened me. "If you don''t change your habit, we''ll get a divorce."


    After that, I learned to be quiet and avoid asking anything. I even thought that this was the right way.


    I lowered my gaze. Today, when I


    saw Zane interacting with someone I didn''t know, I thought he would have the same attitude as Steven-he wouldn''t like others interfering with his matters.


    Hence, Zane''s questionpletely caught me off guard.


    It seemed that I had been trapped in an unhealthy rtionship for far too long.

 Chapter 454

    I found myself struggling to adapt when I suddenly encountered a normal rtionship. But I had to say that Zane''s willingness to discuss these things with me genuinely made me happy. I looked up at him and said, "Well then, go ahead."


    Zane chuckled and replied, "Tinsley is my little sister. We have an older brother, but he''s much older than us, so we didn''t spend much time together growing up.


    "Since she and I are closer in age, we''ve always had a good bond. Plus, Tinsley was really cute when she was younger, and I''ve always been proud of her."


    As Zane shared this part of his past, he spoke with a warmth I had never heard before. "I would often brag to others, saying, ''Look at my adorable sister; too bad you don''t have her."


    I hadn''t expected Zane to have such a vivid backstory, and I found it quite interesting. I remained silent, simply watching him.


    Suddenly, Zane turned solemn as he continued, "That harmonious rtionship was shattered the year my brother passed away, thanks to my mother."


    He paused for a moment, carefully considering how to continue.


    Curious, I asked, "What happened?"


    "She was afraid I wouldpete with Tinsley for control of the family business."


    Zane leaned against the railing, gazing into the distance. "So she suddenly sent me away and publicly announced that thepany would be handed over to Tinsley."


    I was even more surprised. "By then, you already had your ownpany, right?"


    Zane nodded and replied, "Yeah. If they had consulted me beforehand, I wouldn''t have tried topete with Tinsley. But my mom didn''t trust me. Tinsley had no prior experience and was suddenly thrust into a management position. It was overwhelming for her.


    "I couldn''t bear to see Tinsley struggling like that, so I told my mom that if she needed help, she coulde to me. But my mom used me of trying to use the situation to take thepany away from Tinsley.


    "From then on, I realized I couldn''t say anything more about my sister or the family business. Otherwise, they would suspect I had ulterior motives."


    Zane had suddenly realized that they treated him as an outsider. "All I wanted was to help her get familiar with thepany''s operations. I wanted to make her work a little easier."


    I could hear the loneliness in his voice. I hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and wrapping my arms around him.


    Zane didn''t push me away; instead,


    he gently pulled me into his embrace


    and said, "After losing my older brother, my mother and sister began to drift away from me. It felt like the only person who wouldn''t betray me was Willow. Hence, she''s very important to me.


    "Even though she''s not my biological daughter, she means so much more to me than a real daughter."


    I softly patted his back as he


    continued, "I didn''t dare to reach out to Tinsley because of my mom. And she was worried that I would mind my mother giving thepany to her instead of me. She thought I would be ufortable, so she stopped contacting me."


    I couldn''t help but express my surprise, "I didn''t know there was a misunderstanding between you two." "Yeah."


    Zane ced his hands on my shoulders and stepped back to meet my gaze. His tone was unusually serious.


    "What I''ve learned from this was that


    if you want a rtionship tost, you need tomunicate clearly. Otherwise, if one side


    misunderstands, even the strongest feelings can fade over time."


    I found myself agreeing with him. "So, what finally prompted you both to clear things up?"


    Zane raised his hand and gently cupped my face. "It was because of you."


    "Me?" I asked, confused.


    Zane chuckled lightly before exining, "Chloe came to my mom tonight and tried to stir up trouble, hoping to turn her against you."

 Chapter 455

    Zane exined, "Tinsley happened to be at home when she overheard what Chloe said, and she thought it was ridiculous. Plus, my mom was indeed convinced. After Chloe left, Tinsley immediately sat down with my mom to reason with her. "She told my mom not to believe Chloe''s words. My mom was finally convinced after a long conversation. After she waspletely convinced and had given up on going after you, Tinsley called me to inform me what had happened." Zane gently traced his thumb along my face and continued, "Ever since you came into my life, it feels like everything that happens to me is good."


    I didn''t argue and lifted my head to look at him. "So you''d better cherish me," I said seriously.


    Zane cupped my face with both hands and slowly leaned in for a kiss. His warm lips pressed against mine.


    I closed my eyes, enjoying the kiss.


    Zane whispered in my ear, "It wasn''t easy for me to get you. I''ll definitely not let you go."


    He noticed Steven showing up near thepany every day to confess or find fault, just to see Annalise. It was clear that Steven must have regretted divorcing Annalise.


    Zane didn''t want to follow in Steven''s footsteps. Therefore, he was determined to address any potential issues between him and Annalise.


    Steven''s car was parked not far away. The surroundings werepletely dark, with only the streetlights still shining.


    ...


    He stood alone outside the vi, feeling an unprecedented sense of loneliness. In the past, he would have been at home at this hour, Annalise would prepare a meakfor him and patiently wait for him to return.


    The house wasn''t particrly lively, but at least there was someone there. He wasn''t lonely.


    Now, Steven felt like there wasn''t a single person around.


    As Steven watched Annalise and


    Zane on the balcony being affectionate with each other, he couldn''t help but wonder if he and Annalise had such moments of intimacy during their six years of marriage.


    He quickly reyed their time together, and it dawned on him that there seemed to be none.


    Steven had always believed that he loved Jessica. Thus, when Annalise wanted to be close to him, he would find ways to avoid her.


    The closest they ever came to being affectionate was him sitting on the couch and Annalise resting her head on his shoulder.


    Steven''s eyes reddened. Every time Annalise mustered the courage to get close to him, she was rejected. It must have pained her every time.


    Steven felt as if someone were


    carving at his heart with a knife. He


    watched as Zane offered her the


    intimacy she needed without hesitation.


    Annalise was now radiating confidence, calm, and happiness. She no longer seemed forced or ufortable as she had when they were together.


    As her ex-husband, Steven should be happy for her. However, he couldn''t quite exin why he felt this way.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 456

    Steven felt suffocated.


    Tears started to roll down his cheeks and onto the floor, causing his vision to turn blurred. He wiped the tears off his face so that he could see Annalise clearly.


    ...


    Portia heard the door opening when Zachary returned home. She smiled and hurried to the door to greet him.


    "Are you back?" she asked.


    Zachary looked at Portia''s beaming face, and a strange feeling surged in his heart. Ever since his parents'' divorce, no one had greeted him with this much warmth.


    He felt deeply moved. Not wanting to disappoint his grandmother, he responded, "Yeah."


    Portia took Zachary''s backpack and said, "I made the soup today, while Ms. Ludwig made the rest of the dishes. Her culinary skill is really good. I watched her cook the whole time." Portia sighed and continued, "I don''t know why, but even with the same dishes, hers always looks more delicious."


    Zachary enjoyed this kind of interaction. Even if there weren''t many topics to talk about while living with a family, there were always opportunities for casual chatter.


    "Is that so?" he asked in surprise.


    Portia replied without hesitation, "Yes. Why don''t you try it yourself?"


    Zachary immediately rushed to the bathroom to wash his hands and sat at the dining table. He looked at the spread of dishes, all beautifully presented and vorful.


    Zachary opened his mouth in awe.


    "It''s been so long since I''ve had such a hearty meal! When Mom was still around, she doted on me. Every day, she would ask what I liked to eat, and when I got home from school, the table was always full of my


    favorite dishes. But ever since Dad


    and Mom divorced..."


    He paused before continuing, "When Jessica cooked while Dad wasn''t around, she wouldn''t let me have any food. There were even times when she took her son out to eat and left me home alone.


    "I had nothing to eat except leftovers


    from the fridge. Eventually, I got


    food poisoning and had to be hospitalized. Jessica even told Dad it was my fault for being greedy, and Dad scolded me because of it."


    Swney


    The first time this happened, Zachary felt it was unfair. He hadn''t done anything wrong. How could Jessica lie like that?


    Over time, Zachary realized that Jessica could act this way and get away with it because Steven allowed her to.


    No matter what Jessica did, Steven would always forgive her.


    Steven didn''t care about how Jessica treated Zachary. Initially, Zachary was heartbroken, frustrated, and unsure how to handle these situations. No matter what he tried, nothing worked.


    He tried exining, but Steven refused to listen. Even when he showed him evidence, Steven didn''t want to look.


    Zachary was frustrated for a long time. Eventually, he moved out and cut ties with them. Only then did he realize that his life gradually started to improve.


    He no longer had to worry about being used of baseless things when he returned home. He no longer had to worry about having no food to eat. That was why Zachary cherished his current life so much.


    Portia asked with a pained expression, "Why didn''t you tell me about all this earlier?"


    Zachary felt a warmth in his heart when he saw her worried face. He exined, "At the time, Dad didn''t


    believe me when I told him about it. I I felt that Dad was supposed to be one of the closest people to me in the world. If even he didn''t take my side, then no one else would believe me either."

 Chapter 457

    Zachary unconsciously lowered his head as he spoke.


    Portia sighed and reached out to ruffle his soft hair. "Silly child. Remember that no matter what happens, I''ll always be on your side unconditionally."


    Her warmth stirred something in Zachary. He looked up at her, and for a moment, an overwhelming urge to cry gripped him.


    He nodded and said earnestly, "Thank you, Grandma. You''re the best!"


    As he spoke, a thought lingered in the back of his mind.


    Portia had always been so kind to him. So, why hadn''t he been closer to her before?


    Perhaps it was because of Chloe. She used to say things like, "Your mom''s family is poor. They''re just distant rtives trying to take advantage of us. They don''t contribute anything and only want to leech off our wealth." Now, looking back, Zachary realized how skewed those words were.


    He remembered that when his parents got married, Steven didn''t have much money either.


    Annalise supported him through those tough times, helping him build the life he has now.


    Once Steven became sessful, it was as if Chloe rewrote history in her mind. She seemed to forget the struggles they all went through and acted like their family had always been wealthy. That was when she started looking down on Annalise and Portia. Yet, through it all, Portia never asked for anything from them-not money or help, nothing.


    Zachary began to understand that people who spoke the loudest and stirred up trouble weren''t always the ones who truly cared. The ones who loved him the most often showed it quietly, without needing to say much at all.


    Zachary''s lips curled into a smile.


    Hannah handed him his cutleries and said warmly, "Come on, try my cooking."


    Zachary grinned as he replied, "I''ve been drooling just smelling it!"


    Hannah''s eyes sparkled with affection, clearly charmed by his enthusiasm.


    Upon noticing the exchange, Harry quickly chimed in, "What do you like to eat, Zachary? Let me get you some."


    Portia was worried that Zachary might think she cared less about him than the others. Not wanting to be outdone, she interrupted, "He''s a growing child, so he needs a bnced diet to stay healthy. Here, have a big piece of pork rib. And some greens too!" Zachary looked down at his bowl, now piled high with food, and his eyes curved into crescents as he smiled.


    Out of courtesy, he stood up and began serving food to the others in return, earning approvingughter and smiles.


    The room was filled with warmth and cheerful chatter.


    ...


    After dinner, Portia stood up to clear the table, but Harry quickly stepped in, taking the dishes from him.


    "I''ll take care of this," he said with a grin.


    Portia looked at him in surprise. "Why are you being so diligent all of a sudden?"


    Harry scratched his head sheepishly. "Ms. Ludwig cooked the meal. If I don''t at least wash the dishes, wouldn''t that make me look bad?"


    Portia finally relented, letting him take over.


    Harry got to work efficiently,


    stacking the dishes in the kitchen, covering the leftovers with stic wrap, and cing them in the fridge. He then wiped the table and swept the floor before heading to the sink to wash the dishes.


    Portia sat alone in the living room, deep in thought.


    Wasn''t she supposed to take care of Zachary? Why did it feel like he was taking care of her instead? She


    hardly had to lift a finger for the


    household chores anymore.


    The more Portia thought about it, the more it didn''t sit right with her. Acting like a hands-off overseer didn''t seem fair.


    Determined to contribute, she picked


    up her phone and started browsing


    online for dishwashers. If she


    iel


    bought one, the others could have less housework to do.


    "Grandma, I''m going to my room to study," Zachary said as he grabbed his backpack.


    Portia blinked in surprise. "Study? At your age?"


    Most kids at Zachary''s age would be busy ying, wouldn''t they? But here he was, focused on studying.


    Portia whispered, "Why are you putting so much pressure on yourself?"


    She thought that a child in kindergarten should just be ying happily.

 Chapter 458

    Zachary grinned as he exined, "It''s because I want to stay ahead of other kids my age. Think about it-if I finish reviewing all the primary school material now, I''ll have less pressure when I start school." Hannah had shared the idea with Zachary, who found them very convincing.


    He continued, "While everyone else struggles to learn in primary school, I can move ahead and start preparing for middle and high school. It''ll be much easier for me by the time I get there. While others are buried in books and stressing out at home, I''ll already know everything and have plenty of time to y!"


    Portia listened to his reasoning and couldn''t help but smile. Oddly enough, Zachary''s logic made sense.


    She chuckled and said, "You''ve really matured."


    Zachary simply smiled back, waved goodbye, and walked toward his bedroom.


    Portia watched his figure disappear down the hallway.


    What a thoughtful child. It was such a pity, though. If Annalise had been able to stay in his life, Zachary would have grown up to care for her so deeply.


    A pang of regret hit Portia''s heart. It seemed Annalise wasn''t destined to have that blessing.


    ...


    After returning to his room, Zachary turned on the lights. One wall was covered with posters of Annalise, each one specially printed by someone Zachary had hired.


    Every time he entered this room, he felt like his mother was with him, which instantly lifted his spirits.


    Hannah, who had been in Zachary''s room more than once, still felt a twinge of unease each time.


    She sat down at his desk and said, "Okay. Let''s start with your homework."


    "Okay." Zachary set down his backpack and switched on his little deskmp.


    He softly called out, "Mom. Mom."


    "I''m here."


    The small robot sitting on his desk responded, its gentle and calm voice identical to Annalise''s.


    Upon hearing the familiar voice, Zachary suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to cry.


    He had custom-made the robot at a high cost, using voice samples from the audio messages Annalise had sent him.


    When the developer heard the recordings, they said to him, "Your mom must love you very much."


    She really did.


    After losing his mother, Zachary truly began to understand the depth of love in the words she had spoken to him as he listened to her voice messages over and over.


    Annalise always wanted the best for him-good food, warm clothes, and, most importantly, good health.


    Zachary smiled and spoke to the robot, "I''m going to start my homework now."


    The robot responded with the same tone as Annalise''s, "You''re amazing!"


    Zachary puffed out his chest proudly. "Of course!"


    Upon seeing this, Hannah couldn''t help but sigh. Zachary was so pitiful. This was the only way he could still connect with his mother.


    Yet, Zachary seemed oblivious to that. He ced the robot in front of him, making him feel as though Annalise was still there, watching over him, caring for him.


    He focused on his homework, and


    his mind was set on a single goal. He wanted to study hard and, one, day, invent a time machine so he could return to the moment Steven


    first took him to meet Jessica.


    This time, he would stand firmly by Annalise''s side. He would make sure that when Annalise left Steven, she wouldn''t feel abandoned.


    Steven returned home and reflected on everything that had happened.


    One wrong decision had set off a chain of events, causing everything to unravel. What had once been a happy family was now in pieces. His wife and son no longer wanted him.


    Steven sat back on the couch, staring nkly at the ceiling.

 Chapter 459

    Steven had initially felt confident, believing that Jessica was the love of his life and that being with his long-time crush would be a dreame true. But reality turned out to bepletely different from his fantasies.


    Steven let out a wry smile. It seemed he could only maintain a distance from Jessica; any closer, it became ufortable. By the time he realized this, it was already toote to regret it.


    No...


    Steven closed his eyes. He still had a chance. The investigation results weren''t the whole story-did Zane also have a past lover? If she reappeared in front of him, he would ditch Annalise.


    When that happened, Steven would show up and steal Annalise''s heart. So what he needed to do now was to make asional appearances in front of Annalise so that she remembered his existence. Although Steven had thought of this scenario multiple times, he never found it bothersome. He knew very well that without this thought to motivate him, he likely wouldn''t have the strength to keep going. Steven took a deep breath. The problem was that Annalise really disliked him. How could he interact with her without causing any trouble?


    Just then, an idea struck him. He pulled out his phone and dialed Jessica''s number. It was actually quite simple.


    Hadn''t Steven already signed the rights to Jessica''sic? What he needed to do next was promote her work.


    Steven figured he could take some time each day to visit Huxham Corporation and give Annalise updates on Jessica''s projects. This way, not only would Annalise notice him, but she would also see how well he was supporting Jessica.


    When the time came, Annalise


    wouldpare how Zane treated


    her with


    how Steven treated Jessica.


    She would surely regret leaving


    Steven for Zane.


    Steven''s frustration eased slightly at the thought.


    Jessica answered the phone, sounding a bit puzzled. "It''ste. What''s the matter?"


    Steven got straight to the point. "How much do you need for the promotion expenses? Is ten million dors enough?"


    Although the amount was quite significant for marketing costs, it was worthwhile if it could make Annalise jealous of Jessica.


    Steven didn''t mind spending a little extra. After all, money was insignificant; he could always earn it back.


    Jessica quickly calcted in her mind. During her time at her previousicpany, thepany would send her the


    marketing cost breakdown. Eve


    during their biggest investment, it only amounted to a few hundred thousand dors at most nowhere near the figure Steven was suggesting.


    Thus, Jessica was surprised that Steven was willing to spend so much money. She bit her lip, feeling torn inside.


    On the one hand, she thought that if


    Steven casually mentioned such a high figure, then with a little persuasion, he would likely be willing to offer even more. But on the other hand, she worried that if she pushed too hard, he might not even be Willing to give her ten million dors.


    After thinking it over, Jessica decided to take the plunge and go for it. However, she didn''t want to ask directly.


    Instead, she hinted, "Have I mentioned that I''m not nning to buy any jewelry or essoriestely?"

 Chapter 460

    Steven vaguely understood what Jessica was implying, but he didn''t show it. "Oh?"


    Jessica continued, "I want to invest all this money into my work. If the marketing goes well, then everyone in the country will know how much you''ve spent and how much effort you''ve put into promoting my project. This way, you''ll look even more impressive." Annalise would also know how much Steven was willing to care for his people.


    Steven immediately raised the offer. "50 million dors. How about that?"


    Jessica''s heart raced. She never expected Steven to be willing to offer her an additional 40 million dors with a little persuasion.


    However, Jessica didn''t immediately ept the offer. A crazy thought shed through her mind, and her heart almost jumped out of her chest. She could feel cold sweat forming on her forehead. Jessica was afraid that if she asked for the amount she had in mind, Steven would think she was too greedy and decide not to give her any money. But she couldn''t help herself; what if he agreed? With that in mind, she casually said, "How about 100 million dors?"


    Fearing Steven might reject her, she quickly added resolutely, "You can transfer this amount to me as the entire promotional fund for myic. And I promise, I won''t ask you for extra moneyter.


    "More importantly, I''ll take full responsibility for my work-its promotion, and the production of any merchandise. You won''t need to worry about any of that. Once theic gains poprity and the merchandise starts selling, I''ll share some of the profits with you." Steven smiled and responded, "Okay."


    Since the money hadn''t yet been transferred to her ount, Jessica was careful about her tone when speaking to him.


    "Don''t worry. I do way better than Annalise and make sure everyone notices my work. Although you and Zane are in the same industry, you will outshine him. The projects that you support will be better than Zane''s. You will be more sessful than him!"


    Jessica''s voice was sincere as she praised Steven, "When Annalise sees how popr my work bes, she''ll regret everything."


    She couldn''t help but recall how


    envious she had felt when Zane


    supported Annalise, even founding a


    Jessica had watched it all unfold with a burning mix of frustration and jealousy. So, it was Annalise''s turn to watch. If Jessica''s work became a huge sess, Annalise would the same envy she once ha


    feel


    Jessica''s words hit the mark. Steven grinned widely and said, "I''m looking forward to your good news."


    "No problem," Jessica said confidently. Then, after a brief pause, she asked cautiously, "So when will the money be transferred?"


    Steven replied without hesitation, "Tomorrow morning. I''ll have it arranged after I reach the office."


    Jessica exhaled in relief. "Great. It''ste now. You should get some rest."


    Steven responded calmly, "Okay."


    Jessica hesitated for a moment, then decided that since Steven was funding her, she should show a bit more warmth. "Although the person you have always loved is Annalise, Steven..." Steven, who was just about to end the call, stopped and waited. "Yes?"


    Jessica gently touched her belly, her gaze softening as she thought of her unborn child.


    "I still love you. But more than that, I hope you find happiness. Even though I may not be part of your happiness, I''m just d to know you''re truly happy."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 461

    Maybe the night was too quiet, so Jessica''s voice felt unusually soft. For once, Steven seemed genuinely moved.


    "Don''t worry. Even if Annalise and I get back together, I won''t neglect you and the child," he said.


    Jessica almost rolled her eyes. If Steven really cared about her and the child, how could she be with Zane?


    However, she kept her thoughts to herself and said, "If ites to that and you''re still involved with me, Annalise won''t be happy. For the sake of your future together, maybe it''s best if we keep our distance." Steven didn''t want to abandon his child. "What about the child?" he asked.


    Jessica nearly said the child wasn''t his, but she caught herself and swallowed the words just in time.


    She replied, "You can visit the child asionally if you want."


    Upon hearing Steven''sck of response, Jessica added, "But honestly, it might be better if you don''t. Otherwise, Annalise might get jealous. She''ll start wondering if you still care about me."


    Steven didn''t respond immediately. Instead, he murmured, "Give me some time to think this through."


    Jessica smiled contentedly. With Steven''s money, she could invest in heric. If it did well, she''d make a nice profit. Even if theic wasn''t a big hit and Steven managed to win Annalise back, marrying Zane would be a great fallback option. It seemed like a win-win situation.


    After hanging up the phone, Jessica leaned back on the couch and texted Zane.


    "Steven''s been going to the office to look for you every day. You must be so annoyed, huh?"


    Casper furrowed his brow, suddenly struck by a thought. Jessica hadn''t even broken up with Steven yet, but she was already in touch with Zane.


    Did Jessica do the same thing when his family went bankrupt? Did she immediately contact Steven when she sensed things were going south, making sure that Steven still wanted her, before finally breaking things off?


    When Casper realized this, he found it suddenly amusing. Heughed at himself, realizing how seriously he had cared about Jessica''s feelings.


    In those years they were together, Jessica got everything she wanted from Casper without hesitation.


    What happened in the end?


    Casper loved Jessica and treated her like a queen.


    And Jessica? She only ever calcted what she could gain. She would stay as long as she could extract money from Casper. She was heartless.


    Casper couldn''t help but feel bitter,


    but he dared not reveal his emotions in their conversation. Instead, he simply stared silently at their chat window, a storm ofplicated feelings swirling inside him.


    Jessica was not bothered about theck of reply from Zane. She casually continued texting him.


    "I think Annalise just doesn''t value herself enough. She already has


    someone as great as you, yet she''s still secretly stirring things up with her ex-husband. We are such opposites. I have a boyfriend and I remain virtuous."


    Casper didn''t know why, but his chest ached so much that he couldn''t hold back augh.


    After switching to another phone, he opened their separate chat history.


    There it was, clear as day-a message he''d sent to Jessica.


    Her reply? She''d said she was tired and wanted to sleep.

 Chapter 462

    Technically, Jessica should be asleep by now. However, she was full of energy, chatting lively with Zane.


    The irony? Zane''s ount was being operated by none other than Casper himself.


    Jessica had been scheming right under his nose, trying to sow discord between Zane and Annalise.


    Judging from the stark contrast in how Jessica treated him versus Zane, Casper effortlessly saw through her true nature.


    Casper turned off the screen. He had to admit that Jessica was smart and could y the long game.


    Even though he was now broke, Jessica tried to engage with him.


    For a while, Casper had naively believed that her willingness to stay in touch stemmed from love and that she couldn''t let him go. Perhaps, their rtionship was more important than money. Casper scoffed as a wave of pain swept over him.


    But the truth was clear...


    Jessica''s willingness to engage with Casper wasn''t about love or attachment. It was a calcted effort to keep the man who loved her most tethered with minimal effort.


    If he made it big again, she''d have an easy way back into his life.


    Casper felt the urge to vent his frustration but restrained himself, responding calmly, "Aren''t you also still in touch with me?"


    His sacrifices, his love, were utterly worthless to Jessica.


    Jessica exined, "I''m in touch because we''re both in the same situation."


    "I don''t think so," Casper replied in an attempt to provoke her.


    More importantly, Casper interacted with Annalise once, in a situation that could only be described as


    perilous for her.


    Drugged and defenseless, her body was weak and limp, and she had no strength to resist. Yet she had


    managed to find a way to escape danger.


    That alone showed Annalise was sharp, resilient, and unwilling to rely on anyone.


    Casper could also see that Annalise hadpletely given up on Steven after what happened.


    Jessica continued her tirade, "Maybe Annalise and Steven still have


    feelings for each other. Who knows? They might even be secretly in touch without you realizing it. Otherwise, how could someone as busy as Steven find time to show up at yourpany every day to see Annalise?"


    Her words were dripped with malice, an attempt to smear Annalise''s reputation. Casper couldn''t put into words how he felt.


    Jessica had snatched Steven from Annalise, yet it seemed that wasn''t enough. Now, she wanted to take Annalise''s current boyfriend.


    If she seeded, then what? If Annalise found another partner, would Jessica try to snatch him as well? There were so many outstanding men in the world. Why was Jessica so fixated on taking Annalise''s? "Saying things like that only makes you seem petty and despicable," he replied to her.


    Without waiting for her response, Casper exited the app, refusing to read whatever Jessica might say next.


    ...


    Jessica stared at Zane''s reply that defended Annalise.


    Her suspicion was confirmed the texter had to be Zane. Only he would believe in Annalise unconditionally.


    Finally, Jessica let out a breath of relief. She''d been worried that someone else might be using his ount.


    However, her moment of happiness was fleeting, quickly reced by frustration.


    She had only been trying to warn Zane, yet he didn''t believe her.


    What an idiot!

 Chapter 463

    Jessica was deep in thought. If she managed to win Zane''s heart, would he treat her just as well? Would he protect her unconditionally? Would he... Jessica shyly bit her lip. Would he spend all his money on her?


    ...


    After returning to the bedroom, I turned on the deskmp and sat down to sketch for a while. I stopped when I realized I was getting tired.


    I pulled back the curtains to reveal the pitch-ck night outside. The quiet night wasforting, with insects chirping in a rhythmic chorus.


    I stood up and leaned against the window, taking in the view outside. Lately, I had been caught up in endless troubles, which had left me feeling irritable.


    As I forced myself to confront these issues, I suddenly realized the more frustrated I felt, the more it proved their sess, right?


    So, I needed to find a way to free myself from their influence. Gradually, I began to rx.


    I have a child who loves me, a husband who is willing to face challenges alongside me and work through them together, and a thriving career.


    I should be happy. So, I need to adjust my mindset. My gaze then fell on the proposal beside me, and my expression softened. Since life had finally taken a turn for the better, I should cherish this hard-won moment even more.


    In that instant, it dawned on me that life was filled with joyful and unhappy moments. If we focused only on the happy things, our mood would lift. But if we dwell on the unhappy aspects, our spirits will sink.


    Since we were the ones who determined the quality of our lives, why not focus on the joyful moments and choose to be happy every day? Suddenly, everything felt clearer.


    ...


    That night, I finally had a good sleep. In the morning, I walked to the Willow''s bedroom.


    Willow had already finished her morning study session. Surprised she looked at me and then circled around me a few times. I found this strange and asked, "What are you doing?"


    en


    Willow replied with astonishment, "Mommy, you''re so different today!"


    Curious, I asked, "How am I different?"


    She thought for a moment and said seriously, "A few days ago, you seemed a bit down, but today, it feels like you''ve figured a lot of things out."


    I smiled and ruffled her hair. "You''re really smart."


    Willow asked in surprise, "Did I guess right?"


    "Of course used to worry about some inexplicable person. Then b realized he was part of the past..¨¬ should forget about him. Even if he appears in front of me every day, I shouldn''t let him affect me.


    Willow eximed, "Wow, you have such a good temper!"


    I liked herpliment and replied with a smile, "I just think it''s unnecessary to make myself more worried."


    "You''re amazing, Mommy! I didn''t


    want to disturb you the past few


    days because I was afraid it wo


    I


    upset you. But now it''s great can bother you again!"


    After hearing her cheerful tone, I couldn''t help but pinch her cheek. "I wouldn''t have it any other way."


    Willow had finished washing up, so she pulled me into her room and handed me a hair tie.


    "Can you help me make a pretty braid?" she asked.


    "Sure." I had always wanted a daughter, so I had learned many hair styling tips online.

 Chapter 464

    Unfortunately, I gave birth to a son. The hairstyling skills I had learned had no ce to shine.


    But now, I had a daughter. Every day, I could style her hair in all kinds of beautiful designs.


    Today, I braided Willow''s hair into a new style. She stood in front of the mirror with neatly woven braids.


    Her round, adorable cheeks reflected in the ss as she blinked her eyes and eximed, "Who is this? She''s way too cute!"


    Her unabashed self-praise made me smile uncontrobly. ying along, I said, "Maybe she''s from the Huxham family?"


    Willow turned to me, saying, "You''re really lucky!"


    I didn''t know where she developed such an adult-like tone, but the childish innocence in her words made her all the more endearing.


    I couldn''t resist reaching out and pinching her little cheeks. "That''s right. Everyone must be so envious of me for having such an amazing daughter."


    Willow nodded and added, "And I bet all the other kids are jealous of me for having a mom as great as you. Mommy, I love you."


    I scooped her into my arms. "I love you too."


    Just then, Zane pushed open the bedroom door, catching us as we were about to head downstairs.


    Seeing how well Willow and I got along brought a warm smile to his face. "Time to exercise!"


    "Yay!" Willow said excitedly while pulling me down the stairs.


    Ever since we started exercising together, her mood improved day by day, and she felt much better physically. Although it was tiring at times, Willow believed that as long as she kept going, it would bring positive changes. She was determined to continue because she never wanted to return to her previous quiet, withdrawn state.


    Even as the intensity of her workouts increased, Willow pushed through with grit and perseverance.


    Willow''s stamina had indeed improved significantly. The increased intensity of yesterday''s workout appeared to be no challenge for her today.


    I followed behind her, already feeling a bit out of breath. However, she breezed through the run with ease.


    I couldn''t help but marvel at the energy of a child.


    Afterpleting the exercise,


    Willow headed off to shower on her


    own, not needing any assistance from an adult. When everything was done, she sat at the dining table just as the food was ready.


    Willow held up her ss of milk with both hands, took a deep breath, and downed the whole ss in one go.


    During the meal, though, she kept smiling to herself.


    Curious, I couldn''t resist asking, "Why are you smiling?"


    at me, her eyes


    She looked up at


    sparkling. "They said drinking milk makes you really strong! Mommy, I''m going to drink milk every day from now on. That way, I''ll be the strongest kid in ss. Noone wift dare to bully me!"


    She had her goal, and I, of course, would support her unconditionally. "You''re the best!" I cheered.


    ....


    Meanwhile, Portia prepared Zachary''s breakfast. There was milk, a fried egg, and bread.


    Concerned that Zachary wasn''t fond of vegetables, she had thoughtfully added two slices of lettuce and two slices of tomato inside the bread, along with the egg.


    The bread had been toasted over low heat, turning golden and crispy with a delightful aroma.


    Zachary sat at the dining table, his eyes lighting up as he stared at his breakfast. "Grandma, you''re so good to me!"


    Portia chuckled and said, "See if it tastes good."


    "Of course!" Zachary then grabbed the sandwich and ate it in big, eager bites.


    He thought the bread might be too dry, but to his surprise, the vegetables added the perfect bnce. He finished every bite


    before reaching for his ss of milk.


    Zachary looked at Portia in appreciation.

 Chapter 465

    Zachary thought his grandmother cooked as well as his mother did. The food was delicious.


    He smiled to himself.


    Even though Zachary had made a mistake by going down the wrong path, he was lucky that he still had his family by his side-even if that meant his biological parents had left him.


    When Steven got up, he looked at the time and felt the space beside him on the bed. Steven realized that the other side of the bed was cold.


    He wondered if Annalise had already gotten out of bed. Steven got up and went to the kitchen. He asked impatiently, "Annalise, are you done cooking?"


    But there was nobody in the kitchen. At that moment, Steven finally remembered that they had divorced.


    Steven stumbled back to the dining table and plopped into his seat. Overwhelmed with frustration, he buried his head into his hands. Steven wondered why he kept forgetting that they had divorced.


    Recently, Steven had been dreaming a lot. He often dreamed of the time when he was still with Annalise. Because of that, he couldn''t distinguish between dreams and reality.


    When Steven snapped back to his senses, he looked at the empty kitchen again. He regretfully wondered if he had spoken to Annalise with a bad attitude like he had just moments ago. Had he been treating Annalise that way the entire time he was with her?


    Steven felt like there was a void in him. He couldn''t understand why he just couldn''t treat Annalise better.


    ...


    After breakfast, Zane and I sent Willow to school.


    In the car, Willow leaned on me and whispered, "Mommy. Lately, I''ve been happy every day."


    Putting my arms around her, I asked, "Why is that?"


    Willow said, "When the other kids saw that I could speak, they all came to talk to me because they were curious, One of the kids was worried that if was surrounded by other kids now, I would be sad when they stopped talking to me next time...


    "So, she came to me and said the other kids only liked me temporarily. She said they will stop hanging out with me after the hype dies down."


    Willowy down and gazed at me.


    Then, she continued and said, "And so, I asked her what that meant. She told me not to cry when that happens. I told her I didn''t know you were worried that I would be sad, and you must care a lot about me. But after I thanked her, she blushed and ran away."


    When I heard Willow''s words, I shot Zane a confused look. As an adult, I interpreted Willow''s words in that the other child was being hostile toward Willow. However, Willow misunderstood the child and took it for kindness. Zane met my eyes.


    I felt a little conflicted. Willow had always been very carefree. She never noticed the negative emotions behind other people''s intentional provocations. If I pointed this out, Willow may be sad to learn about their hostility. After a flurry of thoughts, I decided not to address the misunderstanding.


    Willow looked at me and then at Zane. She said, "Mommy, Daddy, you both look very serious. What''s on your mind?"


    I pinched Willow''s cheeks with a


    smile and said, "I just thought you


    handled the situation very well. When I was younger, I would only seek help from my parents when I ran into problems. But Willow already knows how to handle problems by herself!"


    Feeling proud, Willow beamed brightly.


    I continued and said, "But Willow, remember this..."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 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 Zane said slowly, "You waned 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 chop ett 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."


    Howard nodded. "Don''t worry. I''ll keep them protected."


    Zane ryed the oue of their discussion to us in the Ining room.


    Sury finally let out a sigh of rebel "Now, when Liames to bother me, I''ll have something to tight back with."


    Zane added, "You and Penelope cane to my house after school. Once the training''s done, let Penelope y with Wow for a while, then have Howard take you both back hom


    The worry in Sury''s eyes vanished, and she smiled. "This is a perfect opportunity to have Penelope join in on the exercise."


    Atter 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 Sury''s concerns addressed, her mood lifted significantly. "Mr. Husham, 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 tine."


    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 sentimental words. Hearing her say this, he thought momentary before responding 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 upstams 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 arrangedtoys.


    Willow lifted her chin proud, and said, "You didn''t expect this right, Mommy?"


    1 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 Helt 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


    1 held both of their hands and led them downstairs. As soon a


    As soon as we sat at the table, the kid jumped into their food, treating it like apetition


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 The Reclaimed Rose Chapter 351

    The shoveled food into her mouth, saying, "I haven''t eaten something this delicious in a long time


    aly smiled, pleased to see her daughtes enjoying the meal somuch. "Thetreat more."


    dinner, Howard dheve them home


    ay, he said, "I don''t have much workodating the day, so feel free to call


    If you need anything


    ix was schemi mwamentarity betove saying, "I have many esta toons at home. Would your mind staying onver mushy watched timand, afraid he might decline,


    konth, Lam had beening over at night to cause ti ouble, which was bing too much for her to chanelle, hesitation. "Olovutse. Na problem. I don''t have a ce to stay right now.


    Surs tially smiled. "Thank you."


    The was stopped in the undergond garage, and Howard led them upstairs.


    Penelope held Howard''s hand. "Mr. Landon, if you see my dad Liter, can you send him flying with your


    shy considered the question. "My punches aren''t that strong. Al


    Freluctantly said: "knocking him out is fine as long he stops bothering my mom,


    aled and reassured be." "Don''t worry, dos long as I''m here, he won''t have the pits." The sille on Howard''s face disappeared. He saw a man standing not far away. ehind Howard "That''s thy dad"


    (ce in the evenings/"


    willing to take me in, I''ll be more than happy."


    why approached the man.


    Liam stazed at Howard suspinously and asked, "Who are you?"


    Does. Eorin you? Howard stopped at the doct and told Suzy, "You go inside st."


    (she couldn''t help much, so she obediently opened the door, led Penelope inside, and quickly shut it behind i


    Dow but was blocked by Howard.


    asn''t friendly as he said. "You''re her ex-husband, yet you''re


    bothering her. Don''t yo


    you''re being too intrusive?


    su? Lumi scoffed,pletely dismissing Howard "The had my child, so she''s mine!"


    d bachon expected to encounter sich an unreasonable man. "The Law doesn''t recognize that kind of thinking


    Homard knew that seasoning 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 stared to Tist. "The cely thing greeting you will be


    ika e yoni bei nema boyfriend?r


    wild answer, Liam quickly added. "I never gave her p


    permission to have a boyfriend"


    mooses to do is her business. She doesn''t need to exin anything in you," Howard saidully. "And you no longer have the right to control her."


    the door, and Suryoprondit


    don and saw Liam was also trying to get


    wanning Liam, "11 you dare, rep inside. My fist willnd right in your face."


    the living room a


    too quietly as he stated:

 Chapter 352

    Liam quitted his teeth and ultimately walked away.


    Penelope looked incredulously at his reti eating figure and asked. "Is he teally leaving


    Howard Laughed and said. "Of course. People like him shy pick 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 for you in the future?"


    Howard replied without a second thought, "Of course. No problem¡°.


    Penelope clenched het fast. ""Twant him to be afraid et me."


    Howard nodded with satisfaction. "That''s right"


    Suzy hadn''t expected that the routing problem would be solved so easily. However, she also feared m woulde back once Howard lett.


    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


    Amalie had such a good personality. She could get along with anyone. She was also very gentle and always sond to everyone.


    But unfortunately, he would never experience that again.


    Bachary heard someone tapping on the car window,


    He turned and saw Steven standing outside. He rolled down the window, his round, pinkface 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 it 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 wille."


    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 le


    That was enough for him.


    a new life, and be happy.


    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 nau constant attention that might upser Willow"

 Chapter 353

    Zach cvetinned, ¡°Bet since you''ve be Willow''s mother, all these things are your responsibility now."


    Ireasingh replied, "You send me such a ge sry every month. Wouldn''t I be wasting your money if I didn''t handle anything?" "Tane spoke slowly, "1 dm''i think so, Anna Even if all you do in preompany Willow, which helps her feel better, the money is well spent. Zame took my hand "Mm."


    Tlooked up at him "Ty the way, tomonew I want to visit my mom,"


    ?Zane asked, ¡°¡±¡°Do you want me to go with you?"


    Since we rendirmeden rtionship, thi did not feel an intimate as before just holding hands seemed to bring us a little closer. "Okay."


    Jessica sat at home, repeatedly contemting her current situation.


    Steven had said he was date of her and didn''t want her to get too close to Zane, Steven also hadn''t made any effort to find her. ings continued like this, the distance between them would only grow until Steven eventually stopped contacting her altogether. ould be paring for her luxurious style at that point anymore!


    a while and then decided to take the imitative.


    the looked down at her pollen ankles, which had berger due to her pregnancy. She quickly came up with a n and dialed Seven''s number. "Hello?" Seven asked in a dismissive tone, "What is It?"


    hennaca''s mouce was soft and tinged with a hint of emotion. "I twisted my ande. Can youe check on me?


    Steven beutated 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 lund She will definitely understand


    teven nced at Zachary, and their paces met


    jessica didn''t pulls him. Instead, she spoke in a voice that was on the verge of tears. "Steven, it really hurts." Upon hearing this, for immediately got into his car, stepped on the gas pedal, and disappeared from Zachary''s view, Zachary insed in disdain dis point, ferver still couldn''t let go of Jessica, yet he thought he could concio with Annalise,


    Furtunately, Annaliser Bat


    nan who truly loved her and was wholeheartedly dedicated to her


    Zachary continued to watch the person on the balcony.


    Jessica Rud originally nned to run over and wee Steven, but as soon as she stood up, sheanly realized something


    If she didr, Meven would definitely find out she was lying


    So, feature gently Idredbe right and slowly made a way to the door she opened it, revealing a fragile smile. "You''re here?" Meer immediately potted when he saw her struggling to move toward the living room.


    He steppeddiemand and parked hunt up


    Jessica wrapped her as anaund Steven''s neck, tears streaming down her face, "I thought your licht''t want to deal whili me anymore. "Of course not." Steven ted her on the couchi, ka?rbed below bay, and took her hund. "What happened in your foot?"

 Chapter 354

    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. Tarfest, I thought it was just a minor injury and didn''t want to bother you. But there was not home


    "Impiant and caring for another little child"


    Ashe spoke, tears welled up in her ryms.


    wiped them away and added, "I couldn''t move properly, and really had no other choice but to ask for your help,"


    with that, she threw herself into Steven''s EMMA


    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.


    Jessica looked up, her eyes glistening with tears. "Please don''t push me away, okay?"


    Steven looked at her face and soddenly 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.


    O 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


    ''ll surely understand your pain."


    Seven continued. "Even if I really get back together with her, she certainly won''t stop me from caring about you."


    Jessica Steven was such an any 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 gulfriend, but he always made it seem as if she were still the third party. That bothered her a life. 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 got 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 analise''s number.


    I was speechless when I heard Steven''s familiar voice. Where did he get my number?


    I still politely asked. "Is there something you need!"


    Steven spoke gently, "Jessica is pregnant with my child. After you forgive me and weedmary, I hope you''ll be kind enough to ept this chi Although Seven no longer had feelings for Jessica, he still cared for the unborn child


    I was satisfied with this result. The truth would only greatly impact himter if he still had feelings for the child.


    Seven continued, "At that point, I might not be able to love you wholeheartedly,"


    I nearly threw up upon hearing this.


    evated me well during our marriage. Yet, he could still a


    I 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.."


    *Map.* | couldn''t listen any longer and asked, "Did express any intention of reconciling with you?"


    had made it very dear that we were done every time he came to see me.


    Steven frige, and after a long silence, be 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 l?r and bui 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

 Chapter 355

    day..


    I would rather use this time to rx than listen to someone can''t stand say disgusting things.


    Steven stoodadent, stating 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


    I was only at this moment that Steven sedente snapped out of it. So, what should I do for you to forgive me?


    "You don''t need to do anything." I answered family. "Because there''s no possibility for us anymore."


    1 hung up the phone andy back on the bed, pouting


    thad ahead Naked his number, yet he still found a way to contact me. He was truly persistent.


    Unfortunately, his efforts were misguided.


    pot enough about him. I should focus on whether I should tying something when I visit my mom tomrow and how to exin it to her so that she won''t be angry. I ced my handover 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.


    1 got up early in the n


    morning and washed up.


    As I walked out of the bedroom, I saw Zane standing at the door,


    He was wearing a deep blue k pajama, which made him appear even more elegant. He stepped forward and held my hand.


    locked at our intertwined hands, still not ently wed 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. Leven thought that this was what normal ttionships 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?*


    1 answered honestly, "I''m looking at you"


    Zane stopped by Willow''s room and gated at me


    this dark eyes. "Ch


    I exined, "1 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 the ot


    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," 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."


    was worried about. "Wow, it''s not about showing IE Ireally love you."


    Willow in led to keep a serious face but couldn''t help smiling, "Okay then."


    "By the way, when does your kindergarten evrst start?" Lasked calmly.


    Willow wasn''t sure. Probably next week"


    Se 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


    1 day


    I pinched Willow''s cheek "On that day, I''ll definitely make time to be with you" Willow was thrilled. After fishing up in the bathroom, she looked at Zame. ¡°Dady, do you have time next week?" she asked.

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    Chapter


    356


    Zane was practically at Willow''s beck and call. Even if his tasks were piling up, he would still find the time.


    Wilker asked, "Then can you and Mommye with me to the kindergarten event?"


    Zane indulgently replied, "Of course."


    s," he replied


    Zachary also remembered the uing event after waking up, where he would be reciting with Willems,


    but Steven was ignoring him right now, and Chloe waspletely focused on jessira


    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?


    Harry felt heartbroken upon listening to Zachary''s calin tone


    Zachary was only the 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 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. 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.


    Touldn''t help but churkle.


    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 fences in ce, looking back at Annalise. But her figure had already disappeared.


    ite lowered his gaze in duppointment.


    Then heforted himself, thinking that since he had been walking beside Willow just now, Annalise must have seen him.

 Chapter 357

    Zachary selctantly pretended that Annalise was just here to see him off.


    I didnt being anything for my mother because she was getting older, and I wasn''t sure if she would like what 1 bought.


    after thinking it ovri. I decided just to transfer her ten thousand do


    She sent me a question mark in response.


    Seeing that, I couldn''t help but smile as I knocked on the docs.


    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.


    "Mes" I anserted as I walked into the thing room


    zame ollowed behind and sat down beside me.


    My mother looked at Zane in confusion, but sering me 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"


    by 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 tobe was stem. "You have to figure out a way to reconcile with Steven!


    "By the way, in Zachary with you now?


    "As someone''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 be consider reconciling with you for the


    "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, 1 just want copot the past behind mepletely "You''re trying to get under my skin, right?" My mother became even angrier. "After living 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 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.


    theal month, after taxes, I''ll make at least 400 and doftars."


    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 an 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,


    "ught 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 juli said, "The wants Jessica to be his ther, so I''I respect that


    My mother took a deep breath, clearly disappointed in me She stared at me long before saying, "Gaback now."


    I knew she needed time in calm down, so I didn''t celin


    Iwood up and left, and Zane followed me out.


    Rowena sut alone in the living room, struggling with that thoughts. Alter a while, she dialed Zachary''s mmber. "Kid, are you free tonight?" Zachary still liked her a lot. "Hmm" "Grandma misses you." Herolde gece was full of warmth. "Why don''t youe over to my ce after school?"

 Chapter 358

    Zachary finally realized that he hachi''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.


    Bowen''s heart nearly melted when she heard Zachary''s woods "The Grandma will


    Zachary excitedly said. "Great!"


    (something you


    I sat at the office and began reflecting en my mother''s words.


    I suddenly felt so relieved that I didn''t listen to her and instead made the dechim to divorce,


    Even 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 paindul


    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


    The kocks sounded on the door


    ape heard the knocking and coldly said, "Come in."


    Lik pushed the docs open, passed by Zane, and whispered, "I''m looking for Annalise


    Zane repled with a simple,


    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 ce of the animation is also nearingpletion. Within about hall a month, we''ll begin pushing it out simultaneously."


    Ja Erir 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, "A moir, will take a year. Youre 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 yourie."


    I was puzzled. "If the content isn''t finished, can we still publish it?"


    En responded without hesitation, "Of course, we can publish it in volumes. I think the content you''ve drawn so far isinugh 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."


    Er 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 could respond. Eric hurriedly left the office


    Zane also stood up. "Anna, I need to go out for a while


    Zane caught up with Eric Wall, don''t rustoff."


    Ever stopped. "Is there something wrong?"


    Zane''s voice remained cold. "Come with me."


    ?tir was still very earited. He just wanted toget 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 utg


    But he held his words bark.


    He followed Zane to the meeting room and closed the door behind him. "Ma, Husum, is there something you need?"


    ¡°if the publishers aren''t willing to publish Anna''s work. ¡°Zane only just remembered this is when Eric brought it up. ¡°We can fund the publishing ourselves."

 Chapter 359

    Chapter


    359


    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 premation 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 nationvide? 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 don


    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 ir "


    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 intocmestic 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 saidcheerfully, "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?"


    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.


    "Annalie''s works are so highly valued in thepany because Mr. Huxham wants to use her works as part of an experiment.


    "Tut''s why a specialpany was set up just for her until we have specific results, allocating resources to anyone else is impossible."


    Yvonne insisted, "that theic I''m in charge of is really high quality. It deserves even more attention and a bigger promotional push than Annalise."

 Chapter 360

    Chapter


    360


    Eric almost couldn''t hold back hisughter. "First of all, though the promotional efforts int youric may not be on the same level as Annalise''s, they''re not bad either. It should meet your He looked at one, who was eager to exin, and gestured


    and gestured for her to calm down will definitely increase its promotion efforts. You can test assured about that." "Secondly, if theic you''re handling is as good as you say and can bring thepany hage profits, we


    Yvonne was still unwilling to give p


    Erie 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. Husham 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 Trope''s increasingly unpleasant expression. "Furthermore, you need to understand that good quality work isn''t determined by pitching. The readers'' choice determines it


    you prove that her work can perform thousands of times better than malise''s with no promotion


    "I believe you after you


    "And maybe then, I''ll say a few good words for you in front of Mr. Husham. Let''s see it Mr. Huxham is willing to set up a new department for the work you have in hand.* "Lunderstand" Yunne 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 can get in thepany for you.¡±


    "Thank you," Jessica teplied 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, will try my best to get close to Zase. 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, 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 sali. "Then you must know when he leaves thepany, sight


    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. "Yeal."


    "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."


    he 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


    Jessica chuckled. "By the way, when I meat 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 isa''t firm yet. Just casually send her the photo you took"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 466

    I said to Willow, "But remember this, Willow. If other people never bothered us, we must not pick a fight and bully others too. But if other people bully us, we must also think of a way to retaliate. Do you understand?"


    I had a stern expression on my face.


    In response, Willow said solemnly, "Okay, Mommy. But ever since Zachary left our ss, the other children have been genuinely kind to me."


    I smiled and said, "I know that. I just wanted to remind you while we''re on this topic. I want you to be happy every day and not be affected by other people''s emotions."


    With a serious expression, Willow answered, "I''ll remember that. Don''t worry, Mommy. I won''t let anyone else bully me!"


    I continued, "No matter when, if you encounter any problems that you cannot solve, don''t try to fix it yourself. You must tell us, and we will resolve the problems for you. Okay?"


    Willow gazed at me lovingly and said, "Okay!"


    As I gazed at Willow, I suddenly recalled when I still hadn''t given up on Steven. Whenever Steven ran into trouble, I would relentlessly try to advise him. Yet, it annoyed Steven. He would grumble and say, "You''ve said this a hundred times. Stop repeating it..."


    In the beginning, I simply thought Steven was behaving like a child. It was normal that he wouldin after I repeated myself multiple times. But after he said that a few more times, I realized that he didn''t like it when I did that.


    And so, I learned to keep my mouth shut. Later on, I became careful with my words.


    Buttely, Zane had been very tolerant of me, which seemed to have lowered my guard. I started to talk more, too.


    Suddenly, I felt anxious. I wondered if Willow would tire of my nagging, just like Steven did.


    Just as I was about to ask her, Willow said, "Mommy, many kids in my ssin that their mommy nags a lot... But when you tell me these things, I never feel annoyed.


    "It''s because I can tell that your words are filled with love. That is why I will only feel happy! Finally, somebody is willing to care about me, dote on me, and love me..."


    Willow sat up and embraced me. She said, "They don''t know how blessed they are."


    I felt touched by Willow''s words. I


    said, "I was just thinking that I couldn''t control myself and said so many things to you. What if you don''t like me doing that?"


    Willow shook her head and said, "I like it very much."


    I embraced Willow tightly.


    People have always said that Willow improved from my patience andpany. But what they didn''t know was that I could only move on from my trauma of being hated by my son because of Willow.


    I lightly rubbed Willow''s cheeks and said, "I''m so lucky to have such a great daughter." "Me too. My mommy is the best mom in the world!" Willow eximed proudly.


    Upon hearing that, Zane jealously said, "Oh, so did Daddy not love you before you met Mommy?"


    Willow buried her face into my embrace and whispered, "You did, but you didn''t like talking to me." Then, Willow peered curiously at Zane and said, "And I''m just a kid. I didn''t know how to talk to Daddy." Zane chuckled and asked, "What about now?"


    Without skipping a beat, Willow said, "Daddy loves me too! My daddy is the best dad in the world!"


    ...


    We soon arrived at the kindergarten.


    Willow


    approaching the entrance met


    hurriedly got out of the car and shouted, "Penelope!"

 Chapter 467

    When Penelope heard Willow, she turned around. At the sight of Willow, Penelope quickly ran over to Willow.


    The two young girls happily held hands and chatted away before finally entering the school.


    ...


    As I sat in the car and watched the two, I couldn''t help but feel happy. Penelope was Willow''s only friend. If possible, I wished for their friendship tost.


    After the two children walked into their ssroom, I looked away. Just then, I caught a glimpse of Steven not too far away, and my expression fell uncontrobly.


    As he was seated beside me, Zane noticed the change in my expression. He asked, "Did you see him?"


    "Yeah. Didn''t he abandon Zachary? Why did hee to the kindergarten?" I wondered.


    Zane made a wild guess. "Is he trying to reconcile with Zachary?"


    I shook my head and said, "He and his mother prioritize Jessica more. It was also obvious that they were going to give up on Zachary not too long ago. I had expected him to treat Jessica''s child as his future heir, but I hadn''t expected him to give in to Zachary after such a short standoff..."


    Feeling regretful, I said, "I wanted to see him lose all his family members, but I guess I won''t be seeing that now."


    If Steven neverpletely cut his biological son off, that would mean that even if he discovered that the child that Jessica conceived did not belong to him, he could still reconcile with Zachary.


    While looking in Steven''s direction, Zane said, "You don''t have to be so pessimistic."


    I looked at Zane and asked, "What do you mean?"


    But Zane didn''t answer my question. Instead, he signaled me to look at Steven. I looked over curiously.


    Zachary got out of the car and


    walked past Steven without looking at him. Zachary didn''t say a word to Steven the entire time. Steven wanted to say something but didn''t know what to say, so he remained silent. The two didn''t interact at all.


    Zane chuckled and said, "Seems like Steven really broke his son''s heart. His son has quite a temper, too. I don''t think he ns to reconcile with Steven."


    Zane held my hand and continued, "Steven put all his hope on the baby in Jessica''s womb..."


    Happily finishing his sentence, I said, "But Jessica''s child isn''t his."


    Zane met my eyes, and I couldn''t control my lips from curling.


    After that, Richard drove us away.


    ...


    Steven stood alone outside the


    kindergarten and watched


    numerous parents happily holding hands with their children. He


    observed each couple, who all had harmonious rtionships.


    Meanwhile, Steven had broken his son''s heart, and his son didn''t want him anymore. His wife had also divorced him.


    If Steven wanted to see his son, all


    he could do was wait outside the kindergarten in the wee hours of the morning. He could also see his wife drop someone else''s child off at the kindergarten.  en


    The more Steven thought about it, the more puzzled Steven became. He couldn''t understand why his life ended up like this.


    Just after Zane arrived at the office, Eric followed him inside, unable to hide the joy on his face.


    Eric said, "Mr. Huxham, I have good news to tell you."


    Zane sat down and mindlessly picked up a document to read it. "What?"

 Chapter 468

    Eric asked Zane, "Didn''t we justpletely cancel the partnership with the Winslow family a few days ago?" In response, Zane nodded. "Yeah."


    Eric handed the file to Zane and said, "I approached a new potential partner. After contacting them, they invited me to their factory and showed me theirtest product. They also told me about their recent technological breakthrough.


    "But all their current partners cannot afford to take on such arge order. A few days ago, they had a meeting and were struggling to find a sales channel. Then, coincidentally, we approached them for a coboration."


    Zane took the file and looked at the contents. He asked, "Have you tested their new products? How does itpare to the ones by the Winslows?"


    Ericplimented them, saying, "It''s so much better! Mr. Huxham..."


    Eric praised thepany''s products. Meanwhile, Zane quickly skimmed the product manual.


    Eric continued, "In the past few days, I''ve been feeling so relieved that we terminated the contract with the Winslows. Otherwise, judging from the Winslows'' passive attitude, they may never upgrade their products. That might cause us to be unable to keep up with the times andter result in bankruptcy."


    After skimming the document, Zane closed the file. If the product manual''s statements were true, it would open up many opportunities for thepany.


    Zane gazed at Eric. Upon seeing how serious Zane seemed, Eric became a little tense.


    "Mr. Huxham?"


    Zane calmly said, "I was just thinking... Should we include ''innovation'' in our contract for our future partnerships?"


    "That way, if our partners do not upgrade their products while otherpetitors upgrade their product features drastically... Maybe we can reserve the right to terminate the contract and choose to coborate with thepany that upgrades their product instead?" Zane suggested.


    Otherwise, Huxham Corporation''s business partners may stop taking the initiative to improve their products thinking they have secured a great business partner. Meanwhile, otherpanies would endlessly upgrade their products to survive in the market.


    If it only happened once or twice, that wouldn''t be a problem. But if it was a repeated urrence, it may be a drawback to Huxham Corporation and pose risks of getting phased out of the market. Zane thought he should be more strict with their partners for the sake of thepany.


    Agreeing with Zane, Eric said, "That works. Look at the Winslows. They''re a great example. Just


    because they wanted to trick the Weston family, they gave Mr. Weston the most important project.


    Because of that, they can''t make any profit now and have ruined their partnership with ourpany.


    "They were so confident they could easily secure better partners after breaking away from us. I would guess they were disappointed..."


    Eric fully understood the Winslow family''s circumstances. He continued, "They were too far behind in their technology and lost their greatest support, the Huxham family. This would be a challenging time for them."


    Not denying Eric''sments, Zane said, "That is why you should always improve yourpetitiveness when fiercepetition exists. This is what ourpany needs to be mindful of."


    "Got it," Eric said. He was gloating at the Winslow family''s dismay, but he hadn''t expected Zane to see things from such a different perspective.


    At that moment, Eric grew to have even more respect for Zane.


    Eric immediately said solemnly, "I will remember that."


    Zane looked at Eric.

 Chapter 469

    Eric continued with his report. "Ever since we found out about the annual profits of merchandise abroad, I started to research the categories of merchandise abroad, as well as their operation and profit strategies.


    "I found out that not only did they have more variety than we do, but they also did not create impractical items like we do. They even have daily lifestyle items.


    "My idea is... Since they are so ahead of us, there is no need for us to try and figure things out ourselves. I n to send a representative from ourpany to learn the strategies abroad. That way, when they return, we could also roll out lifestyle products as merchandise. "That way, our sales would increase, and our profit would increase, too. What do you think?"


    Zane hadn''t expected Eric to put so much effort into it. Zane remarked, "That''s a great idea, but this is not my decision to make."


    Zane turned to me and asked, "What do you think?"


    "You''re doing all this so that I can earn more money," I said.


    Ever since I began to work alongside Zane, my ie had been increasing rapidly. Although I had always been shocked at the amount of ie I received, I would never reject money.


    I continued, "I fully support the idea."


    Eric knew that if I agreed to it, Zane would agree too. Immediately, Eric sent somebody a text message. Minutester, a young female graduate entered the room.


    When she saw me, she paused. Then, she lowered her gaze. Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she looked at me again with a confused expression.


    I thought her expression seemed odd. It was as if she knew me. I asked, "Have we met?"


    The woman nodded hesitantly. She said, "You look familiar, but I can''t recall where we''ve met. I''ve heard your voice, too."


    I chuckled and said, "Perhaps we''ve bumped into each other somewhere."


    "I think so," she said in agreement.


    After we were done, Eric chimed in to introduce us to each other.


    "Her name is Sage Turner, and she is the candidate that I n to send abroad."


    I asked curiously, "Will she be going alone?"


    Zane said slowly, "Lately, it hasn''t been very safe out there. It''s unsafe for a young woman like her to go abroad alone, right?"


    When Sage heard what we said, she became worked that she might be reced. Hurriedly, she said, "I may be young and inexperienced, but


    trust


    me! If you''re willing to entrust the task to me, I will do my best toplete it! I am capable of this task!"


    Zane looked at Eric, who continued, saying, "We''ve contacted the


    be assured about her soucan


    I looked at Sage, who seemed determined and pleased with the job. Seeing that, I didn''t want to stop her anymore. After all, she had full control of her own fate.


    But after some reflection, I decided to remind her. I said, "When you''re abroad, be sure to protect yourself. No matter what happens, prioritize your own safety."


    Zane added, "If you lose any assets, tell Eric, and he''ll reimburse you."


    "Got it," Sage said, sighing in relief.


    After telling Sage everything we needed to, Sage left the office.


    Then, Eric told us, "She was willing to take on the task because she desperately needed money. I heard thata family member is awfully sick and needs a lot of money.

 Chapter 470

    Eric exined Sage''s situation, "Her family''s initial n was for her to get married and for her to request a betrothal gift to pay for her mother''s medical bills. While Sage wanted her mother to get better, she didn''t want to sacrifice herself. "Somehow, she heard we were hiring people to be sent abroad for training. She heard about the high sry, so she volunteered."


    In the beginning, Eric didn''t have the opportunity to tell us all this. When Sage was in the room, he thought it was inappropriate to discuss these things in front of her, so he waited until now to fill us in on the details.


    Eric continued, "As for the allowance, we''ve already sent it to her. She used that money to pay her mother''s medical bills and lied that it was a betrothal gift from her husband, but on the condition that she move in to live with him. "Sage had said that to assess her family''s attitudes, but they all told her to move in with her husband and be careful not to cross him. From that, she saw that her family never cared about her and her circumstances.


    "And so, she lost hope in her family. Ever since she moved out of her family home, she''s been rushing us to send her abroad sooner."


    Zane was silent, and I didn''t know what to say.


    After pondering it for a long time, Zane said, "When shees back, if she did a good job, we can award her a bigger bonus." From Zane''s perspective, the best way for an individual to live more confidently was to have more money in their bank ounts.


    Eric chuckled and said, "I''ll let her know then."


    "Okay."


    After the office door closed, I eximed, "Kids nowadays are bing more independent. When a family member fell sick, even if she didn''t have a job, she was still willing to try resolving the situation herself. Even if she had never been abroad, she is willing to travel abroad by herself now."


    ...


    Reflecting on myself, I realized the furthest distance I had traveled was from my hometown to this very city. Back then, I was terrified when boarded the train with my suitcase. I was excited yet fearful.


    Zane held my hand and said, "Yeah, it seems like she''s really doing it for the money."


    Confused, I asked, "Why do you say that?"


    "If she''s interested in the country, she would''ve gone when it was safer there," Zane exined.


    He continued, "But now, it''s chaotic and unsafe, yet she still wanted to go. It must be just for the sake of the job."


    Zane had observed Sage, and he


    noticed that she dressed very


    inly. She gazed at Zane with curiosity, yet he could also see the ambition in her eyes, which was free from other ulterior motives.


    Sage was the kind of employee Zane liked best. Although I admired her, I also worried for her.


    I said, "She''s working so hard. But since she''s working hard at such a young age, it would secure her a bright future. That''s great. I love career women."


    Gently rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb, Zane said, "At the same time, she''s smart. When she got the money, she didn''t tell her family that she had earned it herself."


    I silently listened to Zane continue,


    "Judging from her family''s attitude, it


    (s


    seems they don''t care about her either. She gave her family the money, yet she didn''t tell them about her new job, which had great prospects...


    "She is kind, yet she wouldn''t put herself in danger. If thepany nurtures her well, she may achieve great heights."


    Upon seeing how Zane showered her withpliments, I reckoned he made up his mind to mentor her. I felt happy for Sage.


    I said, "The amount of effort you put in will determine how high she can climb."

 Chapter 471

    Zane gazed at me. It seemed like he wanted to say something, but he didn''t.


    I asked, "Do you have something to tell me?"


    Zane questioned casually, "Aren''t you jealous?"


    "Jealous? Why?" I was confused.


    Zane said hesitantly, "If I n to mentor Sage, I''m going to work very closely with her."


    "I trust you, and I trust her, too," I said with determination.


    I continued, "Since you''ve chosen me, I''m sure you won''t fall in love with someone else. She doesn''t even trust her own family and only trusts herself. That means she won''t rely on a man to change her fate. I don''t think she will fall in love with you." But when Zane heard my answer, he was a little upset. He grumbled, "But I want to see you get jealous."


    I chuckled and yed along, saying, "Well, I do feel a little ufortable when I see your interactions with other females."


    Zane''s gaze softened after he heard that. He said, "But the one I love is you."


    I was surprised by that response.


    Zane rubbed my hair and said, "I''ll get back to work."


    "Okay."


    ...


    I went back to focusing on illustrating myics. The past few days had been busy, and I wished I could spend all my time in the office doing nothing but illustratingics.


    After a few tiresome hours, I finallypleted all my drawings for the morning. Just as Iy on the couch, wanting to give myself a break, somebody knocked on the door. Zane had gotten used to having visitors as he worked. Zane said, "Come in."


    Sasha came in and went straight for me. She wrapped her arms around my waist and said, "You have no idea how weird Shane is! I thought it was ridiculous enough that he came to look for me at thepany, but who would''ve expected him to do something even more bizarre than that?"


    I put my arm around Sasha''s shoulder and tried to soothe her. "What happened?" I asked.


    Trying to keep herself calm, Sasha took a deep breath. She said, "A few days ago, he called me and said that my father tried to stand up for me and offended the Winslows in that process. Now, the Winslows have withdrawn all their funds, which may cause my family to go bankrupt!


    "He also said that if I''m willing to marry him, he will convince his family to continue investing in my father''spany."


    As Sasha repeated what Shane had said, she couldn''t help but roll her eyes.


    Sasha continued, "I scolded him over


    the phone. Lasked if he was crazy! He already has a girlfriend, and they''re obsessed with each other also asked why he wasn''t focusing on treating his girlfriend right and why he was bothering me."


    Looking at me in the eye, Sasha asked, "What do you think he answered me with?"


    Unable to figure out Shane''s train of thought, I asked, "What?"


    Sasha scoffed and said, "He said he realized that even when he was with his girlfriend, he couldn''t stop thinking about me. He believes that he still loves me.


    "And so, I continued scolding him for over half an hour. Then, I told him I saw the news about my father''s partnership with Huxham Corporation. The Huxham family is richer than his, so I''m sure they can resolve my father''s problems." In response, Iplimented Sasha, "Well, you''re pretty smart, aren''t you?"


    Without skipping a beat, Sasha said proudly, "Of course! After that, I reminded him to stop thinking of me and to pay attention to his family business. Otherwise, he may not even be aware when his family''s business goes bankrupt. "Say, why are the people in his social circle so dumb? If his family''s business goes bankrupt, his entire family will have survival issues. But he doesn''t care about that; instead, he only cares about romance!"

 Chapter 472

    Sasha couldn''t understand Shane''s thought process.


    I suggested, "Is it possible that he thinks that no matter how much trouble he causes, his family will always resolve it? Is that why he''s so bold?"


    Nodding, Sasha said, "That''s possible."


    I chuckled and said, "But he didn''t know that his family is struggling to stay afloat. On top of that, he gifted your family the only project that could turn things around for them."


    When Sasha heard me, she giggled and said, "If I were his family member, I would be so regretful."


    I said light-heartedly, "Too bad, it''s toote."


    Sasha grinned. She wanted to continue chatting, but her rm rang. Sasha hurriedly got up and said, "I have to get back to work!"


    "All the best," I said.


    Sasha hummed her goodbye as she rushed outside.


    ...


    Rxed, Carlisle sat in his office and listened to his secretary''s report.


    Justin Ward carefully observed Carlisle''s facial expressions before saying, "Ever since Huxham Corporation canceled their partnership with us, manypanies have shown their interest in our products after hearing that we used to supply for Huxham Corporation." Carlisle nodded approvingly and said, "It seems like ourpany''s products are verypetitive. I''ve said this before, but Zane is too prideful."


    Until today, Carlisle still believed that Zane had gotten lucky when Winslow Group agreed to partner with Huxham Corporation.


    But Justin lowered his head and avoided Carlisle''s gaze. Justin''s voice gradually softened as he said, "But after meeting with them, they all said that our products are outdated and that they''re not willing to work with us."


    When Carlisle heard that, his smile disappeared. He asked in surprise, "You''re not kidding?"


    Justin answered solemnly, "No."


    Carlisle asked again, "How many of them contacted us?"


    Justin answered softly, "A total of 18."


    In disbelief, Carlisle asked, "And none of them stayed?"


    "Yes," Justin answered firmly.


    Carlisle''s epression fell. He got up and began to pace around the room anxiously. After a few minutes, he plopped back into his seat. Carlisle asked, "Is it because our products are outdated?"  en


    Not daring to make a sound, Justin simply nodded.


    Leaning back in his chair, Carlisle asked slowly, "How do you think we can resolve this issue?"


    Then, Justin finally shared his


    thoughts. He said, "There is only one solution now-invest in upgrades. However all the avable funds


    have been used on the partners


    project with the Westons. Our other capitals are locked in other projects, too. We don''t have any cash to utilize."


    Carlisle tightly gripped his chair and asked, "Does that mean the biggest problem thepany faces now is that we don''t have money?"


    At the same time, Carlisle wondered why he hadn''t thought of that when he took Shane''s advice to trick the Weston family.


    Without any intention to lie, Justin answered, "That''s right."


    Carlisle asked, "How should we resolve this money issue?"


    But Justin remained silent. Carlisle knew that it was too difficult of a problem for Justin to bear, too. Carlisle waved dismissively and said, "You can leave. I need some time alone." "Got it."


    Justin hurried outside as if Carlisle would lecture him if he walked any slower.


    As Carlisle sat in his office, he spent a long time thinking in silence. Then, he called Zane.


    With augh, Carlisle said politely, "Mr. Huxham, after giving it a good thought, think it''s a little odd that


    we''re no longer working


    after such a long partnership


    together. Why don''t you give me an


    opportunity for us to work together again?"

 Chapter 473

    After suggesting to coborate again, Carlisle felt a little guilty. He was afraid that Zane would reject him.


    Zane said icily, "I don''t think this is because of our long partnership. You must''ve tried approaching other partners, but you were turned down. That is why you suddenly thought of your old partner, didn''t you?" Carlisle asked obsequiously, "If that''s the case, would you give me another chance, Mr. Huxham?"


    "We signed the new contract with a new partner yesterday," Zane replied.


    With his face as pale as a sheet, Carlisle said, "I see. It won''t be nice of you to cancel your partnership because of us."


    Without any consideration for their past partnership, Zane said coldly, "Yeah."


    Feeling awkward, Carlisle said, "I''ll think of other ways, then."


    Then, Carlisle hung up. After the beeping tone rang, Zane went silent for a moment. Then, he called Dous.


    Surprised, Dous answered the call. "Mr. Huxham?"


    Zane asked, "You know the Winslow family''s current state, right?"


    "Yes," said Dous.


    Dous had been paying attention to the Winslows. He said hesitantly, "We briefly talked about themst time. You told me I should return some of the money he invested into this project, right?" Zane said affirmatively, "Yes."


    Dous continued to ask carefully, "If I don''t return part of the money, what will happen?"


    Zane offered his analysis of the situation, "The Winslows will lose some money, but they won''t go bankrupt. After a short break, they can bounce back; that is why it wouldn''t affect me. "Even if I sever ties with Carlisle, he would still have to coborate with me because mypany is of arger scale than his. But it won''t be the same for you."


    Zane was trying to help Dous understand the possible consequences of his every decision.


    Zane spoke calmly and slowly, as if he was saying somethingpletely irrelevant to him.


    Zane said, "Yourpany is very small. Once the Winslows recover, they will attack your business to vent their anger. Have you thought of a solution for this?" "No," said Dous.


    Dous had been delighted to see


    hispany grow recently. Meanwhite, thepany he hated was on the verge of bankruptcy. This was amazing news for Dous, but he hadn''t had time to think about anything else.


    Dous asked, "If things go down as you''ve said, will mypany be able to survive this?"


    Zane said calmly, "The chances are slim. That is why the best solution right now is for you to contact him first. Tell him you''re willing to return all the money he invested in your business and help him resolve his most urgent need. Do it even if he explicitly said he doesn''t want it."


    Dous hesitated, and he didn''t respond to what Zane said.


    But Zane continued and said, "If he''s a normal human being, he won''t find trouble with youter. But if he''s out of his mind and insists on attacking feel free to contact me. Oll help


    YOU


    When Dous heard that, he sighed in relief. He said, "Okay. I''ll do as you say!"


    "Okay."


    As Dous listened to the beeping sound of the phone, he thought of how Zane would be too busy to keep up with what happened to Dous''pany. Therefore, making peace was the best solution for Dous. But if Carlisle demanded more, Zane wouldn''t turn a blind eye to it. With that in mind, Dous felt assured. Dous called Carlisle and said, "Hey, I heard yourpany isn''t doing so well."

 Chapter 474

    When Carlisle heard Dous'' question, he asked in annoyance, "Why? Are you here tough at my misery?" "Of course not!"


    Dous was patient. Even though Carlisle was rude, Dous chuckled and asked, "Well, didn''t you invest a lot of money into our coborative project? I know you said you don''t want the money anymore, but I still think it''s best to return it to you." Then, Dous repeated what Zane had told Dous in his own words. Dous said, "It''s not a lot of money, so it may not be much help, but this is the best I can do."


    With a stern tone, Carlisle asked, "Did Mr. Huxham tell you to do this?"


    Surprised, Dous asked, "You could tell?"


    "It''s because I know you... If you see me suffer, you would only stand andugh at my misery," Carlisle said awkwardly.


    Dous didn''t refute either.


    Carlisle continued, saying, "Tell Mr. Huxham I thank him for his help. Also, thank you."


    Before Dous could say anything, Carlisle hung up.


    ...


    Carlisle gazed nkly at his ceiling as he sunk onto his couch.


    After studying the differences between hispany''s and hispetitors'' products, Carlisle realized that hispetitors had made numerous improvements to their products while his products had remained the same. Carlisle sneered.


    He had been overly confident, and he never noticed the problem. In fact, he often thought that Zane had to rely on him to gain profits. Carlisle felt like a fool.


    But this time, Carlisle was determined to improve his products and n to operate the business well.


    Because of this incident, Carlisle


    saw the true colors of the people


    around him. When hispany was in its heyday, people would flock t him and get on his good side. But when his business began to decline, people scrambled to burn bridges in case he asked them to lend money.


    Carlisle''s enemies also took the opportunity to attack him. There wasn''t anyone who genuinely intended to help him.


    At this point, Carlisle thought he should start building his own alliances. He didn''t want to fall into another helpless situation again.


    Just then, somebody knocked on the door.


    Carlisle said, "Come in."


    Shane entered the room and asked, "Were you asking for me, Dad?"


    As the eldest son of the Winslow family, Carlisle had high hopes for


    Shane, his appointed heir.


    of that, Carlisle needed Shane to grow quickly and be independent. Only then, Carliste could be relieved of his burdens.


    Carlisle said sternly, "Starting today, stop messing around. Come back and work in thepany."


    Displeased, Shane said, "No way. I''m not interested in the business."


    As Carlisle watched Shane''s


    carefree behavior, he suddenly felt


    pathetic. Thepany was in


    danger, and despite his old age, Carlisle had to work overtime every day. Meanwhile, the young man, Shane, focused only on having fun.


    Carlisle said sternly, "Think about it, Shane. Thepany''s situation isn''t as good as you think it is. We may go bankrupt at any time. If you don''t work for thepany and bring in profits, we will stop providing for you." But Shane didn''t take his father''s threat seriously. Shane said, "Whatever, then."


    Carlisle didn''t know what to say about Shane. After a long silence, he said, "Look at Sasha. She''s about your age, and she''s a girl. She was so pampered, but she''s working in the busiest department in Zane Huxham''spany. "Now, look at yourself..."


    In the past, Carlisle had been proud of his son. He thought that Shane was outstanding. But now, Carlisle was frustrated by Shane''s nonchnt attitude.


    "There''s no use, Dad. Whatever you say won''t get to me," said Shane.


    After all, Shane believed that his father would never give up on his very own son.

 Chapter 475

    Shane said brazenly, "Anyway, I said I''m not going to work, so I won''t!"


    Carlisle took a deep breath and said, "Very well! You said that yourself. Don''t you regret it!"


    Shane shrugged. "Sure."


    Then, Carlisle called Justin and told him to stop giving Shane any money starting this month. Then, Carlisle blocked Shane''s phone number. Since his son was disobedient, Carlisle was determined to take advantage of the opportunity to teach him a lesson.


    Carlisle said nonchntly, "Remember, you chose this."


    "Yeah," Shane said before walking away.


    When Steven arrived at the office, all he could think of was Annalise. He walked up to the window and quietly stared into the distance.


    ...


    For some odd reason, ever since Annalise left Steven, she had only been getting better. A few days ago, when Steven met Annalise, he could see a hint of distress on her face. But today, Annalise seemed rxed and happy. Steven felt his heart tighten, and it was hard to breathe. Annalise was right; every day she lived after leaving him was a new life for her.


    But Steven was reluctant to ept the reality. After all, when they were together, Annalise loved Steven and only had eyes for him. But suddenly, she became unrted to him in such a short time. Steven wondered if every day of their marriage was truly torture for Annalise


    He started recalling the days he spent with Annalise, only to find that she was right. Steven had always been impatient with Annalise. When Chloe bullied her, Steven never protected her.


    Later, when Jessica returned to the country and reunited with Steven, he also kept it a secret from Annalise. When Jessica and Annalise fought, Steven would only me Annalise. At that thought, Steven felt his heart wrench.


    Whenever Steven recalled his past


    with Annalise, he would notice how he treated her poorly. Yet, every time, he would be surprised by the extent of his poor treatment. Steven could understand why Annalise fell in love with Zane.


    Zane treated Annalise well. If anyone tried to me Annalise, Zane would trust her unconditionally. If Annalise was upset, the icy Zane would patientlyfort her. Zane loved


    and treasured Annalise; he


    was


    the


    Steven even thought that if Zane continued to treat Annalise so well, Steven, who once hurt Annalise, might be willing to give up and bless their rtionship.


    Steven couldn''t help but feel concerned. After all, Annalise had been betrayed once. If Zane ever abandoned Annalise for his first love, Steven was worried that Annalise might stop believing in love.


    Yet, Zane had a first love, too. His love for Annalise was fake.

 Chapter 476

    Steven couldn''t think of a solution for his concern. Just then, his phone rang. Steven took a quick glimpse at his phone and saw that it was from Jessica. Steven said, "What''s up?"


    Jessica bit her lip lightly. She was embarrassed to ask, but she did it for the sake of heric''s poprity. Jessica asked, "Didn''t you promise that you will give me money and help promote my work?"


    She was afraid that Steven would withdraw his promise. Thus, she decided to call Steven early in the morning.


    Jessica asked carefully, "When are you going to send the money?"


    Steven was willing to help promote Jessica''s work because he wanted Annalise to see how well he was treating Jessica. He wanted Annalise to get jealous. Ideally, Annalise would regret dating Zane, break up with him, and remarry Steven. Because of that, Steven was going to send Jessica money. Without much thought, Steven said, "I''ll get them to send it to you now."


    After receiving a satisfactory answer, Jessica sighed in relief. She said, "When I get the money, I''ll immediately engage with a marketing agency. By the way, do you have any contacts with merchandise manufacturers?" Steven immediately said, "Not yet."


    Jessica felt troubled. She said, "You know, I''ve never worked, so I don''t know people who manufacture merchandise. It might be a little troublesome to produce merchandise."


    But Steven wanted Jessica to earn more money; he immediately said, "Leave it to me."


    "Sure! I''ll look around, too. If I can find any contacts, I''llmunicate with them directly," Jessica said, feeling more rxed.


    "Sure."


    Steven preferred if he didn''t have to be too hands-on with the work.


    Aftering to an agreement with Steven, Jessica said, "Seriously, I wouldn''t know what to do without you. After all, marketing needs money, and everything else needs money. Without money, I won''t be able to do anything now."


    Hearing that, Steven chuckled and said, "Jessica, we''re in the same boat. So, you''re wee."


    "Okay!"


    After happily hanging up the call, Jessica immediately contacted Yvonne.


    Jessica was busy, and she didn''t have time to talk with Yvonne. Jessica cut to the chase and asked, "Do you know what kind of merchandise Annalise sells?"


    When Jessica called, Yvonne was feeling bored in her office. When Yvonne got the call, she immediately perked up.


    Yvonne said, "Somewhat. You know,


    Zane has always been generous with Annalise. He set up a newpany for Annalise! Now,


    everything rted to Annalise is


    handled by theic publishingpany. Meanwhile, I''m just an employee in one of the many departments under the Huxham Corporation."


    In case Jessica misunderstood, Yvonne thought she should be clearer. Yvonne said, "I don''t usually cross paths with employees from theic publishingpany They don''t disclose the content of their discussion with me either. Because of that, I don''t know much."


    Jessica felt sorry for Yvonne and asked, "Did you get isted?"


    "Not really. In the beginning, they valued me a lot. But I kept criticizing Annalise''s work quality, and I would say that it couldn''t measure up to yours. That is why they set up the newpany without me," said Yvonne.

 Chapter 477

    Since she had sacrificed for Jessica, Yvonne was determined to let Jessica know about it. She said, "Because of you, I ended up the way that I am today."


    Upon hearing that, Jessica felt bad. Jessica asked, "In that case, would you like to join mypany?"


    However, Yvonne immediately rejected her and said, "Never mind. Yourpany is new, and you''re in dire need of money. If I join you now, you''re going to have to pay me a sry. It''s not worth it." Jessica remained silent.


    Yvonne asked curiously, "But why are you suddenly asking about merchandise?"


    Jessica took a deep breath. From having no other help to being pregnant and bearing all the stress alone, everything felt overwhelming for Jessica.


    Jessica immediately said, "It''s because I want to sell merchandise, too."


    "If that''s the case, I can look through Annalise''s showcase and see what they''re selling."


    Yvonne had a lot of time on her hands. She didn''t mind helping a friend out.


    Feeling grateful, Jessica said, "Thank you."


    Yvonne said, "I can also write you a summary of all the products and other specifications in a document."


    Jessica eximed delightfully, "You''re amazing! Can you also help look for a manufacturer? Steven said he''ll help, but he''s Annalise''s ex-husband after all.


    "I don''t trust him. Somehow, it feels like the manufacturer that you find will be better."


    Without skipping a beat, Yvonne said, "I''ll ask around for you."


    With that, Jessica finally felt more at peace. She said, "I''ll wait for your updates."


    After Yvonne hung up on the call, she immediately went to Eric. Lately, Yvonne hadn''t had much work to do, yet she continued to receive a high sry. She rather enjoyed her current lifestyle.


    Yvonne stood outside Eric''s office for a while. When she couldn''t hear any noiseing from the room, she rang the doorbell.


    "Come in," Eric said through the doorbell.


    Yvonne entered Eric''s office. Even though Eric wasn''t as handsome as Zane, Yvonne had to admit that Eric was quite good-looking, too. On top of that, Eric was very capable at work. With her gaze lowered, Yvonne asked, "May I know if you have the contact information of the merchandise manufacturer?"


    "Yes," said Eric. After all, Eric coordinated the merchandise production. If he denied it, Yvonne would know that he was lying. But Eric didn''t give Yvonne the contact info immediately, either.


    Instead, Eric asked, "What are you going to do with their information?"


    For some odd reason, Yvonne felt nervous. She said softly, "Jessica wants to sell merchandise for heric, too. She asked me for the manufacturer''s contact information." Hearing that, Eric took out a piece of paper from the drawer and handed it to Yvonne. He said, "Here."


    Yvonne took a glimpse at it and hurriedly said, "Thank you."


    "But you''re going to have to contact them yourself. I''m afraid I can''t help you."


    After all, Eric wouldn''t want to lose his job because of them. He remained professional and said, "If I work for you while I''m still getting paid by Mr. Huxham, I might receive aint." Yvonne initially wanted Eric to help, but when she heard his words, she immediately changed her mind. Yvonne said, "I''ll do it myself, then."


    "Okay."


    Jessica sat on the couch and lightly caressed her belly. Suddenly, she felt pathetic. Other people would quietly rest at home during pregnancy, but things were different for Jessica. Instead, she became even busier than before she became pregnant.


    Just then, Jessica''s phone rang. When Jessica saw that it was Yvonne, Jessica hurriedly picked up and asked, "How''s the progress?"

 Chapter 478

    Yvonne said happily, "I texted you the number. Take a look."


    Upon hearing that, Jessica immediately checked her texts and saw the manufacturer''s contact. Jessica couldn''t help but curl her lips. She asked, "Is this all of it?" "Yeah!"


    Yvonne was very meticulous with it. She screen-captured every single product in Annalise''s showcase. After cross-checking, Jessica found that the contact Yvonne had sent could manufacture almost every product in Annalise''s showcase. Jessica said happily, "Thanks! When I earn a lot of money, I will not forget about your kindness."


    Yvonne never expected Jessica to pay her. But since Jessica was being polite, Yvonne yed along and said, "I shall wait for you to earn big bucks, then!"


    "No problem!" Jessica said.


    Not wanting to waste more time with Yvonne, Jessica said, "If that''s the case, I''m going to contact the manufacturer."


    "Sure."


    After getting off the call with Yvonne, Jessica called every single number she received, asking to work with them. All the manufacturers were afraid that she''d be a conman, and they all asked to meet in person or for her to pay a deposit.


    Jessica didn''t hesitate. She immediately paid parts of the deposit but rejected all the invitations to meet in person. When they saw how keen Jessica was, they agreed to coborate with her.


    Jessica was delighted. She never expected things to be resolved so quickly. It was easier than trying to seduce a man, make him fall in love with her, and make him willingly spend money on her.


    In fact, Jessica felt regretful. If only she had known that work was easy, she wouldn''t have looked for another man after her divorce! She could''ve fully focused on her career! After settling the merchandise production, Jessica began to contact marketing agencies.


    Theic publishingpany that Jessica used to work under had a marketing department; they were good at marketing, too. Now that Jessica had to contact marketing agencies, she wasn''t sure about entrusting the job to someone new.


    After giving it a good thought, Jessica decided to contact her old colleagues. In the call, Jessica asked, "How''s thepany doing?"


    The project managerughed bitterly and said, "Our revenue keeps decreasing. If we don''t fix it, thepany might just go bankrupt soon."


    Jessica immediately offered help.


    She asked, "Do you want to coborate with me, then? I haveic that is looking to do some marketing and promotion to increase awareness. How much budget would that need?"


    The project manager gave it a good thought before saying, "About 2 million dors, maybe?"


    Inparison to the 100 million dors that Jessica received, it wasn''t a lot of money.


    Jessica was shocked, but she didn''t let it show. Jessica asked, "Why don''t I give you a million dors? I want to see results. If the statistics are good, I will upgrade the


    marketing package. How about that?"


    At the mention of a million dors and the marketing package upgrade, the project manager immediately perked up. He said, "No problem! When will you be making the payment?"


    Since she was heavily pregnant,


    Jessica didn''t want to leave the


    house. But upon seeing how thepany was desperate for money, Jessica said, "Give me your bank details. I''ll go to the bank and make the payment now."


    "Okay."


    Jessica carefully got up, went outside, got into the car, and told the chauffeur, "Send me to the bank."


    She had prepared all the necessary documents. After arriving at the bank, she stood in line and waited. When it was her turn, she filled in the form and handed it to the banker.


    The banker asked her about the reason for the transaction. In response, Jessica honestly told the banker about her engagement with the marketing project manager.


    Upon hearing that, the banker processed Jessica''s transaction request. After receiving the receipt, Jessica immediately texted the project manager to notify him about the payment. The project manager immediately replied and wrote, "Got it. Stay tuned for good news."


    Then, Jessica got into the car and made her way home.

 Chapter 479

    Jessica hadn''t realized that heric was gaining traction among the public until she checked her phone. The readers had clicked on heric out of curiosity, only to find that it was just as intriguing and high-quality as promoted. As such, her work started to be popr.


    A satisfied smile curved Jessica''s lips. She checked the showcase and saw that merchandise sales were increasing rapidly. The person in charge had made good on their word, after all. Most of the readers who had clicked on heric were not bots but real-life people. Jessica brimmed with pride. Her work gained immense poprity even though she had invested only a million dors into marketing.


    She could already taste the sess that a two or three-million-dor investment would bring her. If she invested 10 million dors into marketing, would herics be a hit on mainstream media? Just thinking about the inte going crazy over herics thrilled her, though she willed herself to stayposed.


    She made a rough sales estimate after reviewing the merchandise sales numbers and decided to ce new orders with the manufacturers.


    The manufacturers initially believed Jessica was a small-time coborator. Upon seeing herrge order, they proceeded to give her discounts. She did the math in her head and realized her profits would be astounding if she did not have to split them with Steven. Taking a deep breath, Jessica tried to keep her excitement in check as she thanked the manufacturers. After replying to all the messages, she fell into deep thought.


    She couldn''t handle the orders and shipping now that herics and merchandise were gaining poprity. Hiring someone to handle the logistics was a matter of practicality.


    Her head began to throb. She was so used to relying on men to offer her solutions.


    In the past, she only had to ask, and men would rush to her aid. But now, she was on her own. And yet, despite her exhaustion, she felt an inexplicable sense of aplishment.


    The merchandise was selling like hotcakes, with thousands of dolls being sold in the blink of an eye. Coupled with the other merchandise in the showcase, she had sold over a million of them.


    As things were, handling the orders could not be a one-person job. Not that Jessica had any idea how many staffers she should hire to handle the logistics. Nheless, she decided to hire more part-timers,


    just to be safe.


    She nned to recruit a hundred-member team. She spoke to the manufacturers, and they agreed to let her logistics team work out of a vacant room. After that, she turned on herptop and put up a hiring ad.


    Thankfully, she offered a high enough sry that job applications piled up quickly.


    Jessica heaved a sigh after sorting out everything. She calcted the costs on her part and realized she would still be making a pretty penny after paying for her logistics team. She stood to earn more than Annalise.


    That alone cheered her up, and the exhaustion vanished from her bones.


    She lounged on the couch and picked up he phone to send Zane a text: "I used the money Steven gave me and took charge of my own


    work. I called up the marketing


    l¨¦gistics team. I handled everything myself. Amazing, aren''t I?"

 Chapter 480

    Casper did not use Zane''s number to reply to Jessica''s text upon reading it. Instead, he picked up his other phone and sent her a text from his own number. "How are youtely, Jessica?" Jessica did not respond at all.


    His heart felt as if it had been stabbed, and he thought it might bleed out. He had hoped that Jessica would turn around.


    Thest time he didn''t hear back from her, he convinced himself that she was tired from her pregnancy and had fallen asleep before she could reply to his text. And the only reason why she replied to "Zane" was because she had woken up in time. But now, Casper knew that was not the case. Jessica simply did not want to waste time on him.


    A bitter smile appeared on his lips. He couldn''t understand why Jessica shunned him after all he had done for her.


    Meanwhile, Jessica snorted when she read Casper''s text. She was willing to bet that he hadn''t made anything of himself since their divorce. He probably wasn''t even half as sessful as her. She had no ns to waste her precious time on someone worthless. Zane, however, was different. He was highly capable, and even though Jessica had tasted the benefits of independence, she could still use a strong backer like him. She might even consider being a full-time sugar baby for him.


    She smiled as she texted Zane again: "I like to think of myself as an independent career woman. Wouldn''t you agree?


    "I handled everything perfectly despite being pregnant, unlike Annalise, who leaves it to everyone else to take care of her problems. Tsk, tsk."


    She was proudly putting down Annalise to make herself look better.


    As Casper read her texts, his chest tightened Jessica had been ady of leisure when they were together, and now, she had to take care of everything on her own. Worse still, she was pregnant.


    He could tell that Jessica was going through a hard time, even though her texts came off as casual and flippant.


    After all, he had been there for her


    while she was pregnant with Cody. He remembered how swollen her ankles had been and how stretch marks had mapped her skin. She was also constantly down with


    prenatal sickness.


    It had been an exhausting process.


    Casper couldn''t help wanting to shoulder Jessica''s burdens for her. However, he willed himself to be harsh after considering his current state. "Is that so?"


    Jessica hadn''t expected "Zane" to respond. Her face lit up as she replied, "Yes! I''m a woman, too, so I know we''re made of tougher stuff. You shouldn''t have to baby Annalise so much."


    It took a while for Casper to respond. "But I''m the breadwinner. It''s my job to take care of my woman and keep herfortable." With that, he locked the phone and set it aside.


    He fell for Jessica at first sight and pursued her romantically after that. Although she agreed to go out with him, she had always been indifferent toward him. He had never experienced the enthusiasm she


    showed Zane.


    Casper couldn''t describe the emotions welling up in him. He felt like all the love he had poured out for Jessica over the years was nothing more than a mistake. For a moment, breathing became difficult for him.

 Chapter 481

    Jessica asked boldly, "But I''m better than Annalise! You wouldn''t have to worry as much if you were with me."


    Casper heard the chime of a new message and picked up the phone. He nced at the text and replied atst, "I''m not into homewreckers."


    He couldn''t understand why Jessica never reciprocated his love even after he had fought for her.


    Jessica''s heart tightened at the cold, impassive reply from Zane. She couldn''t help the crushing disappointment that overcame her but willed her expression to stay neutral.


    She forced out a smile as she replied, "I''m not a homewrecker; I''m just a woman who dares to fight for love."


    Casper didn''t know how to respond to such a deration, so he ignored her.


    When Jessica did not get a reply, she pressed frantically, "Are you that in love with Annalise? I don''t know what you see in her."


    There was still no response from Zane. Jessica typed out a lengthy text, her thumbs flying over her phone keyboard. But in the end, she deleted the long paragraph and told herself not to get riled up.


    Zane was different from other men. He was intelligent enough to judge the situation for himself. He certainly wasn''t gullible enough to take her word for it.


    As such, she would be wise to slowly get to know Zane better. Once they were on more familiar terms, he would be attracted to her and eventually fall in love with her.


    ...


    Steven showed up at Zane''s office early in the morning. It was meant to be a business meeting, so Zane had no legitimate excuse to dismiss him or throw him out.


    Zane and Steven went through the business documents together. Thetter was surprisingly focused, his countenance serious as they worked out the terms of the agreement. When their discussion was over, they signed a deal.


    Zane was about to rise to see


    Steven off when thetter


    approached the adjacent cubicle. He


    fixed me with a smug look as he gloated, "Annalise, did I ever mention that invested a hundred million


    dors into marketing Jessica''sic?"


    I eyed the haughty angle at which his chin was lifted and the arrogance on his face. I would have sputtered, but I remainedposed as I said, "No, you didn''t."


    Once Steven found out that Jessica


    was not pregnant with his child and


    went tofort Zachary, I would send Zachary the voice recording. wanted him to know that Steven had willingly invested 100 million dors in Jessica yet refused to give Zachary more in child support.


    Surely Zachary would have a meltdown then, and their father-son rtionship would crumble.


    Keeping my wicked amusement in check, I drawled nonchntly, "What about it?" Noting my disinterest, Steven pressed, "Is Zane willing to invest that much in you?"


    I nced at Zane and mentally did the math. It was only then that I realized how much he had invested in me. He had bought several manufacturingpanies just to produce merchandise for


    my


    Wholly in publishing.


    Coupled with the promotional activities abroad... No, Zane had invested far more in me than Steven did Jessica.


    I was mulling over my response when Zane interjected tly, "You know I''m profit-driven."


    Steven seemed pleased by the answer. He grinned as he asked, "In other words, you''re stingy."


    Zane didn''t feel like exining himself. He didn''t have to tell the world how much he had invested in Annalise, so he withheld his retort.


    Steven stared at me as he said smugly, "Aren''t you envious, or even jealous, that Jessica is earning more than you? Or that her work is more popr than yours?"


    I answered matter-of-factly, "No. She''s not the only person who earns more than I do. Can you imagine me being envious of that many people? What a waste of time!"

 Chapter 482

    Steven clearly did not believe me as he stared at me. I continued flippantly, "Regardless of what the future holds. I''m happy with the way things are now. I''ve earned more than I could ever dream of, and there''s no point in being greedy and asking for more." He froze. He hadn''t expected Annalise to be so easily pleased or content. Had she always been like this, even while they were together? Would she have stayed if he had been a little nicer to her or showed that he cared?


    His heart cracked at the idea. It was only then that Steven realized he had missed out on and lost a woman who had truly loved and cared for him. The love she''d had for him was pure and unconditional.


    He frantically argued, "But Jessica wasn''t as good as you when she started as aic artist. She became better afterward."


    "I already expected that." I knew Steven was still skeptical, not that it mattered. I said calmly, "You imed you loved me, but what you failed to realize was that you were drawn to Jessica. You had always sided with her, even before our divorce.


    "After we divorced, you thought you loved me and tried to win me back. But your actions proved otherwise." A dry chuckle escaped me as I added, "Remember how stingy you were with me? You had the money, but you refused to buy flowers for me. "You said it was a waste of money and that the flowers would wilt in days. You said you''d rather bring us out for a proper meal than spend on such valueless things.


    He seemed irked as he grumbled, "Was I wrong, though?"


    "No, you weren''t," I said with a nod. "But you didn''t think that way when you bought Jessica flowers, did you?"


    Steven''s excuses were endless. "It was only polite for me to give her flowers during her first visit to our ce!" He countered usatively "You'' ou''ve always been petty! How could you hold a grudge against me over something as trivial as


    flowers?"


    I couldn''t care less about his denigration. I only wanted him to know that he wasn''t in love with me and that he should back off for good.


    I wanted him to go back to being a lovey-dovey couple with Jessica, if only so I could deliver him a fatal blow when her child was born and I told him the truth behind their parentage.


    Excited as I was, I kept my tone nd as I countered, "In that case, when was thest time you got me flowers?"


    Steven sifted through his memories, but I knew he couldn''te up with an answer. I spared him from responding and said, "Don''t bother. You never got me flowers."


    His brows furrowed as he grew impatient. "Is that it? You''re divorcing me because I didn''t get you flowers?"


    It wasn''t until after the words had


    left his mouth that he realized Annalise wasn''t asking for a divorce. They had already separated, and she was only highlighting facts that showed he did not love her.


    He lowered his gaze in shame.


    "The flowers were just a part of the equation. You couldn''t bring yourself to spend a penny on me,


    remember?" I asked, recalling bitter memories. How had I put up with a man like Steven for so long?

 Chapter 483

    I said casually, "And yet, you neverined about getting Jessica designer items or jewelry."


    Steven clenched his fists. He wished he could retort, but he realized, with no small amount of shame, that Annalise was right.


    I continued, "They say that you can tell how much a man loves you by the way he spends his money. I suppose you must love Jessica more than you realize."


    I feigned contemtion. "I wasn''t sure what a man''s kindness meant before I got together with Zane. I had a feeling that you weren''t being nice to me while we were married, but no one could guarantee that I would find my great love in the next guy.


    He kept his gaze on me. "But I was nice to you while we were married, wasn''t I?"


    "So regardless of your mistreatment of me, I chose to stay and put up with you. It was after I got together with Zane that I realized a man could pour his heart and soul into a woman he loved.


    "No, a man who loved me wouldn''t make up excuses for his bad behavior and me his masculinity for hisck of romantic gestures. He would be considerate of my feelings and pay attention to the little things."


    As I spoke, I regarded Steven with a steely look. "After that, I was sure that you hadn''t been nice to me. If anything, you were a terrible husband to me every day for six years."


    I saw his lips parting, but he offered no retort. I watched his expression shift and chuckled. "Anyone who sees the way you treat Jessica can tell you are in love with her. It was only natural for you to want to help her career after you saw her being unfairly treated in thepany.


    "You wanted everyone to admire her and put her on a pedestal." I said slowly, "I''ve already expected as much, so I wasn''t surprised when you chose to invest that much money in promoting her work."


    Steven ground out, "You''re lying. You must envy her sess and resources. You''re wildly jealous of her! You must hate her!"


    He enunciated each word as if the more he emphasized them, the more vindicated he was. He was making it sound like Annalise was in the wrong, not him.


    I had no idea whatpelled him to spew such oundish theories, but I didn''t bother arguing with him. "Go ahead and convince yourself that it''s true if it makes you feel better."


    He fell silent and merely stared at me.


    I nced at Zane. "I''ll leave you guys to talk."


    Truthfully, I didn''t want to spend so


    much time with Steven even though. I''d already mentally prepared myself for this encounter. He was always throwing me off with his


    nonsensical questions and


    ove


    derations.


    "Very well," Zane said, sensing the contempt I had for Steven. He waved me off. "See youter."


    After leaving Zane''s office, I ran into Sasha, who had just bolted out of the elevator. Her eyes lit up when she saw me. "What are you doing here?"


    "I came out to get some fresh air," I said, surprised to see her as well. "What about you? Are you here to see Zane?"


    Sasha linked arms with me and exined, "I came to see you! I have amazing news."


    Her gaze darted from left to right to make sure no one was eavesdropping. She then pulled me to a remote corner, and though her voice was barely above a whisper, I could tell she was excited.


    "Oh?" I mused.


    "A friend of mine texted me out of


    the blue earlier and told me Shane was cut off! His father even warned the publie that he wouldn''t be ountable for any debts Shane owed them if they loaned him money!


    "In other words..." She eyed me with wicked glee. "Shane would be even more broke than I am in the future!"


    Sasha was excited as she pictured


    Shane, who had picked on her alongside his girlfriend days ago, being left penniless. After all, no feeling in the world could beat the thrill of seeing one''s enemies fall!

 Chapter 484

    Sasha added, "He''ll go from being the prince of the upper-crust society to a pathetic pauper! Let''s see where that ego gets him after that."


    I warned her from getting ahead of herself, "I doubt he''d fall so quickly in such a short time. He''d likely parade around as a prince for a while longer." "Why?" Sasha gave me a baffled look.


    I exined patiently, "Think about it. Shane''s father dotes on him, and even if he publicly announced he wouldn''t pay a penny for Shane, no one would take his word for it. They''d believe he still cares about Shane enough to pay his debts. "Everyone would likely bribe Shane into putting in a good word for them to Mr. Winslow in hopes of making an impression. That way, they could angle for a coboration with Mr. Winslow once the father-son duo bury the hatchet." Sasha processed everything I said and scowled. "No way. Would they really pull something as ridiculous as that to get into Mr. Winslow''s good graces?"


    "We might think it''s ridiculous," I said with augh. "But to them, it''s a strategic move."


    She grew disgruntled. "So, what, I''m getting excited over nothing?"


    "Not exactly." I borated, "Mr. Winslow must want to punish Shane and teach him a lesson by publicly cutting him off. He wants Shane to change for the better.


    "In that case, Mr. Winslow would either seek out these potential coborators or find a way to tell them he would not be paying off Shane''s debts. Once everyone sees how serious Mr. Winslow is, they''d hesitate to lend Shane money." Sasha''s jaw dropped. "Wow! So what you''re saying is that I have to be patient before I get to see the terrible fate that will befall Shane?"


    "Something like that," I confirmed with a nod.


    Her eyes glittered. "Oh, I''d love to rub salt in his wound! That prick! He brought this on himself, you know. He shouldn''t have picked on me and gotten in the way of my work!"


    Sasha wished she could call him a


    loser to his face. However, Shane didn''t have all his cards in the deck to begin with. If she went up to him and called him a loser, he might just find a way to haunt her.


    After some consideration, she decided she was better off letting nature take its course. She had work to focus on, anyway, and Shane should be the least of her concerns. Just thinking about Shane suffering a worse fate than she imagined in theing days filled her with joy.


    "Are youdies talking about Shane?"


    A familiar voice suddenly rang out from behind. Sasha jumped, letting out a gasp. It wasn''t until she got a better look at the person that she heaved a sigh.


    I nced over my shoulder at Eric. "What are you doing here?"


    Eric''s voice dropped. "I''ve got thetest gossip on Shane. Are youdies interested?"


    Sasha and I leaned forward. "What is it?"


    "It''s just as you guessed: a lot of people have been offering loans to Shane," Eric whispered. He had proven himself to be such a work-oriented person that everyone believed him to be a highly capable and efficient employee.


    However, they had conveniently forgotten his alter ego: the king of gossip. He would dig up any information on any topic he wished to know.


    Having broken the news, he lifted his chin and waited for thedies'' response. Sasha was the first to ask, "And?"


    Grinning, Eric said, "And he has no intention of paying them back! He told his debtors to ask his father for the money. Everyone thinks he and Mr. Winslow made up, and they''re now harassing the old man to cough up the money!"

 Chapter 485

    Eric continued, "Mr. Winslow''spany was in dire straits to begin with. It barely had enough business funds, and he only managed to scrape together the money after Mr. Weston and Mr. Huxham returned him the contractual funds from before. "But before he could put the money to good use, his precious son decided to stir up a mountain of debts. The only funds Mr. Winslow has can''t cover Shane''s dues at all! He''d go bankrupt if he were to side with Shane!"


    All this had happened just moments ago, and Eric had been dying to share the news with somebody since learning about it. Thankfully, he didn''t have to bottle it up for too long, for he caught Sasha and Annalise gossiping among themselves. Sasha was bewildered. "Is Shane the proverbial prodigal son?" She had believed she was a prodigal daughter for not contributing to the family, but Shane took that concept to a whole new level. Next to him, she was practically golden. Eric sighed. "He probably is."


    I was more concerned with what happened after that. "So, what did Mr. Winslow do?"


    Eric looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. He spoke in hushed tones. "Mr. Winslow was so furious that he pointed at Shane''s debtors and snapped at them, saying, ''I''ve already made it clear that I won''t be paying his debts! Now stop bothering me!" Having quoted Carlisle verbatim, Eric continued excitedly, "And these people were so worried that Shane wouldn''t pay them back that they gathered outside his house to demand he cough up the money!


    "Now, he wouldn''t be so stupid as to give the money back after he was cut off. Guess what he did to make Mr. Winslow pay instead."


    Sasha''s gut told her Shane had done something stupid. She pressed eagerly, "What did he do?"


    I was all ears, too.


    Eric chuckled viinously. "He told Mr. Winslow he knocked up his girlfriend and threatened to have her abort the baby if Mr. Winslow refuses to pay his debts!"


    I frowned, and Sasha grimaced in disgust. We exchanged a look as she muttered, "This guy is something else. I kind of feel sorry for Mr. Winslow. He''s saddled with a loser of a son." I agreed. "Mr. Winslow is in for a long ride."


    Eric waited until we had let out our musings before continuing, "Mr. Winslow was shocked by Shane''s audacity but he had made up his mind and held his ground. He told Shane he couldn''t care less if they aborted the baby and that he wouldn''t stop them.


    "You''d think Shane would be smart to leave after that. The wise thing to do would be to wait for Mr. Winslow to cool down before apologizing to him and burying the hatchet Unfortunately..."


    Eric paused deliberately, leaving us to make our guesses. Sasha asked, "Shane did something stupid again?"


    I was trying to guess what Shane might have said or done when Eric nodded. "That''s right. Shane had a public meltdown. Mr. Winslow was so outraged that he ended up hospitalized. Rumor has it that he nearly had an aneurysm.


    "Thankfully, the hospital treated him in time, and his condition is now stable. If my estimation is correct, the Winslows would have released a statement by now. Check your phones." Sasha and I fished out our phones to search for thetest news. Sure enough, Winslow Group had announced that Carlisle was officially cutting ties with Shane.

 Chapter 486

    Carlisle even mentioned in the statement that Shane was a grown-up who could bear the consequences of his actions. As such, he was officially washing his hands off Shane and wanted nothing to do with him anymore. After reading the statement, I could only conclude that Carlisle was truly hurt by Shane''s actions this time. He must have given up on Shane for good.


    Sasha was grinning from ear to ear as she scanned the statement. "Shane will be in a living hell now that his father has disowned him!"


    "He''s already in a living hell as we speak," Eric whispered. "His life has been ruined since Mr. Winslow kicked him out of the family. Despite having dered her love for him, Jenny-who was supposedly pregnant-dumped Shane after his father cut him off. "She then told him she faked the pregnancy and had been lying to him all along. He didn''t want to believe her, so he grabbed her by the shoulders and asked her why she had told him she loved him.


    "Jenny swatted his hands off her shoulders and dered she never loved him. She only told him that because he was bankrolling her luxurious lifestyle, but she never meant it!"


    Sasha was beside herself with glee. "Serves him right!" However, she faltered when she caught the sympathetic look Eric gave her. "What is it?"


    Eric said slowly, "I heard from a friend that Shane has been thinking about you since Jenny dumped him."


    Sasha blinked. "Why would he think about me?" Was he thinking about making trouble for Annalise again? Her head throbbed at the idea.


    Amused, Eric borated, "Well, he said he realized he had missed out on a wonderful woman after Jenny betrayed him. And now, he wants to get back together with said wonderful woman."


    Snorting, Sasha asked, "What kind of fantasy world is he living in? How could he have missed out on me when he and I were never together in the first ce?" She raised her voice as she emphasized, "He''s delusional!"


    Eric patted her shoulder and said gravely, "Now that he''s got nothing better to do, he has all the time in the world to harass you."


    Sasha could have bawled at that.


    She wailed, "Oh, crap! You''ve got to


    ????


    be kidding Shouldn''t he be harassing Jenny for breaking up with him instead of hounding me? Do Hook like I''m into picking up trash? The guy''s insane!"


    She rose and dusted herself off even though her outfit was impable. She gave me a look of mute despair "I was going to grab lunch with you, but I fear he may ambush me the moment I step out of the office building, so let''s put that n off for now.


    "Thest thing I want to do is run into him. I''ll just eat lunch in the office and stick to where I''m safest..."


    Sasha didn''t even bid me goodbye before bolting for the office.


    Iughed as I watched her leave, unable to hide my amusement any longer.


    Eric seemed to be in a lighter mood now that he had gotten everything off his chest. He stood up and said, "Jessica has been putting you while marketing her work. She imed that herpany''s sales numbers have been surpassing our months'' worth of revenue in a matter of days. Content Belongs to


    "A lot of our readers have heard that her work is better than theics we publish, so they switched up on us."


    I wasn''t perturbed by this shift. I couldn''t expect readers to stick to oneic at a time, after all. However, we had to retaliate before Jessica thought her little jabs could get to us.


    I said calmly, "If fame is what she wants at our expense, we''ll just have to return the favor."


    Eric understood where I wasing from and gave me a relieved look. "I know what to do."


    Before Eric turned to go into the elevator, he nced over his shoulder at Annalise.

 Chapter 487

    Eric had been Zane''s assistant for many years, and he was aware of thetter''s capabilities. When it came to work, Zane was peerless. He could always find a solution no matter howplex the problem might be.


    It was why Eric admired Zane. He had once been curious about the kind of woman Zane would fall for. He wondered if Zane would go for beautiful, pleasant women or if there were some other criteria a woman had to meet before Zane considered going out with her. Eric hadn''t expected Zane to fall for a divorc¨¦e who had a kid with her ex-husband. He admittedly did not like Annalise much when she first joined thepany; he thought Zane was too good for her.


    However, as time went by and he got to know her better, he began to see Annalise in a different light. She was better than he gave her credit for.


    Annalise was level-headed and made of steel, never one to be swayed by her emotions. More importantly, she and Zane seemed to operate on the same frequency, especially when it came to problem-solving. She was gentle yet strong.


    Eric thought there was no better woman for Zane than Annalise. They were perfect together.


    "Steven''s gone."


    I was staring at the scenery from the balcony when I heard Zane''s voice and looked over my shoulder at him. He smiled and asked, "Let''s head back into the office, shall we?" "Okay."


    I trailed after him and fixed my gaze on the spot between his shoulder des. Before I could speak, he asked without prompting, "Would you like to know what Steven told me after you left?" My curiosity got the better of me. "Yes."


    Zane said nonchntly, "He thought


    you made a good point, and after


    weighing out the circumstances, he decided that he loved Jessica. However, he couldn''t understand


    why he couldn''t stop thinking of you whenever you weren''t around."


    I raised a brow. "And what sage advice did you give him?"


    "I told him to see a therapist," Zane answered frankly. He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at me in amusement. "You don''t think I was being too harsh on him, do you?"


    Shaking my head, I said, "Not at all. Frankly speaking, I think his self-contradiction is rather concerning... Hees up to me and tells me he loves me, but he isn''t willing to prove it through his actions."


    I slowed my speech. "Then again, it''s not as if I expected him to buy my gifts or splurge on me..."


    Zane reached for my hand, chuckling. "I get what you mean."


    Reassured by this, Iughed and said, "I would do anything for a person I love, be it sacrificing my time or my energy. If I had the money, I''d splurge on them, too. But Steven''s promises to me are always empty.


    "He''s different when he''s with


    Jessica, though. He says he doesn''t love her, but he''s willing to give her anything she asks for. Such contradictory actions could only hint at a deeper problem, specifically one with his psyche.


    "It''s probably in his best interests to see a doctor about this. The sooner he receives treatment, the quicker he''ll recover."


    Perhaps seeing a therapist would help Steven realize he was truly in love with Jessica and convince him to stay with her for good. He might be persuaded to leave me alone after that. Zane smiled. "You''re right."


    Upon returning to the office, he


    In


    patted my shoulder and silently indicated for me to enter first. I sat down on the familiar couch and sprawled there, looking up at the ceiling as I felt my body loosen up with unprecedented relief,


    "Here you go," Zane said as he handed me a ss of water. I took it and nced at him in surprise.

 Chapter 488

    Smiling, Zane exined, "I poured the water before Steven showed up, and it was hot. It should be the right temperature by now."


    I was a little surprised by how considerate he was. I sipped the water, appreciating the lukewarmness of it.


    Zane sat down next to me, and Iid my head on his shoulder. I found it odd that despite all that he had done for me in the past, I didn''t think of him as my safe harbor until now. For once, my heart no longer felt so untethered; I felt grounded.


    I grew sentimental. "What did I do to deserve such a wonderful boyfriend?"


    The kinder Zane was to me, the more pathetic my old life with Steven appeared. If Steven had been in Zane''s shoes-I caught myself. No, Steven would never be in Zane''s shoes because he was a selfish man who refused to do even the smallest things for me. There was a time when I was sick and asked Steven for a ss of water. He had poured a ss of piping hot water for me.


    I couldn''t drink it and set it aside to cool, only for him to grouse, "Didn''t you say you were thirsty? I got you water as you asked, and you didn''t even drink it! Were you just pretending to be sick for my attention?"


    My head had been so heavy that I couldn''t retort. I couldn''t believe my life partner could use me of being dramatic.


    Steven met my gaze and sneered, "So, you can glower at me, but you can''t even pour yourself a ss of water? Your theatrics disgust me. I''ll never believe you or do anything for you ever again!"


    In truth, Steven hadn''t ever done anything for me save for pouring me that ss of water. I had watched him leave and close the door behind him.


    The door closed with a loud thud,


    but even then, I didn''t think about divorcing Steven. I only med myself for my co-dependency and vowed to be stronger until didn''t have to rely on men. After all, our births into this world were lonely, and our deaths were even more so.


    At the end of the day, I had only myself to depend on.


    Over time, I learned to live with Steven without having to ask him for anything, even during days when I needed his help. However, with Zane, I realized I didn''t have to be sick to be pampered. We didn''t have to argue over small gestures, and I didn''t have to put up with anyone''s foul temper.


    I was lucky to have someone as considerate as Zane. He always took care of me.


    Lowering my gaze, I said, "Thank you."


    "What''s with the formality?" Zane raised his hand and gently stroked my hair. "It''s just a ss of water."


    I wrapped my arms around him. "When ites to love, it''s the little things that matter, don''t you agree? You take care of the little things just as you would any major chores, which shows how reliable you are." Zane did not disagree. "I just think I''m doing the bare minimum here."


    "And yet, they mean a lot to me." Iughed as I added, "I would be ungrateful if I just took them for granted."


    He did not argue with me and instead agreed wholeheartedly. Being in a rtionship with someone meant acknowledging their sacrifices and forgiving their shorings. What was the point of being together if one constantly picked on the other''s faults or demanded more than the other could give?

 Chapter 489

    Rowena sat on the living room couch, her close friends gathered around her.


    She took a slow sip of her coffee, then said, "I told you guys about what Chloe did the other day, right? You need to help me figure out how to get back at her. I swear, if I keep holding onto this anger, I''m going to lose it!" "Chill. You don''t have to do anythingter. Just sit back and let us handle it," Jasmine Walker said quickly. "Once we post about what she did, everyone will start calling her out. We won''t even have to do the dirty work ourselves." Rowena''s eyebrows shot up, clearly excited. "Really?"


    "Totally," Jasmine said, her tone firm.


    Just then, a knock came at the door. Rowena let out a breath of relief, then turned toward the door with a grin. "Looks like she''s here."


    Jasmine got up and went to open the door. Chloe stepped in, pausing for a second when she saw Jasmine.


    Then, she walked over to Rowena with a smile. "Your friend''s here?"


    "She and I are heading outter," Rowena said, her tone rxed. "She heard you and I are really good at keeping our daughters-inw in check, so she wanted some advice."


    Chloe tilted her head with pride. "Not to brag, but you''re looking at the expert. No one''s going to argue with that."


    Even though she was disgusted, Jasmine forced a look of admiration. "Hurry up, tell me. How do you do it?"


    "It''s easy," Chloe said, not missing a beat. "For example, ask your daughter-inw to get you water when you''re thirsty at home. If she pours it too warm, just spill it on her and yell, ''What? Are you trying to burn me?''


    "If it''s too cold, use her of trying to get you sick. As long as you think on your feet, there''s always something you can find toin about." Chloe lifted her chin, clearly proud of herself.


    "But what if the water''s the perfect temperature?" Jasmine asked, genuinely curious.


    "You still yell at her," Chloe replied without hesitation.


    Jasmine looked confused. "How would you do that?"


    Chloe rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking these socialites were hopelessly clueless. She continued, "Just throw the cup at her and snap, ''Don''t you know I like it a little warmer?""


    en


    Jasmine and Rowena exchanged a look, clearly disgusted. Chloe was beingpletely unreasonable.


    "Aren''t you worried Annalise might push back if you treat her like that?" Rowena asked.


    "She loves Steven," Chloe said smugly. "She''ll put her pride aside for him."


    Rowena nodded as if she knew what Chloe was getting at. "Then why''d she end up divorcing him? I''ve heard Steven''s not exactly doing great these days."


    Chloe was defensive. "Who told you that? He''s doing just fine-"


    "Don''t tell me you haven''t heard of it," Rowena said, pretending to be shocked. "He''s been regretting the divorce. Every day, he begs Annalise to take him back.


    "What if he finds out you pushed her away by treating her like that? Don''t you think he''ll me you?"


    "He''d never do that," Chloe said confidently. "Steven loves me more than anyone. He puts me before his wife!" Jasmine couldn''t hide her disgust anymore. "Really?"


    "Absolutely," Chloe replied, unaware she was falling into Rowena''s trap. "He''s the same as always, even after the divorce. He only has one son, Zachary, but since I told him Zachary wasn''t worth his time and that he should focus on Jessica''s baby, he''s beenpletely ignoring Zachary."

 Chapter 490

    Chloe lifted her chin, acting like she''d made the brightest decision ever.


    Rowena thought it waspletely ridiculous. Chloe ignored her grandson, Zachary, for a baby that wasn''t even born yet. How could she be so foolish? But Rowena wasn''t about to set Chloe straight. "Something''s off about the way you''re treating Steven," Rowena said.


    "What''s wrong with that?" Chloe asked.


    "Well, if you really cared about him, wouldn''t you treat Annalise better, too? When you love someone, you usually care about the people they care about."


    Chloe waved it off. "I''ve just never liked Annalise, that''s all. Now that I''ve got a new daughter-inw, I treat her like a princess. No issues there."


    "You might not like her, but you didn''t have to make her life harder. Clearly, we see this differently. What do you think about posting our conversation online and letting everyone else weigh in?" Rowena suggested. Chloe shifted, clearly ufortable. "Probably not the best idea. This is a private conversation."


    "You don''t want it online?" Jasmine teased. "Sounds like you''re too afraid to own up to what you said. Does that mean you''re just trying to throw us off? Deep down, you know you''re in the wrong, right?"


    "How shady," Rowena said. "So that''s what you''re up to-telling us all these things to get us to fight with our families while you just sit back and watch."


    "No, that''s not it!" Chloe protested. "If you really don''t believe me, go ahead and post it. I only stopped you because I didn''t think other people needed to know our business."


    Rowena shot a quick look at Jasmine. Jasmine smiled. "Alright, I''ll post it right now."


    Rowena''s house had security cameras. Jasmine quickly clipped the footage of their conversation and posted it.


    When she was done, she turned to Rowena. "Let''s go."


    Rowena linked her arm with Jasmine''s and turned to Chloe with a cool but polite smile. "We''ve got some errands to run, so we won''t be bringing you along."


    Chloe jumped up. "That''s fine. I''ve got other things to do anyway."


    Rowena watched Chloe walk out.


    As soon as the door closed,


    Jasmine shook her head. "You were


    right. She''s unbelievably cruel. I mean, if she really can''t stand her


    daughter-inw, she could Jud


    living together. Yet, she treated her like that."


    Rowena nodded. "Exactly. It''s a new world, and she''s bragging about how Steven listens to her. No surprise Pelham Group can''t grow."


    "Chloe''s mindset is stuck in the past, and Steven just lets his mom call all the shots. No wonder hispany isn''t doing well," Jasmine said.


    Rowena briefly thought about Zane He was always independent, making his own decisions. That was what had driven hispany to the top where few could reach.


    Jasmine nodded. "So, we should just stay away from Chloe. We don''t want to stoop to her level."


    Rowena totally agreed. She had no interest in bing like Chloe, so she was more than happy to keep her distance for good.


    After the video was posted, everyone


    who


    start how smug Chloe was


    wonder if she was just


    putting on an act. Otherwise, how


    could anyone be that nast

 Chapter 491

    But what if Chloe was just putting on an act? Who would evene up with such an astonishing plot?


    Then, someone who said they were Chloe''s neighbor spoke up, iming that Chloe really did treat Annalise like that. Soon, more people joined in, backing up the neighbor''s story because they''d seen it for themselves. Before long, everyone was trashing Chloe.


    "No way. I can''t believe that. It''s the modern age! Who still treats their daughter-inw like a nanny in their house?"


    "She still shouldn''t be treating her like that, even if she''s a nanny."


    "Yeah, exactly."


    "I don''t get what she was thinking. Maybe she just couldn''t stand seeing her son happy?"


    "What about her daughter-inw? Is she still putting up with it?"


    "No, they''re already divorced."


    "The ex-daughter-inw''s aic artist now."


    Once people knew Annalise had gotten out of the Pelhams'' nightmare, they all let out a big sigh of relief.


    "Good for her ex-daughter-inw! She''s finally free from that family."


    "She was awful to her daughter-inw and grandson. Karma''s bound to catch up with her eventually!"


    Chloe sat in her car, ncing over at the vi. She saw the front door of the living room open, and a car drove off. She watched until it was out of sight, then looked away. So Rowena hadn''t been lying to her after all.


    Chloe pulled out her phone and saw a flood of onlinements ripping her apart. It made her so mad. She honestly didn''t think she''d done anything wrong.


    To her, mothers-inw and


    daughters-inw were always going


    to sh. If she came out on top, it just meant her strategy worked, The moms who felt sorry for their.


    daughters-inw would only end up getting walked all over.


    Chloe scoffed, figuring all these people online were just jealous of how good her life was. Why else would they be trashing her? That thought made her feel a little better.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Eric was in his car, calling Zane. "Mr. Huxham, can you put Ms. Jamison on the phone? I need to talk to her about something important."


    Zane handed me the phone while I was drawing. I took it and purposely put it on speaker.


    Eric was working outside when he got a call from someone in the marketing department telling him to check out the trending news online. As soon as he saw it, he knew right away it was a perfect marketing opportunity. They could spend hardly anything and get huge results.


    "Drop what you''re doing and open any website. Check out the top trending news." Eric cut to the chase.


    I pulled out my phone and saw that


    ¨¥


    the usations about Chloe mistreating her daughter-inw were the top trending topic. I clicked on it,


    ale enough, there was Chloe''s


    smug face front and center.


    Even though I already knew she didn''t like me, it was still a shock to see how calcted she''d been in mistreating me.


    I didn''t think people like that actually existed. And yet, here she was,id bare for everyone to see.


    I looked down. Back then, when she went after me, I actually wondered if I had done something to deserve it. It turned out that I hadn''t done anything wrong, and she was just picking fights on purpose. "I''ve seen it. So what now?" I asked tly.


    "The marketing team wants to take advantage of this publicity. They''re hoping for your input." Eric sounded like he was worried I might push back.

 Chapter 492

    Everyone at Huxham Corporation really respected me. No matter what they were working on, they always came to me for my thoughts first. They did the same when Jessica tried to step over me to get ahead. And even with Chloe''s scandaling out, they were still doing the same thing.


    I didn''t hesitate. "You guys are just trying to help me make money. Of course, I''m on board."


    Eric paused for a moment before saying, "We were just worried that using Chloe''s bad press like this might bring up some painful memories for you."


    After reading the news, everyone found out how tough things had been for me at Steven''s ce. They knew this was a big chance but were worried it might hurt me.


    I chuckled. "Not at all. That''s all behind me. I''m not bothered by it."


    Upon hearing that, Eric seemed relieved. "Great, I''ll let the marketing team know."


    I hummed in response. Eric passed my thoughts to the marketing team. Once they got the green light, they jumped into action.


    Before long, interest was through the roof. Myic was back in the spotlight, and readership exploded. Even the merchandise sales shot up rapidly.


    On the way, Eric kept getting call after call from neighboring countries, all wanting to secure distribution rights for theic.


    He didn''t ept or reject them right away. He just told them he''d talk it over with Annalise first, and if she were on board, he''d get back to them. Everyone was polite and said they''d wait for his response. Meanwhile, The staff at theic publishingpany were buzzing with excitement over the sales boost.


    "Oh my gosh!"


    "Looks like we''re all getting a raise!"


    "I can''t even imagine how much I''m going to make next month. Just thinking about it makes me so happy!"


    Before they joined, Zane had


    promised them that if sales hit a certain devel, they''d get a cut of the profits. So, of course, they were all hoping the merchandise would sell well.


    en


    After the call ended, I handed the phone back to Zane. He took it from me and sat beside me, resting his arm over my shoulder.


    In a quiet voice, he asked, "How do you feel now that you''ve seen the news?"


    "It''s a relief to have my suspicions confirmed," I answered right away. "I also keep thinking about how, one day, when Steven finds out that Jessica''s kid isn''t his, he''s going to hate Chloe.


    "After all, it was Chloe who convinced him not to support Zachary financially and instead pour all his attention into someone else''s kid."


    I couldn''t help but smile. "Chloe''s


    me realize how fair life can actually


    be


    BUMS


    Zane''s hand slid down my shoulder gently, almost like he was trying tofort me. I knew he was worried I might feel down.


    I grinned and said, "Don''t worry. It''s all behind me. I really don''t mind."


    Zane hummed softly, then gently cupped my face in his hands and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I just wish I could''ve reached you sooner."


    Confused, I looked at him. In his usually calm, distant eyes, there was nothing but sadness.


    "Then, you wouldn''t have had to go through so much unfairness," he added.


    I was taken aback. It never crossed my mind that he''d take the me for things that weren''t his fault.


    I let out a smallugh. "None of that was on you."


    Zane didn''t say anything else. He just pulled me into a tight hug. I hugged him back.

 Chapter 493

    Jessica felt great at home as she watched heric sales steadily climb. But in the blink of an eye, she saw Chloe had suddenly be a trending topic online, followed by Annalise and heric.


    Jessica shot up, opened Annalise''sic page, and saw that Annalise''s sales were skyrocketing faster than hers. She was furious and almost tossed her phone across the room. How was that even fair?


    She''d dropped over a million just to boost her sales. Now, Annalise had jumped on some trending buzz and caught up to her in no time.


    Jessica couldn''t stand the idea of Annalise making more money than she was. She thought about reaching out to the marketingpany again to amp up her publicity, but she was worried Annalise would just ride the wave of any extra attention. So, she pushed that idea to the back of her mind. She paced around the living room, finallying up with a n. She walked into the garage and told the driver, "Take me to Pelham Group."


    "Got it," the driver replied.


    Jessica arrived at thepany and headed straight for Steven''s office. She''d nned to barge in without warning, but at thest second, she held back.


    She was worried there might be other people in the office, and barging in could mess with one of Steven''s deals. So, she knocked.


    Steven heard the knock and looked up without much interest. "Come in."


    Jessica opened the door and walked in.


    Steven had been nning to take Zane''s advice and see a psychiatrist, but when he saw Jessica, he decided to hear her out first.


    His voice was unnervingly calm. "What''s up?"


    "Annalise posted a video about your mom online, used her to stir up some buzz, and then started selling merchandise off it. At first, I thought I shouldn''t tell you as I worried it would upset you.


    "But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I couldn''t keep it from you," Jessica said without a second thought.


    Steven pulled out his phone. Sure enough, the inte was flooded with Chloe''s ount of how she''d mistreated Annalise.


    There were also tons of news


    articles about Annalise bing a


    "She had a mother-inw who treated her badly and a cheating husband, but she''s still able to draw such heartwarmingics? She''s amazing!"


    "No kidding. If it were me, I would''ve cracked a long time ago."


    "We definitely need to buy some merchandise to support her."


    When Steven put his phone down, Jessica carefully asked, "What do you think?"


    "I don''t care if she drags my name


    th the mud," Steven said,


    it''s


    a bit much to bring my


    standing up. "But don''t you


    this?"


    into


    "I do," Jessica replied immediately.


    "I''ll go talk to her. You can head back. I''ve got a lot to deal with, so I won''t walk you out," Steven said. "Okay." Jessica smiled.


    She nned to follow Steven, catch the exchange between him and Annalise, and post it online to show Annalise had no shame and would do anything for fame. That would make everyone''s positive impression of her disappear in an instant.


    Jessica watched Steven get up and leave the office; then, she hurried out after him. He got in his car and drove off immediately.


    She waited in her car, making sure he waspletely out of sight before telling her driver, "Take me to Huxham Corporation."

 Chapter 494

    Jessica wanted a front-row seat to the drama.


    ...


    Steven showed up outside Huxham Corporation right around lunchtime. Zane and I were about to head out and grab something to eat when we ran into Steven, who was standing right in front of the entrance. Zane leaned in and whispered, "He''s probably here because of his mom."


    "I figured," I replied, slowing my pace.


    The second Steven spotted me, he marched over, his voice tight with anger. "Annalise, what the hell are you doing?"


    "Me?" I was amused. "I''m not doing anything, Steven. I have no clue what you''re talking about."


    Steven pulled out his phone, brought up the news about Chloe, and looked like he was about to shove it in my face. It was a very disrespectful move.


    I stayed calm, ready to stop him if I had to, but Zane beat me to it. He grabbed Steven by the arm and said coldly, "If you''ve got something to say, just say it. No need to get physical with her."


    Steven was fuming. He stared at me without blinking. "I know you''ve got a problem with me..."


    He emphasized each word as he continued, "But if you''ve got an issue, take it up with me. Bringing my mom into this is pretty disrespectful, don''t you think?"


    "Disrespectful?" I let out a sarcasticugh. "Hearing you say that is pretty funny."


    Steven kept his eyes locked on me.


    I shrugged. "Your whole family never exactly respects me, huh? And it''s not like I brought your mom into this. I just saw people ripping into her online and decided to ride the wave." Steven looked at me like I was aplete stranger. "If not you, then who?"


    "Could it have been my mom?" Zane asked, dragging out the words as he looked at Steven.


    Steven was confused. "Why would she do that?"


    "If you watch the whole video, you''ll get it," Zane said, taking his time.


    Steven ended up watching the video all the way through again, reading all the text, and finally figuring out what was really happening.


    It turned out Chloe had tried to turn Rowena against Annalise. But Rowena wasn''t buying it and, pissed off by Chloe''s stunt, set a trap for her. Steven fixed his gaze on me. "Even so, you still shouldn''t-"


    "There''s nothing I shouldn''t do," I said, staying calm. "Steven, your family can''t keep hurting me without facing the consequences.


    "What''s happening now actually works out in my favor. She came at me with bad intentions. I''m just turning it into something profitable."


    Steven shook his head. "You''ve changed. Annalise, you used to not care about money at all. Now it''s like you''re obsessed with it."


    I scoffed. "Because I didn''t care about material stuff, I walked away from the marriage with nothing. That lets you, a cheating jerk, keep all the money so you and your mistress can live it up.


    "Then, when I looked back, I realized how dumb I was. I should''ve at least taken my share. Maybe then I


    wouldn''t have been so tight on


    st


    money after the divorce."


    I went straight to Zane''s ce after we split up. The life he gave me was way better than anything I had with Steven.


    Zane was the one who gave me a job so I could make my own money and helped me see just how important it really was.


    "Steven," I said. "Money solves most


    of the problems in my life. If some new scandal pops up and gives me a chance to make a profit, why wouldn''t I take it?"


    Steven dragged out each word. "She''s my mom."

 Chapter 495

    "So?" I scoffed.


    Steven stared at me, clearly at a loss for words.


    "I don''t even care about you anymore. Why would I care about an ex-mother-inw who just made my life miserable? I hope you get that," I said unhurriedly.


    Then, I grabbed Zane''s hand. "Let''s go grab something to eat."


    "Sure," Zane said.


    Steven watched me walk away, his voice full of bitterness. "You''re going to regret this, Annalise."


    "I won''t," I said, not even breaking my stride. "I''ll never regret it, Steven."


    Jessica had been hiding around the corner, watching the whole thing, but the drama she was hoping for never happened. If she posted the video online, it would only draw more support for Annalise.


    Without thinking twice, she deleted the video from her phone. She scoffed. She wasn''t about to do anything that would help Annalise.


    ...


    We got to the restaurant. We didn''t order much since we weren''t big eaters. Once the waiter left, Eric slid into the seat across from me.


    He smiled at Zane. "Mr. Huxham, mind if I give you a quick update on work?"


    Zane, of course, didn''t mind. He raised his hand to g down the waiter and asked for an extra serving.


    "Ouric is still in pre-sale, but the merchandise is flying off the shelves. Now, all these nearby countries want to secure the right to distribute it.


    "The best part is: they''re offering solid revenue shares. I think we should go for it and give them the rights. What do you think?" Eric asked.


    I didn''t know much about the whole thing, so I decided to trust the experts. I looked over at Zane.


    Zane nodded. "Yeah, sounds good."


    Only then did Eric pull out his phone and reply to the potential distributors, letting them know everything was set.


    They all said they''d hurry over to sign the contract. They were afraid that if they missed this wave of hype, they''d lose out on the chance to make money.


    Once Eric was done responding, he


    looked at me. "By the way, even though ouric hasn''t officially been published yet, the publisher''s already started pre-sales, and it''s doing really well."


    "Huh?" I might not have known about the pre-sales if he hadn''t mentioned it.


    Eric probably thought I didn''t get what a pre-sale was, so he exined, "Pre-sales just mean they''re selling theic before it''s even printed." "Oh." I finally got what he was saying.


    Looking pretty pleased with himself,


    Eric said, "Sales are through the roof. We''ve already broken the publisher''s record. Each copy''s going for 19 dors, and we''ve sold 200 thousand copies so far.


    "They were only expecting 100 thousand copies in total. We hit that in just a couple of days, and the numbers are still climbing.


    "The publisher''s pumped. While


    they''re rushing to the printing nt for more copies, they''re also telling us they want the second volume. They''re even talking about running special promotions to see if they can hit a million copies."


    Eric grinned widely and added, "Youric''s definitely the biggest surprise hit of the year."


    I couldn''t help but get excited. "Are there really that many people buying it?"


    "Yeah," Eric said confidently. "Youric''s way more popr than you thought. And now that people know how badly your ex-mother-inw treated you, I bet sales are going to skyrocket."


    Just then, his phone buzzed with a new message. He opened it and saw t was from the publisher, and the screen was practically flooded with exmation marks.


    "They want another reprint!"

 Chapter 496

    Eric set his phone down and exined, "Theic''s priced affordably. Most people can grab it without thinking twice. So it''s selling way better than our merchandise."


    I rested my chin in my hands. "These results are incredible."


    "Yeah, they are," Eric said. "I''m sure Jessica and the others won''t stop stirring things up. Plus, we''ll take care of our marketing, and it''s going global, so both theic and the merchandise are going to do great all over."


    Iughed. "So I can just kick back and watch the moneye in?"


    Eric nced at me. "Speaking of which, you might want to check your ount. Your paycheck should''ve hit today."


    He looked at Zane for confirmation. "Right?"


    Zane didn''t deny it. "Yeah, that''s right."


    I checked my bnce, and my eyes went wide in disbelief. It was over three million before taxes, and even after taxes, it was still well over 1.6 million.


    Eric grinned. "So, what do you think? Isn''t this way better than a regr job?"


    I just hummed, not sure how to put my feelings into words. I''d always thought it would take forever to save enough for Mom and me to retire. But looking at this paycheck, I realized I could make that much in six months, or maybe even less.


    I turned to Zane. "Thanks. If you hadn''t started theic publishingpany just for my work, no matter how good I was, I probably wouldn''t be making this kind of money."


    Eric stayed quiet while Zane gave my shoulder a light pat. "Don''t mention it, Anna. I''m just looking for ways to help thepany grow. It''s not really me helping you. It''s more about me helping myself."


    I knew Zane was being modest. He didn''t want me to feel like I owed him anything. I felt something I couldn''t quite put into words.


    When I was with Steven, he never


    did anything for me but always expected me to be grateful forever. But with Zane, I could see everything he did for me, yet he acted like it was all just for his benefit.


    I pursed my lips. "Even if it is for you, I''m still getting something out of it."


    Zane gently brushed my cheek. "Do we really have to keep acting so formal?"


    I smiled sheepishly.


    Eric cleared his throat from the sidelines. "I''m still here, you know. Can you tone it down a bit?"


    Zane calmly withdrew his hand, and I held back what I was about to say.


    "The take-home this month is over a million, which might not seem like a lot right now, but next month, merchandise sales are going to skyrocket.


    §­


    "Plus, with tens of thousands ofic copies flying off the shelves, you''ll be pulling in royalties, too. If it really takes off, you could see another million," Eric said.


    "And next month, theic''s going international, and the animated series will kick up its marketing. That means we''ll be making a good


    chunk from overseas as well Zane


    exined.


    I couldn''t contain my excitement and threw myself into Zane''s arms. "Does that mean I''m rich now?"


    Zane didn''t push me away. Instead, he kept me steady with a hand on my waist. "Yeah, you''re rich. So, now that you''ve got some money, what do you want to do?"


    "I''ll save up for now. Once I''ve got some extra, I might think about starting my own business-maybe opening a shop," I said seriously.


    Zane grinned. "Like I said before, let me know when you''ve got a solid n. I''ll be there to help however I can."

 Chapter 497

    I barely had time to reply before Eric groaned from the side. "You two are always so lovey-dovey. Have you ever thought about how I feel?"


    I nced at him. "You still don''t have a girlfriend?"


    Ericughed out loud. "I''m with Mr. Huxham practically every day, working non-stop. Obviously, I have no time for a date."


    I nced over at Zane. "Once work slows down, maybe we should give him some time off to find a girlfriend."


    Zane didn''t argue. "Yeah, sounds good."


    Eric thought about it for a second, then shook his head. "Nah, forget it. I''m all about making money right now."


    Zane didn''t ask why and simply said, "Having more money gives you that extra confidence, no matter what you''re up to."


    Eric showed a sheepish smile.


    Steven had an appointment with a psychiatrist. He sat in the office, staring at the psychiatrist, who was in the middle of eating. They made eye contact, and they both felt a little awkward. The psychiatrist spoke up first. "I didn''t expect you to be here this early."


    "I just want to figure out if there''s actually something wrong with me. I need you to confirm it," Steven said. Right now, he couldn''t even tell what he was feeling or what he wanted.


    The psychiatrist looked at his meal. "Do you mind if I finish eating first?"


    Steven shook his head. "No, go ahead."


    The psychiatrist started eating without saying anything. Once he''d finished, he set the lunchbox aside and asked, "So, what do you think the problem is?"


    "I think I''m in love with Annalise," Steven said. He couldn''t turn to anyone around him for help on this issue since they all kept saying he was in love with Jessica.


    "But everyone else thinks otherwise. Even Annalise doesn''t seem to think I''m into her at all," Steven added.


    The psychiatrist seemed to understand the heart of Steven''s issue. He handed Steven a set of questions to fill out.


    After Steven finished, the psychiatrist asked him a few more questions before saying, "From what I can tell, it''s not really a psychological problem. It''s more like a distortion in how you''re seeing things.


    "You seem really hung up on your pride. Jessica was your first love, and she''s still your friend. You want to prove that you''re doing well and show her that her choice back then was a mistake.


    "That''s why you act so shy around her. But that''s not really about love. It''s more about struggling to let go of the past and wanting to outdo her.


    "As for Annalise, she stuck by you from the beginning, through all the tough times, and you''ve gotten used to her being careful with money. Even now that you''re doing well, all you can think about is how Jessica left you because you didn''t have any."


    The psychiatrist paused, choosing his words carefully before going on. "Look, deep down, you''re scared of going broke again, so you''re holding on tight to all your money. And you expect Annalise to keep loving you and never walk away.


    "Before the divorce, you took everything she did for you for granted. You didn''t really love her. When people have money, they usually want to make sure their wives are living better, too, and


    they''re willing to spend on them."


    But with how tight-fisted Steven was with Annalise, it was clear he didn''t really love her. He couldn''t deny that the psychiatrist''s words struck a chord. "So what about after the divorce?" Steven asked.

 Chapter 498

    The psychiatrist didn''t respond to Steven right away. Instead, he asked, "Are you willing to spend money on Annalise right now?"


    That question caught Steven off guard. He paused, really thinking about what the psychiatrist had just asked. Spend money on Annalise? How much?


    The psychiatrist went on. "You said you''d be pretty upset if she were with someone else. So, would that bother you more than Jessica getting married?" That hit Steven hard. He suddenly realized he''d never even considered these questions before.


    "Once you figure out the answers to the questions I asked, you''ll have to decide if you really want Annalise back because you love her or if it''s just that you can''t stand the thought of her moving on without you.


    "Or maybe you just miss how easy she made things for you. But to you, her work is worth no more than a nanny''s pay, so that''s all you''re willing to offer.


    "You''re not ready to give her anything more than that. Once you have your answer, you won''t need me to tell you what your feelings for Annalise really are." "Thank you," Steven replied.


    He left the hospital and headed back to his office, closing the door behind him. He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing into the distance.


    After talking to the psychiatrist, he was certain he didn''t have feelings for Jessica. But what about Annalise? How did he really feel about her? Steven was lost, and his thoughts were all over the ce.


    ...


    After lunch, I headed back to my office and checked over the recent progress.


    Theic''s domestic print run hadn''t been released yet, but sales were already through the roof. How many more copies could we sell once they were fully printed, bound,


    and shipped?


    en


    I flopped onto the couch, thinking it over. Zane had said we hit this level of sess with almost no promotion. What if we ramped up our marketing next month?


    Besides, theic was set to


    .n


    adaptation would officially anime


    airing With Zane''s drive, there was no doubt he''d boost the publicity.


    Thinking about it, I grabbed my phone to check my bank bnce. It was over a million.


    We made that much with just a little promotionst month. Now that we''d built even more buzz this month, could the profits go even higher?


    When Eric brought it up at the


    restaurant earlier, I was too stunned


    to take it in. But now that I''d calmed down and crunched the numbers, could see my earnings were


    definitely growing month by month, with plenty of room to keep rising.


    I pursed my lip and looked over at Zane, who was busy at his desk. I had to admit that he was a great boss.


    He was smart and forward-thinking but never greedy. Whenever thepany did well, he was more than happy to share the rewards with his team.


    I couldn''t help but smile, then I looked down and got back to drawing.


    Zane walked over. "Got a minute to talk about how the newic''sing along?"


    I nced up at him. "I''ve been working on it every day. The storyline has been adapted, so things are moving along quicker."


    I slid myptop over to him and opened the romanceic folder.

 Chapter 499

    Zane quickly nced over the plot. Even though he''d never read a romanceic before, he seemed pretty sure this one could do even better. He tapped his fingers lightly on theputer, saying nothing. I watched his serious expression and asked, "What''s up? Is it not good?"


    "No," Zane said, shaking his head. "It''s actually really good."


    I raised an eyebrow. "Really?"


    If it was so good, then why was he looking so serious?


    Zane turned to me and said, "Take your time with thisic. Once the first volume is ready, we''ll drop the animated series and the print version at the same time.


    "Thepany''s gonna roll out a big promotional campaign. We''re aiming to make youric the top seller of the year."


    Upon seeing how confident he was, I couldn''t really exin why, but I trusted him. A smile crept onto my face. "Alright."


    He ran his fingers through my hair. His usually icy eyes were full of warmth now.


    Zane''s voice was calm as he said, "As for the next steps, I''ll have Eric take care of it. We''ve got a lot of new projectsing in, and even the old ones are picking up.


    "I don''t need to be involved in every little thing, but I still need to stay on top of it. I might not have as much time to spend with you."


    I nodded. "It''s fine. I''ve got my own work to focus on, too."


    Zane pulled me into a hug. "That''s why I value every second we get together. I always feel like I missed out on so much before, and now that we''re finally together, I just want to make up for all that lost time." I hugged him back and gave him a soft pat on the back.


    I used to think women were the sentimental ones in rtionships. But after I started dating Zane, I realized it wasn''t about gender at all.


    It was just what would happen when we really love someone. Even if we were together every single day, it still wouldn''t feel like enough.


    Zane continued, "Before, it felt like


    the weight of the whole Huxham Corporation was on my shoulders like I was responsible for everyone''s livelihood. I couldn''t afford to mess up, or they''d all be out of work.


    "It was a huge burden. But now, with you by my side, it feels like that weight''s been lifted. Even though I''m busier than ever, all I feel is relief."


    He almost felt like it wasn''t enough,


    and he still wanted to find more time


    to do whatever he could for his girlfriend. Zane brushed his cheek against my neck, a hint ofughter in his voice as he asked. "Isn''t that kind of strange?"


    "It is," I said, giving his back a gentle pat. "But you really should take breaks sometimes. If you push yourself too hard, won''t that defeat the whole point?" Reluctantly, Zane pulled away from me. "I''ll keep that in mind."


    I nodded and made a soft sound of agreement.


    "Alright, I''m heading back to work," Zane said.


    I couldn''t help butugh at the way he looked at me. We were in the same office. Did he really need to act like we were saying goodbye for days?


    Still, I didn''t bring it up. "Go ahead. I''ve got work to get back to, too."


    ...


    Bet


    After a long stretch of overtime, Sasha''s project was finally wrapping


    up. Everyone had some breapping


    room and could actually take a short break once in a while.


    She lowered her office chair all the way back, almost t, and gotfy, ready to sneak in a little rest.


    "Sasha!" The second she heard her name, Sasha immediately thought she''d messed something up and was about to get an earful from her supervisor.


    She freaked out for a second, but then she pulled herself together and jumped up. "Yes, I''m here!"


    "There''s someone downstairs asking for you."

 Chapter 500

    Sasha''s supervisor walked by and handed her her phone. Sasha couldn''t figure out who it was. She took the phone and asked, "Any idea who it is?" He shook his head. "No clue."


    Sasha hesitated briefly before saying, "I''ll head downstairs and check."


    He hummed in reply.


    The moment Sasha stepped off the elevator and reached the entrance, she spotted Shane standing nearby. Her expression instantly went cold.


    Earlier, during lunch, the secretary had mentioned that Shane was thinking about her and would definitely show up. How could she have forgotten that?


    As soon as she saw him, Sasha spun around without saying a word and headed back to the elevator.


    "Sasha!" Shane called out, his voice full of panic. Upon hearing him, Sasha picked up the pace, hoping he wouldn''t catch up.


    "I know I screwed up," Shane shouted, desperation in his voice. "But can''t you give me another chance?"


    He kept calling her name when he saw she wasn''t stopping.


    Sasha felt a rush of embarrassment. After a brief pause, she turned around and stormed right up to him. "Can you stop making a scene?"


    A flicker of hope lit up Shane''s eyes. "So if I stop, you''ll think about getting back together with me?"


    Sasha scoffed. "When were we ever together?"


    Shane went still. After a long moment, he slowly shook his head. "Never."


    "So, how are we supposed to ''get back together''?" Sasha shrugged.


    Shane hesitated. "I know I messed up. I shouldn''t have started dating Jenny. I keep thinking about how things might''ve turned out if I hadn''t rushed into that rtionship and


    actually tried to be with you instead."


    "Don''t waste your time on that," Sasha said coldly. It finally dawned on her just how exasperating it must''ve been for Annalise to be constantly pestered. "It''s never happening between us."


    She called his name, almost with a sarcastic tone. "Shane, are you broke now? Is that why you''re looking for me because at least I can buy you a meal?"


    Shane''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    With no sympathy, Sasha continued, "First off, I earned my money through hard work. I''m not wasting it on someone who has nothing to do with me, so forget it." "That''s not why I''m here!" Shane blurted.


    "But your dad cut you off, and you don''t have any ie," she said tly. "So, how are you nning to get by?" Shane mulled over her words.


    Sasha continued slowly, "You''re not seriously nning to end up starving on the streets, are you? Shane, I never used your money when you had it. And now that you''re broke, you can''t expect me to cover your biffs, right?"


    She found his clinginess irritating. "I hope you understand that. Don''t evere after me again. I don''t owe you a thing." With that, she turned and walked away.


    Shane stared after her, his mind


    drifting back to when Sasha was still


    part of their group-so sweet and innocent. He couldn''t figure out how she''d be the confident woman she was now. All he felt was an empty sense of loss.


    When Sasha got back to the office, she handed her phone back and copsed into her chair, staring nkly at the ceiling.


    Madeline quickly slid over and asked, "Who was that looking for you?"


    "Shane," Sasha said, annoyed. "He''s already hit rock bottom but didn''t bother looking for a job. Yet somehow, he''s got the time toe and bother me."

 Chapter 501

    Madeline said, "I''m still not hungry."


    Sasha nodded in agreement. "Right. We''ll just skip a meal or two if we''re short on money."


    Madeline''s head bobbed once. "I''ll look out for him after work. You can leave through the basement parking lot if he''s waiting by the door. If he isn''t, we''ll leave through the main entrance." "Thank you!" Sasha threw her arms around Madeline gratefully. "You''re the best. I love you!"


    Madeline chuckled as she said, "Don''t mention it."


    They chatted some more before their supervisor came over to urge them to return to their workstations. Only then did the two women let each other go.


    Before starting work, Sasha leaned close to Madeline and whispered, "We''ll talk after we get off work."


    Thetter nodded imperceptibly, "Got it."


    Upon getting home, Jessica sat in the living room and fell into deep thought. Steven seemed to always have to bear the brunt of whatever favor she asked of him, including speaking up for her.


    If that were the case, she would have to resort to other methods.


    Jessica couldn''t stand seeing Annalise do better than her. She went on Instagram and found Casper''s profile. She clicked on their conversation and found that he had left her a torrent of messages, none of which she replied to. She reckoned he would be apprehensive if she told him the real reason she was texting him. As such, she replied to his messages courteously.


    Casper couldn''t help but feel ted


    when he saw that Jessica had replied to his messages. Could he have misunderstood her all this while? Perhaps she was still in love with him, after all, and she had


    simply forgotten to respond to his


    texts.


    M


    He immediately replied to her, still grinning from ear to ear.


    As their conversation grew warmer, Jessica figured it was time to strike. Sheid bare her purpose and typed, "If I remember correctly, you recorded yourself sleeping with Annalise, right?" She had told Zane about this, but at the time, he said he didn''t mind.


    However, that was only because no one else knew about the incident. If she posted the video of Annalise and Casper on the Inte, would Zane still be willing to overlook the matter? Jessica doubted it. She knew men too well to understand what set them off.


    Meanwhile, Casper''s delight vanished when he read Jessica''s text. He had convinced himself that she only texted him because she still loved him, but he couldn''t be in denial any longer.


    He did not give her an immediate confirmation. Instead, he asked, "Why?"


    Jessica replied without hesitation, "Could you send me the video?"


    "Tell me what you n to do with it, and I''ll consider it," was all Casper wrote. He had more or less figured out what Jessica wanted to do with the video, but he refused to believe it. She had been nothing short of angelic when they were together. How could she stoop so low and do something so terrible?


    Jessica couldn''t care less if Casper


    thought she was wicked. "It''s simple. Annalise has been getting on my nervestely, so I''ve decided to put your sextape up on the inte. Once the world sees what a trollop she is for fooling around white she was still married to Steven, they would ostracize her."


    eline


    Annalise''s reputation online would be dragged through the mud. Zane would be so disappointed in her that he would wash his hands of her. When that happened, the merchandise sales for Annalise''sics would drop and never surpass Jessica''s again.


    Just thinking about how the drama would unfold filled Jessica with an inexplicable thrill.

 Chapter 502

    Jessica could think of nothing better than to see the person she hated the most dragged off her pedestal. Just fantasizing about it gave her a high.


    Casper stared at Jessica''s message, her words proving him right-she was rotten to the core. She hadn''t even thought about the consequences of putting that video up on the inte, and not once did she consider how it would affect him. He closed his eyes. He did not want to reply to her anymore. He never thought Jessica could be capable of such cruelty after their separation.


    When Jessica did not get a response from Casper, she called him directly. "Hello?"


    "I''m not in the mood to speak to you right now," Casper said gravely, his heart tightening painfully.


    Jessica bit out impatiently, "I''ll back off once you send me the video."


    Casper knew he shouldn''t rile her up while she was pregnant, but he couldn''t help his temper as he argued, "Did you ever think that I would be the talk of the public once you post that video on the Inte? What will they say about me?"


    He could understand Jessica''s hatred for Annalise. As a woman, she couldn''t be expected not to keep her guard up around other women. She was not a saint, after all.


    However, Casper would not go along with her n to ruin another woman''s reputation, especially through such unsavory and wicked methods.


    Jessica didn''t even bat an eye as she pointed out, "With your body and stamina, they''ll only envy you."


    Casper took a deep breath. "I don''t want their envy."


    There was silence on the other line, but before he could hang up, she suddenly added, "I''ll blur out your face before putting up the video."


    A bitter, humorlessugh escaped him when he heard this. The more she pressed him on this, the clearer he saw her true colors. She was evil through and through. The woman he had loved was probably nothing more than a facade she put on for his sake.


    Breathing became difficult for him,


    but he endured the sharp pain stabbing through his heart as he


    said, "I hate to break it to you, Jessica, but I never slept with


    vel


    Annalise. We did record a video, but I


    doubt it''s the content you want.


    "I could send it to you if you like, but if you were to put it up, anyone who saw it might end up praising Annalise for her quick wit."


    As Casper said this, he turned on hisptop and sent the video to Jessica. He clenched his fists and did not release them until a long momentter. "I''d like to ask you something, Jessica..." When she received the video, Jessica did not click on it. She asked nonchntly, "What is it?"


    "Did you ever love me?" Casper''s voice broke slightly.


    Jessica leaned into her chair and considered his question. After a pause, she answered, "I suppose I must have. Why else would I have married you when I had so many rich men after me then?" She probably married him because he was richer than all the other men.


    Casper knew she was lying, but he chose not to confront her. He let his tears fall as he said, "I see. Thanks."


    Jessica hung up after that.


    He stared at his phone screen until his tears dried, and only then did he tear his gaze away. Jessica loved money, so he vowed to work hard and umte his wealth, all sor could make her regret her


    indifference toward him when they met again in the future.


    After finishing and updating myic panel, Iy on the couch, intending to rest. Just then, my phone rang. I nced at the screen to see Eric''s name shing, so I put the call through. "Hello?"


    Eric had always found it a hassle to reach me through Zane, so he asked for my number. That was how we ended up having each other''s contact.


    Eric informed me over the phone,


    "The publisher wants you to autograph the new releases. They thought moving so manyics in and out of the printing house might be inconvenient, so they were §Ö hoping you would drop by to autograph them instead. They''ll dispatch theics once you''re done."

 Chapter 503

    Eric asked, "When''s the soonest you can go over to sign thoseics?"


    Upon hearing this, I checked the time on my phone and realized I had to pick Willow up from school. I hesitated before asking, "I need to pick up Willow today. Can I go over tomorrow?" "Sure," Eric said obligingly, and I heaved a sigh of relief.


    Zane was busy, and it took him an entire afternoon to clear his work for the day. He nced at me and asked, "Are you going to the printing house tomorrow?"


    I hummed in response as an odd feeling came over me. Zane and I had been inseparable since I moved in with him. The idea of spending time away from him made me feel hollow.


    I stared at him thoughtfully. He had a lot on his te these days, and I doubted we would have quality time for a while. I couldn''t help my disappointment.


    Zane seemed to sense my reluctance. He chuckled and said, "We won''t miss each other as much once we''re busy with work."


    I considered this and found myself agreeing with him. "True. Can I have the driver drop me off at the printing house tomorrow?"


    Zane wouldn''t be free to chauffeur me around. He knew this too and said, "Sure." He held my hand and added tenderly, "We won''t be spending much time together tomorrow, so we should make the best of today."


    I had already gotten over my disappointment after listening to his sage advice. Nheless, I couldn''t helpughing at his remark as I pointed out, "We''ll still see each other at home when we get off work in the evening." "True."


    As I stopped before the kindergarten entrance, I noticed that most of the children had gone home just as ss ended. When I spotted Willow, I waved at her and beckoned her over.


    ...


    When she saw me, she bounded up to me happily and said, "Mommy, we''re having a stage performance the day after tomorrow. Promise me you''lle watch me!" Her eyes gleamed expectantly.


    This was the first time Willow was


    ted to perform in a public,rge-scale production since I


    became her mother. She would be


    crestfallen if I failed to make it to her


    show. As such, I agreed without


    thinking, "I''ll be there."


    "I knew you wouldn''t say no, Mommy!" She threw her arms around me, beaming. As I stroked her hair gently, she nced at Zane. "You have toe, too, Daddy."


    Zane couldn''t bear seeing Willow upset, so he promised, "Count me in."


    Only then did Willow release me from her embrace.


    Meanwhile, Penelope wordlessly stared at us, and Suzy looked conflicted as well. Upon seeing this Zane suggested helpfully, "You could take a day off and show up for your daughter''s performance, too


    Suzy''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Can I really?"


    "Of course." Zane said mildly, "You''re working to afford a better life for your daughter, right? What''s the point of dedicating all your time and energy to your work when you can''t even spare a single day for some mother-daughter bonding time?"


    Suzy broke into a smile. "Thank you, Mr. Huxley."


    "Don''t mention it," Zane replied pleasantly.


    ...


    Suzy drove us home that afternoon. On the way back, Penelope and Willow sat before me and chatted, their childish voices filling the car. As I watched them, a loving smile curled my lips. Zane sat in the passenger seat and asionally nced over his shoulder to speak to the two little girls.


    There was no cozier moment than this, I presumed.


    When we got home, we went out for a jog with Howard andter trained in martial arts. Once the basic lessons were over, Willow went upstairs to wash up.


    Penelope stayed with me and tugged on the hem of my shirt. "Ms. Annalise, I need to tell you something about Willow."

 Chapter 504

    Baffled, I lowered my head and asked, "What is it?"


    Penelope bit her lower lip as if mulling over what she was about to tell me. A long pauseter, she confessed, "Someone in our ss has been picking on Willow. I tried to stop them and tell them bullying was wrong, but they refused to listen to me." She kept her gaze on her feet, looking ashamed. She appeared to be disappointed that she couldn''t stand up for Willow.


    Upon hearing this, I crouched and held Penelope''s hand. "You''re so brave, Penelope. You spoke up when you saw someone do something wrong."


    She stared at me in disbelief. "Aren''t you upset that I didn''t protect Willow?"


    She tipped her head to the side as if puzzled at my words. I borated, "It''s normal for you to feel helpless when facing a tough situation like that, but thank you for telling me about it. If you hadn''t told me, I might never know what Willow is dealing with in school." Penelope blinked at me. Relief colored her face as she said, "I''m d you care about Willow."


    I chuckled. "You''re just a kid, Penelope."


    "Penelope!" Willow had finished washing up and hurtled out of her bedroom to beckon for Penelope. "It''s your turn to shower!" "Coming!" Penelope bounded upstairs. Willow linked arms with her as they made their way into the bedroom.


    After showering, Penelope and Willow yed with their toys on the third floor. Milton and Dorothy stayed to keep an eye on them.


    Only then did I step away and turn my gaze to Suzy. She had showered, too, and put on a new set of clothes. If theirck of casual conversation was any indication, she probably felt awkward around Zane. She even started informing him of her work progress. She was a bona fide workaholic. It hadn''t been that long since thest project was wrapped up, yet she didn''t take a break and instead dived into nning the uing project.


    I was stunned. Ambitious women truly had a ce in Huxley Corporation. It was where they could thrive in their element.


    Zane listened to Suzy''s proposal quietly. He looked solemn, and it was impossible to tell what was on his mind.


    He waited for her to stop talking beforementing, "Your idea''s pretty solid, but there''s room for plenty of adjustments. If you don''t mind, grab a pen and paper to fot them down. I don''t want you to forget them."


    Suzy winced. This was Zane''s house, after all. She wouldn''t know where to get a pen or paper.


    Seeing this, I hurriedly passed her my notepad and pen.


    She thanked me and turned to Zane. "You may begin, sir."


    Their discussion would take a while. With Milton and Dorothy keeping an eye on Willow and Penelope, there was no better time than now for me to sketch. As such, I quietly went upstairs and began drawing.


    There was no telling how long it would take me to autograph theics at the printing house tomorrow. Not to mention, I had I Willow''s performance the day after to attend. I ought to use my free time to sketch new panels. That way, I wouldn''t have toe up with more panels when things got busy for me.


    I turned on the bedroom lights and padded over to the desk. As I turned on myptop, I visualized what I wanted to draw and started my sketch.


    ...


    Jessica rested until nightfall and excitedly clicked on the recording Casper had sent her. She stared at the footage, her eyes glittering. She couldn''t help but be thrilled as she


    watched Casper push Annalise


    down.


    Casper must have been lying when he told her he hadn''t slept with Annalise. At this rate, Jessica would expect nothing less. A wicked smile curved her lips as she waited for the big moment. Zane and Annalise would be over once the video was up on the inte!


    However, just as Jessica was close to bursting with excitement, Annalise began to reason calmly with Casper.

 Chapter 505

    It was one thing for Annalise to reason with Casper, but for him to actually listen to her at all and stop his advances was shocking!


    Jessica was so infuriated she nearly threw her phone on the ground. She took deep breaths and cursed Casper for foiling her ns. She had gone to great lengths to set up Annalise just so she could gain destructive evidence against her. But Casper hadn''t defiled Annalise at all!


    Swallowing her rage, Jessica paced around the room. A long whileter, she calmed down and called Casper. "Casper!" she growled.


    Casper was buried in work when he received Jessica''s call. Although Zane had wired him the start-up money, he dared not hire a full team for fear that his business would fail. He didn''t want to waste the resources Zane had given him. As such, he chose to be hands-on with the work.


    Upon hearing Jessica''s incensed voice, Casper knew what to expect from this call. He kept hisposure as he replied, "Yes?"


    Jessica had tried hard to keep up her pleasant image before him. On the off-chance that he could pull himself together and be wealthy again, he might still want her back.


    But after seeing the video he''d sent her, she knew she could no longer keep up the pretenses. "You useless piece of shit! I gave you the perfect opportunity, and you messed it up!"


    When Casper heard this, he knew she must have watched the video. His heart cracked all the same as she hurled abuse at him. It must be because this was the first time she had called him such hurtful names. Thankfully, he held his ground and kept his mouth shut.


    Jessica continued seething, "I had the perfect n to ruin Annalise''s life and make her disappear from the Inte forever. I was about to get rid of my archnemesis, and you screwed up my trump card!"


    "So?" Casper drawled, though breathing became difficult as he listened to her hysterics.


    Jessica didn''t even blink as she snapped, "You have two choices now! Either you kidnap Zane''s daughter and lure Annalise out so you can finish the job, or do nothing!" Casper asked, "What''s the price?"


    Jessica slowed her speech when she heard his unruffled tone. "If you do this for me, I''ll still keep in touch with you. If you aren''t willing to make the sacrifice, I''ll cut you off."


    She was confident that Casper still


    loved her and that his love knew no bounds. As long as she promised to keep in touch with him, he would do anything for her. She was certain he would say yes.  en


    Casper''s heart was close to shattering as he ground out, "In that case... I hope you''ll be happy without me."


    Life without Jessica would be


    strange, but he had a job now. As


    long as he poured himself into his work, he would move on from Jessica one day. At least, that was what he told himself.


    The pain of cutting ties threatened to break him, but at the same time, he felt a surge of relief.


    Jessica couldn''t believe what she had just heard. "What was that? I didn''t catch what you said. Could you repeat that?"


    Casper enunciated, "I will not hurt another woman just because you ask me to."

 Chapter 506

    Jessica never expected Casper, who had always unconditionally sided with her, to betray her like this.


    She chewed on her bottom lip. After a long pause, she snapped, "Casper, you''re broke! You don''t have a penny to your name, and you should be grateful that I''m even talking to you at all! You should know where you stand!" Casper cried uncontrobly. "Consider yourself absolved from having to spare me your charity, Jessica. This is a win-win situation."


    An intense roaring filled Jessica''s ears. "You useless, ipetent moron! How could you even mess up a simple job like this? Casper-"


    He hung up before she could let loose another torrent of abuse at him. She stared at her nk phone screen and threw her phone to the ground. "This isn''t fair!"


    She went after Steven for his money, so it didn''t matter if he didn''t love her. She wanted Zane but could not have him, so she could overlook the fact that he couldn''t care less about her.


    However, Jessica would not stand for Casper betraying and abandoning her like this. He used to love her so much that he would give her the moon if she asked, so what right did he have to leave her hanging now?


    She plopped down on the couch and glowered at her cracked phone screen. Some time passed, yet her rage would not quell. If Casper wouldn''t help her, who else could she rely on?


    When Steven returned home, he did not turn on the lights. He shuffled into the living room and sat in the dark.


    The lights were always on back when he was still married to Annalise. He had a wife who loved him and a child who was obedient in all the ways that counted. He also


    came home to a hot dinner on the table.


    And now, all that surrounded him was darkness.


    No one was home to make his favorite dinner, and the living room was devoid of a child''sughter and lively chatter.


    Steven had made a huge mistake


    and now paid for it with his solitude.


    He reckoned there was no better punishment than this. He stared ahead as he turned his psychiatrist''s words over in his head.


    How did he feel when Jessica got tangled up with another man? He had felt resentful and betrayed. They hade so close to officially being together, yet she chose to leave him for someone else.


    At the time, Steven wondered what


    he had done wrong to make Jessica betray him. It took him a while to realize her cheating had nothing to do with him at all. She had always loved money, and that was something he did not have when she left him.


    After that, Steven worked hard to rebuild his fortune just to prove to Jessica that leaving him was the biggest mistake of her life.


    But when he and Annalise separated, all he felt was anguish. He was ovee with the fear that he would never get back together with her again.


    Dazed, Steven stared at the ceiling. He pondered on the times he had been stingy with Annalise. Had he truly seen her as a free nanny and nothing more?

 Chapter 507

    Steven didn''t have an answer to his own question, but he had a feeling he might be more willing to spend money on Annalise if he were given the chance.


    As Jessica''s ex-husband, Casper thought it was not his ce to reveal her ns to Zane. However, the more he considered the wickedness of her schemes, the more convinced he was of her boundless cruelty.


    ...


    After some thought, he decided to give Zane a heads-up. He didn''t want to regret not speaking up if anything bad happened to Annalise, so he dialed Zane''s number.


    Zane had just finished discussing work with Suzy and was on his way upstairs to see Annalise. He was stunned when he got a call from Casper, but he put it through and asked, "What''s up?" There was only silence on the other end.


    Zane thought Casper might have called him by mistake.


    He was about to hang up when Casper said, "Jessica wanted me to kidnap Willow today." He continued slowly, "She wanted me to use Willow to lure Annalise out and force her to sleep with me."


    Zane stopped in his tracks when he heard this. He nced at Annalise''s room, then at Suzy downstairs. He headed toward the end of the corridor before he mused, "Is that so?"


    Not wanting Zane to misunderstand his intentions, Casper quickly exined, "But I told her no."


    He added for good measure, "She asked me for the recording of Annalise and me in bed at first. Because nothing happened between me and Annalise, I gave it to her. She was furious after watching the video and told me to make a new one." Zane never knew Jessica was capable of such ruthlessness. He snorted. "Really?"


    "Yes," Casper confirmed gravely. "After some thought, I reckon she would have someone else do the job now that I''ve turned her down. I figured I''d give you a heads-up so that you could take precautions."


    "Thanks for telling me," Zane said solemnly. Everything that had to do with Annalise concerned him. If Annalise got hurt, there was no telling how extreme his wrath would be, especially in light of the information Casper had given him.


    A cold look shed in Zane''s eyes.


    He hadn''t nned on giving Jessica this much attention, but she just had


    to cause a stir and disrupt his peace. It was time he found her a new`''


    hobby to distract her from


    Salise.


    It was a waste of his time to look out for Jessica''s next move. He had to ensure she was so overwhelmed with work that she wouldn''t have time to strike.


    Zane stared ahead as an idea slowly took form in his head. "Oh, how goes the newpany you set up?"


    Casper admitted sheepishly, "I ran into some trouble, but I think I can handle it for now."


    "Your progress is terribly slow," Zane remarked as he casually propped his elbow up on the window ledge. "I''ve been waiting to hear about your uing ns or progress, but you never reached out." Casper muttered, "I just thought I could handle most of the things myself."


    "You need to learn to delegate," Zane pointed out. "Trust me when I say I''m not short on money. Come by the office tomorrow, and we''ll talk about this, okay?"


    He would have plenty of time on his hands with Annalise scheduled to sign her new releases at the printing house tomorrow. He figured it would be wise for him to brainstorm with his business partner ande up with a way to distract Jessica.


    Zane''s enthusiasm caught Casper off-guard, but he replied, "Sure."


    After hanging up, Zane padded over to Annalise''s room and knocked on the door.


    I had finished my drawings when I heard knocksing from my door. I walked over to the door and opened it to see Zane standing in the corridor. Surprised, I asked, "Have you and Suzy finished your discussion?"


    He nodded. An odd expression registered on his face as he said, "I can''t believe you''d leave me alone with another woman."


    I couldn''t understand where he


    came from, but I said anyway,


    "What''s wrong with that? You''re both workaholics, and surely you wouldn''t discuss anything but work with her. I doubt anything inappropriate would take ce between the two of you."

 Chapter 508

    Zane stared at me incredulously. I tilted my head as I tried to make sense of his earlier statement.


    For my benefit, he exined patiently, "Even if you trust me around Suzy, you should still be careful. What if... What if Suzy and I crossed the line? What will you do then?" I blinked at him.


    He grabbed me by my shoulders and spelled it out for me, "I was hoping you''d get jealous. At least then I''ll know you love me."


    "Just because I don''t get jealous doesn''t mean I love you any less," I countered gently as I snaked my arms around his waist. "As far as I''m concerned, openmunication and mutual trust are the keys to a healthy, longsting rtionship." Now, it was Zane''s turn to be confused. "But how can love exist without jealousy and possessiveness?"


    "We don''t have to conform to others'' ideas of love," I said. "Something must have happened in their rtionships to trigger feelings of mistrust and jealousy, but we''ve never had a problem we couldn''t work out together. So, why should we have to replicate what others have?"


    I stared at him evenly. He seemed a little taken aback by my exnation, not that I med him. He had never dated anyone before me and didn''t know right from wrong.


    He held my gaze for a long moment. Asprehension dawned on him, he chuckled and agreed, "You have a point. We decide what we want out of this rtionship, and it doesn''t matter if our idea of love differs from the norm as long as we''refortable with it." He fixed me with an uncertain look before adding, "So, I guess what matters is that we''re happy together, right?"


    I nodded in confirmation. "That''s


    right. For a couple to work out in the


    long run, they must know each


    other''s needs and wants. All that matters is that your significant other can fulfill your emotional needs."


    Upon hearing this, Zane cupped my face and kissed me. My eyes fluttered close as I melted into the kiss. When it ended, I patted his back gently and said, "We still have guests downstairs." He held my hand and said, "Let''s head downstairs."


    Zachary sat in the car as it idled across the street from the vi. He told Portia earlier that he would be studying in the library and wouldn''t be home as early. Portia did not object to this.


    ...


    He turned and stared at the well-lit


    vi across the street. He could


    already picture the cozy scene beyond the windows. It was probably the same scene he had seen every day before he broke Annalise''s heart.


    Annalise would cook him a hot and tasty dinner each evening. She would sit with him and watch him eat, her hands cupping her face as she praised him for his appetite.


    As the memory flickered across his mind, Zachary wondered how he had let Steven talk him into antagonizing Annalise.


    Just then, the front door of the vi


    opened. Several silhouettes


    appeared on the doorstep. Zachary watched as a man and a woman got into the car with a little kid in tow, while another three figures stood by the door.


    Zachary stared at Annalise, and he could see her expression under the bright light. She looked... happy.

 Chapter 509

    No longer were Annalise''s eyes filled with sadness. Instead, she was smiling more than before. Zachary''s lips curled into a wistful smile as he called out softly, "Mommy..." However, Annalise turned away from his direction and entered the vi. Only then did Zachary withdraw his gaze and say to the driver, "Let''s go." "Very well," the driver replied.


    ...


    Willow held my hand as we returned to the living room. She was skipping as she asked without looking at me, "Can you sleep with me tonight, Mommy?"


    I thought about what Penelope said earlier and figured this was a good opportunity for me to talk to Willow about the bullying incident. As such, I obliged her. "Okay."


    Zane slowed in his steps, and there was a trace of jealousy in his usually indifferent tone as he asked, "What about me?"


    Willow stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him in puzzlement. "You want to bunk in with us, too, Daddy?"


    Zane said nothing. Willow was five years old, the perfect age for her to get used to sleeping alone. If he bunked in with her and Annalise, he would risk enabling her codependency; if he refused, he would miss the chance to talk to Annalise before bed. He was still caught in a dilemma when Willow spared him from having to make a decision. "But my bed''s too small to fit another person, Daddy."


    Only then did Zane mutter in disappointment, "I see. Never mind, then."


    Willow happily led me to her bedroom. We had already showered, so shey on the bed and patted the space beside her. "Come here, Mommy!"


    I noted the expectant gleam in her eyes andy next to her. "All right, what did you want to talk to me about?" I asked casually.


    She flipped on her side and


    stretched her arm over my


    midsection, putting her leg over mine as if it were the most natural thing to do. "For some reason, seeing you and Daddy get along so well makes me a little uneasy. But deep down, I want you and Daddy to be happy together.


    "I don''t know why I feel this way. I was hoping that if I asked you about it, you might give me an answer."


    I thought she would tell me about the bullying incident in kindergarten, and I even prepared a script in case she brought it up. However, I never expected her to ask me about something else.


    I patted her back gently and said, "Maybe it''s because you think we belong to you and nobody else before we started going out."


    Willow frowned as she considered


    this. I added, "But after we got


    together, you felt like we were giving


    each other the attention we used to give you. Perhaps you were worried


    that we wouldn''t have tried


    for you."


    Upon hearing this, Willow nodded earnestly. "Yes, that''s it!"


    A lighthearted chuckle escaped me. "Regardless of what happens between me and your father, you must understand that we both love you very much. Can you feel it?"


    "Yes!" she answered without


    hesitation, her tone firm and full of


    conviction. She cracked a sheepish


    smile after that. "I guess it''s true when they say we should ask grown-ups for help when we have problems. I''d probably still be upset


    over this if I kept this to myself."


    I stroked her hair and said, "You can talk to me about anything. I''ll tell you whatever you need to know to get through troubled times, okay?"


    "Okay," Willow said solemnly. A beatter, she added, "But I''m not in any trouble now."


    Upon realizing she did not n to tell me about the bullying incident at school, I decided to bring it up. "But I heard from your teacher that you were getting picked on at school. Is that true?" Willow did not answer me immediately. Instead, she said bluntly, "I don''t think a teacher told you that."

 Chapter 510

    I was stumped by Willow''s bluntness. She continued, "I''m guessing Penelope told you about it?"


    I did not deny it. "Yes."


    "The bullying did happen," Willow confessed now that she knew I had heard about it. "But I''ve grown stronger since I started training and stopped caring about what others say about me.


    "If they tease me, I tease them right back. If they call me names, I''ll do the same to them. Plus, I don''t think they can beat me in a fight."


    She sounded pleased with herself, adding, "I handled the matter on my own, so I didn''t feel the need to bring it up to you, Mommy." For good measure, she rified, "But I promise I wasn''t trying to keep it a secret from you." "I''m so proud of you, Willow," I said as I pulled her into my arms. "You handled the bullying splendidly despite your young age."


    She gave me a shy smile.


    I asked, "Are you angry with Penelope for telling me about the bullying incident?"


    Willow shook her head as she said, "No. I''d do the same thing if she got picked on because we''re friends who look out for each other."


    Other children might be upset if they found out their friends had ratted them out to their parents, but Willow was different. She was mature enough to see things from Penelope''s perspective.


    I cupped her cheeks and kissed her forehead. "You''re so grown-up, Willow."


    Willow blushed as she asked, "You think so?"


    "Yeah," I murmured with a smallugh.


    She beamed. We chatted for a while longer, but she must have tired out, for she stopped responding to me at some point. I stared at her sleeping profile, my gaze trailing over her features.


    en


    Her face hadn''t changed much since we first met, but her demeanor was the opposite. She used to be a loner who refused to speak to anyone and tended to be a little awkward.


    It hadn''t been that long since our first meeting, yet she had be a confident little girl whose smile could light up the room.


    I was suddenly grateful to have a daughter like her.


    ...


    Zane stood outside the study and stared longingly at Willow''s bedroom door, mildly exasperated.


    Annalise would not be leaving Willow''s room that night, yet he found himself wishing she would and join him for ate-night chat. He was even jealous of the little gid for upying Annalise''s attention!


    He chided himself for being so childish.


    There was a time when he didn''t mind being away from her for


    several days in a row, but that was before they started going out. Now that they were dating, he grew uneasy not having her by his side for even one night.


    But Annalise would be autographing her newics tomorrow. They wouldn''t see each other for a whole day, and the thought alone made him feel forlorn. Zane could only pray that he was busy enough tomorrow to keep his mind off Annalise.


    He turned and headed into his bedroom, wondering if this was what love was like.

 Chapter 511

    Zane''s phone rang the moment the bedroom door clicked shut. He nced at the screen to find Steven calling. He stayed expressionless as he answered, "What do you need?" "Put Annalise on the phone. I need to talk to her." Steven sounded in a hurry.


    "She''s in the middle of putting Willow to bed. I doubt she has time to talk now," Zane replied tly.


    Steven was amused. "If you love Annalise so much, why leave her to handle everything? Look at me I don''t love Jessica, but I''ve got people at her beck and call. Your love for Annalise doesn''t seem all that deep." His voice was thick with sarcasm. Zane could hear the mockery, but he didn''t feel the need to take the bait.


    "Didn''t you know that Anna loves kids?" Zane asked. "She only starts her part-time job once Willow heads off to school. But as soon as Willow''s home, Anna''s all about spending time with her." Steven''s expression soured instantly.


    Zane continued, "It''s exactly because she cares so much about kids that she swallowed her pride when you and Jessica were making things miserable. She chose to bear with it, even when you gave her every reason to walk away.


    2V


    "She kept at it until you took Zachary and began cozying up to Jessica. You even caused her to lose the baby she was carrying. Otherwise, she would have put up with you for Zachary''s sake." The words cut into Steven like a knife to the heart, and he muttered, "That''s all in the past."


    "Just like the way things are now,"


    Zane said, slowing down his tone. "Anna earns far more from her


    yet she still prefers to spend time


    with Willow. Why do you think that


    is?


    At first, Annalise might have taken the job for the money, but after spending time with Willow, she had clearly grown attached to Willow. She now considered Willow as her daughter.


    Steven, however, remained defiant. "She''d do the same if it were anyone else''s child."


    In other words, Willow wasn''t anything special.


    Zane thought Steven was


    unreasonable, but he didn''t call him out. Instead, he asked, "Is that how you see it? But Steven, when Anna


    was together with you, you never


    bothered to pay her, never"


    you?

 Chapter 512

    If Steven had shown his willingness to spend on her, she probably wouldn''t havended in such a tough spot.


    "Anna only has one job when she''s at our ce-taking care of Willow-and I pay her 80 thousand dors a month," Zane said, stressing every word. "But when she was with you, she had to handle everything, didn''t she? So, how much were you paying her for that?" Steven bristled. "Does it actuallye down to money?"


    "Of course it does," Zane replied evenly. "When Anna was at your ce, she never asked for anything-not even money-and in the end, she walked away with nothing. As an adult, she''ll naturally turn her past mistakes into lessons.


    "She knows that putting everything in without expecting anything back doesn''t get her anywhere. That''s why, moving forward, she''ll make sure she gets properpensation for her efforts. How many people would offer her as much as I do?" After a moment of consideration, Steven had to admit that no one would pay her as much aside from Zane. The realization made him feel worse.


    Zane added confidently, "Which is why your im that she''d do the same for any other child doesn''t make sense. She''d onlye to my ce to be Willow''s mom."


    "You''re not the only man out there willing to spend money on a woman," Steven shot back without missing a beat. "Have you seen what I''ve spent on Jessica?" Zane didn''t argue. Instead, he calmly asked, "Then why didn''t you spend a cent on Anna when you were with her?"

 Chapter 513

    Zane took his chance, adding, "If you had shown a little more kindness and put more effort into making Anna feel loved, she wouldn''t have walked away. You wouldn''t be drowning in regret and bitterness now."


    Steven was left speechless.


    Steven felt a crushing weight in his chest. He wanted to argue, to im that Zane was wrong, but something inside him whispered that Zane''s words were spot on.


    Annalise had been disappointed in Steven. But if he had just shown a hint of decency and made a real effort for her, she might have reconsidered, especially for Zachary''s sake.


    She would have endured the situation to give Zachary a stable, full childhood.


    Steven pursed his lips, unable to find the words.


    Zane''s voice was measured as he spoke again. "We''ve got little inmon when ites to anything outside of work. Why don''t you call back tomorrow morning? Oro"


    en


    "Oh?" Steven''s interest piqued instantly.


    "You can just tell me now," Zane said, his tone all business. "I''ll pass it on to her."


    Steven''s fleeting hope quickly turned to disappointment. "I''d rather do I''ll reach out to her


    BS."


    After reflecting on the psychiatrist''s advice, he finally realized where he had gone wrong and decided to


    offera genuine apology to Annalise.


    Upon sensing that Steven had no intention of saying more, Zane didn''t press further and simply ended the call.

 Chapter 514

    Jessica felt irritable, though she couldn''t pin down why. She had long stopped taking Casper seriously. To her, he was just someone to keep around and entertain when convenient. She knew he still harbored feelings for her and was willing to do anything for her. However, Casper rejected her today, which bothered her more than she expected. After some time, Jessica finally managed to calm herself down. She had no intention of reaching out to Casper again or wasting any more of her energy on him. Instead, she texted Zane. "Why are you so head over heels for Annalise?"


    Even though Casper had given up on Jessica, he couldn''t shake the lingering feelings for her. The difference in how she treated him versus Zane struck him sharply, and it hurt.


    His fingers hovered over the keys for what felt like ages, typing and deleting messages without sending any.


    With no replying through, Jessica sent another message. "You two haven''t known each other for long, right?"


    Casper wondered how Zane would react to that. After considering it for a moment, he responded from his own point of view. "Does it really matter? Does loving someone need a reason?"  en


    "Of course it does," Jessica replied almost immediately.


    "But I don''t see it that way." Casper typed carefully. "As long as we''re right for each other, that''s all that matters."


    Jessica''s irritation only deepened as she stared at his response. Why were all these sessful, attractive, wealthy men so obsessed with


    Annatise? Was she really that enchanting?


    Not daring to ask directly, she tried-a different approach. "But you''ve never been with anyone else, right? How can you be so sure Annalise is the one?"


    AUMS


    Casper''s eyes stayed locked on the screen. So, this was Jessica when she actually liked a guy-no sense of boundaries or decency.

 Chapter 515

    Even if someone were already taken and had made it clear to Jessica that he wasn''t interested, she''d still make advances. Casper forced a bitter smile. Ironically, he was always the one who made the first move in his rtionship with Jessica.


    He took a deep breath and sent a message. "Do you know why I haven''t been with anyone else?"


    "Oh?" Jessica''s response came instantly.


    "I''m surrounded by all sorts of women-smart, pure, stunning, delicate. But even after meeting so many, I''ve never felt the urge to fall in love, not even with you." Casper typed out his words carefully. Jessica felt a sharp pain in her chest as she read the message. What was it that Annalise had that she didn''t?


    Casper continued, "But when I''m with Anna, I feel like spending my life with her would bring me happiness."


    Every word he typed was infused with his deep affection for Annalise.


    Jessica quickly understood that asking more questions wouldn''t get her anywhere. She turned off her phone and stopped texting Zane.


    She couldn''t understand why the men interested in her never seemed to measure up. The ones with any real potential always ended up falling for Annalise. What was it about Annalise that she wascking?


    Chloe had tried to use Rowena to her advantage, but Rowena had turned the situation on her head.


    The inte was buzzing with news about Chloe, and everyone was tearing her apart. She seethed with rage and exhaled sharply in frustration.


    She couldn''t get back at Rowena or win against Annalise in an argument. They weren''t the right people to take revenge on, but there was still one easy target she could go after-Zachary.


    He was just a clueless five-year-old. If Chloe took out her frustration on him, he''d have no choice but to ept it. That idea brought her a twisted sense of relief.


    She ordered her driver to take her to Zachary''s ce and arrived right when he returned home.


    "Stop there, Zachary!" Chloe shouted.


    Zachary turned around and looked at her. "Do you need something, Grandma?"


    "Since when do I need a reason to see you?" Chloe retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You''re still in kindergarten, yet you''re already acting above everyone else."


    Zachary could tell she was trying to start something, but he couldn''t care less. She had burned all her bridges with him, and it was clear she wasn''t looking for peace, so there was no point in being polite.


    Portia heard the knock at the door and quickly went to open it.


    Chloe''s expression darkened further. "What''s wrong with you, Zachary? Now you can''t even be bothered to answer when I speak?"


    Zachary looked at her with a nk stare from the doorway. "If you''re talking to me in a normal way, I''m all for it. But have you taken a look at yourself? You''re clearly here to start trouble, aren''t you?"


    "Oh? So I''m the one starting trouble?" Chloe shot back, her anger rising. "Maybe you should think about whether your attitude"


    "Chloe!" Portia interrupted her. The


    more she listened, the more she could tell something was off with Chloe. "Did you get pushed around somewhere else, and now you''re trying to take it out on Zachary? You''ve got some nerve!"


    Chloe didn''t notice Portia until now. She had no intention of responding to her question. Instead, she scowled at Zachary. "When did you bring this old hag here?" "She''s not an old hag. She''s my grandma," Zachary replied calmly.


    Chloe raised her voice. "I''ve told you before-her whole family are nothing but leeches. Once they get a hold of us, they''ll never let go! And you¡ª"


    "Grandma Chloe, have you forgotten?" Zachary cut her off, his expression unfazed. "You and I aren''t family anymore."

 Chapter 516

    Chloe stood frozen in ce.


    Zachary added, "Right now, you, Daddy, and Ms. Jessie make up a family, got it? As for me, I''m free to decide who I want to be with. That''s my choice. It has nothing to do with you, so you don''t get to meddle. And about this whole ''leech'' thing..." His tone sharpened. "Grandma Portia is awesome. She doesn''t ask me for money. She even makes her own and shares it with me. She''s nothing like what you''re making her out to be. So please stop trying to stir up trouble between us." Chloe could barely believe what she was hearing.


    Portia''s anger red. "I''ve always wondered why Zachary started drifting away from me. Now I see it''s because of you, stirring the pot behind our backs, you old hag!"


    She marched up to Chloe. "If you ever run your mouth in front of Zachary again, I''ll make you regret it!"


    Chloe red at her. "Am I wrong? You and Annalise are broke and leeching off Steven!"


    Annalise had done so much for Steven, yet no one seemed to appreciate her sacrifices as his wife. Portia didn''t know exactly how to respond.


    "Steven was nothing but a broke guy when Anna was with him," Portia said. "His ex dumped him, but Anna never judged him. Now that he''s gotten a taste of sess, he looks down on her?"


    She just couldn''t understand how Chloe could be so shameless.


    "Why shouldn''t he look down on her?" Chloe shot back.


    "Yeah, why shouldn''t he, right?" Portia sneered, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "And now Anna''s divorced him, just like you wanted. You must be so thrilled about that, right?"


    Chloe fell silent.


    "You already abandoned Zachary, didn''t you?" Portia questioned. "So what are you doing here today? Just taking out your frustrations on him? Well, I''m telling you, you''ll never get to pick on him as long as I''m around." "You''re sticking by Zachary because you want Steven''s money, aren''t you?" Chloe shot back.


    "Hasn''t Steven told you?" Portia


    sized Chloe up in disgust. "He hasn''t been paying child support for Zachary for ages. We take care of all our expenses on our own and never touch his money."


    "No way!" Chloe refused to believe it.


    Portia crossed her arms and blocked the doorway. "If you don''t believe me, call him and find out for yourself."


    Chloe hesitated for a moment before dialing Steven''s number.


    He picked up and casually asked, "What''s up, Mom?"


    "You''re not paying for Zachary''s living expenses anymore?" Chloe asked.


    "Nope," Steven said without hesitation. "Why?"


    Chloe couldn''t believe her ears. "You''ve got to be joking."


    "Didn''t you tell me to cut him off and stop taking care of him?" Steven sounded confused.


    Chloe was left speechless. She hung up, looking like she had more to say, but she couldn''t find the words.


    Portia cut to the chase. "Well? Are you convinced now?"


    Chloe remained silent, staring at her.


    Portia scoffed. "You and Steven are both cold-hearted. The moment Jessica got pregnant with Steven''s child he stopped caring about


    content belongs to


    Zachary.


    "Now you''re bringing your frustrations from the outside and taking them out on Zachary. He''s just a kid and hasn''t done anything wrong. Why should he bear your anger?"


    "Because I''m his grandma!" Chloe snapped without thinking.

 Chapter 517

    "You think you still deserve to be his grandma?" Portia retorted instantly. "Let me make this clear-Zachary is done with the Pelhams. If you evere after him again, you''ll regret it!"


    She guided Zachary into the living room and mmed the door shut.


    "How dare you say that to me?" Chloe snarled from the other side.


    Portia flung the door open again and snapped, "And what''s the problem with that?"


    "I''m only upset because of Annalise!" Chloe seethed at Portia. "She and Steven are already divorced, but she''s still butting into Jessica''s life, pushing her around. I stood up for Jessica, and Annalise had the nerve to call the police on me!" Portiaughed. "Well, if the police took you away, that only means Anna was in the right. And you''re still iming she''s pushing Jessica around?"


    She sneered and snapped, "You and Jessica really need to take a good look at yourselves! You''re an insufferable old hag, and Jessica''s nothing but a homewrecker!


    "After Anna broke things off with Steven, she was done with all of you. But you two started trouble, so of course, she''s defending herself! Do you think you can just walk all over her?"


    Portia''s fury grew with every word she spoke. Annalise had never said a thing about how badly the Pelhams treated her, and only now did Portia see how far they had pushed her. Portia wasn''t one to back down. She stormed toward the door. "The Pelhams are all rotten, and you''re still trying to make life harder for Annalise! I''ll beat you senseless!"


    Realizing Portia wasn''t joking, Chloe dashed away. "You insane old hag!"


    Portia picked up the pace, shouting, "Stop right there!"


    Chloe rushed into the elevator, desperately pressing the close door button.


    Realizing there was no catching her, Portia growled, "You''d better stay away, or next time, I''ll teach you a lesson you won''t forget!"


    Chloe finally breathed a sigh of relief when she was sure she''d escaped.


    "That whole family''s insane!" she muttered irritably.


    Only after Chloe fled into the


    elevator did Portia turn around. She


    spotted Zachary a little distance


    away and suddenly felt concerned


    that she might have


    him.


    Her mind raced for the right words.


    Before she could speak, Zachary smiled and said, "You''re the best, Grandma."


    "You''re not afraid of me?" Portia asked.


    "Of course not." Zachary walked over joyfully and took her hand. "I''m happy that you''re looking out for me. Why would I be scared?" Portia hadn''t expected Zachary to be so thoughtful. Delight filled her eyes.


    "That''s good to hear," she said.


    She held his hand and led him into the living room, saying, "You must be worn out from all that studying. I''ve kept the food warm for you. Let''s eat together."


    Zachary hadn''t expected Portia to be waiting for him so they could share a meal Seeing the table set with dishes overwhelmed him, and tears began to fall.


    Portia crouched beside him, wiping them away. "Why are you crying, sweetheart? Have you already eaten somewhere else?" Zachary shook his head, choking on his words. "I just thought you might''ve already eaten..."


    "Oh, you silly thing," Portia said lovingly. "That''s not something to cry about."


    "Yeah, but it''s been so long since anyone cared to wait for me," Zachary whispered.


    Portia picked him up and helped him settle at the table. "Well then, let''s eat together, okay?"

 Chapter 518

    "Okay," Zachary replied.


    He picked up his utensils and ate intently.


    Portia smiled fondly, adding more food to his te.


    Zachary nced at her, Harry, and Hannah, and a profound sense of gratitude filled him. He realized there were still people who cared for him. He lowered his gaze and continued eating quietly.


    ...


    Willow woke up in the morning and saw Annalise lying next to her. A serene smile spread across her face. She lifted her chubby hand and gently traced Annalise''s eyebrows, her eyes, and the bridge of her nose.


    She couldn''t help but giggle. So this was what it felt like to have a mother. The thought of being able to look at Annalise whenever she wanted made her heart swell with warmth and joy.


    Willow didn''t bother getting dressed. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Annalise as she savored the rare moment they had to themselves.


    I opened my eyes and saw Willow lying on her side, watching me intently.


    "You''re awake?" I asked.


    "Yup," Willow said with a wide, toothy grin.


    I cupped her face and kissed her good morning. She kissed my cheek in return and hugged me.


    After a while, she slowly pulled away and said, "I have to get up now, Mommy."


    There was a gentle whine in her voice, but it was sweet.


    I rubbed her cheek affectionately. "Go ahead."


    Willow got up, quietly slid on her little slippers, and headed to the bathroom, ncing back at me every few steps.


    I watched her. She was still so young yet already so independent-waking up, washing up, brushing her teeth, all without help.


    A flood of emotions washed over


    me. It hadn''t been long, but she was


    already so self-reliant. Part of me felt


    a swell of pride as I watched her grow, but another part of me


    verne


    swnov


    couldn''t help but feel a little sad.


    I knew she would continue to grow, and one day, she''d venture out to carve her path, leaving me behind.


    I kept the sense of loss to myself, then got up and said, "I''m going to freshen up, too."


    Willow poked her head out of the bathroom, her eyes twinkling joyfully. "I''ll see you downstairs!"


    "Okay," I responded gently.


    Willow was full of insecurities when I first got here. She followed me around, afraid I''d sneak off without a word.


    By now, after spending so much


    time together, we had developed a good amount of trust. She knew I loved her and wouldn''t leave her, so she wasn''t scared anymore whenever I needed to step away.


    ve


    I left her room with a smile, carefully closing the door behind me. I looked up and saw Zane standing across from me, his expression somewhat forlorn. "You''re really heartless," he said.


    "Huh?" I was puzzled.


    "Every time after you''d tuck Willow in, you''de and talk to me," Zane exined, falling into step with me. "Butdast night, I waited forever, and you never came."


    I was amused. "Are you seriously jealous of Willow?"

 Chapter 519

    Zane didn''t exactly answer me. He turned away, sounding somewhat uneasy. "I guess I''ve just gotten used to having time to ourselves every day. So it feels strange not being able to be with you alone." I took his hand and teased, "Well, if Willow wants me to sleep in her room next time, I''ll tell her no and spend that time with you instead. How''s that?"


    Zane''s eyes brightened with hope, and suddenly, I felt a pang of unease.


    He paused for a beat, then shook his head. "No, I''m good with it. Anna, just knowing I still have a spot in your heart is all I need."


    "Don''t worry, Zane," I said, smiling as I turned to face him. "As long as you stay true to me, I''ll always hold you close in my heart."


    Zane pulled me into his arms. "I''m not some fool like Steven. You can trust me. I''ll never betray you and will always treat you right."


    I hugged him back, holding him for a few moments before letting go and heading back to my room to freshen up. Once I was done, I joined Zane and Willow downstairs.


    Willow, who used to struggle to catch her breath after a short sprint, was now effortlessly leading the way, easing through the mile.


    I jogged behind her, the sunlight casting a warm glow on her. She shed me a wide grin, and I couldn''t help but feel a swell of pride at how much she''d grown. After our run, I jumped in the shower and made myselffortable in the living room.


    Milton served Willow a bowl of chicken noodle soup, his tone casual as he said, "We''re nning to take Willow and her friend out this weekend for a little fun."


    I turned to Willow. "Do you want to go?"


    She gave an excited nod. "Yes!"


    "Okay, go ahead," I said before ncing at Milton. "Do you think I shoulde with you? Taking two kids out might be a lot to handle."


    I was concerned it might be too much for him, given his age.


    Milton shook his head. But before he could respond, Willow said, "It''s okay, Mommy. You should stay home and get some good rest."


    With a maturity beyond her years, she held my hand and continued, "You''ve been through a lot recently both physically and emotionally, so you need time to recharge. And don''t worry about Grandma and Grandpa."


    §Ó§Ý§ñ


    She looked up at me with a serious expression. "Penelope and I will make sure not to tire them out while we''re having fun!"


    I shot a concerned look at Milton.


    "Don''t worry, we''ll be fine," he said.


    "We''ll just think of it as a little workout," Dorothy chimed in.


    "Alright," I said, ncing over at Zane.


    He held my hand beneath the table and quipped, "Seems like Willow''s growing up. She knows when to step back and give us some time to ourselves." I tapped his hand, signaling him to tone it down.


    Zane''s eyes crinkled into a smile, and he nodded in response. "Let''s dig in."


    Jessica rose early, having breakfast with Cody before sending him off to schook with the help of a driver After he left, she was left alone in the house.


    She curled up on the couch, deep in thought. How could she ruin Annalise''s reputation when Casper refused to help? Her mind raced, and a n soon began to take shape.


    She stepped toward the floor-to-ceiling window and made a call. "I need someone kept under surveince."


    "Who?"


    "Annalise Jamison," Jessica said, carefully enunciating each word.

 Chapter 520

    "Why would you want me to keep an eye on Annalise?" the voice on the other end asked, sounding confused. "You don''t need to know why," Jessica replied, her gaze drifting to the bnce in her mobile banking app.


    She almost forgot how much money she had now. If she was willing to pay, she could make anything happen, couldn''t she?


    "Just let me know when she''s alone," Jessica instructed. "Then your job will be done."


    The person was curious but chose not to push further. "Got it."


    ...


    Steven jolted awake to the sound of his phone ringing. Since he''d figured out what the psychiatrist was trying to tell him, he''d wanted to talk to Annalise but never found the right moment. Assuming it was Zane, he quickly sat up and picked up the call. "Hello?"


    "Didn''t you ask me to dig into Zane''s first love?"


    "Oh?" Steven immediately felt disappointed when he realized it wasn''t Zane, but the mention of his first love sparked his interest.


    "I''ve found something really important," the voice on the other end said, sounding smug.


    Steven wasn''t in the mood for vague teasers. "Just tell me already!"


    The person wasted no time. "Word is, the woman Zane has feelings for is someone from his middle school days. She was smart and always at the top of her school.


    "Back then, Zane wasn''t really focused on his studies because he was too busy with his side hustles. But he was pretty arrogant, thinking he should always be the top student.


    "He felt disappointed when he failed


    to outshine her, even after pouring all his leftover energy into his studies, especially because everyone called her a ''bookworm.'' If she''s just a bookworm, then what does that make everyone else who can''t surpass her?


    "Zane wasn''t having it, so he asked her how she managed to get such good grades. She said it was simple and even taught him her methods Later, he found out she was studying to build a reputation so those wealthy ssmates would


    notice her and hire her aKould


    tutor."


    Steven was amused. "So, that''s how Zane ended up interested in her?"


    "Yeah, pretty much," the informant responded.


    To Steven, that seemed more like a sign that Zane might''ve had a crush on her, but it didn''t necessarily mean he was in love with her.


    "So, what happened after that?" he asked.


    "I haven''t found that part out yet," the caller said.


    "That''s fine for now," Steven said, sounding content. "Keep looking into it. If youe across something that really impresses me, I''ll make sure you''re well rewarded." The caller''s voice brightened with enthusiasm. "I''ll keep digging!"


    ...


    After breakfast, Zane and I took


    Willow to school together. This time, things were a little different. I had to head to the printing factoryter, so we took two cars, with the driver following behind.


    Once we arrived, we watched Willow and her friend walk hand in hand into the kindergarten. Afterward, I climbed into the driver''s car and said, "Let''s go."

 Chapter 521

    The driver stole a nce at Zane, who was staring intently at Annalise. A grin spread across his face.


    He looked away and said, "Alright."


    ...


    By the time we arrived at the printing factory, the publisher''s staff were already waiting at the entrance. They quickly led us to a small room nearby as soon as they saw us.


    The room was packed with books, most of them already opened to the title page to make it easier for me to sign. I sat down at the desk with a deep breath and started carefully signing my pen name. The moment I finished a book, someone would whisk it away and ce a new one in front of me. I looked at them in surprise.


    They stared at me, puzzled. "Why have you stopped signing?"


    "This is the first time I''ve ever experienced something like this," I remarked.


    Everything had been so perfectly arranged that all I needed to do was sign, and my heart swelled with a deep sense of appreciation. "I''m not quite used to it yet," I added.


    The publisher''s staff didn''t seem bothered. "We''ve got a lot of books to get through today, and it''d take you forever to do it alone."


    Another staff member chimed in, "Exactly. Thest two years have been rough for the market. We honestly thought our publisher might not survive this year.


    "We never imagined youric would make such a ssh! It''s sold hundreds of thousands of copies in just a few days! Thanks to you, ourpany''s going to make it!"


    Having been a stay-at-home mother for so long, I never realized how much of an impact I could have on others.


    "That''s amazing," " I said.


    "It really is," they answered in unison.


    I continued signing. Each time I finished one book, it was swiftly reced by another.


    The more they chattered, the lighter my mood became. Even though the room was filled to the brim with books, it didn''t feel as daunting anymore.


    I sped up as I signed, and soon enough, we fell into a steady rhythm. By the end, my hand was sore, and they both seemed just as drained.


    "Why don''t we take a break?" I suggested.


    They both nced at the clock.


    "It''s already noon. How about we grab lunch?"


    "Perfect!"


    They nned to grab takeout, hoping to wrap up the signing quickly and have some free time afterward. I couldn''t help but smile at theinenthusiasm, thinking how wonderful it was to be young


    "I''ve got lunch covered."


    I looked up at the sound of that familiar voice and saw Zane approaching with an insted container. I got up right away and walked toward him. "What brings you here?" I asked.


    Zane ran his fingers through my hair


    with affection. "I figured you might not be too keen on the food here, so I went to your favorite ce and picked up lunch for you. See f it''s something you''ll enjoy."


    Since we started dating, I had always felt his deep care for me. He''d notice the little things I missed and handle them for me.


    Feeling thankful, I epted the food and said, "Thanks."


    "Don''t mention it," Zane replied.


    He walked to his car, grabbed two


    more takeout bags, and passed


    them to the staff. "I wasn''t sure what


    to get


    so I went with the house


    specialties. I hope they''re to your taste."


    The staff stared at him in surprise. "You brought us lunch as well?"


    "Of course," Zane answered.


    He sat beside me and whispered, "It feels off without you at the office."


    I turned to him. "Huh?"

 Chapter 522

    In case someone else was listening, Zane whispered, "I just wanted to apany you, even if it''s only a few minutes."


    I hadn''t expected Zane to be so clingy. I gently patted his arm and asked, "Have you eaten?"


    Zane paused upon hearing that.


    I handed him my utensils and said, "Have some. You shouldn''t starve."


    "Okay."


    Zane forgot that he hadn''t eaten, so he only brought a set of utensils. I would take a few bites and then hand him my utensils for him to eat. After a while, we finished the food.


    Zane put away the container. Then, he gently massaged my hand.


    "Your hand must be tired after signing autographs all morning," he said.


    If it were when I still hadn''t gotten divorced or if Steven were asking me that question, I would say that I wasn''t tired. That was because I knew that even if I said I was tired, Steven wouldn''t empathize with me. But right now, it was Zane that I was speaking to.


    Gazing at Zane, I decided not to lie. Instead, I said honestly, "Yeah, my hand is so sore."


    Zane gazed at me with concern and said, "I initially thought that if I were around, you wouldn''t have to work so hard."


    Surprised, I gazed back at Zane.


    Zane gently caressed my cheek and said, "But when I think about it, I know that doing these things will make you feel more aplished. So, I decided to respect your decision. Anna, what do you think about it?"


    I decided to share my true thoughts with him, seeing how genuine Zane was. I said, "Actually, I quite enjoy my current situation. I may be busy, but it also means I am rewarded for my hard work. That gives me satisfaction and joy. But above all, I''m d you''re willing to respect me."


    Zane chuckled and said, "If I were to force you to be a housewife, doing nothing but living a carefree life, you might just break up with me."


    Not denying his concern, I said,


    "That''s about right. Ever since I met


    you, I''ve gotten used to being independent. I feel like a free bird earning a living for myself. Because of that, I don''t want to return to


    I


    where I have to ask for things."


    a life


    Promises made before actually getting into a rtionship-like "I''ll take care of you"-eventually became meaningless over time. Before a rtionship became sour over money, and eventually leading to mutual resentment and separation... It would be better to earn some money like what I am doing now. Even if we were to break up, I would still have a means of survival.


    Zane chuckled and said, "You''re right."


    I stole nces at Zane as I leaned on his shoulder. He wasn''t angered by my words. That got me thinking about when I was with Steven.


    In the beginning, Steven didn''t have much money, and I developed the habit of being frugal. Later, he gradually became richer, and we had a child of our own. With the child, our living expenses increased, and I requested more allowance. Yet, Steven would yell at me, using me of spendingvishly as soon as our family''s financial situation improved.


    At that time, I realized how difficult it


    was to survive on having to request


    ??


    money from my husband. And so, k suggested to work part-time and earn my own money. Yet, Steven became even angrier. He used me of using that to force him topromise. Then, he would m the door and leave.


    In the end, I had to figure out ways to earn money on my own.


    I lowered my gaze.

 Chapter 523

    Afterparing my situation with the past, I couldn''t help but smile.


    It was no surprise that people were different from one another.


    When I cared for Willow for Zane, I didn''t have to spend extra money on her. Every month, Zane would pay me a hefty sry, too. A month''s sry from Zane was more than the two years'' worth of allowance that Steven gave me.


    Even then, Zane was worried that I wouldn''t have sufficient ie, and he introduced me to other part-time jobs.


    Given the circumstances, I would still choose to live with Zane even if he and I were just in a regr working rtionship and weren''t dating.


    When I didn''t know what was good and bad, I would havepromised and forced myself to endure it. It was because I was afraid I might be unable to find a better alternative after leaving. But after knowing what it was like to live a good life, I never wanted to go back to my horrible past again.


    Zane left reluctantly after receiving a series of calls from work. Meanwhile, I returned to my room and continued with my autographs. I became more adept at signing autographs after signing so many of them. I was quick, and the autograph looked good. When I looked at my own autograph, I couldn''t help but be amazed at how the autographs were so nicely signed.


    After tirelessly signing autographs, my hand became tired. But I chose to endure it because I wanted to finish signing all the autographs sooner.


    When the employee from the publishingpany noticed that I was slowing down, he asked, "Would you like to rest?"


    "It''s okay, I can do it!" I said with a smile.


    I quickly exercised my wrists, and then returned to signing autographs when my hands felt better.


    Another employee eximed, "You''re so pretty and have a rich boyfriend, but you''re still working so hard! I really admire you."


    The employee had tasted the food Zane brought with him for lunch. It was much more delicious than what she had eaten at restaurants elsewhere!


    I chuckled and asked, "But only the money you earn is yours, isn''t that right?"


    The two paused. Then, they said, "You''re right."


    ...


    Soon after Zane returned to the office, Casper came to visit.


    Yvonne hid in a corner and watched Casper enter Zane''s office. After a long time, Casper still hadn''t left." Then, Yvonne sneaked to her office and called Jessica.


    Surprised by the call, Jessica asked, "What brings you to call me?"


    "I have something very serious to tell you," Yvonne said solemnly.


    Confused, Jessica asked, "What?"


    With a serious tone, Yvonne said, "You''re ex-husband, Casper is here in Zane''s office. Did he tell you


    anything about it? Is het


    his business?"


    However, Jessica rarely contacted Casper, so she didn''t know what was happening.


    Yvonne eximed, "I used to think you were wasting your time with him, but I finally see how smart you are! It''s no surprise that rich kids like them can rebuild their businesses like a piece of cake."


    As Jessica listened, her expression gradually darkened. She replied, "I have bad news."


    Yvonne asked, "What?"


    After taking a deep breath, Jessica said, "A few days ago, I cut ties with Casper."


    "That''s not a big deal! Everybody knows Casper will run to you like a little puppy," Yvonne said nonchntly.


    Yvonne continued, "If you''re willing to sweet-talk him, he wille running to you without hesitation, loving and doting on you."


    Hearing that, Jessica rubbed her brows and said, "I hope so."


    At that time, Jessica thought Casper was utterly useless, so she was harsh with him.

 Chapter 524

    Casper had his temper and pride. Even though Casper loved her, Jessica had a feeling that Casper might not forgive her. After hanging up on the call, Jessica walked to the window and gazed at the tree. She couldn''t stop thinking about Casper.


    Among all the men Jessica had encountered, if anyone had developed real feelings for her, it would only have been Casper. Because of that, Jessica was confident that even if she chose another man, Casper would return to her if she sweet-talked Casper nicely. That was why Jessica was willing to spend time talking to Casper.


    Jessica sat on a chair and lightly massaged her brows. She had made up her mind to keep Casper around as her backup n, but she didn''t know why she impulsively said so many things to him recently. Jessica wasn''t sure what it would take for Casper to forgive her.


    ...


    After skimming through the document that Casper had given him, Zane asked inly, "Did you do all of this yourself?"


    Zane answered honestly, "Yes."


    "It''s too slow. This project must be done quickly to catch a foothold in the market," Zanemented.


    Zane continued, "If you can''tunch it within the shortest time possible, and if anyone else gets the same idea and starts doing the same thing... You will lose all your advantage. Do you understand?" Casper nodded and said, "I understand, but I don''t want to waste your money."


    Ever since Casper''s family went bankrupt, he was no longer the same spoiled rich kid. He learned how difficult it was to borrow money or to ask for investment funds Because of that, Casper wanted to help Zane save some money.


    Zane said emotionlessly, "I have a lot of money. If you want to rebuild your business, you must be more generous. Don''t be too stingy." Casper replied, "Got it."


    Zane hummed approvingly. Then, he


    pointed out potential threats that may arise in the project''s


    development. Casper took notes and made remarks in the proposal. He nned to make the amendments as soon as he got back.


    Satisfied with Casper''s attitude, Zane nodded. Then, Zane called the HR manager to his office.


    The HR manager arrived quickly and asked, "Mr. Huxham, do you need anything from me?"


    "Yes. This is Casper Gibson. He has a new project that requires some new hires," Zane said, introducing Casper to the HR manager.


    Zane continued, "You can discuss the requirements with him and assist with the recruitment."


    Hearing that, the HR manager smiled at Casper and asked, "May I know how many are you looking to hire? Also, what positions would you be hiring for?"


    Casper looked at Zane, who nodded


    at him in response. Then, Casper


    told the HR manager his


    requirements. After confirming the details with Casper, the HR manager


    said, will update you again


    "Sure."


    After agreeing on the details, the two bid their farewells to Zane. In response, Zane nodded and plopped back on his seat.


    But Zane thought that was insufficient to make Jessica anxious.

 Chapter 525

    Zane was determined to cause more trouble for Jessica. That way, she wouldn''t have time to disturb Annalise.


    Just then, somebody knocked on his office door.


    Zane said emotionlessly, "Come in."


    Sasha opened the door and cheerfully skipped into the room. When she saw Annalise wasn''t around, she asked, "Where''s Anna?"


    "She''s gone to sign autographs at the printing factory," Zane said honestly.


    Sasha grumbled, "Why didn''t you tell me sooner?"


    But Zane asked, "Would you have believed me if I did?"


    Sasha immediately shook her head and answered, "Of course not."


    Zane icily remarked, "Why bother, then?"


    Upon hearing that, Sasha thought Zane made sense, and she pouted.


    Zane asked, "What business do you have with her?"


    But Sasha didn''t want to tell Zane about it. She said, "I''ll talk to her when she returns."


    Then, Sasha walked out of the office. When she opened the door, she saw Eric outside. When Eric saw her, his eyes brightened up, too. He whispered, "Do you have any new gossip?" "Yes! I was just looking for someone to share it with," Sasha whispered.


    Eric responded, "Wait for me after work. Let''s find a nice ce to talk!"


    Eric was determined to get his hands on the freshest gossip in thepany!


    Sasha said excitedly, "Okay!"


    After confirming the ns with Sasha, Eric went into Zane''s office.


    Eric said, "You used to talk directly to me about recruits. Why didn''t you tell me about this today?"


    Zane replied, "You''re too busy."


    Not only was Eric in charge of


    Annalise''sics, but he also had plenty of misceneous work to handle. His work hours were filled with various tasks. Zane thought that since he could talk directly to the HR manager, he didn''t want to trouble Eric.


    Eric grumbled, "But it''s my job. If you do that, I''ll wonder if I was doing anything wrong."


    Zane hurriedly said reassuringly, "No, you''re doing a great job."


    Upon hearing that, Eric chuckled and said, "If that''s the case, next time, just tell me, and I''ll coordinate it. Okay?"


    Since Eric was willing to take on the responsibilities, Zane was happy to entrust it to Eric, too.


    "Sure!"


    After hearing a satisfactory reply, Eric began to report his work updates.


    "The foreign publishers havepleted their publishing procedures, but they''re thinking of publishing just one batch of books for now. They don''t have ns tounch the books for sale just yet."


    Having no prior knowledge about publishing, Zane asked curiously, "Do they have other ns?"


    Eric replied, "Yes. They''re thinking of producing a movie. When the movie is released globally, they willunch a series of merchandise. If theyunch the books at that time, the books will sell like hotcakes. But they''re asking if we''re interested in investing in the film."


    Eric thought it was a good idea. He remarked, "If the box office performs well, we''ll earn a lot from it, too."


    Zane silently pondered on it.


    After getting into this industry and receiving various intel, Eric realized it was a very profitable industry.


    Eric was left speechless. After a long time, Eric asked, "If that''s the case, instead of investing in the film, do you n to sell them the license and let them handle it themselves?"


    "But have you considered-if the box office flops..." Zane said, gazing at Eric.

 Chapter 526

    "That''s not my style," said Zane.


    Zane continued slowly, "If they''re asking for investments, there must be something more important in their n."


    Not knowing what he meant, Eric stared nkly at Zane. Eric asked, "What is that?"


    Zane smiled and said, "We must make sure that we have absolute control over the project. What if we give them the funds, but they make a terrible movie, iming that it was filmed ording to our requests, and then pocket all of our money? If the box office flops, we''ll suffer huge losses."


    Upon hearing Zane''s words, Eric finally realized the potential threat. With a darkened expression, Eric said, "I''m sorry, Mr. Huxham. I didn''t think too much into it."


    "That''s okay," Zane said nonchntly.


    Zane continued, "Since we have money, we can invest in the film. But we cannot let them take advantage of us. If we invest in it, we must have control over the contents of the film and how it should be produced. We can try toe to a mutual agreement with them. "The least we expect is for the movie to be enjoyable."


    Eric nodded and said, "Got it. I''ll discuss it with them immediately."


    "There''s no hurry. Listen up," Zane said, gesturing for Eric to wait.


    Confused, Eric asked, "Yes?"


    Zane continued to analyze. He said, "Firstly, a movie production takes about three months to a year before the film is officiallyunched."


    Eric couldn''t understand why Zane brought that up, but he continued to listen quietly.


    Zane continued, "If we want to maximize the movie''s value, we must get the animation team to adapt more of theics before the movie gets released."


    Upon hearing that, Eric could vaguely guess Zane''s intention. But instead of pointing it out, Zane continued to listen patiently.


    Zane carried on and said, "When the movie is released, people will look it up on the inte. When they realize that there is an animated series or aic series, they will watch or read it, right?"


    Eric gazed at Zane in surprise. Eric had never expected the project to develop in such ways.


    Zane continued, "The movie''s poprity will help increase the


    project''s overall poprity.


    formats of the project are not updated in time, the movie''s


    poprity would onlyst for a short while. It will only enjoy temporary sess.


    "What we need to do is to extend theic''s influence for as long as possible. That way, we and Anna will gain even more profit."


    After listening to Zane''s analysis,


    Eric realized how Zane had a bigger picture. He had just told Zane about a small part of the project, yet Zane had already thought of how he could


    gain more profit in the nov


    Eric silently reminded himself to learn more of Zane''s ways.


    "Okay, I understand now."


    With faith in Eric''s capabilities, Zane said, "Now, you can contact the publishers." "Got it."


    Ever since Chloe got home from visiting Zachary, she was so furious that she couldn''t sleep.


    Not only did Zachary not wee Chloe''s visit, but his maternal grandmother had cussed at Chloe too. They even chased her down! If Chloe hadn''t been quick on her feet, she would have gotten a good beating.


    won


    The more Chloe thought about it, the angrier she got. She called Steven and asked, "Steven, are you busy now?"

 Chapter 527

    Upon feeling a headacheing, Steven rubbed his brows and said, "Just get straight to the point."


    Ever since Steven divorced and began to date Jessica, his life had be a mess. His mother, who used to be less problematic, had since be very problematic. She would regrly call toin about other people, yet she never reflected upon herself. Steven tried to be patient, but he missed the days he used to be with Annalise. Life was more peaceful andfortable then. Furthermore, Steven recently realized he actually loved Annalise.


    He couldn''t understand how he was foolishly blinded by Jessica, choosing to abandon Annalise over his so-called first love.


    After hearing Steven''s response, Chloe said, "You have no idea how ridiculous Zachary is! I visited him at his house, but he didn''t wee me and refused to let me in. But what''s worse was that he let Portia curse me out!" Chloe got choked up as she continued, "Portia was so mean. She was hot-tempered, too, and she wanted to assault me..."


    "What did you say when you were at their house?" Steven asked slowly.


    But there was no way Chloe would tell Steven that she started it first. Chloe said innocently, "I didn''t do anything!"


    "That''s impossible."


    Steven didn''t believe what Chloe said. Lately, Steven realized that there were many loopholes in Chloe and Jessica''s statements. But back then, he believed in them unconditionally, and he questioned Annalise because of them. Steven asked icily, "Do I look like an idiot to you? Do you think I will believe you no matter how ridiculous your lies are?"


    Ironically, Steven used to be like that.


    Chloe asked in disbelief, "How can you think of me that way?"


    Steven continued, "I''ve spoken to Portia before. Even when she criticized me for not taking care of Zachary, she never said anything too harsh."


    In his daily interactions with


    Annalise, Steven knew that Annalise was not who they described her to be. Yet, he believed in their lies when they were trying to stir trouble. Again, Steven realized how much of a fool he was.


    Feeling conflicted, Steven lowered his gaze and said, "She just doesn''t care enough to deal with me."


    He continued, "If you didn''t lie, I''m sure they wouldn''t be interested in talking to you. They wouldn''t have time to pick a fight with you."


    Remembering the news that he had.


    seen previously, Steven said, "If I''m not mistaken, you must have tried to egg Rowena on to bully Annalise, but you failed.


    "Rowena uploaded a video of your antics online. You''re angry, but you can''t take out your anger on Rowena, so you can only take it out on Zachary.


    "Unfortunately, Portia was home


    with Zachary. She doted on Zachary


    a lot, so she wouldn''t sit to watch


    you curse at Zachary and must have


    stood up for him. Am I right?


    In disbelief, Chloe asked, "How did you know that? Were you watching when everything happened? Why didn''t you stand up for me?"

 Chapter 528

    Chloe hadpletely forgotten that Steven was exposing her behavior. She barked, "Steven, I''m your mother! How can you watch your mother get bullied by other people?"


    She was shocked at how cruel Steven was. Yet, Steven was unfazed. He said, "They were just spections, but I''m right, aren''t I?"


    Chloe was speechless.


    Steven continued, "Mom, I''m busy. Please don''t disturb me over menial things like these."


    Before Chloe could say more, Steven had hung up. As Chloe stared at her phone screen, she was furious, yet she didn''t know how to vent it all out.


    As Annalise signed her autograph in the room alone, a man hid in a corner and observed her. He called Jessica and said, "Annalise is alone now!"


    Upon hearing that, Jessica couldn''t contain her excitement. She had nned to capture Annalise and film indecent videos of her, but she thought it would be difficult to catch her. After all, Annalise and Zane were always together. Jessica expected to wait for a long time before executing her n. But to her surprise, just after telling the man about her ns a day ago, he gave her a good opportunity to execute her ns today.


    Jessica asked delightfully, "Where is the exact location?"


    However, the man had no intention of telling her about it without any benefits. He asked, "Didn''t you say that you''ll pay me once I tell you that she''s alone?"


    Caught up with her excitement, Jessica hurriedly wire-transferred the money to the man. The man saw that she had done two wire transfers, totaling up to ten thousand dors.


    The man hurriedly told Jessica, "She''s in the printing factory."


    When Jessica heard that, it felt like a bucket of ice water had doused her excitement. Jessica asked in disbelief, "How is being in the printing factory considered being alone?" Without much thought, the man replied, "Yeah, she''s in the room by herself."


    Then, he sent Jessica a picture of Annalise.


    Annalise wanted to curse at the


    got


    man, but she controlled herself. She snarled, "There are so many people in the factory, I can''t do anything even if want to! Also, even if we lucky and managed to capture Annalise, how are we going to leave the printing factory?"


    The man asked curiously, "What are you capturing her for?"


    Jessica spat, "That''s none of your business!"


    The man rubbed his nose awkwardly. Unsure of what to say, he remained silent.


    Jessica continued, "Next time, call me when there is no one else around her. Do you hear me?"


    "Got it. Well, it''s your fault for not being clear this time. You said that I can let you know when she''s alone..." the man grumbled.


    With a slower pace, Jessica asked, "Am I being clear now, then?"


    The man gave a dismissive "Yeah."


    "I''m warning you-if anything simr happens again the next time, I''ll get someone else to do it! After all, I have plenty of money. If you don''t do your job right, I''m sure someone else will do it for me!" Jessica barked.


    Fearing that he might lose the job, the man hurriedly eximed, "Don''t worry. I''ll do as you say."


    Jessica was satisfied with his


    answer. After hanging up on the call, Jessica suddenly remembered what Yvonne said. She paced back and forth with her phone in hand for a long time.  en


    Finally, she called Casper.


    When Casper picked up the call, he was surprised. He asked, "What brings you to call me?"

 Chapter 529

    Just a few days ago, Jessica was very harsh to Casper. It sounded as if she wanted topletely cut ties with him. Jessica asked hesitantly, "Did you go to Huxham Corporation today?"


    In response, Casper asked, "And how did you know that?"


    "That''s not for you to know," Jessica said.


    Judging from his response, Jessica felt her heart sink. She could tell that Casper was serious; Yvonne wasn''t lying.


    Without thinking, Jessica said, "I have my ways."


    Casper remained silent for a moment, his thoughts drifting back to how he revealed Jessica''s ns to release a sex tape of him and Annalise online. After that, Zane summoned him to Huxham Corporation. But the truth was, nothing happened between Casper and Annalise.


    When Casper heard what Jessica said, he immediately realized it was all a part of Zane''s n-including his visit to Huxham Corporation. Zane wanted to use Casper to divert Jessica''s attention. Casper knew that Zane had many ways to protect Annalise. But if Zane was willing to take advantage of him, it meant Zane had intentions to mentor him.


    With that in mind, Casper casually answered, "Yeah, I was there."


    Jessica immediately responded, "And?"


    Casper said patiently, "I was discussing a partnership with Zane."


    Jessica''s speech sped up gradually. She asked, "Does Zane think highly of you?"


    But Casper evaded the question. He answered, "More or less. He''s confident in the project that I''m managing."


    Jessica unconsciously tightened her grip on her phone. She wondered why it was that when she was ready to abandon Casper, she finally realized that he was a hidden gem. After a long silence, Jessica said, "I''m sorry."


    Suddenly, Jessica felt the heaviness


    in her chest lifted. She continued "A few days ago, I was in a bad mood because of my pregnancy... I was really harsh to you when we spoke. Can you forgive me?"


    After Casper heard Jessica, he suddenly realized how pragmatic she was. When he had no value to offer, she would abandon him without hesitation, wasting no time on him at all. But when she realized his future worth, making him worthy t¨¦be her backup n, she would apologize to him.


    Casper wasn''t sure how to describe how he felt.


    Jessica said woefully, "Casper, the baby in my womb is your child. Can you give me one more chance for our baby''s sake?"


    Casper thought he probably still loved Jessica. Even after seeing her true colors, he couldn''t help but pity her when he saw how she spoke to him submissively.


    After a long silence, Casper said, "Okay."


    By the time I was done with the autographs, my hand was extremely sore. After putting the pen aside, I said to the exhausted employees, "I''ll be off to pick my daughter up from school.


    ...


    "Do you have more for me to sign


    tomorrow? If you do, I cane over in the morning. I can''te in the afternoon because my daughter has amactivity in her kindergarten that requires my attendance


    The two employees rested their heads on the books and said, "It''s fine. Our boss said that this is enough. If we have a reprint and need more autographs, we''ll let you know!" "Okay."


    After getting into the car, I called Zane and asked, "Should I meet you at the office?"

 Chapter 530

    Zane chuckled and said, "It''s okay. Anna, it''ll be too tiring for you to travel back and forth. I''ll be worried for you."


    It felt odd. Every time I heard Zane''s sweet talk in such a serious tone, I would feel warm and fuzzy inside.


    In response, I said, "Okay. Shall we meet outside the kindergarten?"


    Zane answered, "Sure."


    The driver sent me to the kindergarten. I opened the door and walked to the side, waiting for Willow to appear. "Anna."


    Upon hearing somebody call my name, I turned around, only to see Steven walking toward me. Immediately, my smile faded, and I turned around, wanting to return to the car. Steven got in my way and said, "I have something to tell you."


    "I''m sorry, but I don''t want to hear it," I said icily.


    But Steven didn''t give me any room to reject him. He immediately said, "A few days ago, I went to a psychiatrist..."


    I looked at Steven. He continued, "He asked me a lot of questions. After thinking about it, I realized that I had treated you poorly in our marriage.


    "I didn''t like Jessica, but I got more intimate with her because she was my first love. And in that process, I isted and hurt you. That was my fault." After silently hearing what Steven had to say, I asked emotionlessly, "And?"


    Steven was speechless. After a while, he said awkwardly, "The person I love is you..."


    In response, I pointed out, "But you''ve said the same thing numerous times ever since we


    divorced. You would say it so


    would make it seem as if you loved me.


    genuinely. Even in our you


    However, it was all show. Steven loved to give lip service, yet he would be reserved when he was expected to contribute.


    I said inly, "But in the end, you still


    l.ne


    continued to hurt me. I''ve seen through the fact that there is no


    point for me to endure it, and that is


    why I chose divorce."


    If he had only hurt me once or twice, I would have endured it since I never had high hopes for marriage.


    I gazed at Steven, who pursed his lips tightly, looking very troubled. He said, "I will change..."


    Upon hearing that, I chuckled and said, "But I don''t need you anymore. I don''t care if you love or hate me.


    "Ever since I left you, I''ve been living a new life, and I''ve found a new partner. He treats me very well, and I finally feel loved."


    I continued, "I don''t need you anymore. Do you hear me?


    "You don''t have toe to me every time you find new answers or discover the smallest signs of your love for me, telling me that you still love me. It''s unnecessary, and those things don''t serve any purpose aside from wasting my time."


    As if Steven hadn''t expected that I really had no feelings for him anymore, he hurriedly rushed forward, trying to grab my hand. "Anna..."


    I backed away subconsciously.


    Before Steven could get hold of my hand, he was stopped in his tracks.

 Chapter 531

    Zane stood in front of me and said, "Mr. Pelham, she''s my girlfriend. Please watch your boundaries!"


    Steven looked Zane in the eye and said, "Mr. Huxham, don''t you think that you''re being wicked? You pursued her when she was in her most vulnerable state, just after our divorce. "You took advantage of her vulnerability; that''s not a very gentlemanly thing to do!"


    Zane sneered and asked, "But I never said I wanted to be a gentleman, right?"


    Steven was speechless.


    Zane continued, "I have priorities different from yours, Mr. Pelham. You may think that being a gentleman is more important, but I prioritize winning the heart of the person I love.


    "If I hesitated because I was mindful of my dignity, somebody would win Anna away-she''s amazing, after all. Between being a gentleman whom everyone praised and losing the person I loved, I''d rather be a despicable man. At least, when I feel lonely, my lover would be by my side."


    "I''m sure you said all that because you''re regretting your decision to divorce Anna, right? I swooped in too quickly, and you lost your chance," Zane said calmly.


    Not denying Zane''s statement, Steven said, "You''re right!"


    Zane replied, "But even if I didn''t pursue Anna, she wouldn''t have wanted to be with you. After all, every day that she spent with you was torture. You have never been kind to her." Steven wanted to refute, but he couldn''t because Zane was right.


    Willow dashed toward me after walking out of her school. She gazed at me curiously and asked, "Mommy, why is Zachary''s dad at our kindergarten? Do you have something to talk about?" When Zachary heard her words, he gently corrected her and said, "He''s not my dad anymore."


    Upon hearing that, Willow shot Zachary a weird look. Zachary said solemnly, "Next time, you can call him Cody''s dad."


    "Okay," said Willow.


    Willow held my hand warily and pulled me toward the car. She said, "Let''s go home, Mommy."


    I left with Willow, and Zane followed suit.


    ...


    Zachary was nning to get into the car when Steven stopped him. Steven asked sternly, "Have you contacted Annalisetely?"


    Upon hearing that, Zachary frowned hard. He wasn''t sure why his father asked that question, but Zachary honestly answered, "No."


    In disbelief, Steven asked, "But she''s your mom; don''t you miss her?"


    "I do, but what difference would it make?" Zachary asked, unfazed.


    Zachary continued, "Dad, you were the one who sneakily introduced me to Jessica. It was also you who repeatedly emphasized that Jessica was better than Mom!


    "I was just a kid, I couldn''t think for


    myself and believed in what you said! After all the brainwashing, I agreed with what you said..." Ultimately, Zachary was still a child. Whenever he thought of what happened, he couldn''t help but feel Wronged.


    Zachary said, "Eventually, I distanced myself from Mom and got closer to Jessica. But at what cost?"


    With his eyes flushed red, Zachary red at Steven and snarled, "I ended up bing Jessica''s aplice, and we hurt Mom! Now, Mom will never forgive me! How


    dare you ask if I miss her?


    "So what if I do? If I miss her, will she forgive everything that I''ve done, reconcile with me, and continue to be a loving, doting mother? It''s impossible!


    "If that''s the case, why should I appear in front of her and embarrass myself? Shouldn''t I simply watch her from afar, knowing that she''s living a happy life?"

 Chapter 532

    Angered by Zachary''s words, Steven pped Zachary on the cheek. Immediately, Zachary''s cheek flushed red from the p. As Zachary covered his cheek, he stared at Steven in disbelief. Steven was also in disbelief. He asked, "Since when did you be so cold-hearted? You''re abandoning your own mother?"


    Zachary red at Steven and replied mockingly, "I don''t think you should be the one to call me that. I''m just young and unaware of the dangers in society, and I was tricked into doing bad things. But I am willing to bear the consequences of my choices. "But what about you? You chose to abandon your wife and your son, yet you regret your decisions now."


    Zacharyughed mockingly and continued, "I think that aspared to having you show up in front of Mom, telling her that you love her and how much you regret it, she would prefer if you stay away from her."


    Zachary spat like his words were a toxic knife, "You''re so selfish, Steven Pelham. Before the divorce, you never gave Mom the love she wanted, and you mistreated her. After the divorce, you refused to give her the peace she wanted, and you disturbed her every day. "You never asked what she wanted, and you only cared about your own happiness. The biggest mistake Mom has ever made was being with you."


    Then, Zachary got into the car. He didn''t care how sad Steven seemed.


    Harry felt sorry for Zachary and asked, "What''s the deal with Mr. Pelham? He said he''s cutting ties with you, so why did he p you? Who does he think he is?"


    Harry heard of what happened to Steven. He couldn''t say much about Annalise''s decision to abandon her son and ex-husband; after all, she didn''t have a choice. But what about Steven?


    Steven made all the choices for himself, so he didn''t have the right to me other people!


    Zachary sneered and said, "That''s because he''s a piece of trash! No matter what he does, he will never think about the consequences. But when the oue is different from what he had expected, he starts to regret it.


    "But he deserves all of this. We don''t have to pity him. Things are only going to get worse for him," Zachary said, looking out the window.


    Meanwhile, Steven was stunned.


    When he saw Zachary''s cold gaze, Steven went nk. He felt his head spin. Steven couldn''t understand what he had done to make his wife abandon him and for his son to hate him.


    ...


    When it was time to get off work, Eric appeared outside Sasha''s office and waved at her. When Sasha saw Eric, she couldn''t contain her excitement and rushed toward Eric. Eric asked, "Should we go to a coffee shop or...?"


    Without skipping a beat, Sasha said, "Let''s go to a coffee shop. There''s one downstairs. We can enjoy some coffee while we talk."


    Eric had the same thought, too.


    The two got a seat in the coffee


    shop. Eric ordered ck coffee while


    Sasha ordered juice. When Sasha took a whiff of the coffee scent, she could almost taste the bitterness on her tongue.


    Sasha couldn''t help but frown, and she hurriedly took a sip of her juice to wash away the bitterness.


    After making sure that there was no one else around, Eric whispered, "What gossip did you want to talk about today?"

 Chapter 533

    Before Sasha spoke, she checked if there were any familiar people around, too. Then, she whispered, "I suspect there is a spy in ourpany."


    "A spy?" Eric asked, repeating after Sasha.


    He asked warily, "Why do you say that?"


    Sasha said, "I never told anyone which project group I''m in, right?"


    Eric nodded and answered, "You''ve been very low profile, indeed."


    Frowning hard, Sasha said, "But Shane knows that I''m earning a lot of money. He''s been disturbing me every day.


    "I''ve been trying to avoid him, but somehow, he''s been able to find me. He would act pitiful and say that he''s starving, asking me to give him money for food."


    At that thought, Sasha got even more displeased. She continued, "I''m soft-hearted, so I won''t bear to watch somebody starve to death, would I?"


    Eric said in agreement, "You''re right."


    As Sasha spoke, she became increasingly angrier.


    She said, "I gave him ten bucks, and I told him to get some food. But he refused, saying that I didn''t give him enough money to eat. So, I asked how much he wanted, and he asked for 20 thousand dors!" Baffled, Sasha eximed, "Oh, please... His father kicked him out of the house. He''s just a beggar now! How dare he ask for so much?"


    Immediately after Sasha finished, she paused. In the past, before Sasha began to work, she used to spend a lot of money, too.


    With her father providing for her financially, she would splurge on food and entertainment. Yet, her father neverined and continued to dote on her. Because of that, Sasha never knew the importance of money.


    Now that she was working in


    Huxham Corporation, her current


    hard-earned one-month sry could


    not even measure up to a single meal that she used to have. Sasha finally realized how difficult it was to earn money, and she began to spend her money wisely


    Eric said in agreement, "You''re right; he''s so shameless."


    Coming back to her senses, Sasha continued, "So I told him that he''s asking for a month''s sry from me, so dream on! I will never give it to him."


    Sasha couldn''t understand how Shane could be so brazen.


    Because of her kindness, she was willing to give him ten dors in case he starved, but she didn''t love him, enough to be willing to give


    understand why Shane couldn''t understand a simple fact like that.


    unconditionally. Sasha couldn''t n¨¦t


    Eric asked curiously, "And what did he say?"


    Upon hearing that, Sasha''s expression became solemn. She answered, He said my ie couldn''t be that low. Of course, I didn''t acknowledge that. I told him that Huxham Corporation doesn''t pay as high of a sry as he


    imagined. But guess what he said?"


    Curious, Eric probed further. He asked, "What?"


    In case Eric could not hear her clearly, Sasha slowed down and said, "He said that my current project is very sessful and is earning a lot of money."


    When Eric heard that, he became solemn, too. "Indeed, the sales volume of your current project is doing very well. You''ve broken records. Everyone knows that the project is profiting a lot.


    "Mr. Huxham is also known to be generous, so he must give you a lot of bonus. If Shane was keeping a close eye on the project, he would know that you earned a lot from it," Eric said, gazing at Sasha. Sasha didn''t refute. Instead, she asked, "But how did he know that I was in charge of that project?"


    Frowning hard, Eric said, "Now that you mention that, I suddenly remembered-I think I saw him when I came back from a business meeting a few days ago."


    Sasha drew closer to Eric and asked, "And?"


    Eric said hesitantly, "I think he was talking to Yvonne. I was a little far, so I''m not too sure what they were talking about."

 Chapter 534

    Sasha asked hesitantly, "Did Yvonne tell him about it?"


    Eric shrugged and said, "I''m not sure."


    Sasha said, "But since you saw them together, there must be a possibility that she did. I''ll ask her tomorrow."


    Eric didn''t stop her and simply said, "Sure."


    Then, Sasha eximed, "As expected of the most curious gossiper in thepany! You can always capture key information like these."


    Feeling embarrassed, Eric said, "I''m not very gifted-it''s all hard work."


    Sashaughed when he said that. She remarked, "You''re so humble."


    As the topic came to an end, Sasha took a sip of her juice. Then, a look of disdain crept onto her face. Noticing the shift in her mood, Eric immediately asked, "What''s on your mind?"


    Without much thought, Sasha answered, "I just thought Shane was so shameless! I''m not rted to him in any way, but he dared to ask me for money.


    "I gave him money, but he wanted more! So what if I earned a lot of money? Must I give it to him? I don''t owe him anything!"


    Eric chimed in to criticize Shane, too. He said, "Yeah! Even his father refused to support him financially anymore. But he came to apologize to you and ask you to give him money... How is that even possible? Right?" Sasha said with determination, "Exactly!"


    Eric continued, "Also, I think a man mustn''t spend a woman''s money!"


    However, Sasha disagreed. She said, "My friends and I can pay for each other''s meals, but I hate Shane. If he wants me to pay for his extravagant lifestyle, then he can dream on!"


    ...


    After getting home and getting a good workout, the two children yed with their toys with their grandparents''pany. Meanwhile, Suzy and I stayed in the living room to discuss tomorrow''s performance. Suzy smiled and said, "I heard from Penelope that Willow will be performing tomorrow."


    At the mention of Willow, my mood lifted. I answered, "Yeah! I heard she will be the host. I''ll definitely make time tomorrow to watch her school performance. I should bring a camera to record all these beautiful moments."


    Upon hearing that, Suzy couldn''t help but smile. She said, "Penelope is performing, too. At first, I wondered if I was spoiling her too much.


    "I would take a leave from work


    Nea


    whenever she had a performance,


    and I would want to film it. But after meeting you, I realized I wasn''t the only one who did that. It turned out that every parent was like that..."


    I chuckled and said, "Yeah. Honestly, the kids will only be with us for


    about a decade or two. If we don''t


    spend time with them now and


    record every moment, once they grow up and leave us, we won''t have anything to look back on when we


    NP


    miss them. That would be so sad."


    Beginning to rx, Suzy replied, "You''re right. Before I left my previouspany, I felt so touched even by the smallest promise. I was also easily brainwashed.


    "I thought that since mypany treated me so well, I should give all my time and energy to thepany. I even believed that I shouldn''t think too much about my family and my daughter."

 Chapter 535

    As I gazed at Suzy, I suddenly thought of how my marriage with Steven was simr to her previous job. Before I divorced and encountered a normal man, I thought Steven treated me very well. I kept telling myself that he was rich and handsome, which made him better than many other people.


    If I hadn''t met Zane after getting divorced, I might never have realized the truth-Steven wasn''t great; I simply had low standards. Simrly, Suzy finally realized the precious things that she had been missing out on.


    Suzy said, "When I joined Zane''spany, I finally realized life wasn''t supposed to be like that. Money is important, but so is life.


    "We earn money so that we can enjoy life; we shouldn''t pour everything we have into work, abandoning life in that process."


    When I saw how emotional Suzy was, I felt happy for her. I said, "Yeah. If you overlook your child and miss out on her growth, what use would all that money be?


    "When you look back and realize that your child has be somebody you don''t know about, you might hate yourself. You would wish you had put your job away and spent more time with your child."


    Suzy eximed, "Thankfully, before the situation escted to what you described, I''d already taken my daughter in to live with me. Also, I found a more manageable job."


    Our eyes met, and we smiled at each other. Thankfully, our terrible past was gone, and we found new jobs and started living out new lives. Everything got better.


    ...


    After ying until 9:00 pm, Penelope finally came downstairs. She and Suzy then bid their farewells.


    I watched them leave, only looking away after their car disappeared from my sight. Then, I brought Willow upstairs.


    As we walked up, Willow excitedly told me how fun it was ying with Penelope. I listened to her intently, and I brought Willow to her closet.


    "You''re going to be the host tomorrow. Have you decided what you''re going to wear?"


    Upon hearing that, Willow paused. She gazed innocently at me and said, "No, I haven''t."


    I opened her closet and said, "Well, luckily, Daddy''s bought you many dresses. Why don''t you pick something that you like?"


    "Okay!" Willow eximed excitedly. She almost jumped up from her seat, but she controlled herself.


    Willow picked out a pink dress and asked carefully, "What do you think about this one?"


    Instead of giving her a direct answer, I suggested, "Why don''t you try it on?"


    Immediately, Willow closed the bedroom door and changed into her pink dress. She looked at herself in the mirror and shook her head. Willow said, "Nope."


    Before I could give her my answer, she picked out another dress and began to change. As I watched her, it felt interesting. Watching my daughter change into various kinds of clothes made it feel as if I was ying a real-life dress-up game. Every outfit had a different style.


    After changing into a white princess dress, Willow finally stopped. She loved the dress, and she spun a few rounds in front of the mirror. Then, Willow asked, "Mommy, how is this dress?"


    In response, I asked, "Do you like it?"


    Willow nodded and said, "I like it, Mommy. I love it!"


    I respected her opinion, so I said, "If that''s the case, you can wear this tomorrow. Tomorrow afternoon, Daddy and I will try to arrive early at the kindergarten. I''ll braid your hair."


    en


    Hearing that, Willow happily jumped into my arms and said, "You''re amazing, Mommy. I love you."

 Chapter 536

    I gently rubbed Willow on her head and said, "I love you, too."


    After all the preparation was done, Willow immediately got into bed. As usual, I read her a bedtime story with a gentle voice. Willow always had many peculiar questions to ask, and I would always patiently answer her questions.


    ...


    Meanwhile, in the study, Zane was deep in thought.


    Lately, Jessica had been on Annalise''s tail. Zane was worried that Jessica might do something bizarre that would hurt Annalise or cause Annalise trouble. Zane''s solution was to keep Jessica upied.


    If Jessica saw Annalise''s sess, she would be envious and desperately try to surpass Annalise. That way, she wouldn''t have time to think of anything else. At that thought, Zane called Eric.


    Eric hadpleted his tasks when he received the call. Surprised, he answered and asked, "Do you need something from me, Mr. Huxham?"


    Zane answered affirmatively, "Yeah. Tell the marketing department to send out a press release. Just announce that Annalise''sic is published and that it''s selling very well. Most importantly, Annalise autographed theics, and the autographed versions are selling like hotcakes."


    If the news was published online, Jessica would hear of it immediately. If she saw that, she would definitely publish her ownic and autograph them. Considering how Jessica was pregnant, as well as trying to bnce between three men and her work, Zane thought Jessica would be extremely busy.


    After Jessica''s book signing, Annalise''sic would most likelye up with other activities. If Jessica followed suit, it would take up all of her time, leaving her no room to harm Annalise. Zane thought that would help him achieve his objectives.


    Eric said, "Got it. I''ll be on it now."


    Zane responded with a light hum.


    After Willow drifted into sleep, I turned off the lights and pecked her on the forehead. Then, I quietly left her bedroom.


    ...


    After I closed the door, Zane walked up to me and whispered, "Let''s talk on the balcony."


    "Sure," I said, following him to the balcony.


    The lights had been turned on, making the space seem bright. I plopped down on the chair, and Zane sat down next to me. Gently massaging my hand, he asked, "Do you have to sign more autographs tomorrow?"


    After a day of autographs, my hand was sore. Zane''s massage helped relieve the soreness.


    "No, I''m done with my autographs. But even if I wasn''t, I will go to the kindergarten activity tomorrow afternoon," I said. At the mention of that, my mood became more


    elevated.


    I continued, "After all, family is more important."


    Zane raised my hand to his lips and lightly pecked me on the hand. I hurriedly pulled away and chuckled, asking, "What are you doing?"


    Without much thought, Zane said,


    "This is the first time we''ve been


    apart for so long ever since you


    moved into our home. It''s been met


    whole day since I''ve seen you. m


    not used to it, and I miss you a lot."


    BUMS

 Chapter 537

    Zane''s deep voice sounded exceptionally melodious in the quiet night.


    I leaned into his arms and whispered, "Is this better?"


    Zane replied without hesitation, "Yeah."


    ...


    The marketing team acted with remarkable efficiency. The moment Eric assigned the task, they jumped into action without dy.


    In under an hour, news of Annalise''sic being published and skyrocketing to bestseller status exploded across the inte. It quickly imed top spots on multiple charts. Photos of Annalise signing copies of her work were soon circting online. Jessica had been celebrating just moments before, confident that the sales of her merchandise had already far outstripped Annalise''s. Even though her products hadn''t gone into production yet, the pre-orders alone were impressive. Best of all, she didn''t have to split the profits with anyone. This meant that she was making far more money than Annalise!


    Jessica had always believed that, apart from rtionships, she had surpassed Annalise in every other aspect. When she saw Annalise''sic was published and was selling exceptionally well, she clenched her teeth in frustration. How was that fair? Every time Jessica convinced herself that Annalise failed, some unexpected news about Annalise''s sess would appear.


    Jessica couldn''t ept it. She read through the news again and again, determined to find evidence of fraud. Yet, the more she looked, the more authentic it all seemed.


    Jessica''s thoughts wandered back to the call she''d received that afternoon from the person she had trailing Annalise. They''d mentioned that Annalise had been spotted at a printing factory. Had she been busy signing copies at the time? Jessica''s fingers curled tightly around her phone as irritation surged through her. She took a deep breath and dialed the number of a publishing executive.


    "Hello?"


    "So, how do you feel about the results of ourst marketing push? Did it meet your expectations?"


    "Absolutely," Jessica responded coolly, hiding her glee. She had made a fortune from the campaign. Even after deducting the one-million-dor marketing fee, the profits were still substantial.


    "I want to publish myic next. What options do we have to get it done quickly?"


    "Of course! Don''t forget, we''re a publishingpany. We have plenty of publishing licenses, but there are just no suitable works to use them for now.


    "If it''s your work, I can give you the contact info for the department in charge of publications. You can discuss everything with them."


    The moment Jessica realized her


    Soon, a string of numbers was sent her way. Jessica saved the contact and immediately dialed the number. "Hello, is this Ms. Pa Nenke?" "Yes, speaking. What can I do for you?"


    "I''d like to publish a book," Jessica said without hesitation, cutting straight to the point. "Is yourpany interested in helping me with it?"


    Pa responded, "If you can let me have your email, I''ll send you a form to fill out, and we can figure out what scale of publication you''re looking for." "Okay."


    Jessica quickly gave her email address to Pa, and thetter wasted no time and sent over a form almost instantly.


    Jessica reviewed it carefully before replying, "I think my book would be a best seller. How about this..."


    "Yeah?" Pa prompted.


    "Why don''t you check the sales


    figures for my merchandise on my


    homepage first?" Jessica didn''t


    specify how many copies she


    wanted to be published. Instead, she


    sent over a link to her homepage.


    Pa clicked on it and scanned the backend sales data. The impressive numbers left no room for doubt.


    Pa suggested, "If you grant us the licensing rights for youric, we can start publishing a batch right away."


    Jessica had initially nned to cover


    the upfront costs herself, as a few thousand copies wouldn''t be enough to meet demand. Upon realizing she wouldn''t need to pay anything upfront, her grin widened. "Sounds great!"


    Being cautious by nature, Pa added, "Still, I suggest you put up a pre-order link to gauge interest ahead of time."

 Chapter 538

    Jessica quickly agreed. "No problem at all. I understand that you don''t want to take risks, and neither do I."


    Pa sighed. "The publishing industry isn''t exactly thriving these days."


    Jessica smiled reassuringly. "There''s nothing to worry about with me around."


    "I''ll have my team design a draft cover for youric. Once it''s ready, you can post it on your homepage to test the waters."


    "That works perfectly," Jessica replied without hesitation.


    Having finally resolved the issue that had been on her mind for so long, Jessica felt a wave of relief and excitement. She couldn''t help but look forward to what tomorrow would bring.


    When the draft cover was ready, she immediately uploaded it to her homepage. She then hired professionals to stir up some buzz online, aiming for a strong promotional push.


    Even if the sales didn''t break records, one thing was certain-she had to outperform Annalise. This was how Jessica could prove to Steven and Zane that she was better than Annalise. Jessica wanted them to adore her, willingly abandon Annalise, and build a better life with her.


    Her career always came first. If heric was sessful, it would earn her the admiration and attention she craved.


    Jessica smirked as she looked at her phone screen. She had been extremely busytely-juggling her career, trying to please Zane and Casper, and ensuring that Steven continued to provide her with financial support. Hence, she had to divide her time across different matters.


    Jessica''s expression turned serious as she wondered if she should give up one of the three men. After all, managing her pregnancy and juggling so many rtionships was starting to feel overwhelming. However, she quickly dismissed the thought.


    Zane was her golden ticket, her


    chance to rise above her social status and transform into


    something extraordinary. Steve


    §ï§Ý§Ö§ã


    ensured her current life was one of indulgence and luxury, while Casper served as her backup n


    Her career, however, was her ultimate lifeline. It was the one thing that could guarantee she would thrive on her own if the men abandoned her.


    Thus, Jessica decided it was best to engage with Zane, Steven, and Casper. It might be exhausting to juggle everything now, but the payoff would be worth it. One day, she''d live a life offort.


    Jessica''s mood lightened visibly. She pulled up her chat with Casper, her fingers hovering over the keyboard.


    She''d already yed the part earlier, softening her words to cate him. But she still wasn''t sure if he''d truly forgiven her. Jessica decided to test Casper''s attitude toward her. After some deliberation, she typed a seemingly thoughtful message. "How have you beentely?"


    Since Zane had stepped in to help Casper hire new employees, his life had be noticeably less hectic. When he saw Jessica''s message pop up, it only reinforced what he''de to understand about her. Back when Zane wasn''t on Casper''s side, Jessica had been cold and indifferent. She never initiated conversations, and even when he reached out to her, her responses were brief and dismissive.


    However, things had changed after his family''s bankruptcy. Casper had been forced to face harsh realities and witness the true colors of those around him. Without his family''s power and wealth, he was noone in their eyes.


    Casper understood Jessica''s behavior. After he met Zane, Jessica suddenly cared about how he was doing.


    Casper couldn''t quite put his


    feelings into words, but he was


    certain he didn''t like Jessica''s behavior. He preferred the old Jessica the one who couldn''t be bothered to give him the time of day. At least then, he could convince himself that her coldness came from not knowing how to deal with him.

 Chapter 539

    Jessica''s behavior only solidified the truth for Casper-Jessica was after his money.


    His reply was curt. "Fruitful."


    Casper was busy every day. He was focused on work, leaving little room for distractions like Jessica. Oddly, he found this busynessforting. "Do you have enough money? Do you need any help?"


    "I do," Casper responded. He had no interest in talking to Jessica but forced himself to remain civil for Zane''s sake. "Thanks, but I''m fine."


    Jessica felt a twinge of indignation. Casper, who once mored for her attention, now seemed indifferent.


    "You''re so cold these days. You say you''ve forgiven me, but deep down, you''re still upset with me, right? I meant it when I apologized, you know. I truly want to make things right between us." She hit send and stared at the screen, waiting. Casper read her message and hesitated. What could he say? He wasn''t angry, but he wasn''t interested in pretending everything was fine either. After a moment, he settled on a safe excuse. "I know, but I''m really busy right now."


    Jessica probed further. "When you''re free, can we sit down and talk?" "Sure."


    With that, Casper tossed his phone aside. He''d nned to use the evening to unwind. After all, thest few days of racing against deadlines had left him utterly drained. But the moment he rested, Jessica''s face crept into his mind unbidden. Casper refused to dwell on her any longer. Hence, he buried himself back into work.


    Meanwhile, Jessica, sensing that she had hurt Casper deeply, decided to send a long message to apologize. "I know you probably won''t believe anything I say. But no matter what, I need you to know of all the men I''ve ever been with, you''re the only one I''ve truly loved." Casper nced at his phone as the message came through.


    Jessica truly loved him? There was a time, even after his family''s downfall and Jessica''s departure, when he believed she might have cared for him.


    Back then, he thought Jessica


    simply couldn''t endure a life without


    luxury. He even understood why Jessica needed to find another man and med himself for not being capable enough to give her a better life.


    However, the insults starteding, and so did the deliberate distance she put between them. That was when he realized the truth: Jessica loved money. Whoever had the most of it became the object of her affection.


    Casper looked away and continued working with a solemn expression.


    ...


    Jessica waited a long time, but Casper didn''t reply. She wasn''t anxious, though.


    She knew Casper was a man with a temper. Back when they were together, his love for her had often outweighed his frustrations. He had always gone out of his way to


    suppress his anger, doing his best to


    please her.


    No matter how unreasonable Jessica was or how upset he became, Casper had always endured it. Even his tone with her had been soft and careful.


    As Jessica recalled the way he used to treat her, a sigh escaped her lips. Clearly, this time she''d have to put in the effort to win him over again.


    Jessica turned her attention to Zane. She stared at their chat window for a long moment before typing a message.


    "Busy with work?" Casper sat motionless, staring at his phone screen.


    He had been second-guessing himself, wondering if he was being too harsh on Jessica. After all, she was pregnant. Emotional outbursts were normal, weren''t they?


    As a man, he should be more understanding. However, the moment her message appeared, all those thoughts evaporated.

 Chapter 540

    Jessica never truly intended to return to Casper and build a life together now that he had money. She was simply casting a wide, hoping to catch the richest man.


    If Zane showed even the slightest interest in her, she wouldn''t hesitate to abandon Casper and be with him. A bitter, indescribable ache welled up in Casper''s heart. The fleeting emotions he''d felt for her earlier now seemed utterly ridiculous. Every word out of Jessica''s mouth was a lie. How could he have ever believed she was worthy of his genuine feelings?


    Casper couldn''tprehend how Jessica could profess her love for him one moment and shamelessly flirt with another man the next. The hypocrisy was unbearable.


    Casper''s eyes stung, his vision blurred, and tears rolled down silently. He replied, "I''m spending time with Annalise and Willow."


    Jessica nearly threw her phone across the room in a fit of rage. She had gone to such lengths to drive Annalise out of Steven''s family, yet she still managed to find herself a man with an even better family background.


    Not only that, but Annalise also had a sweet, obedient daughter and a person with whom to spend peaceful evenings. Why couldn''t Jessica enjoy the same luxuries?


    Jessica couldn''t endure seeing Annalise happy. After carefully weighing her words, she sent a curt message.


    "Do you know that when Annalise was with Steven, he treated her horribly?"


    Casper nced at the screen and replied impatiently, "Yeah."


    Jessica''s tone turned more malicious. "The fact that she stayed with Steven for six years despite everything says a lot, don''t you think? Deep down, Annalise must enjoy that kind of treatment.


    "She''s the type who needs to be kept in check. If you''re too good to her, she''ll just walk all over you."


    Casper stared at her message for a long time. For a moment, he didn''t know how to respond. Finally, he thought of what Zane might say in a moment like this.


    A hint of rity settled over him, and he began to reply.


    "Only someone as clueless as Steven would fall for that nonsense. Do you really think people are stupid enough to believe your attempts at causing trouble?" Jessica immediately replied, "Am I wrong? Why don''t you believe me? I''m not lying."


    Casper nced at her reply and chose to remain silent.


    ...


    Jessica took a steadying breath. Normally, she prided herself on her charm. So why was she hitting roadblocks with both Casper and Zane?


    Still, it didn''t matter. As long as she kept reaching out and kept the conversations going, she was sure she''d win them over eventually. But for now, there was someone else she needed to focus on.


    It had been a while since she hadst spoken with Steven. Unlike with Zane and Casper, where she relied on texts, she called Steven instead. "Hello?"


    Steven replied indifferently, "What do you want?"


    "I just wanted to update you on some things."


    After all, Jessica had used his money. It was only polite to let him know where it had gone. More importantly, if she needed more fundster, this would make asking much easier.


    "You wanted me to promote my


    work further, to make it big enough for Annalise to notice so that she would feel jealous. Well, I''ve done as you asked. The promotion''s been a huge sess.


    "Sales of my merchandise are about to surpass Annalise''s. Everyone online is buzzing about how generous you are with me."


    Jessica could understand why Casper and Zane were distant. Zane was at the top of his world-he''d probably seen countless stunning women.


    As for Casper, she''d hurt him. So, she couldn''t me him for being angry.


    Steven, however, was the odd one. Not long ago, he''d imed to love Jessica, doting on her as if she were his world. And then, just like that, he turned his attention to Annalise, dering his feelings for her instead.


    Sometimes, Jessica wondered if he''d ever really liked her at all. However, she wouldn''t ask about that.


    "Whenever Annalise goes online, she''ll see how much money you''ve spent for me. She''ll be so jealous," Jessica said.

 Chapter 541

    Steven replied absentmindedly, "Maybe."


    Jessica frowned. "What''s wrong? You don''t sound like yourself. Did something happen?"


    Steven said honestly, "Yeah. I''ve been seeing a therapist recently. And then, it hit me every step I''ve taken, from being with Annalise until now, has been a mistake."


    His voice cracked with pain. "Jessica, why am I so stupid? How could I let it get this far before realizing it?"


    Jessica froze, an uneasy feeling creeping over her. His voice carried a raw vulnerability. "Why are you saying this all of a sudden?"


    Steven was feeling devastated, but he had no one to confide in. If Jessica hadn''t called, he wasn''t sure how long he could have kept it together.


    Tears streamed down his cheek as he choked, "When someone makes a mistake, they should first fix it, apologize, and make amends.


    "But what am I doing? I''m using you to provoke her? All that''s going to do is push her even further away." Steven wiped his tears with his hand. Jessica didn''t know how to respond at first. After a long pause, she finally asked, "Do you regret it?"


    "No. But when I think about everything, I realize just how much I''ve messed up."


    Jessica pressed further. "So, are you nning to make it up to Annalise?"


    Steven admitted without hesitation. "Yeah. I need to try to be good to her. Don''t worry about the money I''ve already given you.


    "I''m not going to take it back. You can spend it however you want. However, I won''t give you any more money."


    Jessica''s heart sank at his words.


    Until she could appease Casper or capture Zane''s attention, Steven was her only financial lifeline. If he ignored Jessica, her life would take a serious hit.  en


    She probed cautiously, "And the baby? You''re not going to take care of the child, either?"


    For a moment, Jessica felt a flicker of relief. At least she''d imed the baby was Steven''s. Without that, she wasn''t sure how she''d handle the situation.


    "I''ll take care of the baby. I''ll cover your living expenses and child support," Steven replied without hesitation.


    Jessica heaved a sigh of relief, then quickly adopted a pitiful tone. "That''s good to hear. Otherwise, I really wouldn''t know how the baby and I could survive." "The child is my flesh and blood. I''ll make sure he''s taken care of and grows up well."


    "Thank you."


    After ending the call, Jessica leaned back into her chair and nced down at her stomach. The baby had been her trump card. It had been a clever move to use the child asza means to tether Steven, ensuring he provided her with a life of luxury.


    Jessica gazed out of the window, deep in thought. The only regret she harbored was not using the same tactic to tie down Zane.


    Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the distant horizon. Things weren''t looking great for her right now.


    Casper was still furious with her;


    there was no progress with Zane And Steven? He wanted to keep his distanee. What if, in the end, she couldn''t hold on to any of them?


    No, that was uneptable.


    These three men had their roles to y, tasks she had assigned them. They were hers, and she wasn''t about to let them go until they fulfilled their purposes.

 Chapter 542

    Jessica considered her options and decided her best bet was to provoke Steven. After all, she couldn''t win over Zane, and patching things up with Casper would take time. Neither of them could bankroll her lifestyle. Unfortunately, her dependable cash source-Steven-was slipping out of her grasp. But she could still manipte him into willingly spending on her with a few calcted moves.


    Her eyes glinted with an idea as she picked up her phone and typed a message to Steven. "If you''re nning to reconcile with Annalise, does that mean I''m free to find a new boyfriend?"


    Jessica knew men well. She understood that even when they were done with a woman, they still held a fierce sense of ownership over her.


    Steven wouldn''t feel threatened if Jessica acted like she was still devoted to him. However, the moment she hinted at moving on, Steven would undoubtedly panic.


    "You know my expenses are high. If I don''t find someone to support me, the allowance you''re giving me might not cover it," she added.


    Steven read her message carefully, mulling over her words. He couldn''t deny Jessica had expensive tastes-always buying jewelry and luxury goods. The idea of giving her a fixed allowance seemed impractical to sustain her lifestyle.


    Yet, the thought of Jessica being with another man? Of his child calling someone else "Daddy"?


    That was a situation Steven wasn''t sure he could ept.


    "Let me think about it."


    Jessica''s lips curled into a sly smile. It seemed Steven had taken the bait. Chuckling softly, she typed back a quick reply. "All right."


    She hadn''t anticipated such a quick response from Steven. In her mind, he would need time to mull things over, perhaps letting her words simmer before reacting. She had even nned to rx, take her time with her nightly routine, and drift off to sleep. But her phone buzzed almost immediately, the screen lighting up with his name.


    Startled but pleased, Jessica nced at the caller ID. She answered and said in feigned surprise, "What''s up? Why''re you calling me at this hour?"


    Steven said with uncertainty and a touch of desperation. "I''ve been thinking seriously about what you said."


    Jessica stood up and walked into her bedroom, flipping on the lights. "Oh?"


    Steven said with a strained voice, "There''s no way I can allow my child to call another man ''Dad."


    "Oh?" she responded again.


    Steven felt he was bing possessive of Jessica. "I don''t want you with anyone else, either."


    Her earlier flirtations with Zane had seemed like a joke. After all, Zane was the kind of man Jessica couldn''t possibly win over. Hence, he hadn''t taken her seriously. When he heard Jessica saying that she wanted to find a new boyfriend, an inexplicable unease stirred deep within him.


    Jessica didn''t push the issue directly. Instead, she said casually, "If I stay single, as you want, how am I supposed to make ends meet?"


    "I''ll give you money," he promised.


    But her next question threw him off bnce. "Aren''t you worried Annalise might mind?"


    After a long pause, he finally said, "We''ll figure it out after she and I reconcile."


    V


    Yet deep down, Steven doubted Annalise would ever forgive him. That bitter truth weighed on him, his head bowed, and his expression was filled with regret.


    "Sure, no problem," Jessica said with a sweet tone. But as soon as she hung up, her face twisted with disdain.


    Steven had always treated Annalise


    with cold indifference, while Zane seemed eager to cherish her like she was his world. The difference between the two men was ring. If Annalise ever chose to reconcile with Steven, she''d have to bepletely out of her mind.

 Chapter 543

    Jessica had no intention of exposing Steven''s naivety. After all, her only goal was to keep spending his money.


    As long as Steven was willing to support her, nothing else mattered.


    Still, Steven couldn''t help but remind her again. "We''ve agreed, right? You absolutely cannot go looking for another man."


    "Don''t worry. As long as you''re willing to support me, I''m more than happy to keep things as they are," Jessica said calmly.


    More importantly, since Steven never interfered in her decisions and they didn''t live together, she had all the time in the world to mingle with other men.


    Even if, by some miracle, Annalise foolishly left Zane and returned to Steven, it wouldn''t really affect her. At the very least, she could still y the victim in front of Casper and beg him to ept her. Jessica always liked to keep a backup n, no matter what she was doing.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Zachary opened the door, his head lowered as he walked into the living room.


    Portia turned at the sound and saw Zachary looking drained. She hurried over to him and asked in concern, "What''s wrong? Are you upset?"


    Zachary was afraid Portia would notice the swelling on his face, so he shook his head in a small, careful motion. "No. I''m just a little tired from studying. I''d like to take a rest."


    The more Zachary tried to downy it, the more certain Portia was that something was wrong. Her gaze dropped to his face, and she immediately noticed the severe swelling. Her temper red instantly. "Who hit you?"


    Zachary was still just a child. His face wasn''trge, but the p mark was massive, nearly covering half of it. It was obvious this was an adult''s doing.


    A child couldn''t have that kind of strength. Not to mention, their hands were far too small to leave such arge imprint.


    Portia was fuming. What kind of adults did this? How dare they bully a child like that?


    She was determined to seek justice for Zachary.


    Zachary felt relieved when he heard Portia''s anger-at least someone was willing to protect him. However, he also knew that with Portia''s age, she would never be able to stand up to Steven.


    en


    Not wanting Portia to be bullied by Steven, Zachary said after a short pause, "I''m all right."


    Harry, who had overheard the conversation, was enraged. "How can you be fine? Look at your face! It''s so swollen." Zachary gave him a warning look. "It''s not that bad."


    Under normal circumstances, Harry


    would have listened to Zachary. However, he felt that he couldn''t keep quiet this time. "I was in the car when Zachary was beaten. Isaw everything clearly."


    Portia knew that Zachary wouldn''t speak the truth. Hence, she turned to Harry and asked, "What happened?"


    Zachary tried to stop Harry from speaking, but Portia ced a firm hand on his shoulder, holding him back.


    Harry exined, "Steven hit him. Honestly, is that man out of his mind? He''s already abandoned his son, yet he''s hitting him."


    "How dare he!" Portia bellowed. She stood up abruptly and continued, "I''m going to demand an exnation from him."


    Zachary hurriedly tugged at her sleeve and murmured, "It''ste. If you go now and something happens on the way, I''ll feel guilty. Why don''t you''


    go tomorrow?"


    Harry agreed and tried to persuade Portia. "Zachary''s right. It''s not safe to go out at night."

 Chapter 544

    Zachary and Harry tried to persuade Portia. Touched by Zachary''s maturity, Portia let out a soft sigh. "All right. I''ll listen to you two. I''ll wait until tomorrow morning to go." At her agreement, Zachary smiled faintly and said, "Great."


    Portia then guided Zachary to sit beside her on the couch. She fetched an ice pack and carefully pressed it to his swollen face, her heart aching at the sight.


    "This must hurt so much. What''s wrong with Steven? It''s like he was trying to beat you to death. You''re his son, not his enemy. What was he thinking, hitting you like this?"


    Zachary didn''t argue. "Probably because he screwed up his life. He lost his wife, decided he didn''t want his kid, and now he''s alone and has no one left to talk to at home. Guess it fried his brain a little." Portia raised an eyebrow and looked at Zachary. "That must be it."


    Seeing her side with him made Zachary grin, but the smile tugged at his injured face, sending a sharp jolt of pain through him.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Steven sat alone in his car. The phone call with Jessica was finally over. After reassuring her, his mind was somewhat calmer.


    Steven had already lost his wife and child because of Jessica. If he lost her, too, he would be left with nothing.


    The streetlights were out, and the world around him was nketed in darkness. There was not a soul in sight.


    The loneliness felt almost suffocating. He turned his gaze toward the balcony where Annalise and Zane sat side by side. Theirughter and the warmth in their expressions made it clear-that they were happy and content in each other''spany. Steven''s heart tightened painfully. It should have been him and Annalise sharing that connection. He had always thought he was a strong man who didn''t have any weakness, but tears began to blur his vision.


    Why was it always like this? Why did he never appreciate the good things when they were right in front of him?


    Steven watched as Annalise and Zane conversed, though he couldn''t hear their words. Annalise then stood up and extended her hand toward Zane. He took her hand, and together, they turned and left the balcony. Steven remembered that when Annalise had just married him, she used to do the same thing. She always sought affection from him. But each time, he rejected her as his heart was preupied with Jessica. Over time, Annalise had learned to keep her distance, and their once warm home had be a ce of cold silence. They coexisted but were strangers to each other.


    Steven couldn''t understand. Both he and Zane had their hearts set on someone else, yet Zane had managed to build a life with Annalise. Why hadn''t he been able to do the same?


    ...


    The next morning, Pa''spany finalized the book cover and sent it to Jessica.


    After dropping her son off, Jessica logged into her ount and saw the message from Pa. She immediately understood her intention and was about to upload theic to the homepage.


    Suddenly, an idea struck Jessica.


    Instead of just posting the cover, she decided to create a promotional video using the one Pa had designed. At the same time, she called the person in charge of marketing herics.


    "Hello?"


    "How may I help you?"


    Jessica said solemnly, "I''m going to publish my newic."


    The other party was clearly surprised. "You two reached an agreement?"


    Jessica replied truthfully, "Yeah. She''s nning to feature my book on my homepage first to test the sales, then decide how many copies to print. So, I''m hoping you can help with the marketing. If the numbers look good, they''ll probably print more copies."


    Jessica was aiming to do better than Annalise.


    "No problem."


    Jessica knew full well that getting help from others came with a price. "Should I transfer another million dors to you this time?" "Sure."


    When she went to the bankst time, Jessica found the transfer process a bit tedious, so she went ahead and set up a smallpany. Transferring money through thepany was much more


    convenient.


    After the money was transferred, she received a confirmation that the marketing campaign would begin. With that, Jessica uploaded the book cover to her homepage and posted a video to promote it.

 Chapter 545

    The marketing expert immediately sprang into action as soon as the payment was received.


    Soon after, Jessica''s new book was trending on social media. Her work was of good quality, and after a few rounds of hype, she had built up a solid fan base. So when word spread that her book was being released, many people immediately expressed their intent to buy it. Orders came pouring in, and Jessica''s mood improved as she watched the numbers skyrocket. She reached out to Pa and asked, "Have you seen the sales of my new book?"


    Pa, who had just stepped out of a meeting, nced at her phone, then asked in surprise, "That many?"


    "I was fairly well-known overseas. Your publishingpany managed the previous book, so you should be familiar with it."


    Pa was indeed aware of that.


    Jessica continued, "This book has a great plot and beautiful artwork, so I''m sure it will have a lot of fans."


    After contemting, Pa replied, "Based on these sales numbers, I estimate we''ll need at least 200,000 copies for the first print run. I''ll have a meeting with some others and then make a decision." Jessica smiled. "No problem. I''ll be waiting for your good news."


    She then reclined on the sofa, feeling a sense of satisfaction. So what if Annalise had a book published? Now, Jessica''s book was out there, too.


    Annalise could focus entirely on her art since she had Zane supporting her. Although Jessica had to rely on herself, her achievements were on par with Annalise.


    This meant that Jessica was the ultimate winner. In fact, she defeated Annalise by arge margin. The more Jessica thought about it, the happier she became.


    ...


    Willow woke up in the morning, her heart still fluttering with excitement as she thought about the beautiful dress she would wear in the afternoon for her hosting debut.


    She couldn''t help but smile as she carefully took out the dress she had chosen, admiring it over and over again. She imagined herself on stage, looking calm and poised. Willow giggled softly before brushing her teeth and reading a book. After finishing her tasks, she walked into the living room.


    "Mom, let''s exercise!" she said to Annalise eagerly.


    I followed closely behind her, "Okay."


    Willow noticed that Zane didn''t follow us, so she hurriedly went to call him.


    Zane obediently followed her, and after their run, took a shower. She then pulled both me and Zane into her bedroom.


    "Mom, Dad, you have to make sure you take good care of this dress. If anything happens to it before the performance and it gets ruined, I''IL be so embarrassed," she said sternly.


    I hesitated before asking, "Do you want me to bring a spare dress, just in case?"


    Willow shook her head. "No. I only like this one."


    "Don''t worry. I''ll make sure the driver is extra careful with it," Zane said while rubbing her head affectionately. Willow finally breathed a sigh of relief. As she left, she kept ncing back at her dress with every few steps.


    I exchanged a nce with Zane, and we both smiled knowingly. It was pure joy to be a child. The biggest concern in their world was something as simple as a dress.


    We dropped Willow off at her


    kindergarten. As soon as she goe


    of the car, she ran straight to Penelope, who grabbed her hand with excitement.


    The duo chattered about the afternoon''s event, forgetting to say goodbye to the adults.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Zachary sat in the living room, sipping soup while sneaking nces at Portia.


    She asked curiously, "What''s the matter?"


    Zachary lowered his head and muttered, "There''s an event at school today. I was hoping you, Harry, and Hannah could attend with me."


    Portia was delighted but kept her expression neutral. "Do you think it''s a good idea for so many of us to attend?"

 Chapter 546

    Zachary said without hesitation, "Of course! All the other kids in my ss have their parents attending. I''m the only one who doesn''t.


    "But I think Harry and Hannah look about the same age as my parents. The other kids might think they''re my parents.


    "I might feel slightly relieved. If you''re there too, Grandma, then it''ll feel like I''m just like the other kids."


    Portia''s heart ached with sympathy. "Don''t worry. I''ll definitely be there."


    Zachary''s face lit up at her answer. He quickly jumped to his feet, grabbed his suit, and handed it to her.


    "This is the outfit I picked out before. I have to wear it! I look really good. Make sure to bring it this afternoon."


    Portia smiled warmly at him. "No problem."


    Feeling reassured, Zachary grabbed his backpack and hurried out the door. Portia held the suit and followed behind him. "Why are youing with me?" Zachary asked in surprise.


    Portia gently ruffled his hair. "I''m just going to take you to school and maybe pick up a few things at the market afterward."


    She knew Zachary didn''t want her to go looking for Steven, so she decided to keep it a secret.


    Zachary happily took her hand. "Okay!"


    As they sat in the car, Zachary chatted excitedly, telling her all about the things that had happened at kindergarten. Portia listened patiently, smiling at his enthusiasm.


    When they arrived at the kindergarten, Zachary got out of the car and waved at her. Once he was inside, Portia turned to Harry and said, "Take me to Steven''s office." "Okay."


    The car pulled up in front of Pelham Group.


    Portia knew that barging in would only cause trouble for the


    receptionist, so she smiled and said, "Please contact Mr. Pelham and let him know I''m here to see him about something."  en


    The receptionist looked at her in confusion and asked, "Who are you?"


    Portia answered confidently, "I''m his son''s grandmother."


    The receptionist hesitated for a moment before dialing on the phone. "Mr. Pelham, someone is looking for you."


    Steven was busy. "I''ve told you many times-no appointments, no visitors. Why is this still an issue?"


    The receptionist''s face faltered slightly. "She says she''s your mother-inw."


    Steven''s tone changed instantly. "Let her up."


    The receptionist forced a polite smile and told Portia, "You can go up now."


    "Thank you." Portia apologized before heading to the elevator.


    She had been monitoring the receptionist''s expression. Whatever Steven said on the phone had upset her. It seemed like he had snapped at her.


    Portia pursed her lips. Luckily, Annalise had divorced Steven; otherwise, who could possibly have put up with his bad temper? She reached the door and knocked lightly.


    "Please enter."


    Portia opened the door and entered, her frustration rising as she saw Steven seated at the desk.


    "I was nning toe see youst night," she started, her voice filled with anger. "Why?"


    "Why on earth did you hit Zachary?" Portia could barely stop herself from pointing an usatory finger at him. "We agreed that you didn''t have to raise him or provide a living


    sw novel


    allowance. I''m his legal guardian!"

 Chapter 547

    "If he makes a mistake, I''ll point it out. It''s not your ce to interfere. Do you understand?" Steven was clearly in the wrong this time. "I''m afraid you''re spoiling him too much."


    Portia scoffed, "His father drove his mother away for the sake of a mistress. And in the end, even his father didn''t want him. After everything he''s been through, don''t you think he deserves some kindness from me? Her heart ached for Zachary, who had endured so much at such a young age. "And besides, being worried about me spoiling him doesn''t give you the right toy a hand on him.


    "What exactly did he do wrong? If you can justify it, and he truly made a mistake, I''ll stand by your side without hesitation."


    Steven fell silent. Portia caught the look on his face and immediately understood, her anger ring again.


    Steven exined, "He told me he hasn''t been in contact with his mother."


    Portia almostughed in disbelief. "And that''s your excuse for punishing him?"


    Steven retorted, "He''s only five years old, and he''s already so cold and heartless. Is that something to be proud of?"


    "And whose fault is that? Isn''t it because of you?"


    "What does this have to do with me?"


    The mention of the past only reignited Portia''s fury. "Think about it: you''re the one who cheated. You''re the one who deliberately led him to distance himself from his mother.


    "After you and Annalise divorced and ignored him, he realized his mistake and tried to make amends with her. Unfortunately, she had already given up on him."


    Portia couldn''t understand how her wonderful daughter and grandson ended up entangled with a scoundrel like Steven.


    "Zachary feels that his mother doesn''t like him and doesn''t want to see him. So, he takes the initiative to keep his distance from her.


    "Isn''t that the right thing to do? Do you think he should shamelessly cling to her instead?"


    Portia gave Steven a disdainful once-over and continued, "You schemed to divorce my daughter back then. Fine, you got what you wanted. And now you want to bother her again?"


    en


    Steven was rendered speechless under her scathing remarks.


    Suddenly, Portia remembered something and said, in surprise, "Are you trying to use Zachary to pester my daughter?"


    Steven lowered his head. "Men make mistakes. Can''t she just forgive me? After all, we have a child together."


    "When you were doing all those


    things back then, did it never cross your mind that you''d end up like this? Or did you really think that no matter how many times you cheated, she''d just forgive you?"


    swney


    Steven had truly believed so because Annalise seemed so deeply in love with him at the time, as though she couldn''t live without him. Hence, he thought Annalise would always forgive him as long as they didn''t divorce. He made up for his mistakes and treated her well.


    However, Steven never expected Annalise to be so resolute to leave him and be with someone else. She never spared him a second nce.


    Portia sneered, "You''re ridiculous. I know my daughter. She may seem gentle, but she''s as stubborn as a mule. Once she makes up her mind, no one can change it.


    "Even if you make use of Zachary and beg her toe back, she won''t even care about you. You might as well give up on that idea."


    Her disdain for Zachary only grew


    stronger. I''m warning you. If you


    ever use his mother as an excuse toy a hand on him again, don''t me me for being ruthless!"

 Chapter 548

    Steven lifted his head and looked at Portia.


    She couldn''t let what he did to Zachary slide so easily. If she did, it would only encourage others to think Zachary was an easy target, enticing everyone to bully him.


    Hence, Portia stepped forward and pped Steven across the face. "Since you beat Zachary, I''m hitting you back on his behalf. This makes us even."


    Steven took a deep breath and said coldly, "I''ve tolerated you again and again because you''re Annalise''s mother. Don''t push your luck."


    Portia red at him and retorted, "Annalise is unrted to you anymore, and neither am I. There''s no need to tolerate us."


    With that, Portia turned and walked away without looking back.


    As Steven watched her retreating figure, an unexpected bitterness welled up in his chest. He couldn''t help but recall how Portia treated him with such warmth. Whenever he and Annalise visited her, Portia always prepared meals he liked. Even Annalise couldn''t hide her jealousy. She would pout, teasing Portia, "You treat your son-inw better than me. I''m jealous."


    Portia would always gently tap Annalise''s cheek and tease her, "You''re a grown woman. Is this really necessary?"


    They had once been such a warm and harmonious family. So how did everything change?


    Annalise had left Steven, while Portia treated him with disdain and couldn''t wait to berate him. What had he done so wrong? What had he missed along the way?


    Sasha woke up early and headed to Yvonne''s office to try to reach her.


    Yvonne stood at the office door, her gazending on Sasha. Curious, she asked, "Are you looking for me? What''s the matter?"


    "Yeah." As the pampered daughter of


    doting parents, Sasha had never


    been one to hold back her feelings. After being blindsided by Yvonne, she wasn''t about to let her anger go unnoticed.


    en


    "Did you tell Shane I was assigned to that project team?" she demanded.


    Yvonne didn''t think it was a big deal. Shrugging, she answered nonchntly, "Yes, I did. So what?"


    Sasha hadn''t expected her to admit it so boldly. The mes of her fury roared higher.


    "Who do you think you are? Did you get my permission? What makes you think you can tell people about my business? What gives you the right to do so?"


    "It doesn''t matter. What matters is that I knew, and Shane asked me. So, I told him.


    "You''re Annalise''s friend. I don''t like either of you. And now that he knows you are rich, he''s definitely going to harass you all day." Yvonne smirked and continued, "Honestly, I enjoy watching you suffer. Even if he hadn''t asked, I''d have made sure to tell him anyway." Sasha scoffed and said, "So, that''s how it is?"


    If Yvonne had just targeted her, she could have let it slide. But she was dragging Annalise into it? That was crossing the line.


    Before Sasha arrived, she had


    nned to have a civil conversation


    with Yvonne and sort things out. But


    eline


    after this Sasha swore to make


    Yvonne pay for her actions.


    Otherwise, she would think Annalise and her were easy to mess with.


    Sasha clenched her teeth and threatened, "Don''t me me for what happens next."

 Chapter 549

    With that, Sasha turned and walked away.


    Yvonne suddenly had a sinking feeling. "What are you nning to do?"


    Sasha turned and looked at Yvonne, saying, "Do I need to tell you? Of course not. Anyway, just know this-whatever business you have with me, I''m not going to make things easy for you."


    Sasha then lifted her head proudly and walked away. As she reached the elevator, she saw Ericing out.


    She subtly looked up, and Eric gave a slight nod. After a brief moment, they reached an unspoken understanding.


    Eric walked out of the elevator, and Sasha stepped in. She then took the elevator to the top floor.


    Their project had just finished and earned thepany a huge profit. Upon seeing the sess, the other employees, who had been coasting along, realized that pulling off a sessful project could earn far more than thepany''s regr profits. Hence, they became interested in the projects.


    Sasha''s superior had initially nned to keep pushing forward, but when it came time for a new project, it turned out that the colleagues who had been considering taking on new projects had already finished all thepany''s current ones.


    That meant no overtime was avable for them. They had to rest.


    Finally, Sasha had the chance to enjoy life. She stood on the rooftop, gazing into the distance, taking in the entire city below.


    "Aren''t you supposed to be dealing with Yvonne?" Eric asked, eyeing the entrance to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "How''s it going?"


    Sasha snapped, "Don''t even bring it up. Just thinking about it makes me furious."


    Eric asked, "Why?"


    Sasha fumed, "She''s so shameless! First of all, I haven''t done anything wrong to her. Secondly, she went straight to Shane toin and cause me trouble. And yet, she didn''t feel the slightest bit guilty and openly admitted it was her doing. It''s infuriating!" "So, what are you nning to do about it? Let her off, just tolerate it, or...?"


    "Do I look like the type of person things slide?" Sasha r


    who


    her


    "Clearly not. Don''t worry. I


    have a n."


    Eric''s curiosity was piqued. He wanted to know the details.


    Sasha met his eager gaze but didn''t reveal anything. "Just wait and see."


    The more secretive she was, the more intrigued Eric became. "Tell me!"


    Sasha firmly shook her head. "Let me ask you something: If you knew


    what I was nning to do, an e


    Yvonne asked you about it, would you tell her or not?


    "If you tell her, you''re betraying me. If you don''t, Yvonne will definitely think you''re involved in office bullying!" Eric raised an eyebrow, surprised. "You thought of all this?"


    "Of course." Sasha patted his shoulder. "That''s why not telling you is the best choice for both you and me." Eric sighed in disappointment. "All right then." He had work to attend to, so he had to leave.


    Sasha stayed on the rooftop, feeling a little


    stairwell and called Shane. "line stairly. She walked into the


    you wish to speak to me?" belongs to


    Shane replied in surprise, "You''re willing to meet with me?"


    "Of course." Sasha''s eyes gleamed with malice as she continued, "Let''s meet at the caf¨¦ downstairs at noon today."


    Shane was worried that he had to foot the bill. So, he quickly replied, "I don''t have any money."


    Ever since his father had cut ties with him, he hadn''t a penny to his name.

 Chapter 550

    Sasha said graciously, "Don''t worry. It''s my treat."


    After all, spending a little money to make Yvonne''s life difficult was worth it. Although Sasha knew that money didn''te easily, she could still afford the treat. Shane swallowed nervously. "Can I order whatever I want?"


    Sasha immediately thought of his tendency to spend recklessly and worried that he might order so much that it would exceed her entire monthly sry.


    So, she quickly added, "You can order whatever you like, as long as the total doesn''t go over a hundred dors. If it goes over, you''re on your own."


    Sasha thought it was better to set clear boundaries now to avoid any surprisester.


    Shane grumbled, "You''ve got a job and a bonus. Are you really that tight with money?"


    Without missing a beat, Sasha replied, "My sry isn''t that high. It''s generous enough that I''m treating you. If you think it''s too little, then forget about it."


    A hundred bucks was her absolute limit. Anything beyond that was just too much for her to cover.


    "I''m notining," Shane said. He hadn''t been living an easy life either-currently, he was mooching off anyone he could.


    If Sasha was willing to treat him, he was more than happy to ept. "See you at noon then."


    "Okay," Sasha said, hanging up the phone. She nced over at Yvonne''s office.


    "Yvonne, just wait. You''ll regret this!" she thought to herself.


    ...


    After following Zane into the office, I scanned my surroundings.


    Zane looked at me and asked, "Notice anything different?"


    "The decor is pretty much the same as before." I shifted my gaze, walked over to my designated desk, and sat down. "However, after a day away feel a mix of familiarity and strangeness now that I''m back and following you around again


    Zaneughed. "Is that so? Well, in that case, I guess you''ll have toe in every day from now on."


    bet


    "Alright," I said as I turned on myputer and began working. Due to ack of time, I''d fallen behind on my tasks these past few days, so I needed to catch up today.


    Zane nced at Annalise and suddenly felt the urge to chat with her. However, he thought work was more important, so he suppressed the urge to talk and turned back to his tasks.


    Once everything was wrapped up, Zane walked over to Annalise and asked, "I remember you were rather wealthy back in school. What happened? "How did you end up like this after the divorce? Did you spend all your money on helping Steven start his business?"


    "Not exactly. I was always careful with money, even though I was sincere about Steven. But I did buy a house for Zachary and invested in some fixed assets."


    I paused, then looked at him curiously. "But how did you know I had money?"


    Zane hesitated before answering, "Someone who knew you mentioned it to me once." He gave Annalise a quick nce as if worried he might be recognized. "Oh," I said, nodding in understanding. "I understand."


    Zane continued, "So you spent everything on Zachary and didn''t save anything for yourself?"


    "Yeah," I answered honestly. "To be honest, after marrying Steven, I never imagined I''d end up divorced."


    Most people who enter marriage would expect it tost forever.


    Zane looked at me and asked, "So, when you got divorced, you had nothing left. Wasn''t it very challenging?"

 Chapter 551

    I answered confidently, "It was. The divorce came so quickly and suddenly that I couldn''t cover my losses even with my old job. It would have taken me a long time to get back on my feet."


    Zane asked, "Have you ever considered going back to your old job?"


    I didn''t even think before shaking my head. "No. I love my career now, and it pays better. Why would I go back?"


    Zane''s smile widened when he heard my answer.


    Shane had been waiting in the cafe below Huxham Corporation long before the lunch hour. When Sasha showed up, he pointed out sarcastically, "My, my, aren''t we the busy officedy? How could you keep me waiting like this?" Sasha rolled her eyes and shot him a withering look. "You know most of us get off for lunch at the same time, right? It''s not my fault you decided to show up early.


    "Besides, I came here as soon as the clock struck noon. You should be lucky I even bothereding."


    Shane earnestly nodded when he heard this. "Okay, okay."


    Worried that he might have forgotten the budget she gave him, she said tersely, "You can order whatever you want as long as you keep it under a hundred dors." Shane protested, "That''s stingy of you."


    "Sorry," Sasha said, not sounding very apologetic as she stopped his attempt to negotiate further. "I''m living on a paycheck now, and it''s not a big one. I take care not to overspend. Feel free to leave if you think you deserve better." The steely tone in her voice made Shane oblige immediately. "I''ll stay put, thank you very much."


    Only then did Sasha let him order


    from the menu. He ordered a coffee and pasta for himself, which added up to 99 dors. He shed her smug grin as he said, "My budgeting''s pretty genius, huh? Not only did I order within the budget,


    but I even saved you some money!"


    As if humoring a child, Sasha drawled, "Yes, how thoughtful of you."


    Shane staked a table for them and said arrogantly, "Of course. Though I''d be lying if I said I didn''t miss the good old days. Back then, my friends and I would have feasts that add up to thousands of dors.


    "Most of them wouldn''t hold back on treating me to fancy meals, either." He fixed Sasha with a meaningful look and added, "Unlike now. I can''t even order meals over a hundred dors, especially since someone isn''t in a generous mood."


    Sasha did not miss his pointed


    implication and snorted. She countered, "First of all, you never treated me to any meal. Secondly, i you''re on such good terms with


    if


    Se friends you speak so highly of, don''t you have them buy you lunch instead?


    "You could always join them for a feast fit for a king, right?" She propped her face up in her hands as she jested, "Surely you wouldn''t have to settle for a cheap coffee and pasta."


    This riled up Shane as he eximed, "Trust me, I''m just as surprised as you are! I used to treat them to those fancy meals or whatever they wanted, yet they turned their backs on me when I needed them the most! "They avoid me like the gue now if I even so much as hint at them to buy me a meal."


    He was baffled by their behavior. After all, he had treated them as his closest friends. Disgruntled, he asked Sasha, "Why do you think they''re shunning me like this?"


    "It''s simple," Sasha said, leaning into


    her seat. She exined


    nonchntly, "Your dad threw you out of the family. Your friends helped you out at first, but that was


    before your dad got pissed and told


    everyone he wouldn''t pay your debts.


    "He made his point loud and clear, and everyone knew they would only be asking for trouble if they helped you after that."

 Chapter 552

    Shane wasn''t stupid, either. He knew what Sasha was getting at. "So what you''re saying is, they might end up as miserable as me?" "Bingo," Sasha said with a nod. He made no reply.


    Only then did he realize how he had indeed been living like a man-child under his father''s roof before thetter threw him out. Back when he and Carlisle were on good terms, his friends put him on a pedestal and went along with his shenanigans. But now, they wouldn''t so much as spare him the time of day. Shane couldn''t help but chuckle mirthlessly.


    Sasha pointed out, "Your old friends were unreliable and would only show up for a good time, but there are always others who truly care about you."


    Shane eyed Sasha eagerly as if suddenly enlightened and asked, "Did you ask me out so you could tell me that you care about me?"


    She nearly sputtered. She had asked Shane to meet her for lunch so she could plot her revenge against Yvonne, not turn herself into coteral damage!


    She drew a deep breath and med herself for letting Shane steer the conversation off-track. She even threw in some sage advice, for that matter! Now that he had brought up the reason why she wanted to meet him, she decided to cut to the chase, cruel as it might be. Feigning indifference, Sasha countered, "Am I the only person you think who cares about you?"


    "Is there someone else?" Shane asked, frowning in confusion.


    "Dumbass." She didn''t think she would meet someone dumber than her. "Did you forget about Yvonne? Didn''t she call you after you were disgraced?"


    She would repay Yvonne for making trouble for her, refusing to go down without a fight. As far as she was concerned, Yvonne deserved it for scheming against her!


    Shane considered Sasha''s statement. "You may be right!"


    Sasha gritted her teeth. "That means she has romantic feelings for you."


    He raised a brow. "If she did, why didn''t she hit me up sooner?"


    Sasha raised her hand and smacked her forehead in exasperation. "My dear child, did you forget who you were and what you were like before your father gave up on you? You were the eldest son of the CEO of Winslow Group.


    "You stood to inherit arge, wealthy family business! More importantly, you were seeing someone at the time."


    The mere mention of Jenny made


    Sasha hate Shane more. It was one thing for him to see someone romantically, but to drag her into his mess and call Jenny his "stand-in lover was disgusting. He had screwed up everything in his life, including his rtionship


    Sasha couldn''t care less about using Shane as a pawn for her revenge now. "And Yvonne is just an ordinary young woman with no powerful background to speak of. It was only natural for her to feel lesser than you and fear approaching you."


    Something likeprehension dawned on Shane, though notpletely.


    Sasha spelled it out for him. "You were a prince back in the day. Everyone worshipped the ground


    you walked on, and you were waket


    beyond Yvonne''s league. But things are different now that your dad


    publicly cut you off. es


    you as an average Joe


    She lowered her voice and continued, "That''s why she approached you after your downfall. She wants to remind you of her presence. Isn''t that enough proof of her feelings for you?"


    The idea finally clicked in Shane''s mind. "Oh, so what you''re saying is, she loves me?"


    Sasha was so excited that she pped once. "That''s it! Think about it: why else would shee up to you out of the blue and tell you I''m making bank?"

 Chapter 553

    Dim-witted as he was, Shane asked, "Why?"


    Exhaustion washed over Sasha. She never had trouble getting her point across before, though that was when she conversed with intelligent folk.


    With Shane, she had to spell things out slowly. "Because Yvonne knows how hard it must be for you to cope without your dad''s support and that you''d turn to me when everyone else turns you away. Unfortunately, I''m not getting paid enough to give you an allowance. "But Yvonne''s different. Sure, her paycheck isn''t huge, but she''s generous when ites to you." She gave Shane a knowing look and added, "She''ll be nicer to you than I can ever be, you''ll see."


    "You have a point!" Shane''s eyes glittered, but his brows furrowed a beatter. "But I don''t remember Yvonne giving me money."


    "That must be because you never brought it up," Sasha pointed out matter-of-factly, crossing her arms. "If you did, she''d give you the money without question."


    She might not know Yvonne well enough, but she was willing to bet that thetter would spend a fair bit of money if it meant making trouble for her. Sasha praised herself for using Yvonne''s trait against her. With that in mind, she prompted Shane to call Yvonne. "Go on, give her a call and see what she says."


    Shane was skeptical, but he dialed Yvonne''s number anyway. He kept his gaze on Sasha as he asked the woman on the other line, "I''m out of cash. Think you could spare me some for my meals?"


    On the other line, Yvonne was well aware that Shane had fallen on hard times. However, she saw no harm in bankrolling his daily needs if it kept him pestering and annoying Sasha. "How much do you need?"


    Shane had put his phone on speaker. In truth, he wasn''t sure how much he should ask for, either. As he frowned, he saw Sasha lift a hand and spread her fingers. He mouthed at her, "500?"


    Sasha shook her head and curled her fingers, whispering, "50!"


    Shane didn''t catch that, but he more or less understood what Sasha was trying to tell him. As such, he added another zero and said to Yvonne, "5,000."


    Yvonne checked her savings and figured it wouldn''t hurt her to transfer him five grand. "All right, I''ll wire you the money now."


    Sasha''s eyes nearly bugged out of


    her head. She couldn''t believe Yvonne had coughed up the money so readily! Could it be that the wicked woman actually had a thing for Shane?


    Despair welled up in Sasha. What if she had identally fulfilled Yvonne''s wish and set her up with Shane? What were the chances of her being so unlucky that she would help her enemy find true love?


    Yvonne suddenly said, "You should see the money in your ount now."


    Shane checked his ount. Sure enough, Yvonne had given him 5,000 dors. He hesitated, contemting his response.


    He could offer to buy her a meal soon, but that was a joke reserved for close friends. He had never given Yvonne anything before this, and it felt odd to ask her for money now. He felt torn all of a sudden


    Sasha did not step in or help hime up with a response, either. She was pissed just thinking about how she might have identally done Yvonne a favor.


    Yvonne chuckled as she said, "Call me if you need money next month. I''m getting paid pretty well right now. I could give you an allowance, no problem."


    Shane was caught off guard by Yvonne''s sudden generosity. He shot Sasha a helpless look, but she ignored him and focused on drinking her fruit juice when it was served. After a long pause, Shane finally said stiffly, "Thank you."


    He hung up and gaped at Sasha. "She must really love me."


    Five thousand dors was not a small amount for the average working person, yet Yvonne had given it to him without even batting an eye!

 Chapter 554

    Sasha nodded. "She must! You know, you could tell me all the little things she''s done for you. I bet there''s some juicy details in there that show she''s head-over-heels for you."


    Shane was still a little dazed, but he told Sasha everything that went on between him and Yvonne nheless. For every detail he provided, she would nod and say confidently, "No woman would do that for you if she didn''t love you!" Within moments, the doubt on Shane''s face vanished. Upon seeing this, Sasha beamed. Her n was working!


    Of course, there were several variables she hadn''t expected along the way, such as the possibility of Yvonne actually having feelings for Shane. However, Sasha knew the Winslows had high standards for their future daughter-inw.


    If someone like Yvonne were to marry into the Winslow family, it would be like feeding chum to the sharks. If that happened, the Winslows would be doing Sasha''s dirty work for her!


    The thought made Sasha giddy with glee, but she had to tread carefully. She couldn''t let Shane foil her ns. "Now that you know how Yvonne feels about you, you''ve got to be subtle." "Why?" Shane asked, genuinely curious.


    She stared at his naive expression and fell speechless. She thought about her n to turn the tables on Yvonne and shed him a bright smile. "It''s obvious, isn''t it? Yvonne has a crush on you and probably thinks she isn''t good enough for you. You''re like an unreachable star to her.


    "She''ll want to take things slow and get close to you over time. If you suddenly go all-out to show your affection for her... Well, what do you think will happen?"


    Shane followed Sasha''s train of thought. Comprehension slowly dawned on him. "It''ll scare her off?" he guessed.


    Sasha pped her hands in confirmation. "That''s right! Then she''ll shy away from you and avoid you. You wouldn''t want to lose someone who loves you, right?" He nodded, albeit not too convinced. "I suppose."


    "Right," Sasha said with satisfaction. "So treat her like you normally would."


    Shane asked, "Should I get her a present?"


    Raising her cup to her lips, Sasha sipped her drink and said, "Sure, why not?"


    He immediately picked up his phone


    Pet


    and scrolled through the online shopping tforms. He couldn''t settle for a cheap gift, lest Yvonne thought he wasn''t serious about her. Not that he could afford anything


    too expensive, either.


    He found something and held his phone up before Sasha. "What do you think about this 4,999-dor present?"


    Upon hearing this, Sasha choked and sprayed her juice all over Shane''s phone screen.


    "What the hell?" he grumbled as he quickly drew his arm back and wiped his phone screen with a napkin.


    Sasha finally understood why Shane was not popr with thedies. She snapped, "She gave you five


    thousand dors, and you''re just et`


    going to keep a dor for yourself and blow the rest of it away on a present for her?"


    He didn''t even bat an eye as he said, "Yeah."


    Sasha fixed him with a withering look. To his credit, he puzzledly asked, "Is that wrong?"


    Instead of answering him, she countered, "You realize you''ll have to ask her for more cash if you spend that money in one sitting?" Considering this, Shane nodded. "True."


    "I know Yvonne agreed to give you


    an allowance Sasha began tentatively, wincing at Shane as if scrutinizing a vige idiot. "But you have to be more considerate of her §Ö money, too. How much of her paycheck can she set aside in


    savings if you demand tens of


    thousands of dors from her at a


    time?


    "She''ll need to fork out rent and daily expenses on top of bankrolling your essentials, too. She could be penniless at the end of the day if you keep this up! Surely you wouldn''t let her go broke because of you?" s, Shane''s loose spending habits were part of his character. "So, then..."


    Sasha helped him out this time. "Set aside some of that money for your savings and spend the rest on a gift for her."

 Chapter 555

    Shane began to list his daily expenses. "I could have a cheap breakfast and a fuller lunch, then skip dinner entirely. I could probably live off 2,000 dors a month."


    After hearing this, Sasha was suddenly grateful that she was not dating Shane. He was a phnderer who only cared about mooching off other women. If he had a girlfriend, she would have been driven to madness by his behavior.


    Sasha might not like Yvonne very much, but she couldn''t let the woman suffer from Shane''s parasitical behavior. "And what about next month? Are you going to ask Yvonne for money?"


    The questions left him stumped. Seeing this, Sasha added helpfully, "Maybe you should look for a job. Your dad''s washed his hands off you, and you have to start nning a life for yourself. You can''t just stay unemployed forever and mooch off women, you know. You''re capable ofbor."


    Shane fell silent as he considered Sasha''s advice. She rose from her seat and said, "I have to get back to work. Think about what I said, okay?"


    "Okay," was all he replied.


    ...


    When Sasha left, Shane remained at the table and stared at the crowd meandering past the window.


    He could see Sasha, who had once been so high-handed, walking purposefully toward Huxham Corporation like a professional officedy. Everyone else seemed to be moving on and up in life, and even his old friends had changed for the better. He was the only one stuck in the same old ce.


    Shane stared at the pasta before him and picked up his fork. He stirred the pasta to loosen it up in the thick sauce, then slowly took a bite. The pasta was cold, but he had been starving for so long that it tasted delicious anyway.


    After polishing off his te, he


    slowly sipped the bitter coffee he had ordered. Since Carlisle publicly disowned him, he had never once considered that his father would cut him off for good.


    He kept believing that Carlisle would turn around and extend an olive branch toward him once he cooled off. But would Carlisle truly do that this time?


    Shane had seen the recent news of


    Carlisle training a new heir to take over Winslow Group. In other words, Carlisle had truly abandoned him What would he do to fend for


    friends to keep his belly fuyer


    himself? Should he mooch off his


    Even if he continued mooching off his friends, how long could he keep it up before they grew tired of him? He had Yvonne to rely on, but she would get sick of him and cut him off someday, too.


    What would Shane do then? Grumble about Yvonne to some old pal and go off searching for the next sugar mommy? Shane leaned into the cushioned seat and stared at the ceiling. He hadn''t expected his life to turn out this way.


    "What are you thinking?"


    He suddenly heard a familiar voice and looked up to see Yvonne seated across from him. Sasha''s words yed through his head, and he bolted upright as he asked, "What are you doing here?" Yvonne sensed something off with him, but she brushed it off. She was only using him to make life difficult for Sasha, anyway.


    She gave him what she considered a warm smile and exined, "I was walking past when I saw you through the window and figured I''d stop by for a chat."


    In truth, she wanted to know exactly what he and Sasha talked about!

 Chapter 556

    Up to that point, Shane was unsure of Yvonne''s feelings for him. However, what she said proved Sasha right. He asked, "What did you want to talk about?"


    "Let''s order drinks before we start." Yvonne scanned the QR code with her phone and asked with a grin, "What would you like to have? I know you''re used to finer food. I happen to have some money set aside for a treat, so order whatever you like."


    Shane was touched by the offer. Sasha had gotten a fat bonus on top of her monthly paycheck, but she refused to treat him to anything more than a hundred dors. And yet, Yvonne, who only lived off a paycheck and had no bonus to speak of, had offered to buy him any food he wanted.


    Not to mention, she also gave him an allowance for his daily needs.


    Shane quickly said, "I just had lunch, so I''m not that hungry."


    "You don''t have to scrimp on my ount," Yvonne said patiently. Shane was her pawn-and a capable one, at that. She saw no harm in treating him a little nicer than usual. She wouldn''t want to lose him if someone came along and made him switch sides. She added slowly, "I know you haven''t had a full meal in thest couple of days."


    Shane suddenly understood just how much she cared for him.


    Yvonne continued, "Think of this as a chance for you to feast on something nice for a change."


    "Very well." Shane saw no point in being courteous with Yvonne now that she had offered. He took her phone and ordered another two pasta dishes. "The food portion here is too small to fill me up."


    Yvonne asked thoughtfully, "Will two pasta dishes be enough for you? I could order a few extra dishes for you if you like."


    She had heard rumors of Shane stuffing his friends with arge food bill whenever they offered to buy him a meal. But after going through his orders earlier, she was surprised to find they were reasonably priced. Perhaps he wasn''t as bad as the rumors made him out to be.


    As a man, Shane didn''t have the gall to splurge while a woman was paying for his meals. "The two pasta dishes are enough."


    Yvonne ced the order and set her phone aside. She propped her face up with one hand as she asked, "From what I recall, Sasha never liked you very much. Why did she suddenly ask to meet you? What did you guys talk about?"


    After some thought, Shane answered, "She told me to get a job and stop mooching off other people. She said my friends would grow sick


    of me one day if I kept freeloading."


    en


    He kept his answer vague, not at all intending toe clean to Yvonne about his conversation with Sasha for fear that it would spook her.


    Yvonne raised a brow. "Really? I don''t think that''s true. She probably doesn''t want to spend money on you. I''m not sick of you, in case you''re wondering."


    "But you will be sick of me eventually," Shane countered, noting that whatever Yvonne said aligned with Sasha''s prediction.


    He realized Yvonne was simply trying to put Sasha down before him to make herself look better. It was her way of making him fall for her.


    Shane appraised Yvonne and


    thought about Jenny and Sasha. He


    hadn''t properly noticed Yvonne''s face before. She was no


    conventional beauty, but she looked decent-in and ordinary


    But perhaps her crush on him made her look a little softer and more feminine.


    A smile curved Shane''s lips. He never thought someone could truly love a deadbeat like him.


    Yvonne dered without hesitation, "No, I won''t!"


    Shane said, "Will you let me move in with you, then? I don''t have a ce to stay."


    Yvonne froze. He gave her a dismissive p of his hand and drawled casually, "Forget it. I understand if you don''t want to take me in."


    Yvonne had a feeling that if she turned him down, Shane would end up siding with Sasha.

 Chapter 557

    However, the thought of letting a male stranger move into her home unsettled Yvonne.


    At that moment, Shane''s order arrived. He did not needle her into letting him move into her ce after that and dug into his pasta. After finishing his food, he stood up and said, "I''m going job-hunting now. I''ll pay you back for the meal once I get my paycheck." "You know, if you don''t have a ce to stay, you can always move into mine," Yvonne said, going for broke.


    She would do whatever she could to make life hard for Sasha, and she considered the perks of having Shane live with her. With their proximity, she could brainwash him into harassing Sasha for as long as possible. With that in mind, Yvonne added with a smile, "I''m serious."


    Shane blinked at her in surprise. "Can I move in today?"


    "Sure," she replied, then feigned distress a beatter. "Oh, but you have a thing for Sasha, right? If she found out you moved in with me..."


    Comprehension dawned on Shane when he heard this. Yvonne had a crush on him, and knowing he used to like Sasha probably irked her. He understood now that she had deliberately brought up Sasha to bait a reaction out of him. He had to admit, he liked seeing her jealous.


    Resisting the urge to smile, Shane countered, "It couldn''t hurt to make her jealous so that she''d want me more, right?"


    Yvonne turned away from him, scowling. She thought she could use Sasha to get him to reconsider moving in with her, but it only backfired!


    ...


    When we got off work at noon, Zane and I made our way to the kindergarten to pick up Willow.


    Normally, the school wouldn''t be out until the evening, but the


    kindergarten made an exception due to the performance that afternoon. As


    Pi Such, parents were allowed to


    pickup their children before


    lunchtime.


    Willow was already out with the other children when we arrived. She was waiting by the gates, and she


    waved at us happily upon seeing us.


    "Mommy, Daddy! Over here!


    I walked up to her, but before I could speak, she beat me to it. "Mommy, can I stay here and wait with Penelope? Her mommy isn''t here yet."


    "All right," I said as I stood next to her.


    Willow was eager to dive back into


    her conversation with Penelope.


    Whatever it was, it had to be important, for they immediately started talking the moment Willow and I stopped.


    en


    Penelope stared at Willow with sparkling eyes, nodding asionally and chiming in when the conversation sparked her interest.


    A momentter, Suzy rushed over to the gate and apologized to Penelope, "Sorry I''mte! I was stuck in traffic!"


    Penelope shook her head. "It''s okay, Mommy."


    When I saw Suzy, I asked, "So, will we be grabbing lunch together, or do we have other ns?"


    She nced at Penelope, who then nced at Willow.


    Willow looked at us and was startled to see our gazes on her. Slowly, she asked, "You''re going to let a little girl like me make a big decision like that?"


    I ruffled her hair affectionately. "Yes, I am."


    Willow replied, suddenly all business, "In that case, shall we grab lunch together?" She turned to Penelope and said softly, "I want to spend more time with you." Penelope beamed. "So do I."

 Chapter 558

    Now that Willow and Penelope had reached a consensus, the rest of us agreed to grab lunch together. We chose a restaurant the children liked, and they ordered the burger-and-fries set with pudding for dessert. After ordering their meals, Willow and Penelope peered over the counter at the bunny-shaped puddings, their jaws dropping in awe.


    Willow asked in amazement, "How did they make that pudding? It''s so cute!"


    Penelope was stunned by the dessert, too. "Beats me! But the chefs must be geniuses."


    Suzy and I watched the kids from our seats and grinned. I marveled at the idyllic moment, wondering if anything coulde close to it. Suzy poured me a ss of water and said, "I never thought I could enjoy such happy family moments, especially with a child."


    "Tell me about it," I said heartily. "Before meeting Willow, I thought raising a child was supposed to be challenging and full of conflicts." Raising Zachary had been like that. I could be looking out for his best interests, and he would think I was deliberately picking on him.


    Suzy wordlessly surveyed me with a surprised look on her face. "Did you have a hard time with your first child?"


    I chose my words carefully and answered gravely, "Sort of. I don''t hate him as much as I hate his father, though. As far as I''m concerned, his father was a bad influence on him. He wouldn''t have turned out to be such a menace otherwise." Sighing, Suzy guessed, "Your ex-husband had an affair, huh?"


    I nodded. "Yeah."


    She shook her head when she heard this. She had experienced the same betrayal as did, and she added with understanding, "A husband can never go back to having a normal family life after he cheats. He''s got his mistress to worry about He''ll do anything to please her, even if it means manipting his child."


    "You''re right," I agreed. "He introduced my kid to his mistress and got them to bond over time. He brainwashed the kid into believing his mistress was better than me.


    "For a time, I tried persuading myself that my son was innocent. I told myself he would learn that I cared about him if he stayed with me long enough."


    Suzy patted my shoulder in silentfort.


    I chuckled and said, "But then something else happened after that. Since then, I''ve washed my hands off the father-and-son duo for good."


    "You wouldn''t know how wonderful the world and the rest of society are until you''ve left a horrible marriage," Suzy said.


    Her words struck a chord within me. "True. I wouldn''t have met a cutie like Willow otherwise."


    When our orders were served, I called out to Willow and Penelope, "Kids! It''s time for lunch!"


    "Coming!" the girls replied happily. Secondster, they bounded up to the table.


    Zane manned the table while Suzy and I took the kids to the restroom to wash their hands. Willow''s face was flushed as she said, "I want to go back to the yground after I finish my food! It''s so much fun!" "Me, too!" Penelope said excitedly.


    I didn''t want to rain on their parade, especially after they made their decision. However, I smiled as I asked, "Don''t forget about your performance this afternoon. Don''t you want to braid your hair after your meals? We won''t have time to style your hair if you toddle off to the ygroundter."


    Willow and Penelope exchanged a distressed look. They were ted to perform before their teachers and peers. As much as they wanted to y, it would look bad for them to show up for the performance looking disheveled and sweaty.

 Chapter 559

    Willow pouted butpromised nheless. "We''ll braid our hair first, then head to the yground afterward if we have time." I smiled. "All right."


    Willow took her seat at the table and stared at the bunny-shaped pudding in amazement. She turned the te to inspect the pudding from all angles, eximing, "It looks exactly like that one at the counter!" Penelope removed the clear lid from the te and gently tapped the pudding with the back of her spoon. It jiggled, making the pudding bunny look like it was bouncing in ce. It was adorable; I''d admit that much. Thrilled by this, Penelope showed Willow the same trick. Thetter''s mouth parted into a perfect "O" as she mused, "Wow!"


    Penelope asked, "Is something wrong?"


    Willow seemed disappointed as she said, "I can''t bear to eat it..."


    Penelope nced at Willow, then at her own pudding. "Me, neither."


    I ruffled Willow''s hair affectionately and suggested, "Why don''t you start with your burger and fries?"


    "Okay!" Willow and Penelope dug into their meals immediately, though they couldn''t keep their eyes off the pudding. I tried not tough as I shook my head.


    I picked up my burger and stared at it dubiously. Kids seemed to love burgers, but how good were they? Curiosity prompted me to take a bite. Sure enough, the vors didn''t quite meet my expectations.


    I looked at Willow and saw her ravenously chowing down on her burger, just like Penelope. Perhaps my pte was different from theirs.


    When the kids finished their food, Willow eyed the pudding wistfully again and muttered, "I''ll just have a bite..." She took her spoon, gently sliced it through the pudding, and then ate it. She closed her eyes. "It''s delicious!" Encouraged by Willow, Penelope braced herself to cut through the pudding and take a bite. She gave Willow a wide-eyed look as she said, "It''s yummy!"


    They polished off the pudding.


    Afterward, I took ab from my purse and told Willow, "Come here so I can style your hair."


    Willow threw herself into my


    embrace and turned her back to me


    ???


    a secondter. Ibed her hair back, then braided and twisted it until she looked like a mini princess. The hairstyle entuated her cherubic face, and my heart could have melted at how endearing she looked.


    Upon seeing this, Penelope approached me and said, "Can you do mine, too?"


    Judging by Penelope''s request, Willow was confident that she looked good. She walked over to the mirror and admired her reflection, her eyes glittering. She was beautiful.


    Ibed Penelope''s bangs back


    and determined her face shape before giving her a more subtle, feminine Hairstyle. When she looked in the mirror and saw a different version of herself, she was stunned speechless.


    The kids began admiring themselves in the mirror.


    "Shall we take a picture?" I offered, holding up my phone.


    "Yes, please!" Willow and Penelope answered.


    Amused by their enthusiasm, Suzy interjected, "Come here, Penelope. I''ll take your picture."


    "All right," Penelope said after some consideration.


    I held up my phone and made sure the camera focused on Willow. At first, I believed Willow''s innocent


    beauty might not trante well


    camera, but I was surprised to find that the pictures turned out well. It helped that she pulled off several poses to make the photos look more animated.


    Zane picked up his phone and began snapping pictures of Willow, too. He then posted them on his social media with a simple caption.

 Chapter 560

    Zane''s caption read, "Little moments."


    Zane was normally stoic and reserved, and he hardly ever posted on social media before now. When his photos began garnering attention online, his followersmented, "Is the little girl your daughter, Mr. Huxham?" He replied, "Yes."


    "And the beautiful woman in the back-is she your wife?" someone asked.


    Zane nced at me before replying, "She will be."


    He was dating Annalise now, but it was obvious he wanted more out of their rtionship. He wanted them to move forward as a couple and be husband and wife.


    Thements that poured in were more or less theizens'' sentimental musings. One of them wrote, "Mr. Huxham was single for so long that we were led to believe he was a workaholic who would never marry. In reality, he just hadn''t met the right person until now." Zane gave me another look, his eyes glittering with mild amusement.


    However, onement stood out from the congrattory ones. It was from Steven, who had typed, "Did you get Annalise''s consent before posting her pictures online?"


    Zane did not reply to Steven immediately. Instead, his gaze darted to Annalise, who was nearby.


    He noted the gentle look on her face as she humored Willow. She no longer looked as forlorn as she had when she first came to his home; she was radiating with confidence. Only then did Zane respond, "How would you know if I didn''t get her consent?"


    Steven countered, "Has she agreed to go public with you?"


    "We''ve been public for ages. Didn''t you know?" Zane retorted curtly. He ignored Steven''s reply after that and carried on enjoying the idyllic afternoon.


    He had been cooped up in the office since he established thepany and built up the business. It was rare for him to have time to do the things he liked, and even rarer for him to get a day to kick back and retax.


    He wasn''t about to spoil it by bickering with Steven.


    BUMS


    Unfortunately, his phone rang mere minutester. Zane nced at the number shing on the screen and headed to the other side of the restaurant to take the call.


    He took his time answering the call. The person on the other line was patient enough not to hang up. Pressing the phone to his ear, Zane asked, "Hello?"


    "Do you have any idea of the impact those pictures would have on Annalise''s life?" Steven demanded in an usatory tone.


    "Like what?" Zane asked, raising a brow.


    Steven began, "If you don''t marry Annalise"


    Zane couldn''t help but cut him off when he heard this. "No, I will marry her. You can rest easy."


    The rest of Steven''s denigrating speech died on his tongue. It took a while for him to break his silence. "How are you so sure that Annalise is the e one? What if you only realize she isn''t right for you after marriage? What will you do then? Will you leave of divorce her?"


    "I wouldn''t be dating her if I thought she and I wouldn''t work out in the long run," Zane pointed out sardonically. "I''ve always been cautious with my decisions, Steven." This left Steven speechless.


    Zane was a cautious man who wouldn''t mess around when it came to love. But what about Steven? Would he fool around and make light of his romantic rtionships?


    He sat in the silence of his office and stared at the distant scene beyond his windows. After a moment of introspective thought, he realized he was predisposed to take his rtionships lightly. Steven had moved to a new city in a fit of rage after Jessica left him. That was when he met Annalise.


    Annalise was kind to him, so he


    dated her and used her as revenge against Jessica. After that, he felt so guilty that he broke up with Annalise. s, he couldn''t bring himself to tell Annalise the truth.

 Chapter 561

    Steven always came up with many excuses. For instance, they were too far apart.


    Annalise didn''t know those excuses weren''t insurmountable obstacles back then. Steven simply needed a reason to justify walking away.


    Steven took a deep breath. The real tragedy was how naive Annalise had been. She truly believed that any problem could be solved if they tried hard enough, so there wasn''t a need to break up. And perhaps because they''d been together for so long or because Annalise was so unwaveringly good-Steven eventually fell in love with her.


    Unfortunately, Steven didn''t realize his feelings. In fact, he made mistakes that hurt her deeply.


    Steven suddenly realized that he''d been far too flippant about love all this while.


    "Is that so?" he muttered.


    "Yeah. You don''t need to worry," Zane replied.


    However, it grated on Steven to know how kind and attentive Zane was to Annalise because it meant she''d never regret leaving him. It meant that Steven would never have another chance. "Have you ever considered the possibility that you might get into an ident?"


    After a long pause, Zane answered, "In that case, two portions of my estate will cover my parents'' expenses. The rest will be hers. She''ll have enough to livefortably. She won''t care what people say about her." "You''re not leaving anything for your daughter?" Steven asked incredulously.


    Zane''spany was so massive it would make anyone jealous.


    Steven found it hard to believe anyone could treat Annalise this well. At least, he knew he couldn''t.


    "Even if I leave anything for Willow, she''s still too young to protect it. If someone with bad intentions gains custody of her, they could take all that money, leave her with nothing, and maybe even treat her terribly.


    "That''s why I would leave my assets


    to Annalise. I can trust her. I know


    she genuinely cares for Willow They''ll have each other, and they''ll be fine." .


    Zane had considered everything and thought of every contingency before deciding to be with Annalise.


    After a long pause, Steven asked, "How do I know you actually mean it? How can I be sure you''re not just saying it to mess with me?"


    Zane didn''t force Steven to believe §Ö him. Instead, he chuckled softly, his tone light as he replied, "You don''t need to take my word for it. Just watch what I do."


    Steven realized Zane wasn''t making offhand remarks-they were deeply considered, deliberate truths. And they stung.


    Was this what it meant to truly love someone? To protect and n for their future so thoughtfully?


    So, what did it mean back then when Steven divorced Annalise and left her with nothing?


    s, he didn''t know what to say and could only awkwardly hang up the phone.


    Back at his desk, Steven slumped down, his hands propping up his face as he stared nkly ahead.


    Even if Annalise and Zane eventually parted ways, Annalise was unlikely to return to him. After all, Steven had never known how to truly love someone. He didn''t understand how to treat Annalise well.


    Even if they got back together, she''d leave him again. Having experienced true love, Annalise would never


    settle for superficial kindness or


    empty gestures. Not anymore.


    Tears started to fall onto the desk. Steven felt it sounded like the shattering of his heart.


    No one had ever taught him how to love someone the right way.

 Chapter 562

    Was there still time for Steven to learn how to love and care for someone?


    If Annalise saw he was a changed man, would she give him another chance? After all, Annalise and Steven had a child together. The more Steven thought about it, the more uncertain he became.


    ...


    That afternoon, it was time for the kindergarten event. We arrived at the auditorium right on schedule.


    Zane and I sat in the front row.


    Behind me, Suzy leaned forward nervously and whispered in my ear, "This is my first time sitting so close to the front."


    "Me too," I replied with a smile.


    Suzy looked surprised. "Aren''t you nervous at all?"


    I blinked at her in confusion. "Nervous about what? I''m just focused on capturing Willow in the best way possible. That''s all I''ve been thinking about."


    Suzy suddenly remembered the event''s purpose. "Have you figured out how you''re going to do it yet?"


    I shook my head and responded, "Nope. I''m still trying to figure it out."


    "Yeah. It''s my first time filming Penelope. What a meaningful asion. I should give it some thought as well."


    With that, Suzy leaned back into her seat.


    I pulled my camera out of my bag and began adjusting the settings. Carefully, I tweaked everything until I was satisfied that it would clearly capture the scene before me. Only then did I set it down. Willow emerged, looking adorable in her pretty little dress. She took center stage, microphone in hand, her voice clear and enchanting.


    As I watched her, I was suddenly


    Cher,


    transported back to our first


    meeting. Back then, she was just a shy little girl, hiding behind Zane and stealing nces at me. She didn''t dare utter a single word the entire time.


    When I visited the Huxham residence, she would only interact with me hesitantly.


    But now, there she stood, poised and confident, delivering her opening lines with grace.


    My heart swelled with pride and joy. This was my daughter-it was truly amazing to see how far she hade.


    "You''ll tire yourself out holding that camera," Zane said, noticing I hadn''t asked for help. "Let me take over."


    I turned to meet his gaze, and without a word, he gently took the camera from me.


    I couldn''t help but smile. I realized this was what it felt like to be truly loved-someone who noticed even the smallest things, worried I might overexert myself, and stepped in to share the load.


    There were people who didn''t care about me, like Steven.


    I remember when I took Zachary out, and Steven was right beside me. I was struggling to carry our child, who weighed several dozen pounds. My arms were aching unbearably, and I wanted to hand the baby to Steven. However, he jeered, "How tiring can it be to carry a child? I''ve never seen anyone elsein about carrying their kid. Are you the only one who finds it difficult? You''re being dramatic."


    Then, Steven stormed off, leaving


    me to seriously ponder if I was the problem. forced myself to carry Zachary all the way home. By the time I ced him on the couch my arms were so exhausted I could barely lift them.


    Back then, I thought I might be too weak. I told myself I needed to exercise more to be stronger so I wouldn''t have to trouble anyone again.


    I shift my gaze forward, lost in thought.


    The sad truth was that I didn''t


    understand what love was back then


    or what it wasn''t. When things happened, I only knew how to find fault with myself. It never urred to me to consider whether Steven''s behavior was also problematic.

 Chapter 563

    I gave a faint smile. After enduring such an unhappy marriage, this new chapter of my life seemed almost surreal in its contentment.


    Willow announced the first act and gracefully exited the stage. As her ssmates took turns performing, the auditorium erupted in enthusiastic apuse. I found myself pping along, caught up in the moment.


    From her seat nearby, Portia kept a watchful eye on Annalise. She''d been observing Annalise''s interactions with Zane, noticing how his affection for her shone through even in the smallest gestures. She felt her heart warmed by the sight.


    Annalise''s previous marriage had been a source of great unhappiness-her mother-inw bullied her, her husband ignored her, and her son resented her. As a result, she slowly transformed from a vibrant young woman into a withdrawn, quiet adult.


    Portia had watched this change with a heavy heart, feeling helpless to intervene. In her view, divorce was simply uneptable. So, Portia could only advise Annalise to endure, believing that maintaining the facade of aplete family would somehow shield her from further hurt.


    A remarkable change began when Annalise finally chose to break free, leaving behind her inconsiderate husband and difficult son for a new family. Her smile grew brighter with each passing day.


    It was clear that Zane treasured Annalise deeply.


    Portia finally felt at ease.


    Over the past few years, she had been reflecting on herself. Had her thinking fallen behind the times?


    In her generation, women were expected to marry. No matter how badly their husbands behaved, a wife filing for divorce was seen as disgraceful. Divorce meant losing one''s dignity, neglecting family, and abandoning one''s children. Portia had been deeply influenced by these ideas and even agreed with them for a long time.


    For the past two years, she noticed more and more women around her-trapped in unhappy marriages and mistreated by their families-choosing to divorce. Surprisingly, those women didn''t lead the miserable lives she had always imagined. That''s when Portia realized times had changed. Women didn''t need men to live fulfilling lives.


    Vel


    Hence, Portia started questioning whether holding onto societal expectations and preserving her dignity was worth confining Annalise to a toxic rtionship.


    What good was preserving aplete family in the eyes of others when Annalise would be left enduring humiliation and unhappiness?


    Although Portia rationalized the situation, she couldn''t bring herself to make a decision. Eventually, Annalise made the choice to divorce.


    Watching Annalise''s life improve


    after the separation brought Portia immense relief. She moved to sit beside Annalise and asked, "Could you send me a copy of the video you recordedter?"


    I heard a familiar voice and turned my head. It was Portia.


    Surprised and delighted, I asked, "What brings you here?"


    "I came to apany Zachary," she replied.


    I knew how much she doted on Zachary, but my rtionship with him was beyond repair.


    I wasn''t sure how to respond. So, I stayed silent.


    Portia reached out and sped my hand, giving it a reassuring pat.


    "Don''t worry. I''vee to terms with


    your divorce Rather than forcing


    you to reconcile with a jerk like Steven and suffer every day, I''d rather you spend your days like this. Although the future is uncertain, at


    least you''re happy.


    "More importantly, there''s no guarantee that staying married to Steven would ensure a better life in the long run, right?"

 Chapter 564

    I was surprised to hear these wordsing from Portia''s mouth.


    Portia continued, "As for Zachary, he must have hurt you deeply. Even though you never told me the details, I know you well. He must have done something truly terrible for you to give up on himpletely. So, I won''t pressure you to go back." I stared at her, stunned. "Mom..."


    A bittersweet smile crossed Portia''s face. "You were unhappy for so long, and as your mother, I feel guilty for not being able to help. I''ve always regretted that."


    "It''s not your fault," I reassured her, not wanting her to feel distressed on my ount. "I never told you because I didn''t want you to worry."


    Changing the subject, I added, "You mentioned wanting a copy of the video earlier, right? I''ll send it to you when we get home tonight."


    Portia smiled. "That would be lovely. By the way, was that your daughter on stage?"


    I nodded eagerly. "Yes, her name is Willow Huxham. She lost her parents when she was very young, but I can tell they loved her deeply. They named her Willow and hoped she''d live a carefree life."


    My eyes filled with approval and appreciation as I spoke of Zane. "Her current father adores her too. He runs argepany and says he''ll hand it over to Willow when she grows up.


    "It was only after hearing him say that I suddenly realized true love for a child isn''t just about empty praise. It''s about putting in the effort to help them grow and seed."


    Portia shifted her gaze to Zane and asked, "That sounds great. But what I''m really curious about is how Willow is doing?"


    "She''s wonderful!" I didn''t hold back my praise for Willow.


    "When I divorced Steven and left home, I was really doubting myself. My husband had an affair, his mistress said Icked charm, and even my son preferred her. I couldn''t help but wonder if I was as worthless as they made me out to be.


    "Then, I met Willow. She made me realize that not only am I not that bad, but I''m actually a great mother. Most importantly, she showed me that I deserve to be loved.


    A contented smile spread across my face. "My current boyfriend treats me really well."


    Portia looked visibly relieved. "Knowing that you''re happy makes me feel at ease."


    "Mom, I''m all grown up now. I can take responsibility for my choices. You should let it go and allow me to live the life I want."


    Portia froze for a moment, then nodded. "You''re right."


    Willow returned to the stage, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright as she finished reading her lines as the host. When our gazes met, she smiled radiantly and raised her hand to wave at me.  en


    I lifted my hand and waved back. Willow''s smile widened.


    As Portia watched our interaction, she couldn''t help but feel deeply thankful for my persistence back then Without it, I might not have found happiness now.


    ...


    After the event, Portia left to pick up Zachary while Zane and I fetched Willow.


    Willow spotted me and sprinted over with an eager grin. Stopping in front of me, she asked proudly,


    "Mommy! How did I do?"


    I gave her a big thumbs-up. "You were amazing! I sat in the audience and watched you perform like a superstar. You''re great on stage!"

 Chapter 565

    I added, "I was thinking, why am I so lucky to have such a talented daughter!"


    Embarrassed by my praise, Willow threw herself into my arms. "Mommy, you don''t need to praise me that much."


    I gently stroked Willow''s head. "I truly believe it. Were you nervous on stage?"


    Upon hearing this, Willow left my embrace and said seriously, "A little. It got much better after I imagined the audience as toy dolls."


    I softly caressed Willow''s cheek. "You know how to adapt and solve problems yourself. That''s amazing, isn''t it?"


    Willow smiled even more happily. She didn''t tell Annalise she had been secretly practicing her script at home every day.


    Willow memorized the script thoroughly so that she could outdo Zachary. That way, Annalise would feel she was the best child!


    Unexpectedly, Zachary also performed quite well. He must have been secretly practicing at home too.


    On stage, Willow was secretly relieved that she hadn''t beencent. Otherwise, she would have paled inparison to Zachary. Thankfully, she had the foresight. "What do you n to do next?" Zane asked, pointing the camera at Willow.


    Willow asked, "Aren''t we going out with Grandpa and Grandma on Saturday and Sunday? I definitely need to go home and pack my clothes."


    She then turned to Penelope and said, "You too. We can meet up at my house tonight."


    "Okay!" With that, Penelope left with Suzy.


    Willow held my hand and said, "Mommy, let''s go home."


    Zachary walked obediently to Portia''s side and said casually, "Grandma, I think I saw you chatting with Mommy while I was on stage. What were you talking about?"


    en


    Portia knew that Zachary had matured and learned to hide his emotions. However, he was still just a five-year-old who undoubtedly craved maternal love.


    Hence, she smiled and said, "The


    video on my phone wasn''t clear, so asked her to send me a copy of her recording. That way, I can watch it whenever I want."


    Zachary felt a bit disappointed, as he had hoped Annalise would have asked about him.


    Noticing his mood, Portia changed the subject. "You did a great job with your recitation today. It seems you put in a lot of effort."


    Upon hearing her praise, Zachary


    smiled and said, "Yes. I memorized it


    first. Then, since I didn''t know how to narrate with emotion, I asked my tutor. After she exined it to me, I practiced reading like her.


    ov¨¦


    Eventually, after reading it many times, I became more skilted."


    Portia praised, "You''re so hardworking!"


    He smiled shyly and replied, "It''s nothing."


    ...


    Jessica leaned over her desk, diligently working on her illustrations. As her pregnancy progressed, her work became increasingly challenging.


    She wondered if she could still find a man to support her if she wanted. If so, why was she pushing herself so hard?

 Chapter 566

    The shrill ringtone of the phone broke Jessica''s concentration. After ncing at the screen, she answered the call.


    "We had a meeting at the publishing house. We''ve decided to print 500,000 copies of your book." Pa paused before asking, "How many copies have you sold on your homepage so far?" At that moment, Jessica felt she had found an answer to her earlier doubts.


    If she worked hard, she''d still be able to support herself when the day came that she had no man to rely on.


    Jessica gently caressed her growing belly. While it was fine to lean on others, she didn''t want to lose her independence.


    With renewed purpose, Jessica checked her sales figures. "Over 350,000 copies," she replied.


    "Are you certain?" Pa said in surprise.


    Jessica assured her, "I''m sure. You''re wee to check for yourself."


    Pa did just that, confirming Jessica''s numbers. The sales were indeed as reported, and still climbing. She was momentarily lost for words.


    "Is something wrong?" Jessica asked.


    Pa wanted to say that after their meeting, they worried that 500,000 copies might be too ambitious. But at this rate, they''d likely sell out within a month. Strong online sales usually indicated good offline demand, too.


    Realizing they might have


    underestimated the print run, Pa simply said, "Everything''s fine. We''ll start printing once we get approval. After these 500,000 sell out, we''ll begin a reprint."  en


    "Sounds good," Jessica replied.


    Jessica knew it was wise to consult the publishing house''s experts on the publishing details.


    Pa continued, "Given your significant investment in promotion, we''re prepared to offer you a 20% royalty rate."


    Jessica quickly remembered that Annalise''s rate was only 15%. This meant she''d earn an extra 5% for the same number of books sold a small victory that brought a smile to her face.


    "Sounds good to me," Jessica replied. The more books she published, the more ie she had.


    After wrapping up the call with Pa, Jessica curled up on the couch, crunching numbers. With full rights to her work and control over every aspect, she realized she could leverage a single marketing campaign to boost both book and merchandise sales.


    Her heart raced as the possibilities unfolded. She might have stumbled onto something big without even realizing it.


    Even if her merchandise sales only matched Annalise''s, her profits would be significantly higher. After all, apart from the production cost, all that merchandise revenue was hers to keep.


    The more Jessica pondered her situation, the brighter her mood became. She used to envy Annalise''s carefree lifestyle, with everything managed for her. However, it was different now.


    Annalise''s


    e''sics required a whole team-and teams didn''t work for free. So, while Annalise was already earning less overall, she also had to pay her staff, leaving her with an even smaller slice of the pie.


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 Chapter 567

    Jessicay backfortably, reflecting on her situation. Perhaps Annalise''s luxurious life wasn''t as enviable as it seemed.


    After crunching the numbers, Jessica realized her profit margin was around 50% once production costs and shipping expenses were ounted for. Annalise, on the other hand, likely saw only about 15%. Jessica was earning more than double. It dawned on her that financial independence tasted sweeter than she''d ever imagined.


    A smile tugged at her lips as she picked up her phone and opened her chat with Casper.


    Their recent conversations had been strained after Jessica upset Casper a few days ago. Since then, his responses had been curt and infrequent.


    When she saw an opportunity to smooth things over, Jessica decided to reach out.


    "Hey, how have you beentely? Is everything okay financially? I''ve had a pretty good run recently. Let me know if you need any help, alright?"


    ...


    Casper received the call from Eric in the afternoon. The message was brief and straightforward. "Pleasee to the office."


    Upon arrival, Casper found Eric waiting for him at the entrance.


    Then, Eric led the way, exining, "Your office has been prepared, and the other employees'' workspaces are ready too. They''re all here today. I''ll introduce you."


    As Casper followed, he noticed that Eric seemed different from others¡ªperhaps more independent.


    Stopping at the open office area, Eric informed him, "These employees were specifically hired for your project. Thepany handles their sries, so you needn''t worry about that. If you have any tasks to assign, now''s a good time. They''re all highly capable and have led projects in their previous roles."


    Surprised, Casper asked, "Then why did they join thepany?"


    Eric politely exined, "Somepanies prefer younger employees. Ourpany offers good benefits and is inclusive, weing both fresh graduates and experienced professionals."


    Casper nodded in understanding. Noticing the attentive faces in the office, he began outlining his needs.


    The employees stood up one by one, eagerly iming their tasks.


    Their attitude was remarkably positive. After speaking with them Casper was surprised to find


    there wasn''t much work left the .??


    to handle.


    him


    A wave of indescribable emotion washed over him. Zane had considered everything so thoroughly for him. He felt genuinely happy. Eric then led Casper to his office, stating matter-of-factly, "This will be your workspace from now on."


    "Thank you. Please thank Mr. Huxham as well," Casper replied sincerely.


    Eric''s expression softened slightly as he replied, "No need for formalities. We''re all partners here."


    Eric then guided Casper through thepany''syout, eventually bringing him back to his office. "Is there anything else you need to know?"


    Casper shook his head. "Not at the moment. I''ll ask if somethinges upter. Is that all right?" "Of course," Eric replied before leaving.


    Casper sat at his desk, taking in his surroundings. The office was spacious and had broad swaths of sunlight to pour in during the day, giving the room a warm, inviting atmosphere.


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 Chapter 568

    Casper leaned back, savoring a rare moment of tranquility. His mind reyed the scenes from the office, where everyone''s faces had radiated joy and enthusiasm.


    It warmed his heart, marking the first time since his family''s bankruptcy that he''d experienced such a weing atmosphere. And it was all thanks to Zane.


    He silently promised to work harder and prove worthy of Zane''s investment in him.


    When Casper opened his phone, he was surprised to see messages from Jessica. It was unlike her, typically so frugal, to offer him money. Even knowing it might just be her way of smoothing things over, he couldn''t help but feel touched. Clearly, she treated him differently.


    Any lingering resentment he''d harbored toward Jessica over the past few days seemed to evaporate.


    He replied, "I''m at Huxham Corporation. I was in a meeting and didn''t see your messages earlier."


    Then, feeling yful, he added, "Are you sure you want to give me money?"


    Jessica stared at her screen, puzzled by Casper''s response. Couldn''t he tell she was just being polite? Surely, he wasn''t actually asking for money?


    She bit her lip, conflicted. It could spell the end of their rtionship if she didn''t respond. And if Casper became sessful in the future, she''d have no part in it.


    What troubled Jessica most was the dilemma of how to respond. If she said no, Casper would realize she was just being polite. But if she agreed and he really asked for money, what then? Should she just transfer the funds?


    After much deliberation, Jessica decided to take the plunge. One couldn''t catch a wolf without risking the bait, after all.


    She replied, "How much do you need?"


    Casper was surprised by her response. Was Jessica not joking?


    He paused before replying, "How much do you have?"


    Jessica sent a screenshot of her ount bnce.


    Casper counted the zeros, realizing Jessica was far wealthier than he''d imagined. His feelings were mixed Part of him wondered if his family''s bankruptcy could have been avoided had dessica offered help back then. Yet he also knew it was her money to do with as she pleased,


    Touched by her kind gesture, he replied, "How about half of it?"


    Jessica read the message several times to make sure she wasn''t mistaken. Casper wanted half of her entire assets? Having known Casper for a while, Jessica was familiar with his yful nature. She suspected he might be teasing her again. Hoping he wasn''t serious about the money, she replied, "Sure. Send me your ount details."


    Casper raised an eyebrow. Was the notoriously frugal Jessica really going to transfer the money? It seemed out of character for her. Casper decided to send his bank ount information.


    When she saw his response, Jessica realized she might have backed herself into a corner. At this point, not following through would make her look terrible. "Give me a moment. I''ll head to the bank for the transfer."


    "Thank you," Casper replied, still not refusing.


    "Don''t mention it."


    About half an hourter, Casper had


    immersed himself in work,


    assuming Jessica had found a way to avoid the transfer. Suddenly, his phone chimed with a new message notification.

 Chapter 569

    Casper picked up his phone to find a notification of a bank deposit, and he felt his mind go nk.


    Another message from Jessica followed. "I''ve transferred the money. Can you check if you''ve received it?"


    Casper replied instantly, "Got it."


    His heart raced. Was Jessica not bluffing? Did she truly care for him? Surely, she wouldn''t have transferred the money if she didn''t have feelings for him.


    Casper''s emotions were in turmoil, but he decided to focus on the project for now. As for Jessica''s money, he''d treat it as an investment in the project. Once it started generating revenue, he''d share the profits with her proportionally. He nced at his bnce again, still in disbelief. Initially, he thought Jessica was just talking big and wanted to call her bluff. But she hadpletely surprised him, leaving him unsure how to respond.


    Jessica stared at her phone screen for a long time. After transferring such arge sum, all he said was, "Got it".


    ...


    She had transferred the money, thinking Casper was just joking and wouldn''t actually ept it. Even if he did, surely he''d return it right away!


    She felt utterly foolish!


    Jessica wanted to ask Casper to return the money, but she hesitated. Asking for it back so soon might make him think she never truly intended to give it to him in the first ce. It would seem like she was just toying with his feelings.


    Jessica gently tapped her forehead. How could she have been so naive?


    But if Jessica didn''t ask for the money back, she would just be giving Casper a significant sum of money. The more she thought about it, the more she felt she had made a huge mistake.


    Jessica slumped over her desk, her


    expression clouded with


    displeasure. Even if she didn''t maintain a good rtionship with Casper and if he didn''t be wealthy, that money would have been enough for her own needs if she had kept it.


    What should she do?


    Jessica stared nkly ahead, desperately trying to convince herself that Casper''s project might be a sess. Even if she couldn''t rely on Zane or if Steven left her, she''d still be well taken care of.


    But what if Casper''s project failed? Wouldn''t all her money go down the drain?


    The thought made Jessica''s heart ache. All that money she had painstakingly acquired by ying the pitiful damsel in front of men. If it all disappeared like this, she''d regret it for the rest of her life!


    Jessica pounded the desk in frustration. She shouldn''t have asked Casper in the first ce!


    Her phone chimed with a new message. It was from Casper.


    Perhaps they had spent so much time together, and he had loved her enough to understand her well. So, he asked, "Do you regret it?"


    Jessica quickly typed "Yes" on the keyboard but dared not send it. She deleted it just as quickly.


    Throughout their marriage, Jessica had always been pampered by Casper. She had never bothered to truly understand him and was simply contented to enjoy his affection. Now, looking at his message, she couldn''t tell if he genuinely wanted her to take the money back or if he was simply testing her.


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 Chapter 570

    Jessica realized that asking for the money back would reveal her earlier words of care as lies, potentially damaging her rtionship with Casper further. She was at a loss for how to respond. When Jessica didn''t reply, Casper messaged again. "I can transfer the money back to you."


    With Zane''s backing, he didn''t really need Jessica''s money, but her willingness to give it made him feel that his years of devotion hadn''t been in vain.


    Touched by his gesture, Jessica hesitated.


    Casper continued, "We were once married. You should know me well. There''s no need to lie to me. If you''re reluctant to part with the money, there''s no obligation to give it to me."


    The more he wrote, the more Jessica realized how much her response mattered to Casper. If she believed him and asked for the money back, he would likely cut ties with herpletely. Despite her agony, Jessica replied, "No need."


    Casper replied, "If you don''t take it back now, you might not get another chance. You know I''m starting a business. Once I invest your money in thepany, if the project fails, I won''t be able to repay you even if I want to."


    His words made Jessica regret her decision even more. She was torn, unsure of what to do. The sum wasn''t small-it was nearly half of her assets. While she still had a considerable amount left, she needed it to invest in her work.


    Logically, asking for the money back was the safest option. Jessica took a deep breath. That way, even if Casper''s project seeded, she''d still have her funds.


    Jessica hesitated. If she took the money back and Casper became wealthy, she would have no im to it and be forced to watch his sess from the sidelines. After much deliberation, she decided to seek Zane''s advice. "Do you know about the project Casper is working on?"


    Since Zane had invested in Casper, he should be well-informed about the project. Given their recent conversations, Jessica feltfortable enough to consult him.


    Casper waited for Jessica''s


    response, assuming she was genuinely willing to give him the money. However, when his other phone chimed with a message he couldn''t help but smile as he read it.


    So Jessica was conflicted? She was worried his project might fail and decided to seek Zane''s advice.


    Casper knew that someone like


    Jessica, who valued money so


    highly, wouldn''t part with it easily. Even if she had impulsively


    transferred it, she''d likely try to get it


    back.


    en


    Casper found it unsurprising, yet he couldn''t shake his sense of disappointment. He had hoped he was different in her eyes.


    Carefully choosing his words to


    mimic Zane''s tone, Casper replied, "What do you think? A sheltered, righ kid with no work experience suddenly takes on a new project. How high would you rate his chance of sess?"


    Jessica froze as she read the message. How had she not considered this before?


    Casper waited silently for Jessica''s response. He also knew that, on his own, his chances of sess were indeed quite low.


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 Chapter 571

    That was why Zane pointed out the project''s issues and arranged for many people to help Casper. With Zane''s support, there was a higher chance the project would seed.


    Jessica was unconvinced and couldn''t bear the thought of her hard-earned money going to waste. "No way. Then why would you dare invest in him?"


    Casper raised his eyebrow. It seemed that Jessica was smarter than he thought. She managed to detect something was amiss.


    He replied, "Though the Gibson family has fallen, their connections remain."


    Jessica understood. "You''re trying to leverage Casper''swork?"


    Casper felt he''d said enough and didn''t reply further. He took out his other phone and waited for Jessica''s response.


    Did Zane''s silence mean Jessica guessed correctly?


    She smirked with joy. Everyone said Zane was aloof; that was because theycked charm and, more importantly, patience. They weren''t willing to persistently engage him in conversation to reveal their good qualities.


    Jessica felt an indescribable pride. She had hurt Annalise, and Zane had once despised her. Yet, after her repeated advances, Zane was now willing to pay attention to her.


    Jessica was certain that Zane had taken a liking to her. She clutched her phone and pondered. A man like Zane would prefer an independent woman like herself over a parasite like Annalise.


    With a confident tilt of her chin, she texted Casper. "Why don''t you just return the money to me?"


    Casper saw through her immediately. She must have believed his earlier words; he found it oddly amusing.


    If his family connections had any real value, they wouldn''t have gone bankrupt, and he wouldn''t have needed Zane''s investment. It was precisely because those


    connections were worthless that he


    had struggled in poverty for so long.


    Yet, Casper kept this to himself. He asked for Jessica''s bank details and transferred all the money back. Once home, he messaged her. "Check if you''ve received it."


    Jessica nced at her bnce and replied, "Yes. If you ever need anything, just ask. I''ll help if I can."


    Casper didn''t mention that the


    borrowed money had barely spent an hour in his ount before being returned He knew if Jessica offered help with anything else, she''d likely regret it as well. It would be a waste of time to go through the motions only to give it backter.


    A flicker of loneliness shed in Casper''s eyes. He had foolishly believed he held a special ce in her heart. Now, it seemed he was no different from anyone else.


    He replied, "Okay. I''m busy. I''ll get to work now."


    "All right," Jessica responded.


    She almost told him that since the


    told


    project wouldn''t make money anyway, he might as well find ways to rx. But she held back. Casper needed to find his path, to strive and struggle independently. She couldn''t look after him forever.


    Jessica waited, ensuring Casper wasn''ting to find her, before sprawling on the couch and gleefully eyeing the transfer notification. It felt wonderful to recover so many assets! Suddenly, a thought struck her. Jessica bolted upright. Something wasn''t right.

 Chapter 572

    If Casper''s project truly had the issues Zane mentioned, he should be desperate for money. Having barely grasped this opportunity, Casper shouldn''t have been so willing to return the funds, let alone so generously. What could this mean? A thought struck Jessica-perhaps Casper and Zane were conspiring to deceive her! If so, it could indicate the project would be incredibly profitable.


    Jessica snatched up her phone and messaged Casper, "I''m curious. Why are you so willing to return the money? Aren''t you short on cash? Wouldn''t it be better to keep it and develop your business?"


    She reasoned that despite Zane''s wealth, the likelihood of him knowingly investing in a losing venture seemed low.


    Casper raised an eyebrow. Had Jessica caught on?


    With a soft chuckle, he carefully typed his response. "Of course, it would be better. But Jessica, we have a child together, and now you''re expecting another. While I''m looking out for myself, I also naturally have to consider you and our children. "If this project seeds, that''s fantastic. But if I fail, I can endure hardship. What about you and the kids? Should you suffer alongside me?"


    Jessica felt her heart soften as she read this. She should have known Casper loved her and would always prioritize her needs. Even if she didn''t reciprocate, his sess would surely benefit her too.


    Casper added, "At least you can livefortably with the money at hand."


    Though Jessica had nevercked affection, she felt touched by Casper''s care for her. "Thank you," she replied.


    "It''s what I should do," Casper responded.


    ...


    After returning home, Willow scampered upstairs, her footsteps echoing through the house. She grabbed her pink suitcase and began stuffing it with clothes for the trip.


    I stood beside her, helping her pack. "Are you staying at a hotel?"


    "Grandpa and Grandma said so," Willow replied, barely containing her excitement. This was her first trip with Milton and Dorothy, and she was thrilled. "They said they''d take us to see everything in the area!"


    As I watched her jubnt expression,


    I couldn''t help but wonder if I hadn''t been taking her out enough. She was still young and at the perfect age to explore the world. Taking her out more often might help her understand things better.


    I cupped Willow''s face and kissed her cheek. "So, you''ve got next weekend nned too?" Willow nodded vigorously. "Yes! I''ve talked it over with Penelope. She''sing with me."


    Having a friende along made her feel even more confident about the trip.


    I looked at Willow intently. "Remember to ask Grandpa and Grandma to take lots of photos."


    She met my gaze. "Don''t worry, Mommy. I will."


    Since it was only a two-day trip, she only needed two or three changes of clothes.


    After packing, Willow called


    swneye


    Penelope. She sat on the bed, swinging her legs as she chatted. "I''m all packed! How about you?"


    Penelope sounded out of breath. "Still packing," she puffed.


    Willow grinned. "Want us toe pick you up now?"


    Penelope hesitated before answering, "Sure. I should be done by the time you get here." "Okay!"


    Willow grabbed her suitcase and dashed downstairs. "Grandpa, Grandma, time to go!"

 Chapter 573

    Milton stood on the balcony and looked at Zane. "How''s your rtionship with Annalise going?"


    Zane thought carefully for a moment before answering, "Very good."


    Milton smiled and said, "While we take Willow out to y, you should use this opportunity to improve your rtionship with Annalise. Both of you would usually focus on the child, and you don''t have time alone. You can''t even have a proper conversation." Zane shook his head and replied, "No. We''re often alone together at thepany too."


    "It''s not the same," Milton said without exining how it differed.


    When Milton heard Willow''s voice, he quickly responded, "Okay, I''ming!"


    Then he patted Zane''s shoulder and said, "Trust me."


    Zane looked at Milton in confusion, not understanding what he meant. However, he replied, "Okay."


    Milton left the balcony, went to the bedroom to grab his suitcase, and left with Dorothy and Willow.


    ...


    Only Zane and I remained in the huge living room.


    Suddenly, Zane felt the atmosphere had indeed subtly shifted-it seemed he could do whatever he pleased now.


    He approached me and said, "Finally, we have some time alone."


    "I have a lot of work piled up these past few days," I replied, aware of Zane''s thoughts.


    It would only umte if I didn''t catch up on work soon. "I need to work now."


    Disappointment shed across Zane''s face, but he didn''t stop me. "All right."


    After hearing his response, I turned and headed upstairs.


    Zane watched my retreating figure, devoid of any lingering hesitation. He wanted to say, "Hurry up."


    But in the end, he held his tongue.


    There was a mountain of work, and everyone wanted to finish quickly. If he pushed too hard, it might affect my mood.


    Zane hoped Annalise could do whatever she wanted, free from anyone''s influence.


    Of course, it wouldn''t be right if he became the one influencing her, either.


    ...


    Steven sat alone in his house, surrounded by silence broken only by the clinking of empty bottles rolling across the floor.


    Home atst, with no work to upy his mind, Annalise''s face consumed his thoughts. Try as he might to focus on anything else and push her from his mind, his efforts were in vain.


    Steven could almost see her there beside him, her arms wrapped gently around him, her hands tenderly caressing his face. She whispered, "Have you been drinking again?" Even knowing she was just a figment of his imagination, Steven couldn''t bear to shatter the illusion. He nodded. "Yes."


    Annalise sighed and rose. "How


    many times have I told you drinking is bad for you? If this goes on, your health will suffer. I''ll make you some soup. Please, no more drinking after this."


    Steven reached out, desperate to stop Annalise from leaving.


    However, his hands grasped only


    empty air. The space before himmet


    was suddenly vacant, and the


    e''


    person he longed for had vanished like mist.


    He pleaded to the empty room, "Annalise, please don''t leave me."

 Chapter 574

    Chloe remembered that Steven had been constantly thinking about Annalise since his divorce. He used to visit her every few days. But recently, he hadn''t contacted her for a long time.


    Chloe decided to visit Steven''s house and check on him. She knocked on the door, but no one answered. Thinking Steven might still be working overtime and hadn''t returned, she took out her key and opened the door. Just then, Chloe heard Steven repeatedly calling out Annalise''s name. She assumed Annalise hade over and was arguing with him.


    Chloe immediately frowned and said, "Annalise, you''ve already separated from Steven. Stay away from him! What are you doing sneaking into his house? Isn''t dating Zane enough for you? You still want to get involved with Steven?" As she walked into the living room, she realized Annalise wasn''t there at all. Instead, bottles of alcoholy scattered across the floor.


    Chloe frowned upon noticing the strong smell of alcohol. She asked, "Where''s Annalise?"


    Steven''s mind went nk. It took him a while to process Chloe''s words before he looked up at her and said, "She isn''t here."


    Chloe didn''t believe him at all. "Then why were you calling out Annalise''s name just now? She must want to get back together with you but is too embarrassed to face me. She''s hiding, right?"


    Chloe took out her key, locked the front door, and then began searching for Annalise.


    Steven didn''t attempt to stop her as she searched the house.


    After checking every room and finding no trace of Annalise, Chloe confronted Steven. "Did she sneak out?"


    "You locked the door, didn''t you? How could she leave without a key?" Steveny listlessly on the couch, staring at the ceiling while his mind reyed the scene he had just imagined. It felt so good to be cared for.


    Tears welled up in his eyes again. When Annalise lived here, she always took good care of him. She made breakfast and chose his clothes for the day. When he drank, she''d make soup.


    Annalise was always gentle, never scolding him even when he repeated


    mistakes, only asking him to be 1.9


    more careful next time. Yet he had failed to cherish her.


    Chloe stood stunned for a moment before asking, "Then who were you talking to earlier?"


    "Just myself," Steven replied.


    Upon hearing Steven''s choked voice and seeing his dejected state, Chloe felt a pang of sympathy. "Is Annalise really worth longing for like this?"


    Steven didn''t answer her. "I don''t know, Mom. I just know I can''t control myself."


    "Wait here," Chloe said, striding to the balcony. Remembering Annalise had blocked her, she called her using another phone number.


    ...


    When I saw an unfamiliar number, I answered, "Hello?"


    Chloe''s stern voice came through. "I''ll send you an address. Come over."


    I chuckled. "Why should Ie just because you sent me an address?"


    Chloe snapped, "Because Steven is drunk because of you! Are you satisfied now?"


    I frowned. What kind of madness was this?


    Chloemanded, "You muste


    and take care of him! It''s all your fault. If you had endured when my son cheated and continued to live with him, he wouldn''t have ended up like this! Understand?"


    Chloe''s dislike for me deepened with every word. If Steven hadn''t been pitifully calling my name, she


    wouldn''t have wanted to say another word to me.

 Chapter 575

    The more I listened to her, the more bizarre Chloe sounded.


    I said, "I don''t get it."


    "If you don''t get it, I will exin it to you in detail!" Chloe snarled.


    She continued, "First of all, you have poor tolerance for a woman! Back in my day, no wife would divorce a cheating husband. Wives would carry on with their lives, remaining faithful as they waited for their husbands to turn over a new leaf! Nobody would carelessly choose divorce like you did!"


    Surprised by how brazen Chloe was, I chuckled and said, "Back in your day, nobody divorced because of the cultural restrictions of that time.


    "Even when people were hurt by their marriages, nobody dared to divorce. It was because they feared being mocked and gossiped about. Most importantly, they didn''t have ie, and they may not have survived after getting a divorce. "But now, that era has be history."


    Tired from drawing over the past few hours, I got up and sat on the bed. Rxedly, I said, "Everyone has their own jobs and independent ies. They are not financially dependent on anyone, which naturally makes them independent as individuals. That is the same for me."


    I leaned back and continued, "I don''t care how people may view me or what they say about me. Even after leaving Steven, I''m still living a good life."


    There had been countless moments when I felt relieved that I had divorced Steven. Otherwise, I might have never known how a normal couple should be interacting with each other.


    "That is why there is no reason for me to stay with Steven and endure his mistreatment," I said.


    Upon hearing my words, Chloe got even angrier. She spat, "Do you mean you won''t care about him anymore? Annalise, he became like this because of you!"


    I could tell from Chloe''s words that Steven was in a bad state. Thus, she was trying to guilt-trip me.


    I responded, "But he chose all of this


    himself. He


    me into a corner when I had been


    uncondite to cheat and force


    Since he chose this path himself, he should be responsible for the consequences of his choices."


    That was just how Steven used to be.


    As if I was narrating something


    irrelevant to me, I said calmly. "Ofet I will be responsible et


    course for my


    own choices, too. Chloe, I willnever regret it."


    When Chloe saw how she failed to convince me, she got even angrier. She refused to ept reality!


    Steven had a sessful career.


    After his divorce, he should''ve lived a


    better life, but he was miserable. Chloe believed that I, a woman abandoned by her husband, should be living in misery instead! Yet, I met a man who was even more outstanding than Steven


    It was a difficult pill for Chloe to swallow.


    Chloe took a deep breath and said, "We have a saying that says that a man is the center of a woman''s life..."


    Before Chloe could continue, I interrupted and said, "In my world, I am the center of my life."


    Chloe was speechless.


    I continued, "I''m not going to listen to you, and I won''t believe in what you say. If this is what you want to tell me, then you may end the call now."

 Chapter 576

    I hadn''t hung up the phone because I knew that if Chloe didn''t say everything she wanted to, she would continue to call me with a different number after ending the call. Because of that, I decided to let her finish.


    Meanwhile, Chloe decided to rephrase her words. She said, "You''re happy now, but have you thought about when you''re old?"


    After pondering briefly, I answered, "Even if I''m not happy, I would still be happier than Steven. Don''t you think so?"


    That was not the answer Chloe had expected. Although Chloe wanted to curse at Annalise, she was conscious of how Annalise was no longer her daughter-inw and had no obligation to let her finish.


    If Chloe was too offensive, Annalise wouldn''t bother listening, too. After taking some time to calm down, she continued, "But you abandoned your son. Who''s going to take care of you when you''re old?"


    I answered, "If I remember correctly, both you and Steven abandoned Zachary. Wouldn''t Steven end up the same way as I do? What makes you think he''ll have it better than me?"


    Chloe replied proudly, "That''s because Jessica is pregnant, and it''s my son''s baby. When the child is born, my son will raise the child well."


    I raised my brow at her words. The truth was that I wished, more than anyone else, that Steven would have a good rtionship with the child. The more Steven loved the child, the higher his expectations would be for the child. If the truth was exposed, it would only add to Steven''s disappointment.


    Chloe continued, "Don''t worry; his golden years will be better than yours."


    "If that''s the case, there''s no need for you to contact me, right?" I asked jokingly.


    I couldn''t understand why Chloe came to me. I wondered if she expected to win me over with mere words. But I had never been the one who was in the wrong, which was all the more reason I had to not feel guilty. Upon hearing my words, Chloe froze.


    I said, "He has you and Jessica now. As his ex-wife, he shouldn''t be of my concern."


    Then, I hung up. Feeling like I''ve had enough rest, I put the phone aside and walked to my desk. As I gazed at the drawings that I had justpleted, my mood became more elevated as well.  en


    What could bring more joy than seeing my life improving while my ex-husband''s was falling apart? Nothing, I was sure.


    Just as I was about to resume working, somebody knocked on the door. Since everyone was gone, only Zane and I were home. That meant it could only have been Zane who knocked on the door.


    I got up and opened the door. Gazing at Zane, I asked, "What''s up?" Zane asked hesitantly, "Are you done with your work for the day?"


    Upon hearing that, I suddenly remembered how Zane seemed eager to spend time with me after the others had left. Even though I was busy, I knew that I wouldn''t be able to get much done.


    I chuckled and asked, "Do you want to talk?"


    Zane shyly responded, "Yeah."


    The weather was getting cold. If we went to the balcony, it would be too windy and chilly. I thought it would be better if we stayed where it was warm.


    I walked out of the room and said, "Let''s go downstairs, then."


    Seeing that I didn''t reject him, Zane couldn''t help but smile. He caught up with me and turned on the lights in the living room.


    I followed suit and plopped down on the couch across from him. Then, I threw a meaningful smile at him.


    When Zane met my eyes, he said, "How rare... It''s just the two of us."


    Resting my face on one hand, I asked, "What do you want to talk about?"

 Chapter 577

    With a smile, Zane met the eyes of the woman across from him. When he saw her gentle yetposed gaze, he fell even harder for her. Suddenly, Zane realized why he had feelings for the woman. She was gentle, yet she was strong. It seemed as if she would never be defeated by anything.


    After a short pause, Zane said, "Actually, there isn''t much for us to talk about. We''ve been together for quite some time, and we''ve already talked about all the things that we wanted to talk about. I just want to spend more time with you."


    Upon hearing Zane''s words, I got up and approached him. Zane gestured to me to sit down next to him, and I promptly sat down next to him. He then immediately wrapped his arm around my shoulder.


    I casually picked up the remote control and asked, "Since we don''t have anything to do, should we watch some TV?"


    As I said that, I leaned into Zane''s arms. But suddenly, Zane''s body tensed up before he continued and said, "Sure."


    Sensing his tension, I looked at him in disbelief. After all, we''ve done even more intimate things together. I was surprised at how he was being shy about something so casual.


    Zane asked awkwardly, "What?"


    In response, Iughed and said, "It''s nothing. Let''s watch TV."


    Hearing that, Zane became his usual self. He picked a light-hearted television program, and we exchanged discussions as we watched it together.


    Steven''s head was throbbing, but he forced himself to sit up. Steven asked Chloe, "Did you call Annalise just now?"


    Chloe didn''t want to disappoint Steven. She looked away and answered stiffly, "Yeah."


    However, Steven couldn''t help but be curious about Annalise. He asked, "What did you talk about?"


    When Chloe heard his question, she sighed. She answered, "I don''t know


    how Annalise can be so cold-hearted. I told her about your current state and asked her toe take care of you, but she refused! You used to be a married couple, but..."


    Steven sneered and said mockingly, "I did many horrible things to her. It makes sense that she doesn''t want to forgive me."


    Furthermore, Steven had cheated.


    Even though Annalise found out that he had betrayed her, she was willing to give him another chance for their son''s sake, but Steven didn''t


    appreciate that opportunity


    "Now, she wants topletely cut ties with me forever. Why would she even want toe take care of a drunkard?" Steven asked as tears streamed down his face.


    When Chloe saw Steven''s tears, she became even angrier. Chloe snarled, "Why are you still defending her?"


    Steven suddenly felt tired from hearing Chloe''s voice. He said, "Mom, stop interfering with my matters; I''ll handle them myself. You can go home."


    Chloe stood up and eximed, "How is that possible? I only have one son! Do you know how upset I am when I see you getting drunk over a woman?"


    "I know," said Steven, closing his eyes. Steven was not emotionally stable, yet Chloe continued to provoke him with confrontational words.


    Steven missed the time when he


    was with Annalise. Back then, he didn''t have to worry about anything, and Annalise would get everything sorted for him. When all Steven had to do every day was focus on his job, he could live veryfortably.

 Chapter 578

    Steven felt a piercing pain in his chest. He said, "In the past, I was an obedient son. When you told me that Annalise was bad and Jessica was good, I believed in you. I distanced myself from Annalise and got closer to Jessica, but look at how things have be." After barely propping himself up to a sitting position, Steven gazed at Chloe.


    He snarled, "In the end, Annalise left me and found a better man. Meanwhile, all I can do is sit at home in misery and think about her!"


    Chloe hadn''t expected Steven to suddenlysh out.


    She said awkwardly, "Well, I didn''t know you liked Annalise. It seemed to us that you were reluctantly living with Annalise and that you only had eyes for Jessica. If Annalise wasn''t your wife, you would''ve reunited with Jessica. I thought you loved Jessica..." Hearing that, Stevenughed at himself mockingly. That meant he was fully responsible for how things had be, and there was no one else to me. Steven looked away.


    However, Chloe continued nonchntly, "You''re unhappy now because Annalise found a better man and is living a better life after divorce. If she didn''t meet Zane Huxham and could only work as a waitress or kitchen assistant, would you still be so regretful?" Steven tried to imagine what Chloe described. He imagined himself driving an expensive car to dinner, only to encounter Annalise who was working at the restaurant as a waitress. He also imagined Annalise painstakingly washing stacks of dishes.


    At that thought, Steven felt a sharp pain in his chest again. He knew full well that a woman like Annalise would never fall into the kind of misery as Chloe described.


    Annalise was a university graduate; she was emotionally stable and had good character. Even when she was a housewife, she took good care of the family. If Annalise had any intentions to do so, she could work as a housekeeper, and she would still be highly sought- after.


    Even if Annalise was not interested


    in working as a housekeeper and chose to work in other industries, she wou do her best to excel.. Regardless of whether she met


    Zane, she would live a good life.


    Steven didn''t dare to dwell longer on it. In every version of Steven''s imagination, he realized that Annalise could thrive without a man. Ultimately, she would give up on him.


    Chloe got up and said, "Just you wait. I''ll go to Zane Huxham''s office and tell him to break up with Annalise. That would do the job, right?"


    Steven found it funny how confident Chloe was. It sounded as if Zane would obey her; Zane was not rted to Chloe, so there was no reason for him to do as she said. Not wanting to waste more time with Chloe, Steven said, "Go ahead."


    Chloe patted Steven on the shoulder and said, "Look. Annalise married you after graduating from university. After getting a divorce, she''s now with Zane Huxham. What does that mean? That means she cannot live without a man."  enk


    As Chloe continued, she began to walk out. She said, "Annalise ims to be independent and made a living for herself, but all of that is done on the condition that there is a man to protect her. Without a man, she is nothing."


    As the noise faded from the room, silence fell.


    Steven stared at the ceiling nkly. He felt something was wrong with him. No matter what he looked at, he would see Annalise''s face.


    Steven closed his eyes.

 Chapter 579

    The phone rang. Steven reached for the phone and nced at the caller ID. It was Jessica.


    With his eyes shut, Steven asked weakly, "Do you need something from me?"


    "Of course. You''re not doing too welltely, aren''t you? You''re the father of my child. I just wanted to know how you''re doing. Are you okay?" Jessica asked.


    Steven answered half-heartedly, "I''m okay."


    Jessica had been thinking about everything that had happened between her and Steven. Before that, Jessica believed that Steven actually loved Annalise. But after thinking back, Jessica realized Steven''s change was too sudden.


    When Steven was still married to Annalise, he would work during the day and take Zachary to Jessica''s house after work. They would stay at Jessica''s house until thete hours of the night. Even after he got home, he would call Jessica and spend a long time talking over the phone.


    But everything changed after he divorced Annalise.


    Steven, who used to be reluctant to spend any time with Annalise, suddenly realized how Annalise loved him and began to distance himself from Jessica.


    Jessica couldn''t understand when Steven had fallen for Annalise. She wondered if Steven had loved Annalise since the beginning yet was unaware of his own feelings despite knowing that Annalise loved him.


    She also wondered if Steven had cheated on Annalise so unapologetically because he believed that Annalise would tolerate anything he did. However, Jessica didn''t dare to question Steven.


    While caressing her belly, Jessica asked, "Did you drink?"


    Steven answered emotionlessly, "A little."


    "I told you I don''t like men who drink," Jessica said in a yful tone.


    But as if he didn''t notice her cute tone, Steven asked, "What does that have to do with me? Jessica, I''m willing to give you money because you are the mother of my child-not because I love you."


    Upon hearing that, Jessica looked at her belly. She was not bearing Steven''s child. Now that Steven hag


    lost his feelings for her, hehen


    stop giving her any money if found out that the child did not


    belong to him.


    Jessica needed a n-a way to make Steven willingly spend on the child even after learning the truth. Though her mind raced for a solution, she continued to speak woefully. She asked, "Don''t you love me anymore?"


    However, Steven was silent. Jessica had a bad feeling.


    After a long silence, Steven said, "I will still see you as a friend, but I don''t have any romantic feelings for you anymore."


    Having an idea of how she can deal with Steven, Jessica''s lips curled. She said, "This makes me feel very insecure When you were angry, you abandoned Zachary. Would it be possible that one day, you might also abandon me and the baby?"


    Steven was taken aback. He never considered that before.


    Jessica continued, "What''s going to happen to me and the baby? Must I find another man to support us?


    "Steven, I hope that my baby can live in a stable environment. I don''t want him to be living in an environment where he may suddenly not have food or shelter. Do you understand me?"

 Chapter 580

    Steven could tell that Jessica was concerned for the baby. At the thought of how his child might end up in the state that Jessica described, Steven felt upset. At the same time, he thought of Zachary. Ever since thest conversation with Zachary ended on a bad note, Steven stopped sending money. Steven also stopped paying Harry his sry.


    Then, he wondered if Zachary was paying Harry. However, Zachary was a child. Where would he find the money to do so?


    Steven felt as if his brain had stopped working. After a long pause, he finally said, "I understand. But Jessica, I just had some drinks, and my brain is a mess. I can''t think of so many things. Let''s talk after I''m sobered up." "Okay," Jessica said woefully. After hanging up, she gazed at the phone screen with a meaningful expression on her face.


    Now that Steven had parted ways with Zachary if Steven was still fertile, he could find another woman to bear his child even after discovering that it was not his baby. The only way for Steven to be dependent on the child that Jessica conceived was to make sure that this would be his only child for the rest of his life.


    Jessica couldn''t help but smirk. She formted a n, and she was ready to propose it to Steven tomorrow. Jessica knew that Steven and Chloe would not agree to her suggestion, but it didn''t matter. She had many ways to convince them both.


    After moving into Yvonne''s house, Shane felt like he was in a dream. As his eyes fell on Yvonne, Shane thought she really loved him. After all, if it weren''t for love, she wouldn''t allow an unfamiliar man to move into her house. However, Shane thought the house was too small. As he looked around the house with a frown, Shane thought Yvonne''s house couldn''t even measure up to his closet. He wondered how anyone could live in a ce like this. Shane asked, "Do you live in this tiny house every day?"


    Yvonne thought that a rich man like Shane, who was ustomed to living in a mansion, wouldn''t like her tiny house. She said eagerly, "Yeah!"


    "He must be ufortable living here. He''ll ask to move out, right?" Yvonne thought happily.


    However, Shane took a deep breath and tried to convince himself. He had nowhere else to go, and having a ce to stay was more than he Could ask for.


    Shane sat on the couch and said, "In that case, I guess I''ll have to make do and live here for a short while."


    When Yvonne heard that, she stared


    at Shane in disbelief. She couldn''t understand why he was


    Yvonne silently criticized Shane in her mind but refrained from actually saying anything out loud. Shane politely remarked, "Your house is very neat and cozy. I can tell that you have very good taste." Yvonne was so baffled that she almostughed. She responded, "Thank you for thepliment." Shane answered nonchntly, "You''re wee."


    Even though Yvonne was set on taking advantage of Shane, she


    almost couldn''t control herself


    rolling her eyes. Yvonne got up and headed to the kitchen.


    Working at Huxham Corporation meant Yvonne could get off work early every day. Because of that, she developed the habit of cooking dinner at home. Shane followed her to the kitchen and asked, "Do you need me to do anything?"


    Hearing that, Yvonne turned around and looked at Shane. If she let Shane live at her house for free, he might just fall in love with the ce.


    After giving it some thought, Yvonne asked, "Do you know how to cook?"


    By suggesting that Shane help with chores, Yvonne hoped he would prefer living elsewhere and eventually decide to move out.

 Chapter 581

    Without much thought, Shane answered, "No. My family has housekeepers, so they do all the chores. I never had to do any chores." Yvonne knew that Shane would need time to learn how to cook. She took the ingredients out of the refrigerator and then gestured for Shane toe over. "Come here."


    Shane obediently walked up to Yvonne. She taught him how to cut up the vegetables for cooking; when he was done, she taught him how to wash the vegetables. He learned diligently without anyints. Shane stole a nce at Yvonne-he suddenly thought she looked more charming than any other woman he knew, and he felt his heart flutter uncontrobly.


    Retracting his gaze, Shane focused on washing the vegetables. Once he was done, he said, "I''m done with the vegetables. What''s next?"


    "Let me handle it," Yvonne said, putting the vegetables aside to be chopped up. She continued, "You must be tired from doing all the work. You can rest in the living room."


    "Sure."


    Shane sat on the couch in the living room. As he gazed at Yvonne''s figure, he pondered on what Sasha said to him.


    Sasha said that he should find a job, and she asked if he wanted to be financially dependent on a woman. At that time, Shane couldn''t understand what Sasha meant. But now, he finally got it.


    If Shane were to marry Yvonne, that would mean she had to do chores on top of having a job. But what about Shane? He would be useless.


    Shane couldn''t ept that; he was determined to think of a way to earn money. He casually opened his wallet only to see that it was filled with various membership cards. Suddenly, Shane had an idea of what he could do.


    Many people would dream of getting connected to the upper ss, yet they didn''t have the means to do so. After all, high-end social clubs required adequate financial resources and certain levels of social standing.


    Shane thought of utilizing his membership cards to help other people ess social clubs and meet people that they want to. Then, he could gain some benefits from there. At that thought, Shane smiled.


    Before Shane fell out with his father, he had ess to these social clubs and had many membership cards. However Shane knew that the social clubs had strict entry rules. He wasn''t


    snt sure which would allow him to enter, so he verified that by contacting them individually.


    When a social club denied his entry, Shane would request to cancel his membership. The club would process the cancetion instead of trying to convince him to stay.


    On the other hand, Shane kept the


    membership cards to the social clubs that allowed him to enter.


    There were a handful that allowedt


    his ess, yet they expressed hesitance-Shane canceled those memberships as well. They were


    quick to refund his membership fee.


    When Shane saw the money returned to him, he was in disbelief. He didn''t realize he spent so much money on membership cards; he also realized he was such a prodigal son in the past. Shaneughed at himself.


    Before his rtionship with his


    father fell apart, Shane never thought much of the money he had But ever since Carlisle publicly cut ties with him, he hade to appreciate therge amount of money he had. He may never be


    able to earn that much money on his


    own.


    Yvonne was busy cooking in the kitchen when she overheard Shane''s phone calls. He was talking about things that she didn''t understand.


    She quickly nced at Shane before looking away, leaving him be. After all, Shane''s business had nothing to do with her.

 Chapter 582

    Shane mulled over the challenges that Carlisle''spany had with their cash flow. Although he couldn''t be of much help, Shane figured he should send Carlisle now that he had some money. At that thought, he sent half the money he received to Carlisle. Almost instantly, Carlisle called. He said, "I thought you didn''t have any money. Why did you give me so much money all of a sudden? Where did that moneye from?"


    Shane could sense Carlisle''s concern over the phone. In the past, Shane was too immature, and that infuriated Carlisle. Yet, Carlisle was still concerned about Shane, fearing that Shane might actually sever ties with him.


    Shane felt touched and couldn''t articte his emotions. He said, "Well, I had a lot of membership cards. Some of them told me that I''m no longer eligible to ess their clubs, so I canceled my membership with them."


    Shane continued embarrassedly, "I was expecting to get a few million dors at most, but I hadn''t expected them to refund so much money. I know thepany isn''t doing too well, so I thought I should send some money for backup." Shane sounded happy as he said that.


    Just days ago, Carlisle was angry with Shane. But now that Shane was being so thoughtful, Carlisle couldn''t help but feel his heart soften.


    He couldn''t stop thinking about how Shane was living alone out there. Shane never worked a day in his life, and he should be running out of money very soon. Without anyone monitoring Shane, Carlisle was curious to know how Shane was doing. However, Carlisle figured that Shane probably wasn''t doing too well. Otherwise, somebody as prideful as Shane would never cancel his club memberships.


    Carlisle asked, "Did you keep some money for yourself?"


    Shane answered happily, "I kept a little. Don''t worry, Dad. I won''t starve myself."


    Carlisle had initially decided to only allow Shane toe home after he turned over a new leaf. But now, Carlisle thought Shane had made substantial changes.


    Carlisle said, "If you can''t get used to living away from home, you cane back. There will always be a ce for you at home."


    answered, "I''m okay for now, I more life ext


    living away from home. I


    enjoy wanted gain


    to take this opportunit


    Carlisle couldn''t express how he felt-he had always wanted Shane to grow. But now that Shane was rapidly maturing, Carlisle found himself wallowing in a bittersweet mix of emotions.


    Carlisle said, "Okay. Let''s do as you say."


    After hanging up, Carlisle called Justin and said, "Find out how Shane has been living ever since I cut ties with him." "Roger that."


    As Shane ended the call with Carlisle, Yvonne emerged from the kitchen with a dish in hand. She asked nonchntly, "Were you on the phone with your dad?"


    Shane hurriedly got up and went to the kitchen, answering, "Yeah."


    The thought of Shane potentially leaving filled Yvonne with joy. She asked, "What did you talk about?"


    "Work stuff. I n to get a job and earn money," Shane answered, not wanting to hide from Yvonne.


    Shane continued, "I can''t just live here and expect you to pay for my living expenses."


    For the first time in his life, Shane felt useless. After all, Yvonne cooked her own meals.


    But when Yvonne heard Shane''s words, she stared at him in surprise. As Shane set the table in the living room, he met Yvonne''s eyes.


    "What?"

 Chapter 583

    Yvonne was surprised by Shane''s words. Just earlier today, Shane still seemed like an idle rich kid, but he suddenly became so motivated.


    With a smile, Yvonne said, "I didn''t expect you to go looking for a job."


    Yvonne thought Shane would eventually grow tired of living with someone else after receiving his first paycheck. Then, he would eventually rent a ce and move out on his own. At that thought, Yvonne couldn''t help but smile. She remarked, "Not bad; that''s an improvement."


    Shane sat down by the dining table and lowered his gaze. Upon hearing Yvonne''s words, his mood became better. He thought that Sasha was right-Yvonne had feelings for him.


    He had only just begun living life like an average man, yet Yvonne had praised him. She had low expectations for him.


    Shane silently swore that no matter what happened in the future, he would work hard to provide Yvonne with a better lifestyle. He promised to never betray Yvonne.


    Over the meal, Yvonne stole nces at Shane. After a while, she finally made up her mind to ask a question.


    "May I know what your rtionship is with Sasha Weston?"


    Shane was enjoying his food when he heard Yvonne''s question. He immediately looked up at her.


    Feeling his gaze, Yvonne looked away ufortably. She felt regretful for asking that question. After all, Shane and Sasha shared the same social circle, and Yvonne assumed they were closer than Shane was with her.


    Now that she had suddenly brought up Sasha in the conversation, having harbored thoughts of getting Shane''s help to deal with Sasha, Yvonne wished she hadn''t asked the question. She was confident that Shane would never help her!


    While Yvonne was thinking of changing the topic, Shane was silently giddy about Yvonne''s question. He believed that Yvonne was afraid he might have feelings for Sasha and might never fall in love with her; hence, she beat around the bush by asking that question. In response, Shane put on a serious face and said, "It''s so-so."


    Hearing that, Yvonne expressed, "Huh?"


    "I used to be fond of her," Shane said.


    Even though Shane could hide it from Yvonne, if she wanted to look into it, she would be able to find out about it. Because of that, Shane decided to be honest with Yvonne.


    He continued, "After I confessed to her, she was hesitant. Later, I trusted what my friends said, and I believed that she loved me.


    "With no other women fighting for my attention, Sasha never felt a sense of urgency. I decided to find a stand-in lover to provoke Sasha."


    At that time, Shane thought his friends were right. But now that he thought about it again, he realized how ridiculous his friends'' advice was.


    "But after I listened to them and found a stand-in lover, Sasha stopped talking to me." Shane eximed, "Sasha''s pretty normal."


    Yvonne had initially expected Shane and Sasha to have a long history together. But after hearing Shane''s story, she realized that their rtionship was very shallow. Yvonne chuckled and said, "You''re right."


    At the thought of Sasha, Shane said, "Now that I see how well she''s living, I''m honestly a little envious. We were both brought up in a rich


    Qui


    environment. After my father cut ties with me, I''ve only been able to get support from my friends.


    "Sasha''s parents still dote on her, but she was willing to find a job. She adjusted to a more modest lifestyle of only having 20,000 dors to spend in a month and even found enjoyment in it."  en


    Shane couldn''t help but feel dejected, wondering if he could measure up to Sasha.

 Chapter 584

    Shane refused to ept the fact that he couldn''t measure up to Sasha.


    Yvonne hurriedly said, "You just haven''t found something that is enjoyable andpatible for you. When you find it, you''ll do even better than Sasha!"


    Initially, Yvonne was worrying about how she could get Shane to cause more trouble for Sasha. This was the perfect opportunity!


    Trying to conceal her joy, Yvonne pretended to casually ask, "Sasha probably likes you, too. Why don''t you try winning her over? If you date, you can learn her strategies for sess."


    As Shane gazed at Yvonne, he found her thoughtful expression particrly endearing.


    From Shane''s perspective, Yvonne liked him, yet she was asking him to pursue Sasha. He thought she must have been extremely jealous when she said that.


    Shane thought that If he told Yvonne that he would consider dating Sasha, Yvonne may just cry. Shane didn''t know what it was like to truly love somebody, but he knew that he didn''t want to make the person who liked him cry. He said, "Don''t worry. I won''t pursue her."


    Yvonne was confused when she heard that. Her n would only seed if Shane pursued Sasha; if Shane gave up on pursuing Sasha, there was no way Yvonne could stop worrying!


    Shane continued, "Right now, I want to focus on my career. As for rtionships, I''ll wait until after I earn more money."


    "I see," said Yvonne.


    Feeling slightly disappointed, Yvonne told herself that some things could not be rushed. Since she was not close to Shane, he wouldn''tply if she suddenly requested him to do such things.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at around 10:00 pm, Milton and Dorothy arrived at their destination with the children. After getting settled, they updated their status in the group chat. Dorothy wrote, "We''ve arrived."


    Then, she sent two pictures of the two children soundly asleep. Dorothy was bunking with the children for the night. Meanwhile, Milton was sharing a room with their chauffeur.


    When I heard the notification, I immediately checked the group chat. When I saw the pictures of the children, my gaze softened unconsciously.


    I replied, "They''re asleep already?"


    Dorothy responded, "Yeah. They


    were excited on the way here and used up too much energy. When we arrived, they immediately fell asleep. I wiped them down so both of you don''t have to worry."


    Suzy asked, "Are you sure the both of you can handle two children? If you can''t, would you want me toe over to help?"


    In response, Dorothy sent a voice note, saying, "It''s okay. They''re both very mature and well-mannered. The both of you can rest easy."


    With that, Suzy replied, "Okay, then."


    Immediately after, Suzy texted me and wrote, "This is the first time my daughter has been away from me, since I took her over from my ex-husband. I''m proud of how independent she is at such a young age, but there''s also some mixed feelings about it."


    As I read Suzy''s text, I could empathize with how she felt. I replied, "It''s the same for me, too. But when I think about it again, J know that our children will


    ver


    swney


    eventually grow up and leave us.


    "It would be better for us to get used to farewells when they are still young. That way, when they grow older, it won''t be too unfamiliar for us." Suzy chuckled to herself and replied, "You''re right. We need to give our children room to grow independently instead of clinging on too tightly. "Otherwise, when they grow older, they will be giant babies who don''t know any better. If that happens, it will be troublesome for us."

 Chapter 585

    Iughed and replied, "It''s good that you''ve thought things through."


    Suzy replied cheerfully, "I think about these things when I have free time. I should take this opportunity to catch up on work."


    When Suzy stopped replying, I turned to Zane and asked, "What do you think about Willow traveling with her maternal grandparents?"


    Since Zane raised Willow by himself, he would have a deeper bond with her. I was curious if Zane found it hard to part with Willow just as I did.


    Without hesitation, Zane answered, "When she grows up, she''ll take over thepany. At that point, she won''t have time to travel freely.


    "Now that she has that time to travel, she should enjoy it to the fullest. Whether it''s with us or her grandparents, what matters is that she enjoys herself."


    I nodded and said, "You''re right. Leisure time is limited in life, and we should appreciate times like that."


    Zane gazed at me and responded, "That''s right."


    Then, I checked the time with my phone-it was past 10:00 pm. I got up and said, "I''m getting sleepy. I''m going to go to bed now."


    Upon hearing that, Zane felt a little regretful, but he didn''t say anything. He simply said, "Alright."


    But as I walked away, he followed behind me. I stopped outside the bedroom and gazed at Zane before I joked, "It''s such a short distance. Did you really need to follow me?" Zane answered earnestly, "Yes."


    When I saw that, I looked serious and said, "This is enough. It''ll be rude if you escort me any further."


    Zane didn''t argue with me. Instead, he said, "Every moment spent with you counts, even if it''s only for a second."


    I paused. At that moment, I suddenly realized that people who had mutual feelings would want to be together all the time.


    Meanwhile, Steven and I only spent


    a few hours together after he got home from work. He refused toe home immediately, and he would spend a lot of time outside. That showed how little affection he had for me. Yet, Steven imed that


    he loved me.


    I wrapped my arms around Zane; he hugged me back and gently patted me on the back. When I pulled away, I tip-toed andnded a gentle kiss on his cheek. I said, "Good night."


    "Mm-hmm."


    ...


    After getting into my room, I


    continued my thoughts from before.


    get


    When I did the math, I realized Steven and I did not spend a lot time together. During the day, he would be at work. In the evening, after he got off work, he would spend time with Jessica and his friends.


    The marriage did not affect his lifestyle. To him, having a wife did not make much of a difference. I was the only person trapped in that marriage. As a housewife, I gave my all to the family and was busy with chores. Meanwhile, they happily enjoyed my service.


    At that thought, I chuckled as Iy in bed.


    I concluded that no matter who it is for, one should never give their all and show unconditional kindness to the person they love. At the very least, one should learn to love themselves before loving others.


    After Chloe left, Steveny on the couch alone. Without the noise around, his world was terrifyingly silent.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 586

    Steven''s head throbbed, but it couldn''tpare to the heartache he felt.


    When Steven recalled the days he spent with Annalise, he suddenly realized that Annalise had been looking out for him all along. Meanwhile, he had never cared for Annalise. Even after Annalise gave birth to their son, he evaded his responsibilities as a husband and father, using work as an excuse.


    Annalise was considerate of the pressure he was under. She never once asked him to take care of their son. As a wife, Annalise was amazing; as a mother, she was exemry.


    From the beginning until the end, Steven was the only person who failed.


    At that realization, Steven let out a bitterugh at himself. Suddenly, a distant memory rushed back to him.


    Steven remembered the time Annalise had to deliver the baby when he had just made some money. He feared that paying for Annalise''s childbirth would cause financial problems for thepany. If thepany didn''t have enough funds, it could lead to unexpected crises.


    Ultimately, Annalise had to bear the costs the childbirth alone.


    Steven felt ashamed.


    At that time, Annalise was pregnant. She came from a distant ce, married him, and moved in with him. Annalise had no way to earn money.


    Steven had previously thought his behavior eptable. But now, he realized how absurd it had been. With trembling hands, Steven took out his phone and called Annalise from a new number.


    "Hello?" Steven said in a trembling voice.


    He couldn''t believe all the things he had done to hurt Annalise. He refused to ept how he had


    mistreated Annalise. Overwhelmed with his emotions, Steven struggled to catch his breath.


    ...


    After years of living with Steve, I recognized his voice instantly. ncing at the number, I realized it was an unknown contact.


    Confused, I asked, "What''s up?"


    Steven said, "When you gave birth to Zachary, I didn''t give you any money. How did you afford your medical bills?"


    As Steven asked that question, it felt as though he was stabbing himself in the heart.


    I hadn''t expected him to bring this up. I replied, "I earned it myself."


    "But ever since you married me, you had to take care of me. You were pregnant, too. Where did you find time to work?" Steven asked, tearing up.


    Recently, Steven had been reflecting on all that had happened between him, Jessica, and Annalise.


    When he was with Jessica, she had grown ustomed to living avish lifestyle. She never thought about saving; a single piece of jewelry cost more than everything Steven spent on Annalise during their years together.


    Later, they hired a nanny to take care of Zachary. The nanny didn''t have to bear any expenses, and her sry


    amounted to more than what Steven had ever given Annalise, yet thetter had done so much more for the family than the nanny ever did.


    Steven realized he might never be able to repay what he owed Annalise in his lifetime.


    When I heard Steven''s choked-up voice, I found it ironic. When we were together, he never seemed to care. Now that Zachary was older and we


    and we were separated, he suddenly started to care.


    I answered nonchntly, "Well, I just made time. There''s always time, isn''t there?"


    Steven couldn''t help but ask, "Were you never tired?"


    "Of course I''m tired," I replied, not denying it.


    I added, "But I''m d I persisted. Otherwise, I wouldn''t have had the money for my medical bills when I went intobor."


    Steven was speechless. Other women could rely on their husbands when they went intobor, but what about Steven?

 Chapter 587

    Steven waspletely undependable.


    I continued to say, "There was one thing I never quite figured out: when we first started dating, I was considerate and tried to save money for your sake. But somehow, I was made to feel unworthy."


    Annalise''s voice was calm yet cold. It sounded as if she was narrating a story unrted to her. But when Steven heard her, he felt pain in his chest.


    "I''m sorry."


    I asked nonchntly, "Don''t you think it''s toote to talk about this now? When I needed money and somebody to care for me, you didn''t treat me as your wife. You only saw me as an enemy.


    "Even when I went intobor, you thought it was simply something that I wanted and that I should be responsible for it myself. You refused to support me."


    I thought I had forgotten all that had happened. But when Steven brought them up, I realized I still remember it all. I had simply chosen not to think about it because my current life was so fulfilling. Steven paused. Then, he sobbed uncontrobly. He realized that I was stating the truth.


    I continued, "But now, those are all things of the past. There is no need for us to be trapped in our unpleasant memories of the past.


    "I''ve moved on, and I hope you can move on, too. Live a new life, and don''t disturb me." Then, I hung up the phone.


    ...


    Steven sobbed, clutching his phone. Other men treated their partners well. After they got married, they would shower their partners with love, but why couldn''t Steven do the same?


    Steven couldn''t understand himself either. He never gave Annalise love or money. Instead, he criticized her countlessly.


    Steven cried his heart out. He wondered how much Annalise loved him to tolerate all that he had done.


    I was about to go to bed when my


    phone screen


    rang. I quickly nced at the


    and saw that my ex-boss, Webb, had called.


    belongs to en.kikiston


    I answered the call, "Hello?" At the same time, I logged onto a group chat and wrote, "Mr. Webb suddenly called me. Do you all know


    up?


    When they saw my message, everyone began discussing. "What else could it be?"


    wnat''s


    "After he kicked you out of thepany, he offended the other core members of the team. In the end, the terminated all the good talents."


    "Only the bootlickers were left. Now, thepany is on the verge of closing down..."


    "That''s why he started to contact the people he fired previously. He''s trying to see if he can employ them again."


    I joked, "Did any of you go back, then?"


    "Of course not!"


    Everyone was united. They wrote, "Any job out there would be better than working under him. Why would


    I go back?"


    "I would be an idiot for going back."


    The discussion grew heated. Just then, Mr. Webb spoke. He asked, "How have you been?"

 Chapter 588

    Knowing his intentions, I didn''t want to spend too much time talking to Mr. Webb.


    I replied, "I''m doing okay."


    When Steven and I divorced, I didn''t take anything with me. All I did was request a month''s sry in advance. Not only did he reject my request, but he also lectured me.


    He told me that the economy was bad and imed it was merciful of him to be willing to hire a housewife like me. He questioned how I dared to ask for a month''s sry in advance. Mr. Webb also said that if he made an exception for me, it wouldplicate things if other people did the same next time.


    Then, he used me of being selfish and that I did not have thepany''s best interest. Because of that, I resigned.


    When I resigned, Mr. Webb also said that employees like me were not beneficial to thepany. If I left, it meant they would have extra capacity to hire even better employees. And yet, here he was now, trying to poach me again.


    Mr. Webb asked in disbelief, "You''re doing well? Are you sure you''re not lying? I remember people said


    that your husband treated you poorly and that he doesn''t give you any allowance..."


    Mr. Webb was aware of my situation, but he was unwilling to help me. It was because he was certain that even if he rejected my request and refused to help, I would still not leave thepany.


    I chuckled and replied, "That was true in the past."


    Mr. Webb asked, "Does he treat you better now?"


    I replied honestly, "No, but I got a divorce."


    Hearing that, Mr. Webb sounded happier. He asked, "Does that mean you cane to work now?"


    I had a great work ethic. In the past, I couldn''t work in the office and had to work from home. Even then, f.did a great job at my work. Once a task was assigned to me, they didn''t have to


    orry about it.


    en


    I recalled my work arrangements at Huxham Corporation, and then I said, "Yes."


    Mr. Webb asked, "In that case, can youe to work tomorrow? But let me be upfront with you.


    "Since you''ve resigned from ourpany before, we won''t be able to offer you a high sry now that you''re returning. We''ll offer you the same rate as when you first joined us."


    It was clear he wanted me back as cheapbor.


    I immediately rejected him. I said, "Mr. Webb, I haven''t agreed yet. It''s not very polite of you to jump into these arrangements now, don''t you think?"


    Noticing my icy tone, Mr. Webb advised me and said, "It''s very kind of me to be willing to give you a job, Annalise You must know that


    housewives find it hard to


    reintegrate into society. Even if thet


    found a job, it would only be the kind of job with basic responsibilities and the lowest pay.


    "I''m only willing to hire you into an important department of the


    el.no


    Then, Mr. Webb added proudly, "Give it some thought."


    I chuckled. I could tell that Mr. Webb never respected any of his employees.

 Chapter 589

    Now that Mr. Webb''spany was on the verge of closing down, he spoke more politely with me. However, he could not hide his arrogance.


    If I returned to work with him, by the time hispany recovers, he may think of ways to kick me out of thepany again. I could see through his ns.


    I asked, "Should I be more direct? Mr. Webb, I have a new job, and I have no ns to work for you again.''


    Billy asked in disbelief, "How is that possible? You left our team not too long ago, and you barely have any working experience.


    "Your current boss must be an idiot to be willing to hire you. Or could it be that you joined a smallpany?"


    Those were Mr. Webb''s true thoughts. He looked down on me, convinced that nobody but him would hire me.


    I said nonchntly, "If Huxham Corporation can be considered as a smallpany, then yes."


    Mr. Webb sneered and said, "Everyone knows Huxham Corporation has high standards for hiring. Why would they even hire you?"


    It was clear that Mr. Webb looked down on me, but I didn''t let it bother me. When he was my boss, he had said worse things. I knew his true colors would show, but I hadn''t expected his disguise to fail so soon.


    I smiled and said calmly, "Maybe it''s because Huxham Corporation doesn''t ce as many restrictions as you do that they continue to thrive."


    Upon hearing that, Mr. Webb became furious and snarled, "So what if you got epted? You won''tst long. I''m sure you''ll get fired!"


    "Even if Huxham Corporation fires me, I won''t work for you again. After all, nobody likes a cold-hearted boss," I said firmly.


    In response, Mr. Webb sneered and said, "Don''te back, then. Ourpany won''t close down just because you''re not around!"


    I found the situation funny. If his


    of


    closing down, he wouldn''t have contacted me. But I didn''t say more and calmly replied, "All the best to yourpany, then."


    As Billy listened to the beeping tone of the ended call, he narrowed his eyes white he gazed at the phone screen. He wondered if Annalise actually got hired by Huxham Corporation.


    en


    The more he thought about it, the more curious he became. He immediately called his friend to ask about Annalise''s current status.


    "Is Annalise really working for Huxham Corporation?"


    His friend answered, "You didn''t know before? I thought everyone in our circle knew what happened between Annalise and Mr. Huxham."


    Billy asked curiously, "What happened between them?"


    His friend said, "Annalise and Mr. Huxham are a couple, and he treasures her a lot. He set up a newpany specifically to manage her projects."


    Billy hadn''t expected Zane to be the source of Annalise''s confidence and resolve. He felt conflicted.


    He asked, "Say, should I request Mr. Huxham''s contact details from Annalise? After all, if I get to make connections with Huxham Corporation, mypany will recover immediately."


    In response, his friend said, "I would advise you to stop daydreaming. Mr. Huxham is very fond of Annalise. you try too hard to approach Mr. Huxham, and he learns about what you did to Annalise, he may just bankrupt you."


    Billy grumbled, "Really? That''s exaggerating."


    Seeing that Billy didn''t believe him, the friend said, "You can try. But if Mr. Huxham does anything to you, don''t say I never warned you."

 Chapter 590

    It was only now that truly felt the weight of regret.


    "If I''d gotten along with Annalise back then, maybe she would''ve put in a good word with Mr. Huxham," he said. "And maybe mypany wouldn''t be facing all this now."


    Picking up on the regret in his voice, the person on the other end of the line responded, "Why did you even do it if you''re going to regret it now?"


    ...


    Standing by the balcony, Carlisle stared out into the distance. Since Shane had shattered his heart, he''d been looking to his extended family''s children to find a sessor for thepany. But they weren''t his, and their perspectives were narrow and were driven by short-term gains.


    The moment an opportunity arose, they diverted money to their families. They never once thought of thepany or its future. Carlisle eventually sent them all home.


    He had been wondering if he should reconsider his search among the extended family for a potential heir when Shane''s money transfer arrived. He checked the bnce on his phone and thought to himself that Shane really did know how to show he cared.


    Carlisle couldn''t help but wish Shane would wise up soon, return home, and take charge of thepany to relieve him of some of the weight.


    Just then, his phone rang. He saw Justin''s name pop up and answered promptly, "Hello?"


    Justin delivered his report without hesitation. "The investigation is done. Shane''s managing fine for now. He''s been freeloading meals, and his friends have been amodating. But he..."


    Justin''s words trailed off.


    Carlisle felt a flicker of unease, but with his experience in handling all kinds of situations, he said nonchntly, "Go ahead, just say what you need to."


    "He''sining that the meals he''s been treated to aren''t fancy enough," Justin said.


    Even he couldn''t wrap his head around it. What was there toin about when someone else was footing the bill? Shouldn''t Shane just appreciate the meal he was given?


    "The meals his friends bought him weren''t exactly cheap, though," Justin added. "I''ve sent you a list of what he''s been eating. You can take a look."


    Carlisle opened the conversation window with Justin and quickly saw that a single meal cost tens of thousands. His brow twitched. Was that still not enough for Shane?


    Justin continued, "One of his friends even paid for him to stay at a hotel, but Shane wasn''t happy with it, iming it was too cheap. From what i can tell, though, it costs at least ten thousand a night.


    Carlisle was left speechless, his mind reeling. Even when Shane was at his lowest, his friends were still stepping up to help-that was true friendship. And yet, Shane had the nerve toin.


    He rubbed his temples. It seemed Shane still needed to experience more hardship before he''d change. "I had intended to bring him back home," Carlisle said. "But it seems he''ll need to tough it out for a bit longer."


    "He met with Sasha afterward,"


    Justin said. "I''m not sure what went


    down between them, but he seemed to have changed after that. He moved into a friend''s


    ce someone with a modest background-and now he''s set on finding a job."


    Carlisle perked up. "Do you think it''s because Sasha agreed to be with him? That could be why he''s changed."


    Justin hesitated for a moment before responding, "I don''t think that''s the case."


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 Chapter 591

    "From what I''ve gathered, Sasha doesn''t seem have any interest in Shane," Justin exined. "In fact, she started disliking him when he started looking for someone else to take her ce. And..."


    He hesitated for a moment, then finally decided to be upfront. "If she really cared about him, there''s no way she''d let him move in with another woman. I''m starting to think it was Sasha who told him to move in with her."


    Carlisle looked skeptical. "You''re sure about that?"


    "I''m not sure," Justin said. "All I know is that after talking to Sasha, he ended up moving in with someone else. I''m just guessing based on that."


    He shared everything he knew with Carlisle, who quickly understood that Shane had only just begun to show improvement. Bringing him home too soon might undo everything, so letting Shane endure a bit more hardship seemed like the best course.


    Carlisle paced restlessly in the living room, still thinking about what Sasha could have said to Shane. After mulling it over, he decided to call her. He needed answers.


    "I heard you spoke with Shane today, huh?" he asked.


    Sasha hadn''t expected Carlisle to call sote. His question made her pulse spike. She was worried he might be looking to stir up trouble, but since he hadn''t said anything else, Sasha couldn''t figure out how much he actually knew. So, she decided to y it safe.


    "Yeah," she replied.


    "I heard he''s made some noticeable changes since talking to you," Carlisle said. "What did you tell him?"


    When Sasha heard that, she realized


    he had no clue. She let out a quiet sigh of relief before saying, "It''s easy to get used to avish life, but it''s much harder to step down to something simpler. He was living it up under your protection and spending freely.


    "But now that you''ve stopped supporting him, his life''s fallen apart. He''s nearly broke and can''t even afford a meal. So, he came to me asking how I managed to cope with this ''poverty'' lifestyle."


    Sasha had no intention of being honest with him. Yvonne had taken shots at her, and she was determined to get back at her.


    If she spilled the truth to Carlisle, he''d certainly try to sabotage Yvonne and Shane''s rtionship, which would mess up Sasha''s ns. So, after thinking it through, Sasha decided to keep the truth to herself. Carlisle raised an eyebrow. "So, what did you tell him?"


    "I told him exactly how things are," Sasha replied instantly. "If I don''t work, I won''t make any money, and¡ý won''t be able to afford a meal. So, have to throw myself into my job, and by the time I''m done, I''m too exhausted to even think about spending money."


    Carlisle still couldn''t make sense of it. "But even a simple handbag you buy costs more than 20 grand, doesn''t it?"


    Sasha let out a smallugh. "Yeah,


    that''s why I can''t bring myself to buy such expensive bags nowadays. Whenever I''m ready to check


    and see the price, which is out!


    like


    months of my sry, I just can''t


    bring myself to spend that much."


    Carlisle sighed. "It sounds like you''re really struggling."


    "It''s not as tough as it seems," Sasha said earnestly. "Honestly, life''s pretty good. It''s busy, sure, but I''m managing. And I told him that once I started working, I realized how important it is to rely on myself to make a living."

 Chapter 592

    "We can only be truly independent when we''re able to stand on our own," Sasha said. "If we keep depending on others, they''ll grow tired of it eventually."


    Carlisle seemed genuinely relieved by that. "Shane has really matured. Thank you."


    Sasha couldn''t help but wonder if he''d still be thanking her when Shane brought Yvonne home. She kept the thought to herself andughed it off, saying, "He''s the smart one."


    "I have a feeling that Shane will turn to you again if anythinges up. I hope you''ll keep looking out for him," Carlisle said.


    "Don''t worry; I will," Sasha replied without hesitation.


    She had every intention of using Shane to get back at Yvonne. There was no way she wouldn''t keep tabs on how things were going between them. And if Shane didn''te to her first, she''d make sure to reach out to him.


    Carlisle sighed. "You''ve got a kind heart. If you ever need anything, don''t hesitate to ask."


    Sasha felt a bit ufortable. "Yeah, thanks."


    The truth was, she would never be bold enough to actually ask Carlisle for anything. After hanging up, she wiped her forehead, realizing she''d broken out in a cold sweat.


    She took a deep breath. Thank goodness she was quick thinking. Carlisle would probably waste no time to make her pay for it if he ever found out what she was really up to.


    Sashay down on the couch, trying to shake off the tension. Her phone rang, and she automatically thought it was Carlisle calling back. She had already started mentally preparing an apology. But when she looked at the screen, she saw that it was Shane instead.


    She answered casually, "What''s up? Everything okay?"


    Shane was staying in the guest bedroom. After all, Yvonne had paid for the rental. He was already thankful she''d given him a room, even if it was barely bigger than the bathroom back home. "Why are you still on the phone in the middle of the night?" he asked.


    Sasha wouldn''t have remembered her earlier conversation with Carlisle if he hadn''t said anything. But now that he mentioned it, it all came rushing back. She figured it was better to give Shane a heads-up, just ce Carlisle brought it up and


    in


    Shane let something slip


    "Your dad''s been worrying about you," Sasha said. "He wanted to know what we talked about when we met earlier. I didn''t mention Yvonne."


    Shane was puzzled. "Why not?"


    "It''s pretty obvious. Don''t you think so?" Sasha replied matter-of-factly. "Just think it through. If I told your dad you and Yvonne were a thing, do you think he''d be okay with it? Don''t rush to answer-consider where youe from and where she''s from."


    Shane reflected on it, realizing that even though the Winslows were facing financial trouble, they were still miles ahead of the Frosts in terms of wealth. Even if they were technically bankrupt, they still had some assets.


    The Frosts, inparison, were just an average family, far from the stature of the Winslows. Carlisle would never approve of Shane being with Yvonne.


    Once it hit him, Shane quickly said, "Thanks for covering for me."


    "No problem," Sasha replied, surprised at how easy it was to pull the wool over someone as trusting as Shane told your dad I''ve been asking you to look for a job and showing you how to livefortably, even without money. So be careful what you say when you talk to him."


    Shane nodded eagerly. "Got it."


    Finally, Sasha could feel her heart returning to a calmer pace.

 Chapter 593

    Sure, Sasha might be using Shane, but he wasn''t exactly meless, either. After all, he had reced her with a stand-in for no reason, then kept showing up acting all out of control. Her way of getting back at him was nothingpared to his actions.


    "But anyway, why''d you call me?" she asked.


    That was when Shane finally remembered why he''d called her. "I picked up a side gig. Basically, I help people who aren''t from our circle get into exclusive spots so they can meet the people they want and hopefully seal a deal."


    Sasha was surprised. "That''s actually a pretty smart business. So what?"


    "I''m running low on events to attend right now. Do you happen to have any memberships I could borrow?" Shane asked, sounding a bit awkward.


    Sasha didn''t shoot him down right away. "Let me check." "Sure."


    She opened a drawer overflowing with membership cards for all kinds of high-end events. She couldn''t help but frown.


    Back when she had too much free time, she''d eagerly gone to every event just to hang around and pass the time. But now that she was working, she realized how much she''d been wasting.


    The cost of those memberships alone was dozens of months of her sry plusmissions.


    "Are you free right now? I''ve got a stack of cards. You can swing by and grab them if you want," Sasha suggested.


    "Sounds good," Shane replied.


    The thought of grabbing her cards and quickly making some extra cash had him feeling pretty pumped. He opened his bedroom door to find Yvonne still up, sitting in the living room.


    When she saw him, she asked, "Are you heading out?"


    "Yeah," Shane replied, energized. "But I''ll be backter tonight, so don''t worry." "Okay."


    After a quick goodbye, Shane made his way downstairs.


    A st of cold air hit him when he stepped outside. He had nned to drive but then remembered his car was gone. He thought about calling a friend for a ride but figured it would be too much to ask.


    After a moment of thinking, he decided to just take a cab. He gave the driver Sasha''s address and asked him to wait after dropping him off since he''d need a ride back.


    The driver was more than happy to take the fare. They agreed on the price, and Shane hopped into the cab, a little thrill of excitement bubbling up inside him.


    A chance to make some real money was right in front of him. Shane had been eyeing influencer work for a while, so he''d spent some time getting familiar with social media and marketing. Now, he was finally ready to put that knowledge to use.


    He pulled out his phone and began drafting a message to let people know he had ess to exclusive venues. Anyone interested could message him for details.


    Sure enough, the messages started rolling in. He sifted through them, found a few potential clients, and began chatting with them one by one.


    Many of them had promising projects but couldn''t find the right partners. So, they were counting on Shane to be the link, the one to connect them with the right people, hoping it would open doors for them.


    Shane realized some of these


    projects ovepped with what his friends were working on. So, he told those who reached out to him that he could introduce them to the right


    people, but he needed so the right


    return.


    in


    Once they realized he could actually help solve their biggest problems, they all promised him a hefty payout if the deals went through. That was when Shane reached out to hisz


    friends, and things turned $1.


    out


    different from what he had


    expected.

 Chapter 594

    Shane''s friends were also struggling to find someone to manage their projects. Once he introduced them to his contacts, everything started falling into ce. All the deals went through, and some even mette into the night to sign contracts on the spot.


    After everything was wrapped up, Shane''s friends gave him a generous cut, and his clients paid him well, too. Shane didn''t hesitate to ept it all.


    He stared at the bnce in his ount, hardly believing what he was seeing. Had he really made that much money so easily?


    Shane was still in a daze when the cab finally pulled up in front of Sasha''s building. It wasn''t until the driver told him they had arrived that he snapped out of it.


    He quickly called Sasha to let her know he was downstairs. She came down and handed him all her cards.


    "You won''t believe how much I made on the way over!" Shane said, still in disbelief.


    "How much?" Sasha asked.


    "Three hundred thousand dors," he replied, still feeling like he was dreaming. "That''s more than ten months of your sry."


    Sasha, who had earned even more through her project bonus, decided to keep that to herself. She didn''t want to spoil his excitement since he was just getting started with making real money.


    "Making that much on your first try? Who knows, you might end up making even more in the future. Keep it up," she said.


    Shane finally managed to get a hold of himself. "These cards you gave me will probably bring in a nice amount, too. I''ll share some of the profits with you when the timees."


    "Thanks," Sasha said without missing a beat.


    After all, she''d spent quite a bit getting those membership cards, and it would be nice to make some of that money back, even if she didn''t really need them anymore.


    "What do you think about partnering up with me?" Shane asked.


    "How would that work?"


    "Well, there are plenty of new entrepreneurs out there who have no clue how to find the right partners. We can use our


    connections to introduce them


    the people they need, and then we charge a referral fee," Shane said confidently.


    Sasha hadn''t heard of this kind of business model before, but she nodded eagerly. "Sounds great, but I might only have time after work. My regr job is still my priority."


    Shane thought about telling her she could make more with him than stuck in a nine-to-five but decided not to push it. "Alright, we''ll go with your n."


    "Oh, and one more thing!" Sasha


    said,ing up with a way to make some extra cash now that she was in the same situation. "You should start by asking your friends what kind of partners they''re looking for. That way, when peoplee to you, you''ll be able to match them up more easily."


    Shane raised an eyebrow, surprised. "How did I not think of that?"


    "Well, it just shows how clever I am," Sasha said, always ready to give herself a little praise. "I''ll also check with my friends to see if anyone''s thinking about starting a business."


    "And if they are," she continued, "I''ll find out what kind of partners they need and send the details to you so you can help them out."


    Shane nodded in agreement. "Deal. Anyway, I should get going. I''m worried about leaving Yvonne alone at home."


    Sasha couldn''t help thinking about


    how Yvonne used to live alone all the time before Shane moved in. But then she remembered that things between them wereplicated, and both of them were part of her n for revenge. So, she decided not to bring it up.


    "Take care," Sasha said.


    Shane hummed in response and waved from the car.


    Sasha watched him leave before heading back to her room. She pulled out her phone and messaged the


    group chat, asking if anyone was struggling to find partners for their startups.

 Chapter 595

    Sasha could help these friends to secure a partner. She understood that many of them had little real-world experience.


    They''d dived into their projects with tons of enthusiasm, but once they secured the location and hired staff, they quickly realized they didn''t even know what kind of project to focus on, let alone how to find the right coborators.


    Sasha saw this as a perfect opportunity to leverage her circle of friends. Sure enough, as soon as she posted her question, the responses came flooding in. Everyone was venting about how hard starting a business was and how clueless they were when it came to choosing projects or finding partners. Sasha reached out to each of them individually and confirmed their needs in detail. Then, she sent all the information over to Shane.


    When Shane saw her messages, he realized that several of the inquiries lined up perfectly with his contacts. Even if his friends didn''t have the ideal project to start with, Shane managed to secure some other potential partners.


    Working side by side, Sasha and Shane made sure everyone found their perfect partner. They were overjoyed when everything fell into ce.


    That was when Sasha suddenly thought of something important. "So, how are we splitting the money?" "How about this-whoever brings in the client gets the fee?" Shane suggested.


    "That doesn''t seem fair to you," Sasha replied. "My friends are pretty generous. Why don''t we just see how much we make in total and split it 50-50?"


    Shane was about to say it wasn''t necessary, but then he thought about his future with Yvonne. Losing out


    on a few tens of thousands wasn''t something he could overlook, especially since that could easily cover a couple of months of Yvonne''s sry.


    So, with a slight grin, he texted back. "Sounds good."


    After settling on the split, they dove into the work contacting people one after another. Everyone was determined to move things along quickly The second they saw the other party had what they needed, they made the deals on the spot.


    Shane and Sasha closed at least ten deals by the end of the night. Sasha''s friends transferredrge sums of money to her, and Shane got his fair share as well. When they split the profits, each of them ended up with at least a million dors.


    Sasha sank into her couch, her words full of contentment. "I can see why Shane loves this-it''s quick money."


    The downside, of course, was that most people with urgent needs had already secured deals in the first wave. So, the second round of potential clients was likely to be smaller.


    But Shane didn''t have to worry too much as his ount had a solid buffer now. If business slowed, he could take some time to figure out how to expand his reach and attract more clients.


    Staring at his bank bnce, Shane couldn''t help but feel a rush of excitement. He immediately found himself urging the driver, "Can you go a little faster?"


    The driver responded with azy drawl, "I got to follow the traffic rules."


    "Fine." Shane sighed, settling back in his seat.


    He began to think about how to tell Yvonne the big news. This was the first time he''d earned so much, and it felt like proof that he was capable of making things happen. He wanted the person who cared about him to know it.


    ton


    When the cab finally pulled up to Yvonne''s apartmentplex, Shane hopped out, humming to himself as he made his way to her door. But as he got closer, he spotted a man standing there. He wondered who this stranger was.


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 Chapter 596

    Shane watched as Yvonne opened the door. She wrapped her arms around the man''s neck and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him.


    It felt like a punch to Shane''s gut. Didn''t Yvonne have feelings for him? Why was she so cozy with someone else? Was he just a fool, hanging around for no reason?


    Panic flooded him as he turned and bolted for the elevator, hitting the button for the ground floor. The man noticed the noise and nced at Shane''s retreating figure. "Do you know him?" Yvonne shook her head. "No, I don''t."


    The man chuckled, "Guess he got off on the wrong floor. I''ve missed you, Yvonne."


    Without a word, Yvonne yanked him inside and mmed the door shut behind them.


    Shane stumbled out of the apartmentplex, only to realize his face was cold. He was crying. The


    Winslows had turned their backs on him, and his so-called friends weren''t any better.


    He''d thought that someone in the world still cared about him. But now, the one woman he''d trusted to love him was all over another guy.


    The pain in his chest was unbearable. Without thinking, he hopped into a taxi, heading straight to Sasha''s ce.


    Once there, he dialed her number. "Come out for a minute."


    Sasha was surprised by histe-night call but still went downstairs.


    "You just left a little while ago. Why are you back so soon?" she asked.


    Hadn''t he been all excited earlier, talking about seeing Yvonne? What was with the tears on his face now? Sasha pushed down her little flicker of satisfaction and put on a concerned face. "Why are you crying? Did something go wrong?"


    "Yvonne doesn''t love me at all!" Shane sobbed, his voice breaking. "When I got there, she was in another man''s arms..."


    Sasha couldn''t help but feel a rush of satisfaction seeing the pain on his face. It was as if her revenge had finallye to fruition.


    But she quickly masked it, keeping her face unreadable as she indignantly asked, "How could Yvonne do that to you?"


    Shane continued sobbing. "I''m never giving her a chance again!"


    "Right!" Sasha stepped closer and gently patted his shoulder. "If you want to make Yvonne regret this, there''s a way."


    Shane looked at her, his eyes brimming with tears.


    Sasha had once wished for Yvonne and Shane to suffer together, bound by their "love." But now that Yvonne had moved on with someone else, Shane''s misery only deepened while Yvonne seemed to be living her best life.


    Sasha wasn''t about to let the person who had wronged her escape unscathed. "Think about it," Sasha continued. "What kind of man do you think Yvonne would go for?" Shane shook his head. "I don''t know."


    Sasha almost rolled her eyes. How could he not know something soz simple? No wonder Yvonne didn''t care about him. She held her tongue, though, unwilling to say it aloud.  en


    "She definitely likes good-looking guys-"


    "Are you saying I''m not good-looking enough?" Shane interrupted.


    Sasha nced at him. He wasn''t bad-looking, but it was hard to deny the differencepared to someone like Zane.


    She remembered how she''d felt the


    first time she saw Zane-he was practically unreal. She had tried and failed to get his attention, but even now, she couldn''t deny how striking he was.


    Sasha couldn''t exactly tell Shane he looked ugly, either. Instead, she said, "You''re definitely handsome."

 Chapter 597

    "But let me finish first," Sasha said. "Being good-looking helps, but it''s not everything, and you know that." "Huh?" Shane still looked downcast.


    "A man''s sess matters, too," she continued. "Yvonne''s probably with someone else because you haven''t made it big yet. But if you suddenly became the CEO of a majorpany and reached out to her, she''d act like she hit the jackpot!"


    Shane snorted. "I get it. I''ll focus on my career when I go back. And when I''ve made it, I''ll look for her and show her what she missed out on."


    Sasha quickly turned her gaze away, feeling a pang of unease. If he actually did go after Yvonne, it would only leave her puzzled since she had never cared for him in the first ce. But Sasha kept that to herself and offered him a bright smile. "Yeah, go for it!"


    Still, Shane remained glum.


    Sasha noticed and couldn''t help but think he was exactly the type of person who could help her make money.


    "We can''t stand out here talking all night. I''ve got some work stuff I need to go over with you. Why don''t youe to my ce for a bit?" she suggested.


    "Sure," Shane mumbled.


    He followed her into her apartment, where she handed him a ss of water before taking a seat across from him. He still seemed devastated, shedding tears even as he took a sip.


    "So, how long do you think we can keep this project going?" Sasha asked.


    Shane blinked, clearly not fully processing. "Isn''t it supposed tost for a while?"


    Sasha raised an eyebrow. "The only reason these two groups of clients picked us is because they couldn''t find anyone else. We''re working in a small circle here. How do you n on making money once they find their own partners?"


    Shane stared at her, clearly lost. "I-I hadn''t really thought about it."


    Sasha was frustrated when she noticed he was still sobbing. "Stop crying and start thinking, will you?"


    However, Shane''s mind was tangled with thoughts of Yvonne, and he couldn''t focus on anything else. He hung his head low. "You brought it


    up, so you must have an idea, right?"


    "Of course I do," Sasha answered, scanning his defeated posture with a flicker of disdain. "But, Shane,


    you need to get this straight-we''re not friends. We''re enemies.


    "I''m only working with you right now because there''s money to be made. Don''t think I''m going to help you make money without anyints just because you''re heartbroken. Got it?"


    For a moment, Shane forgot about his pain, his eyes widening in disbelief. "What do you mean? Are you nning to ditch me?"


    Sasha was always swamped with


    work and had no patience for unnecessary drama. "That depends on you. If you keep moping around like this, yeah, it''s probably going to happen."


    Shane shot to his feet. "You"


    "Go home and think about it," Sasha said coldly. "No one can focus on business while they''re caught up in heartache."


    "I''ll get it together soon," Shane replied.


    Sasha couldn''t care less about his feelings. "While you''re at it, think about what I said. When you''ve got a solid n to grow,e back to me, and we''ll figure it out."


    "Alright."


    As Shane walked out of Sasha''s apartment, he felt a slight lift in his mood. He looked up at the moon hanging in the night sky.


    He hadn''t really spent much time with Yvonne, at least not untiltely. Yet somehow, he''d found himself falling for her, though he couldn''t quite figure out why.

 Chapter 598

    That was why Shane felt so crushed when Yvonne chose someone else over him. He came to a sudden halt in the middle of the street.


    He remembered then that Yvonne had never actually said she loved him. It was Sasha who had nted that idea in his head.


    The only reason he''d believed it was because he saw Yvonne going out of her way to please him, and he let Sasha''s words convince him that it meant something more.


    A growing sense of unease settled over him. He turned around and headed back to Sasha''s ce and rang the doorbell.


    "Hey," Shane called out.


    Sasha shuffled to the door, yawning. "What now?"


    Shane fixed his gaze on her. "I need to ask you something. Yvonne never really loved me, did she?" The question threw Sasha off bnce. How had he figured it out? A brief flicker of guilt shed across her face, but she quickly looked away.


    Shane''s voice grew louder. "So, you''ve been lying to me all along? Why? Was this your idea of revenge?" Once her deceit was out in the open, Sasha saw no reason to pretend anymore. "Of course it was. What did you expect?


    "You went off and found some woman to date, even called her my ''stand-in.'' You dragged me into this mess for no reason, then showed up with her just to rub it in my face.


    "So yeah, I got back at you. What''s the problem with that? Don''t forget this, Shane: I''m not someone you can walk all over." Sasha wasn''t the type to just sit back and take it.


    As much as Shane hated to admit it, Sasha did have a point. After all, he was the one who had set everything in motion. He paused for a moment before asking, "So, are we even now?"


    "Yeah, more or less," Sasha replied.


    "But what did Yvonne do to you? Why target her, too?"


    "She kept pushing my buttons at the office. I wasn''t about to just let that slide," Sasha answered without hesitation.


    "I see," Shane mumbled.


    "It''s gettingte," Sasha said as she got up. "I''ve got work in the morning, and if I don''t get some sleep tonight, I''ll never make it through the day. You should head home."


    Shane got up as well. "Okay."


    He couldn''t bring himself to go back


    home. Instead, he aimlessly


    wandered through the streets, his gaze fixed on the night sky. The moon hung above, casting a serene glow while scattered stars sparkled faintly.


    Shane continued walking, the recent events lingering in his mind like a dream Carlisle had walked away from him, and one by one, his friend''s had turned their backs,


    looking at him with disdain


    He had been relieved to find people who cared about him. But now, it felt like waking from a dream-only


    to discover that it had never been real. None of them had ever truly cared for him.


    Shane stopped, unsure of where to go next. Yvonne was with her boyfriend at her ce, and showing up there would onlyplicate things.


    As for going home? He had just told Carlisle he was going to spend some time gaining experience outside, so it didn''t feel right to backtrack now.


    After a moment of indecision, Shane


    decided to book a hotel for the night. He was used to reserving rooms Cost


    that cost tens of thousands per night, so he opened the booking page without thinking twice.

 Chapter 599

    Shane saw the hotel rate and quickly decided it wasn''t worth the expense. He could easily rent a ce for a few thousand a month, and the price of one night could cover an entire year''s rent, plus some help with the cleaning.


    In the end, he opted for a room that cost around 200 dors. It wasn''t as posh as the suites he usually stayed in, but it was more than adequate.


    Sasha had stumbled upon a great opportunity to make money and was eager to seize the opportunity. While she had already scaled back on her spending and had a good sry plus bonuses, there was no denying how exciting it was to make money on her own.


    Lying in bed, she thought about how she and Shane could expand their business and reach a wider audience. But nothing concrete came to mind, so she decided to call Annalise for advice.


    ...


    When I saw it was Sasha calling, I picked up. "Hey, what''s up?"


    "A lot, actually!" Sasha said, jumping right into it. She quickly filled me in on what she and Shane had


    been up to and asked, "What would you do if you were in my shoes?"


    I chuckled. "Think back-what helped you get so many deals in the first ce?"


    Sasha thought for a second. "Because of Shane and my influence?"


    "Spot on," I replied. "If you want to attract even more attention, get a few of your friends to help spread the word."


    Sasha understood what I meant. "And when the dealse in, I can give them amission from our earnings?"


    "Exactly," I said, relieved she was on the same page. I then exined the trade-offs. "You might not see a huge return right away, but it''ll help keep things running for the long haul."


    Sasha smacked her forehead. "You''re right. I can''t believe I didn''t think of this sooner."


    I spoke calmly, "But remember, the connections your friends bring in won''tst forever. That''s why I rmend setting up a marketing department so that everyone knows what yourpany offers. The goal is to make it so that people seek you out on their own.


    "And once they see how profitable it


    is, others will want to jump in and startpeting. At that point, you''ll need to get yourpany formalized quickly. Then, whenever someone needs those services, you want to be the first one they think of


    Sasha waspletely floored. "Wow, you''re incredible! How do youe up with these ideas?"


    I couldn''t resist asking, "Isn''t this just the way things usually go?"


    Sasha blinked in surprise. "I suppose you''re right. Let me talk it over with Shane."


    "Sure. And if you''re still unsure afterward, feel free to stop by my office tomorrow. I''ll help however I can."


    "Thank you so much!" Sasha said, clearly touched by my offer. "I''ll definitely swing by tomorrow!"


    I gave a light hum in acknowledgment.


    ...


    After hanging up, Sasha immediately


    dialed Shane''s number. Instead jumping straight into it, she asked


    politely, "Where are you righ


    "In a hotel," Shane replied, dragging out his words. "What''s up? Something going on?"


    "Yeah, I need to talk to you about something," Sasha said, repeating what Annalise had told her.


    Shane sat up straight. "It''s all fun for now, but once we start a realpany..." He sounded anxious. "I''ve never run apany before."


    "We can always find someone to help!" Sasha reassured him. "Your dad has his own business, and mine does, too. We can always ask them if there''s something we''re unsure about.


    en


    "And once we start earning, we''ll be able to step up and help if their businesses hit a rough patch. Don''t you agree?"

 Chapter 600

    "Otherwise, even the smallest hup could make us worry about how we''ll secure our future if theirpany copses," Sasha said.


    "You''re right," Shane replied. He was dreaming of running a majorpany and bing the industry''s top dog, with everyone flocking to him.


    A smile crept onto his face. "Alright, I''m in! We''ll go with your n!"


    "Leave the hotel and go home. Ask your dad how to run apany. Make sure to take detailed notes so you don''t miss any important details. I''ll ask my dadter, too.


    "Don''t worry; I''ll write everything down. Then, we canpare notes and work through it. We''ll go with whatever aligns, and for what''s different, we''ll pick the best parts from both."


    "Sure!" Shane responded with excitement.


    Moments earlier, he had been tangled in his emotions, regretting how Sasha''s words had led him to develop feelings for Yvonne. But now, his thoughts were fully consumed by his career. Shane was convinced that women would naturally be drawn to him once he achieved sess.


    It was the same with Sasha. No one gave her a second nce now, but once her start-up took off, she''d have guys lining up to be with her.


    It hit him all of a sudden-money was the answer to everything. If he had enough of it, there was nothing he couldn''t fix. Shane left the hotel and caught a cab back home. Everyone was shocked when they saw hime back.


    Scanning the group gathered in the living room, he furrowed his brow and asked, "Dad, why are they all here?"


    Carlisle sighed. Ever since he announced his decision to select an heir from within the family, everyone had been scrambling for a chance to take over Winslow Group.


    He''d even let them intern at thepany, but their behavior had been far more entitled than Shane''s. Fed up, he had sent them packing.


    However, they weren''t about to ept it. They showed up at his doorte at night, demanding an exnation.


    Carlisle''s expression hardened. "Let''s get one thing straight: I gave you all internships at mypany, and you were paid for your time."


    "We only took those jobs because we wanted to inherit thepany."


    "A paycheck doesn''t mean anything to us!"


    "Right. It''s like throwing a few coins at a beggar."


    As voices shed in the heated exchange, Shane quickly pieced it together. These people, who had clearly failed at Winslow Group, still wanted a shot at running it.


    Shane had never been interested in taking over Winslow Group-his ns were to build something of his own. When he saw how pale Carlisle looked, he knew he couldn''t just stand by and do nothing.  He stepped in front of Carlisle. "What''s going on here? My dad wants someone who''ll take Winslow Group to the next level, not someone who wreck it as soon as they get their hands on it.


    "If you can''t make the cut, then leave. How dare you still have the audacity to be here?"


    Shane looked around the room with disdain. "From now on, don''t bothering to me for help if you run into problems."


    The group shared uneasy looks.


    None of them were happy about it, but they knew that making a sc¨¨ne tonight would leave them with nothing and even destroy their rtionship for good.


    With murmurs of discontent, they eventually filed out of the house, leaving only Carlisle and Shane in the living room.


    Carlisle managed a bitter smile. "I never thought they''d be so hard to deal with."


    Shane didn''t seem bothered by it. "Dad, think this through."

 Chapter 601

    "If those interns were capable, they wouldn''t want to settle for inheriting our family business in the first ce. They could be doing other jobs." Shane broke off with a chuckle.


    "There are better opportunities out there than working for us, which exins why the interns you hired were a bunch of inept blowhards."


    Carlisle couldn''t help but sigh. "What are you doing back here, anyway? Did you need something?" Had Shane finally realized how tough it was to live without his family''s support and decided to return for good?


    "Of course," Shane replied, bringing out a notebook. I want to start a business. We''ve got the project, but weck management experience and skills. So I figured I''de to you for advice."


    Carlisle stared at Shane evenly and realized how much thetter had grown since being thrown out of the house.


    Back in the day, Shane refused to step foot into thepany whenever Carlisle asked him to. But living outside the family home seemed to have done the young man some good, for he wasing up with business ideas.


    Taking a seat, Carlisle patiently told Shane about the years he spent building up Winslow Group, sparing no details. Shane wrote them down word for word, not caring whether Carlisle''s experiences were good or bad. It was only then that he realized how capable Carlisle was.


    By the time he was done speaking, Carlisle was parched. He drank some water and said, "I could teach you more and show you the ropes if you ever decide to work in thepany."


    "Isn''t this a good chance for you to hand over thepany to me? Why don''t you do that instead?" Shane asked, puzzled.


    Carlisle fell silent. After a long moment, he answered, "Winslow Group has a different business nature from thepany you n on setting up. Our resources may not be what you need."


    "Got it." Shane stood up and asked, "Are you cool with me staying here for the night, Dad?"


    "Sure."


    Sasha knocked on the door of Dous'' study.


    He was sorting out work documents when he heard the knocks and looked up from his paperwork. "Come in."


    She opened the door and entered the study. As she took her seat across from Dous, she said, "Dad, I''ve got a few questions about work. I was hoping I could talk to you."


    Dous was pleased to hear his daughter express interest in her work and said, "Go ahead."


    Sasha told him what she had been doing recently and the suggestion Annalise had given her. "But the problem now is that... I''ve never set up a business before, and I don''t know how to formally incorporate it or what its scale should be


    She hadn''t nned on asking for anyone''s help with this, but after brainstorming for a while, she realized she had no idea how to set up thepany.


    Upon hearing her concerns, Dous


    chuckled and said, "First, you need to rent an office. After that, you have to hire a team. You coulde up with a few policies for them to follow and assign them work, And finally, you have to pay them. That''s afPthere is."


    Sasha gaped at him in disbelief. "It''s that simple?"


    "Ah, it''s the simpler things that are the hardest to aplish," Dous said wisely. He gave her an example, "First of all, you need to figure out the area where you want to rent your office. The monthly rental for offices close to the city is always


    no


    exceptionally high. Could you afford that kind of rent?"


    He wanted to give her some money to help hery the groundwork for her business, but unless she asked for it, he didn''t want toe off as overbearing.


    Sasha considered Dous'' question and asked, "What if we were to rent a ce on the outskirts of town?"


    "It''s feasible." Not wanting to spoon-feed her with ideas, Dous decided to lead her instead. "But have you thought about whether your future team would want tomute to the outskirts of town for work?" Sasha propped her elbows on the table and leaned forward to press her forehead against her palms. "In that case, I''ll have to check out the costs of renting an office in town tomorrow."


    "You''ll have to rely on your own judgment for that. Secondly, whatpany policies do you have in mind?" Dous asked.

 Chapter 602

    "And how much will you be paying your interns? Will they getmissions or bonuses for the work done? You''ll have to figure these out on your own," Dous said. "Once you''ve done that, you''re good to go." Sasha nodded, though she didn''t fully understand what Dous had told her. "Thanks, Dad"


    "No problem." He stared at Sasha and suddenly realized how much she had grown. No longer was she the little girl he and his wife had spoiled and protected over the years. Smiling, he added, "Of course, you can alwayse to me for advice if you run into trouble. I''ll help you."


    Sasha pouted. "You love me too much, Dad."


    "Well, of course. You''re my daughter," Dous said proudly. "Who else would I love if not you?" They talked for a little while longer before Sasha returned to her room. She fished out her phone and called Shane.


    He picked up instantly. "I took down a whole bunch of notes. Shall we meet up and go through them together?"


    "Sure. Tomorrow''s Saturday. We have all the time to go over our ns," Sasha replied. She wouldn''t have to worry about their meeting interfering with her day job, too.


    Shane agreed. "Got it."


    "You can decide on the time and ce," Sasha responded.


    "How does 4:00 pm sound?" Shane suggested. He figured Saturday morning was as good a time as any to sleep in.


    However, Sasha rejected the idea. "No dice. We''d better meet up earlier so we could go office-hunting together. We still have to figure out where we should set up our office and our rent budget."


    Shane was admittedly disappointed. "In that case, shall we meet at 9:00 am instead?" She seriously considered this and worked out the schedule in her head. "Fine by me."


    After hanging up, shey on the bed, amazed by the turn of events.


    Initially, she nned on working at Huxham Corporation and making an honest living. She didn''t think she, of all people, would one day be setting up herpany.


    I woke up as early as usual that morning. After washing up, I pored over my drawings. Given my cking, hadn''t made much progress in thest few days. such, had to finish my work before Willow returned if I wanted to catch up with my usual output


    ...


    Zane had woken up early, too. When he noticed Annalise''s bedroom door was closed, he figured she


    needed plenty of rest to make up for the exhaustion over thest few weeks.


    As such, he did not bother her and instead headed out to the balcony to enjoy the scenery.


    The morning breeze was crisp and refreshing as it brushed against Zane''s skin. He thought about work as well as his rtionship with Annalise. He also contemted ways to nurture Willow.


    By the time Zane finished thinking, it was already past ten in the morning. After some hesitation, he made


    his way to Annalise''s bedroom and knocked on the door.


    ...


    I set my work aside when I heard knocksing from the door. When I opened it and saw Zane on the other side, I asked, "Is something the matter?"


    "Of course," Zane replied as he stared at me, his eyes glittering with emotions I could not read. "I''m


    guessing you woke up really early this morning?"


    I nodded, wondering why he would ask such a thing.

 Chapter 603

    Zane said with amusement, "It''s bad to go without breakfast for this long."


    "I don''t remember having worked for that long," I said as I picked up my phone and checked the time on the screen. I frowned when I saw that it was already 10:30 am.


    The corners of Zane''s mouth curled upward. "Be considerate of your health and have some breakfast, Annalise. I made gran and cut up some berries to go with it. You can continue your work after breakfast."


    "All right," I said readily. I knew it was bad to miss breakfast. Besides, I was a grown-up, and I ought to set


    a good example for the young ones. Thest thing I wanted was to encourage them to skip breakfast, which would be troublesome.


    I followed Zane down the stairs and heard him muse, "You know, I was known as a workaholic for as long as I could remember. But now, it seems you suit that title more than I do.''


    I teased, "You''re a great employer, and I might not get so lucky with my next job if I lose this one. I like to think of this as my calling to make as much money as possible. It''d be great if I could make enough to pay for Mom''s medical treatment and have some left to do whatever I want.''


    Zane asked, "Is there anything else you''d like to do besides drawingics?"


    I figured he would offer to help me if I said yes. I didn''t want to keep him in the dark, so I said, "Yes. I told you about it, remember? I want to set up apany of my own where I can give my employees a lot of perks and give them a better life."


    "I could help you realize that dream right now if you want," Zane offered, as I expected.


    "No, thanks." I didn''t want anyone to pay for me to aplish my dream. "I''d prefer to work for the money. I''ll make it happen once I have enough saved up.''


    ...


    There was light in Zane''s eyes when he heard this. He was admittedly stung by the rejection at first, but after some thought, he agreed Annalise could build character by working toward her dreams and learning to grasp every opportunity that came her way.


    As we took our seats at the table, Zane began introducing me to the breakfast he made. "It''s not good to have greasy food for breakfast, so cut up fruits and bought low-fat yogurt. I also air-fried some bacon, but it wouldn''t overwhelm the rest of the breakfast."


    He told me he had started making the gran at six in the morning, cutting up a variety of nuts and dried fruits to go with the oats. The golden-brown gran looked delicious.


    I stared at the spread before me and suddenly recalled the mornings before Steven and I divorced.


    I was the only one who woke up early to make breakfast, yet Steven and Zachary never appreciated my effort. Instead, they med me for butting into their diets and not letting them have the food they wanted. After that, they believed Jessica was doing them a huge favor by inviting them to have breakfast at restaurants and cafes.


    But if they had only told me they were sick of my cooking and wanted to try other foods, I would never


    have stopped them from eating out. They simply refused to talk to me and let me know what they were thinking. They also picked on my cooking a lot.


    There was a time I wondered if my cooking was indeed terrible. When I sampled my cooking and found it decent, I thought my judgment was biased because I was used to the vor profile.


    Why else would Steven and Zachary gang up on me and criticize my cooking?


    I didn''t understand until muchter that familiarity bred contempt. I had cut off the rest of the world and devoted myself to my family at the time, so I became sensitive to their hurtful remarks and began myself.


    As a result, I lost my confidence.


    Thankfully, I had moved past those dark days.


    Sobting


    I added the yogurt to my gran and took a bite. The fruits gave it a sweet aftertaste that bnced out


    the tanginess of the yogurt. The bacon was crispy and fleshed out the breakfast with its savory notes.


    I gave Zane a thumbs-up and said, "Everything''s delicious!"

 Chapter 604

    Zane couldn''t help smiling even as he asked modestly, "Really?"


    "Yes!" I reassured him. That was when I realized that my cooking had nothing to do with Steven and Zachary''s refusal to eat the food I made. Their refusal stemmed from their hatred for me, and rejecting my efforts was simply an extension of it.


    My feelings for Zane were the reason why I found his cooking delicious. My appreciation for his effort was an extension of my fondness for him.


    Zane stared at the woman before him and noted the elegant way she ate. He shook his head and chided himself. He was already madly in love with her as it was; he would be a lost cause if he didn''t show some restraint.


    Steven woke up to a painful throbbing in his head, as expected of a terrible hangover. He did not open his eyes and instead growled impatiently, "Annalise, why didn''t you make me hangover soupst night? Also, my head feels like it''s splitting down the middle. I could use a temple massage."


    However, his demands were met with silence.


    He frowned, but he had taken not two steps before he realized that the woman who always nursed him from his hangovers had already walked out of his life. She had a new life now, not to mention a new boyfriend.


    Unlike Steven, Annalise''s new boyfriend was kind and patient. He wouldn''tsh out at her for no reason.


    Steven had always med Annalise even though he chose to drink his weight in alcohol and allow himself to be hungover. He faulted her for not looking after him when, in reality, she had gone over and beyond to tend to his needs.


    He staggered over to the couch as memories of his days with Annalise shed through his mind. Every time he stumbled home drunk, Annalise would help him to the bed and cook hangover soup for him.


    After that, she would set the soup aside to cool before bringing it to him in the bedroom.


    When he had finished the soup and started to doze off, she would bring in a basin of water and wipe him down. She would never let him go to bed dirty.


    Worried that Steven would wake up


    with a bad headache, Annalise would let him rest his head in herp while she massaged his temples She would wake up early the next day to make him breakfast. By the time he woke up, the food was always nice and warm.


    Just thinking about those days made Steven feel as if someone was squeezing the air out of his lungs. How could he have let a good woman like Annalise go? Why didn''t he cherish her before they divorced?


    The more he thought about the what-ifs and what-could-have-beens, the worse bis mood became. He couldn''t understand why his appreciation for Annalise''s love and tenderness came only after they had divorced.


    Had he realized this sooner and turned over a new leaf, things might have been different between them. Steven knew better than anyone that Annalise had given him plenty of chances. But he took those chances for granted and believed she would never leave him, so he continued to hurt her.


    At the time, Steven never even considered that there might be a day when Annalise''s love for him would run out.

 Chapter 605

    At that moment, Steven''s shrill ringtone cut through the heavy silence. He frowned, annoyed by the ringing, and nced at the caller ID.


    He was disgruntled to see Jessica''s name sh on the screen, but he put the call through nheless. "Hello?"


    Jessica was anxious. Although she knew she would have to deal with this someday, she couldn''t help but feel nervous about bringing the matter up with Steven. "Do you still remember our discussion fromst night?"


    Steven racked his brain and finally remembered what Jessica told himst night. He answered gruffly, "Yes."


    Jessica sensed that he was being cold and distant, but she knew it was in her best interests to go for broke at this point. "Care to tell me what you were thinking, Steven? I don''t want my kid to be born into instability. At the very least, you can''t abandon my child like you did with Zachary."


    Steven''s temples throbbed even more. He could see where Jessica''s concernsy, given what he had done to Zachary before.


    In hindsight, he had been irresponsible toward Zachary and failed the child as a father. Not only had he brainwashed Zachary into hating his mother, but he had also ended up abandoning Zachary after Annalise walked out on both of them.


    He hadn''t even checked up on Zachary after that.


    Suddenly, Steven felt like he had unwittingly let a lot of people down.


    Meanwhile, Jessica grew uneasy when she did not hear anything from Steven''s end. She asked, "Did you hear what I said?"


    Steven replied icily, "Yes. I just want to know what you n to do about all this."


    Jessica cut to the chase. "I want you to undergo a vasectomy. I want you to promise that you will not have any children other than Zachary and my baby. Only then will I believe that you won''t abandon me and my baby no matter what happens."


    She wanted the reassurance and Steven''s loyalty, even though the baby wasn''t his.


    She was starting to get antsy when Steven did not answer her. Not that it stopped her from resorting to ckmailing him. "If you can''t promise me those, I''ll terminate the pregnancy. I''d sooner abort the baby than have him constantly worry about whether his father will walk out on him."


    Steven was not angry when he heard this. Instead, he was inexplicably relieved. It was as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.


    He said, "I suggest you sleep on it because once you get rid of the baby, I will not give you a cent, regardless of your finances. As for my wish to have a kid... Well, let''s just say I can easily find someone else to bear my children.


    "So, think long and hard-do you want to get rid of the baby? In the meantime, I''ll see if I feel like having someone else bear my children."


    There was something like glee in his tone. Jessica bit her bottom lip as she gritted out, "Oh, I''ve thought about it."


    She knew that the person who held their ground would emerge victorious. If she so much as hinted that she cared about the baby, Steven would use it as leverage against her.


    As such, she said, "If you don''t agree to my terms, I''ll make an appointment to abort this baby right now."


    Steven asked darkly, "Are you threatening me?"


    Jessica did not answer him and instead said, "No, I''m telling you that this is not a negotiation."


    "The money I gave you thest time should be enough to cover your abortion fees," Steven said, his voice devoid of warmth. "You could make an appointment for tomorrow if you don''t mind."


    Jessica froze.


    However, Steven had grown tired of arguing with her and hung up.


    She stared at her phone in disbelief. She never expected Steven to show such cruel resolve. Did he truly not want the baby anymore?

 Chapter 606

    Jessica took a deep breath, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything. She gazed down as she caressed her stomach. She would keep the baby no matter what.


    After some hesitation, she gave Chloe a call. When thetter picked up, she started sobbing. "Chloe, I don''t know if it''s the pregnancy, but I''ve been an emotional wreck these days."


    Jessica was practically golden in Chloe''s eyes. With a gentle smile, she asked patiently, "What happened?"


    "Steven has recently gotten chummy with Annalise," Jessica whined tearfully. "I can''t help but think what will happen to me if he decides to get back together with her and abandon me and my baby!"


    "That won''t happen!" Chloe promised solemnly. "He''s not getting back together with Annalise not on my watch!"


    Jessica knew Chloe would unconditionally side with her. "As much as I appreciate it, your assurance won''t make me feel better about this situation."


    "Then what do you want me to do?" Chloe asked.


    "Persuade Steven to get a vasectomy," Jessica replied without even batting an eye.


    Chloe fell silent when she heard this. She knew her chances of bing a grandmother were riding on Jessica, but getting Steven to undergo a vasectomy seemed somewhat extreme.


    She tried to negotiate with Jessica, keeping her tone pleasant as she said, "Normally, it''s the woman who chooses to get her tubes tied. It''s rare for a man to want to get a vasectomy."


    Jessica argued, "Unless the chances of Steven having children with other women are reduced to zero, I won''t believe that he won''t walk out on me and my child."


    "This sounds like an important decision," Chloe said hesitantly. "It''s best if I talk to Steven about it." Considering Steven''s attitude, Jessica had a feeling he wouldn''t budge on getting a vasectomy. "Fine. Tell him that if he refuses to get the surgery, I''ll abort the kid."


    ...


    Chloe was caught between a rock


    ??


    and a hard ce. She had gone still on the living room couch as she stared out the window, feelingpletely at a loss.


    It took her a while before she finally called Steven.


    He put the call through and asked stoically, "What is it, Mom?"


    "How are you feeling?" Chloe asked. She couldn''t jump straight into the vasectomy talk, so she resorted to expressing motherly concern.


    Steven answered, "I''m good."


    She chuckled and said, "I know you''ve been busy with work and preupied with Annalisetely, but you must understand that health is wealth."


    "Got it," Steven bit out. He didn''t feel like wasting his breath on her. "Is there anything else you''d like to say?"


    "Yes." Chloe debated her choice of words but settled on bluntness in the end. "Have you made up your mind to get back together with Annalise?"


    Steven realized that his wavering


    stance in the past had led others to believe he did not and could not possibly love Annalise. As such, he said with resolve, "That''s right."


    Chloe couldn''t understand what he saw in Annalise or why he was so hung up on her. Incredulously, she asked, "And you don''t n to date other women?"


    He nodded on the other line, but when he realized Chloe couldn''t see him, he answered without a trace of doubt, "Yes."


    "And you don''t n to let other women bear your children, either, is that it?" Chloe demanded, looking more grim by the second.


    Steven''s brows furrowed. "Yes."


    With a deep breath, Chloe said, "In that case, do as Jessica says and get a vasectomy."


    Steven was used to Jessica''s


    tantrums and dismissed her


    impractical suggestions as part of her usual nonsense. But Chloe was different; she was his mother, and she should side with him instead of butting into this mess.

 Chapter 607

    Steven asked coldly, "Do you know what a vasectomy is, Mom? It means I could never sire children again."


    Chloe pointed out slowly, "But if you don''t get a vasectomy, Jessica will get an abortion..."


    This alone told Steven what he needed to know. Jessica had turned to Chloe after she failed to ckmail him into getting a vasectomy.


    Displeased as he was, he didn''t let it show. A frigid look shed in his eyes as he asked through gritted teeth, "You spoke with Jessica, didn''t you?"


    Chloe bristled at his disgruntled tone. "Don''t change the subject! We''re in the middle of a serious conversation here, Steven.''


    He snapped, "She called me a while ago and tried to convince me to get a vasectomy! I refused, but I didn''t think she''de to you and brainwash you into agreeing with her!"


    Chloe countered anxiously, "Did you think I wanted to agree to this? As things are, Annalise won''t get back together with you, let alone have your children.


    "If Jessica gets an abortion, Zachary will be my only grandchild, and you know the boy cut ties with me because of you! Are you so heartless that you''d let me grow old alone while others my age are surrounded by grandkids?"


    Upon hearing this, Steven scoffed to himself and enunciated his reply, "Yes."


    This rendered Chloe speechless, but she got over the shock and said, "I have you to take care of me in


    my old age, so at least I''m not all alone. But what about you, Steven? Zachary might be young now, but he''ll grow up one day.


    "Given how you walked out on him, he isn''t obligated to look after you in your old age. What will you do then? I''m looking out for your best interests here. Did you think I''d push you into getting a vasectomy if I had any other choice?"


    Steven did not bother arguing with her this time. "Yes, you would."


    He wouldpromise on anything else, but he drew a line at getting a vasectomy.


    Stumped, Chloe had no choice but to y the family card. "I''m your mother, Steven. I wouldn''t do anything to hurt you."


    "Yes, you would," he thought but did not say aloud.


    A beat of silenceter, Chloe


    resorted to negotiating with him. "I know you''re still young, and having you undergo a vasectomy is unreasonable. But if you''re


    have children with other wing to


    be happy to turn down Jessica''s request."


    "Mom..." Steven was growing tired of this conversation. "That''s impossible."


    I''d


    Annalise was all he could think about. He shuddered at the thought of getting close to other women, let alone having children with them. The thought made him uneasy, and he was horrified to think that Annalise might never forgive him if he did approach other women.


    Chloe said, "See, you''re being stubborn about this. You realize that Jessica''s baby is our only hope, don''t you?"


    He didn''t have an answer.


    She continued, "I will not let anything happen to the child, Steven. Please, I''m begging you to get the vasectomy done and over with."


    r expected his own


    Steven never


    mother to beg him to do something so unreasonable. A bitter smile


    curved his lips as he made to hang up, not at all intending to cave to Chloe''s emotional ckmailing.


    "You leave me no choice!" Furious at Steven''s stubbornness and the failed negotiation, Chloe warned in a


    shrill voice, "If you don''t get the vasectomy, I''ll kill myself!"

 Chapter 608

    Steven felt his mind go nk. He didn''t think having grandchildren would mean that much to Chloe. He was already feeling sick, to begin with, and Chloe''s threat only made him feel worse. His headache intensified, and he rubbed his temples, hoping to ease the pain, but it was useless.


    He gave up trying to make himself feel better. He let his hand fall to the couch as he said, "Mom, I''ve got enough to deal with at work as it is. I''d appreciate it if you didn''t jump on Jessica''s bandwagon and cause more trouble for me. It''s only going to affect my work performance.


    Chloe snorted. She had given Steven life and raised him. As far as she was concerned, he had to obey her. "This is a serious negotiation, Steven. If you refuse to listen to me and do as I say, then don''t me me for taking extreme measures!"


    Steven knew she tended to use such tactics to get him to cave into her demands. He hadpromised in the past, but every time he gave Chloe an inch, she wanted a yard. He would get no empathy from her, and this time, he decided to put his foot down.


    "Fine, then. I''d like to see what extreme measures you n to take," he challenged.


    Incensed by his defiance, Chloe stormed up to the rooftop of her apartment building and hung up on him. Once she was on the rooftop, she video-called him.


    Steven put the call through, only to see Chloe standing on the rooftop ledge. A slight tip forward would have her falling through thin air and hitting the ground.


    He froze, and the thoughts in his head went very, very quiet. A grim look passed over his face as he felt his blood run cold. "Mom, what the hell do you think you''re doing?"


    The dark look on Steven''s face filled Chloe with satisfaction. She knew he still cared about her. Triumph glimmered in her eyes as she threatened him, "Get the vasectomy, or I''ll jump off the roof right now!" Steven closed his eyes. All this time, he had believed his mother was just like any other mother. However, he hadn''t realized until now that the opposite was true.


    Other mothers would stand by their sons and protect them, but not Chloe; she would find ways to aggravate him and leave him drowning. It was almost as if she couldn''t stand the thought of him living a happy and peaceful life.


    He stared at the woman on the screen, whatever filial love he had for her vanishing by the second.


    Meanwhile, a crowd had gathered below Chloe''s apartment building after they spotted her sitting on the rooftop ledge.


    She noticed the crowd staring at her and thought they were on their side. As such, she quickly antagonized him before them.


    "Would you believe what an ingrate my son is? I''m his mother, and all asked of him was a small favor, but he refused me! He wouldn''t agree to it unless I jump off the roof!" she cried out, ying the victim.


    The crowd had no idea of the context, but judging by her words, they could only assume her son was good for nothing.


    "Why can''t he talk things out with you instead of forcing you to do this? This is not how a family should behave!"


    "Gosh, would you believe it? What person would force their aging mother to jump off a building?"


    "What an ingrate!"


    "If my son turned out like this, I''d wish I''d have strangled him the moment he was born!"


    The crowd''s voices rose as they denigrated Steven. Chloe smirked as she leveled a smug look at Steven. "Did you hear that? Everyone thinks you''re in the wrong."


    She hadn''t noticed that Steven was


    no longer regarding her with warmth. "So, what will it take for you to get down from the rooftop? Would my getting a vasectomy do the trick?''  en


    Pleased by the oue, Chloe nodded. "Yes. I''m serious this time, Steven."


    Steven had turned on the screen recording function from the moment he picked up Chloe''s call. He never thought there would be a day when he would lose all respect for his mother.

 Chapter 609

    Steven kept the video call going, and under Chloe''s smug gaze, he entered the hospital building. There weren''t a lot of men waiting to get a vasectomy, so it didn''t take long for the staff to slot Steven into an appointment.


    The doctor tried to dissuade Steven from getting the procedure at first, even warning him about the possible side effects.


    However, Steven said, "I have to get the vasectomy, or my mom will jump off the building."


    The doctor nced at Steven''s phone. Sure enough, Chloe demanded sharply, "Hurry up and get it done!


    If you don''t carry out the procedure for him, I''ll kill myself! Everyone will know you as a murderer!"


    Feeling sorry for Steven, the doctor immediately scheduled a vasectomy for Steven. It was a minor surgery that involved a small incision, and it was done quickly.


    When Steven emerged from the operation theater, he eyed his mother frigidly and asked, "Are you happy now?"


    Chloe was grinning. "Of course! I knew I could count on you, my dear son!"


    Steven said gravely, "From now on, I''m not your son."


    "What do you mean by that?" Chloe asked incredulously.


    He did not answer her, and he didn''t even bother checking if she had gotten off the rooftop before hanging up on her.


    Chloe brushed this off as one of Steven''s fits. She had, after all, pushed his buttons. It was only natural that he was angry with her, but she knew he would forgive her once she gave him the time and space to cool off.


    Raising a brow, she called Jessica to tell her the good news. "Hello, Jessica."


    Jessica askedzily on the other line, "Did something happen?"


    "Of course!" Chloe said excitedly. "I watched Steven get a vasectomy, so you can go ahead and have your baby without worrying about him abandoning you both!"


    Jessica bolted upright, disbelief coloring her tone as she asked, "How did you get him to do it?"


    "I tried to talk to him and change his


    mind, but he refused to listen to me! So I threatened to leap off my apartment building," Chloe


    exined, not at all realizing her


    mistakes. Instead, she reveled in the fact that she had gotten her son to do her bidding. "That did the trick."


    When Steven got home, he called Darren, his face remaining impassive. "Cut Chloe off from now on and fire her family members from thepany. It''s not like they''re doing any actual work in the first ce."


    Darren wasn''t aware of the events leading up to this, only that Steven was being brash and somewhat impulsive. As such, he said, "You owe it to your mother to look after her and pay for her upkeep.


    "I know," Steven said icily. "She can sue me if she wants me to give her an allowance. I''ll just give her the minimum once the court passes the judgment."


    If Chloe thought she could still take his money and blow through it carelessly after forcing him to get a vasectomy, she was wrong.


    Darren could tell Steven had made up his mind, so he said obligingly. "Very well."


    Toying with his phone, Steven stared at Chloe''s number. He hesitated for a long moment before blocking her number. He no longer wanted anything to do with her.


    He closed his eyes as a bitter chuckle escaped him.


    Chloe hadn''t provided him with the best while he was growing up. Thankfully, he worked hard to set up his ownpany and built his business from scratch.


    Steven hadn''t made much money at first, but after setting aside the funds for hispany, he gave the rest of his earnings to Chloe so she could afford a better life for herself.


    He had been so concerned that she would be short of money that he didn''t give a single cent to Annalise, who nurtured and looked after him. Looking back, he had been an outright fool.

 Chapter 610

    Steven had given and done everything for Chloe, and what did he get in return? Her betrayal. She had knowingly sided with Jessica and threatened to jump off a building if he did not cave into her demands. It wasn''t until now that Steven realized how blind and foolish he had been. He stared at the ceiling, then called Jessica after some time.


    Jessica was pleased to know her n had worked. She grinned as she put Steven''s call through.


    He said stonily, "I''ve got to hand it to you for manipting Chloe after you failed to convince me to get a vasectomy. It''s a pretty smart move."


    She thought she was rather brilliant, too. However, she feigned innocence as she said, "I only wanted my baby to have a happy and stable family. Is it so wrong for me to take measures to ensure you won''t abandon my baby?"


    Steven drawled icily, "If you weren''t wrong, would that make me the viin instead?"


    She fell silent.


    A sudden thought crossed Steven''s mind, and he said, "Then again, if I hadn''t left Annalise to be with you, I might not be forced into such dire circumstances.


    After a long pause, Jessica pointed out, "You can regret the way things turned out, but it''s not like you can turn back time."


    "I know that," Steven said. Denial was futile at this point, and so were the what-ifs and what-could-have- beens.


    He could say he''d work hard to prove himself to Annalise and persuade her toe back to him, but what difference would it make? They were a lost cause.


    With that in mind, he continued, "I just don''t understand why my mother would take your side instead of mine."


    "It just goes to show that she likes me better," Jessica said arrogantly.


    "Which is why I''ve decided to cut her off for good. Steven closed his eyes. "The same goes for you. She have toe to you if she needs money because I don''t want


    anything to do with her one


    en


    swn y


    The blood drained from Jessica''s face. She thought she must have misheard Steven. "What did you just say?"


    She thought he would cherish her baby now that he''d gotten the vasectomy and could no longer


    reproduce with any other woman. She didn''t think he would be even angrier with her.


    In the past, Steven wouldn''t have given up on her or the baby, no matter how unreasonable she was. What made him cut them off out of the blue this time?


    She couldn''t help the mirthless chuckle that escaped her.


    Jessica had believed Annalise


    meant something to Steven, but as it turned out, he probably didn''t care about Annalise any more than he did her. At the end of the day, Steven didn''t love her or Annalise. He only cared about himself.


    He couldn''t care less if Annalise or Jessica got hurt. He was only disgruntled because he was inconvenienced.


    As the realization set in, Jessica began to feel sorry for Annalise. Thetter had wasted years on a selfish man like Steven.


    "Aren''t you worried I''d abort the baby?" Jessica asked.


    "Be my guest," Steven said coolly. "I still have Zachary. I''ll find a way to make it up to him and earn his forgiveness."


    "Fine, then Don''t say I didn''t warn you," Jessica ground out, then hung up on him. She lowered her gaze on her baby bump. She decided to keep the child while it still had some value.


    She narrowed her eyes and gave Chloe a call.


    Chloe hadn''t expected Jessica to call her. "What is it? Did something happen?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 611

    "Yeah, Steven''s angry," Jessica said. "He told me he won''t give me a cent for living expenses anymore." Chloe brushed it off. "Don''t worry about it. He might refuse to take care of an unborn child, but I''m still his mom. He wouldn''t dare cut me off. Once he sends me money, I''ll make sure to send some your way." Jessica was overwhelmed by a sense of gloom. It would be great if things were really as bright as Chloe believed.


    "But he said he wouldn''t give you anything either," Jessica said.


    "No way." Chloe stayed calm. "Even if he resents me for something, I''m still his mom. There''s no way he''d stop supporting me over something so trivial."


    "He literally said so just now," Jessica said. "Why don''t you call and check?"


    "Fine." Chloe still seemed unconcerned. "But he''s probably still worked up. He''ll likely tell me the same


    thing he told you. Still, I''ll make an effort to calm him down. He is my son, after all."


    Chloe ended the call and immediately dialed Steven, her hands trembling.


    He had never blown up at her, no matter what she did. What made this time different? All she did was


    suggest he get a vasectomy was that really enough to set him off?


    Chloe tried calling him repeatedly, but each time she dialed, she received the same message that the line was busy. A creeping unease began to settle in.


    She quickly borrowed the nanny''s phone and tried again. This time, the call went through.


    "Who''s this?" Steven''s voice was t.


    "It''s your mom!" Chloe eximed, still in disbelief. He had actually blocked her number her dearest son! "Did you actually block me?"


    Steven didn''t bother denying it and calmly replied, "Yes."


    Chloe''s agitation spiked. "Why would you do that?"


    "Don''t you already know?" Steven''s voice carried a chillingposure.


    Chloe was left utterly speechless.


    Steven continued, "You should''ve


    known what would happen when you threatened to jump off at building to get me to do what you


    From now on, I won''t listen


    you say."


    "I did it for your good," Chloe argued.


    "I don''t need it," Steven responded icily. "And I won''t support Jessica, either. Whether she keeps the child


    or not is her decision-it has nothing to do with me."


    Only then did Chloe realize things might have spiraledpletely out of her control. "Who will take care of you when you''re old?"


    "If Zachary is willing to forgive me, I''ll still have him as a son. If not, I''ll grow old by myself," Steven said as if reaching a painful realization.


    Chloe was on the verge of tears. "You''re throwing away all my good intentions! Who do you think I was doing this for-telling you to get a vasectomy? It was so you could have another child!"


    doit


    "You didn''t do it for anyone but yourself," Steven said, his words sharp and deliberate. "It was all about feeding your need for control. The moment you threatened to jump, you knew I''d cave and give up my right to have children.


    "I''m sure you felt pretty triumphant when I went through with the surgery, didn''t you? Proud that you''d


    found yet another way to manipte me."


    "That''s not true!" Chloe cried, her voice breaking.


    "It doesn''t matter if it''s true or not," Steven replied, his tone icy. "You need to understand that from now on, we''re done."

 Chapter 612

    "Steven!" Chloe yelled into the phone when she heard the line go dead.


    Desperate, she redialed, only to discover she was blocked again. Switching to other phones didn''t help- Steven had blocked those, too.


    Shocked, Chloe slumped onto the couch. She couldn''t wrap her head around how Steven could cut her offpletely over something she thought was so minor.


    ...


    Shane woke up at home, his thoughts drifting to everything that had happened recently. After a moment''s hesitation, he opened his chat with Yvonne and typed out a message.


    "Thank you for offering to lend me money and letting me stay at your ce. Also, I really appreciate you cooking for me. But I found a good job yesterday and made some decent money, so I won''t be staying with you anymore."


    He transferred the five thousand dors she had lent him. Then he paused, remembering that he had spent the night at her ce, even though it wasn''t a full night.


    Yvonne had gone to the trouble of cooking for Shane, and he didn''t want to leave without offering something in return. He did a quick calction and sent another five thousand dors.


    "The first transfer is the amount I owe you. The second one is for the trouble I caused and as thanks for cooking for me." Shane texted.


    When Yvonne read Shane''s messages, she was taken aback. The day before, she''d picked up on his feelings for her.


    She''d intentionally acted sweetly with her boyfriend, hoping it would stir something in Shane. What surprised her was how easily Shane decided to move on after seeing her with her boyfriend.


    That quick retreat annoyed her a little. Couldn''t he have at least tried a bit harder? She would''ve turned him down anyway, but she still wanted to feel like she mattered enough for him to put in some effort. Yvonne typed back, "Weren''t you short on money? If you move out, where are you nning to stay?" "That''s not your concern. I''ll sort it out," Shane responded without really paying attention.


    Feeling a touch of disappointment, Yvonne replied, "Alright, then. If you run into any trouble, you can still contact me."


    Shane couldn''t quite exin it, but everything she did had seemed perfect when he''d feelings for her. Now, free from those emotions, he saw her actions for what they really were.


    det


    Yvonne''s exaggerated disys of affection with her boyfriend had been a calcted effort to distance him. But now that he had moved on, she wished for him to remain close and win her over again.


    He sneered. How long could a love that was based on pretense reallyst? It was only a matter of time before the truth was revealed.


    Just then, Shane''s phone rang, and Sasha''s name lit up the screen.


    "What do you want?" he asked.


    "You sound different," Sasha said. "Did something happen?"


    "This is all your fault," Shane


    snapped. "You kept dropping hints that Yvonne had feelings for me, so I started to develop feelings for


    her only to find out she''s already in a serious rtionship!"


    Sasha caught on quickly. "Oh, so you got rejected?"


    Then, as if something else clicked, she asked, "Wait, was thisst night?"


    Shane let out a dry chuckle in response.


    Sasha finally understood why he had said those wordsst night. She touched her chin and murmured,


    "So that''s what happened."

 Chapter 613

    "How are you feeling right now?" Sasha asked. "Yvonne doesn''t love you anymore, but you''re still stuck on her?"


    Shane''s reply was deliberate, each word carefully enunciated. "That''s ridiculous. I don''t feel anything for her anymore. I never cared that much in the first ce, so of course, I walked away before it got too far. Still, I''ve got to admit, your tactics were pretty low."


    Sasha didn''t bother to deny it. After all, Shane hadn''t exactly been kind to her in the past, either.


    Not wanting to continue the conversation, Shane changed the subject. "So, why are you calling me so early?"


    "I''m checking out potential office locations," Sasha exined. "After that, I''m going topare rents in the city center with those in the suburbs. We''ll see what fits the budget and sign a lease ordingly."


    She wouldn''t go looking for him unless it was something important.


    Shane agreed with her n without hesitation. "Fair enough."


    "Do you have a car?" Sasha asked.


    To her, a day this significant called for using a private vehicle. She didn''t trust rental cars-there was always the risk that someone might overhear their conversation about the ns.


    "Maybe," Shane replied. "I''ll check with my dad in a bit and see if he''ll let me use one of ours. If not, we''ll have to take your car."


    Sasha considered it before saying, "I''ll talk to my family and arrange to borrow a car. You stay home and wait. I''lle pick you up."


    Shane appreciated the opportunity to get a bit more rest and quickly agreed, "Alright, that works."


    After hanging up, Sasha headed downstairs and told Dous she needed a car.


    Dous promptly made arrangements, assigning a dependable family driver to apany her. Together, they went to pick up Shane.


    As soon as Shane got in, he turned to Sasha and asked, "Have you decided on a location yet?"


    "Not really Sasha said, letting out a deep breath. "Ideally, I''d like something in the city. That way, could stop by the office after


    wrapping up my day. But honestly, it doesn''t seem realistic."


    "What makes you say that?" Shane asked, his eyes fixed on her.


    "I''ve looked into rental prices. It''s ridiculously expensive for the space we need," Sasha exined, holding his gaze.


    Shane fell silent.


    The driver took them to a real estate agency in the city center. There, Shane and Sasha exined that they were starting apany and needed arge office space.


    However, every property the agent showed them came with exorbitant rent-tens of thousands per month, totaling millions annually. They''d owe thendlord a fortune even if they didn''t make a dime.


    Shane and Sasha shared a look and silently agreed that the city-center options were out of reach.


    The agent smiled, asking them, "Didn''t find anything that caught your eye?"


    Sasha didn''t hesitate. "Exactly. The rent is just way too high for us. Let''s check out the suburbs instead."


    "You''ll definitely save more that


    way," the agent replied with a


    cheerful smile. "I actually have a few suburban listings that might interest you. Want to take a look?"


    Switching agents felt like too much hassle, so Sasha agreed. "Sure."


    On the way, the agent repeatedly highlighted how much cheaper suburban office spaces were costing less than a tenth of what downtown options would.


    After checking out a few locations, Sasha suddenly had a new idea. Why keep paying rent when she could buy a space instead?


    She turned to the agent and asked, "Are any of these offices for sale?"

 Chapter 614

    The agent seemed taken aback. "Of course, but they''re far from cheap.''


    "How much are we looking at?" Sasha asked, deciding it was worth considering.


    "It''s typically around 20 times the annual rent," the agent replied.


    Sasha turned to Shane and said, "So, if we run thepany for 20 years, it''ll pay for itself."


    Shane took a moment to think, then signaled for Sasha to step aside. "Let''s talk it over."


    "Sure," Sasha replied, giving the agent a heads-up before following Shane to the side.


    "We need to consider the long-term if we decide to buy it," Shane said. "We should go for a ce that''s spacious enough. If thepany grows and we outgrow it, we''ll end up renting again, which would be a waste."


    Sasha nced at him, surprised. "You''re right."


    "Why don''t we get our families'' opinions?" Shane suggested.


    He thought they''d have more wisdom on matters like this. Without waiting, he called Carlisle for advice on buying an office space.


    Carlisle advised against buying for now, exining that suburban property prices were unlikely to rise anytime soon and might even drop. He suggested Shane hold off, especially if cash flow was tight.


    Dous had a simr view, but knowing Sasha''s nature, he told her that now could be a good opportunity


    if she was determined to buy. Withmercial real estate vacancies on the rise, he advised her to negotiate for a better deal.


    Afterparing Carlisle''s and Dous''s advice, both Sasha and Shane were deep in thought.


    "So, what''s the n-do we buy or not?" Shane asked.


    Sasha didn''t respond immediately. Instead, she fixed her gaze on him, asking, "Do you think ourpany has the potential to grow?"


    Shane fell silent.


    Sasha continued, "Or, let me put it another way. Do you believe ourpany couldst 20 years?" "Yes," Shane replied without hesitation. "Not just 20-maybe 30, or even 40. "Then do you really want to pay rent for 40 years?" Sasha asked hesitantly.


    The question threw Shane off. Renting for a year or two was one thing, butmitting to 40 years of rent payments was a whole different


    story.


    "So, are we buying then?" he asked.


    Sasha didn''t answer right away. Instead, she asked, "How much money do you have avable?"


    "I''d say around 40 million dors


    after canceling all those


    Vol


    membership cards." Shane dida quick calction, then looked over at her. "What about you?"


    "With thepany''s share and my parents'' allowance, it adds up to about the same as yours," Sasha said awkwardly.


    Shane stared at her in disbelief. "So, the starting capital we have together is almost 90 million dors?"


    Sasha nodded in response.


    Without wasting any time, Shane turned to the agent and asked, "How much would it cost to buy an entire floor?"


    The agent quickly calcted before replying, "Roughly 20 million dors."


    Shane and Sasha exchanged a nce.


    Finally, it was Sasha who made the decision. "Let''s go for it!"


    Her heart raced as the words left her


    lips. She was used to spending


    money on herself, but putting it into a business was a whole new experience. It felt unfamiliar to her.


    She turned to Shane. "How about we each pay ten million dors and split the floor in half-your name on


    one side, mine on the other?"


    "That works," Shane replied instantly.

 Chapter 615

    Shane and Sasha were strictly business partners. Buying an office space together and putting both their names on the deed would make things messy if they ever had a falling out.


    They agreed to split everything upfront to avoid potential problems, just like they were doing now. They consulted the agent to verify whether this n was possible, and the agent assured them it was.


    Once they decided which half each of them would own, the agent guided them through the paperwork for the transfer.


    Holding the fresh property deed in his hands, Shane stared at it in disbelief. "I actually own a ce now." "Exactly!" Sasha was equally thrilled but kept her excitement more contained. "Let''s go meet Annalise." "Why do we need her?" Shane asked.


    "She''s amazing!" Sasha answered, her voiceced with admiration as she instinctively straightened. "She might not own apany, but her perspective on running one is unique. If we talk to her, we''re bound to gain some fresh insights. Plus, I really want to share this good news with her."


    A thought struck her, and she added, "Of course, we could also ask Zane for advice on growing thepany. If you don''t feel like going, I can handle it on my own."


    She had no intention of pressuring Shane.


    Still, he was fully aware of how valuable it was for a young entrepreneur like him to meet someone as sessful as Zane, and he wasn''t about to pass up the opportunity.


    "Alright," Shane said. "I''ll join you."


    Meanwhile, Jessica took a while topose herself. Once she finally felt more steady, she grabbed her phone and dialed Casper''s number.


    Casper was at the office. Although Zane had told him to take some time off, he couldn''t rx as long as his project was unfinished. The nagging thought that something might go wrong kept him restless.


    He was


    rang. When he looked at the


    Jen aback when his phone Jessica be calling him? Cweet


    his


    e only grew. Why we en


    "Hello?" Casper answered, sounding casual.


    Jessica''s voice trembled with emotion. "Do you have a moment to talk?"


    She was bearing Casper''s child but had been hurt by Steven. Naturally, she Couldn''t leave Casper in the dark He needed to know everything she had done for him.


    Casper felt his heart melt when he heard her voice. "What''s going on?"


    "Steven thinks the baby I''m carrying is his," Jessica said in a barely audible whisper. "He wants me to get rid of it."


    While Casper cared deeply about ensuring the safe birth of his child, he wasn''t sure where she stood on the matter.


    "How do you feel about it?" he asked.


    Jessica''s voice cracked as if she were on the verge of tears. "I want to have this baby, no matter what."


    Casper went quiet for a moment


    before responding, "If you''re willing to face a tougher life with me, just tell Steven the truth. Thene live with me. I''ll do whatever it takes to support you and the baby.


    Jessica hadn''t anticipated such an answer. "But you know I''ve always been used to living afortable life."


    Casper''s tone turned unusually serious. "Jessica, if I can make this project a sess, I''ll earn a lot of money afterward."


    Jessica bit her lip. "I''ll stay with Steven for now. Once your projectes through, I''lle straight to you."


    It felt like someone had drenched Casper with cold water. He froze in ce.


    "You can''te to me now?" he asked.

 Chapter 616

    "I''m heavily pregnant, and I need someone to care for me. Can you afford to hire a nanny if I move in with you?" Jessica asked matter-of-factly. "Plus, Cody''s in the best kindergarten in the city, and the tuition costs hundreds of thousands a year. Can you cover that?"


    Each question hit Casper like a punch, leaving him speechless.


    Jessica took a deep breath and continued, "Steven''s angry now, but I know if I wait long enough, he''ll calm down. Then everything will return to normal-he''ll continue providing me afortable life."


    "So you''re just calling to vent?" Casper asked. "You never meant toe back to me?"


    There was a long pause before Jessica finally said, "That''s right."


    "Fine," Casper muttered.


    He had forgiven her time and again, only to be hurt over and over. But now, it was clear-Jessica didn''t need his forgiveness. She''d be fine with or without him.


    "Steven''s probably just acting out of anger. Don''t let it get to you," he added.


    Jessica understood Casper was trying tofort her. "I want to throw a tantrum badly, but I can''t. He''s in love with Annalise. All he cares about is earning her forgiveness.


    "If I cause trouble now, he might walk away from me for good. All I can do is stay quiet, stay home, and wait. Sooner orter, he''ll cool off and keep caring for me and the kids."


    She felt a sense of relief once she was done speaking.


    "But doesn''t this make you weary?" Casper asked.


    "It does," Jessica said. "But struggling through life is draining as well. Casper..."


    She was struck by a memory of the simplest days of her life before the Gibsons had gone bankrupt.


    She smiled and added, "Back then, I lived however I wanted and bought anything I desired. Our love was real. You adored and spoiled me, never pressuring me to do anything I didn''t want to.


    "You always tiptoed around me to avoid upsetting me. Knowing how much you sacrificed for me is why I agreed to have two children with you."


    She spoke with sincerity. "I''ve long epted that no one else will treat me the way you did."


    Casper let out a long sigh. "If only my family hadn''t gone broke."


    "If they hadn''t, I''d still be by your side, waiting for our second child to be born," Jessica said.


    Silence settled between them. Neither had anything more to say.


    Chloe spent a long time thinking at home. Finally, she concluded that Steven''s anger stemmed from bow well Annalise was doing after leaving him.


    Her sess made him look like aplete jerk byparison. If Chloe could manage to split up ?ane and Annalise, Annalise''s life would inevitably crumble.


    Steven would see her scraping by, working for someone else, and finally realize she wasn''t all that special.

 Chapter 617

    Steven''s admiration for Annalise would inevitably wane over time.


    Chloe believed that by the time that happened, he wouldn''t still be bitter about the vasectomy. Instead, he''de to realize that everything she''d done was for his benefit.


    The more she thought it over, the more certain she became that she had to break up Zane and Annalise. She hailed a cab and went straight to the entrance of Huxham Corporation.


    When she arrived and saw the gates shut, she froze.


    Upon noticing her standing there, a few passersby kindly informed her, "Huxham Corporation is closed on weekends. If you''re looking for someone, you cane back on Monday."


    Chloe gave them a vacant nod. "Okay, thank you."


    If Zane and Annalise weren''t at work, that was fine. Chloe could always go to the Huxham residence instead.


    She had to deal with this today. If not, Steven would keep holding it against her, and she couldn''t stand it anymore.


    ...


    The car rolled steadily down the road. Shane was seated in the front passenger seat, while Sasha sat in the back.


    Shane nced over his shoulder at her. "We''ve each got about 30 million dors left, right?"


    Sasha wasn''t sure why he was bringing this up but nodded anyway. "Yeah."


    "Are we putting all of it into thepany?" he asked.


    "No problem," Sasha replied without hesitation.


    Shane followed up with another question. "But if we both invest the same amount, does that mean we''ll each own half of thepany?"


    Sasha shook her head. "I''m not usually involved in thepany''s day-to-day operations. You''ll be handling both the big decisions and the small details. So, you can take 51% of the shares, and I''ll hold 49%. That way, you''ll always have the final say. Does that work for you?"


    Shane wanted to refuse, but after giving it some thought, he realized this was probably the best solution for now.


    After a brief pause, he finally said, "Alright."


    When the car stopped in front of the Huxham residence, Shane and Sasha stepped out one after the other and rang the doorbell.


    Zane opened the door, and while he didn''t look particrly thrilled to see them, he let them in.


    Sasha dashed straight into the vi, and the moment her eyesnded on Annalise, she hurried over and threw her arms around her. "I''ve missed you so much."


    ...


    Feeling Sasha''s enthusiasm, I gently patted her back, saying, "I missed you, too."


    She grabbed my hand and led me to the couch, her excitement spilling over. "Shane and I have decided to start a newpany."


    I blinked in surprise. "Really? That''s amazing-congrattions!"


    Sasha hesitated for a moment, then pulled a stack of papers from her bag and handed them to me. "Here''s our initial n. Could you take a look and see if there''s anything we should adjust?"


    I took the papers and skimmed through them. The detailed considerations for starting a


    "Is something wrong?" she asked.


    "No," I said, genuinely impressed. "I wasn''t expecting you to have such a thorough n already for your first time doing this."


    A sweet smile spread across Sasha''s face.


    I continued, "A few areas could use some adjustments, but nothing major."


    As I skimmed through the rest of the document, I highlighted the parts that needed refining. Sasha diligently took notes while Shane, who had initially seemed indifferent, started to pay closer attention.


    Once Sasha had written down everything, I gave her shoulder a light pat. "You''ve done a great job."


    Shane fixed his gaze on me, saying,


    "When Sasha first told me how


    f


    talented you are, I thought she might''ve been overselling it. But after listening to you break down our issues and suggest practical fixes, I realize now..."

 Chapter 618

    "Sasha was right. You really are impressive," Shane said nervously.


    I met his gaze, calm andposed. "Thank you."


    Sasha tilted her chin up proudly. "See? Anyone I vouch for is guaranteed to be exceptional."


    I chuckled. "You certainly have a good eye."


    "Exactly," Sasha agreed.


    Once our conversation wrapped up, she shifted her focus to Zane. "By the way, in your opinion, what''s the most important factor in starting apany?"


    She wanted their business to grow and endure but wasn''t sure how to ensure its long-term sess. "That''s easy," Zane replied at a leisurely pace. "Money. Pay your employees generously. They''ll bring you more value than you could ever anticipate."


    Sasha was aware that Huxham Corporation operated on simr principles, but hearing Zaney it out so directly still left her stunned.


    Shane felt the same way. They both looked as though a whole new perspective had just been revealed to them. It was a concept no one had ever spelled out so clearly before.


    "Just pay them well?" Sasha asked, her disbelief evident. "That''s all it takes? Nothing else?"


    Zane remainedposed as he exined, "If you allocate 90% of thepany''s profits to your


    employees, they''ll be more invested than you are in keeping thepany afloat."


    As Sasha considered his reasoning, she began to see the logic in it. If she were job hunting, she''d naturally gravitate toward apany that offered great benefits and regr weekends off.


    And once shended a job like that, she''d want to hold onto it for as long as possible-ideally, all the way to retirement.


    Shane asked, "Are they afraid they won''t be able to find a job like this again if thepany goes under?"


    "Exactly," Zane replied calmly. "When I first started saw people who took most of the profits for themselves, leaving barely anything for the employees. Some of them got into trouble-arrested or forced to run and thepanies were left in the hands of the employees.


    "With no one at the top taking most of the money, the employees managed to keep things going just fine."


    That experience solidified Zane''s belief in paying employees generously. "I believe that as long as the higher-ups don''t take an unreasonablyrge cut, anypany has a real opportunity to seed, even in a fiercelypetitive market."


    Shane nodded slowly, still processing. "But I can make a lot more myself for certain projects if I handle them personally."


    Zane gave Shane a measured look,


    saying, "It''s natural to want to hold on to your own profits. But think about it sure, you could make 50 or 100 thousand dors on a single project by handling it yourself. But there''s a limit to how many projects you can manage on your own.


    "Imagine yourpany expanding to several thousand employees. If each of them closes just one 100 thousand deal a day, and you take a 10 thousand cut from every deal, you''d be raking in millions daily."


    Zane drew from his own experience


    and continued, "If you focus too


    much on keeping small personal gains, you''ll lose sight of the bigger picture. Opportunities in entrepreneurship can


    disappel.ne


    in


    an instant. If you hesitate or hold back, someone else will grab your idea, scale it, and in the end..."

 Chapter 619

    "You might end up clutching your ideas in regret, watching someone else quietly turn them into a fortune," Zane said.


    "Now I understand," Shane replied earnestly. "For any project I manage personally, I''ll keep 90% for myself and give thepany 10%. The rest of the team can do the same."


    Zane gave him a meaningful look but chose not to say more, considering they weren''t close.


    Turning to Sasha, he spoke calmly, his words deliberate and measured. "Once thepany is


    established, Shane will be handling projects on the front lines. What about you?"


    Without hesitation, Sasha replied, "Of course I''m going to keep working! My job at Huxham Corporation is fantastic-there''s no way I''d give it up that easily."


    Zane chuckled. "I''m talking about your newpany. Shane can''t seem to let go of the projects he''s meant to run, but someone has to take charge of everything else. That someone can only be you." Incredulous, Sasha asked, "Me? Do you think I can handle that?"


    "You''ll have to," Zane replied evenly. "You can ask for my help if you hit a wall you can''t ovee. If I''m upied, ask Annalise, unless you''re okay with thepany falling apart right after it''s started. If that''s your choice, you''re wee to handle everything on your own."


    "Of course, I don''t want that to happen," Sasha responded immediately.


    I waited for their exchange to end before offering a reminder. "It''s great to be generous with employees,


    but don''t forget to set aside enough for thepany''s operating costs. If something unexpectedes up, the entirepany could vanish overnight.


    As soon as I finished, Sasha grabbed my arm, rested her chin lightly on my shoulder, and fluttered hershes. "How about you join ourpany?"


    Among her close friends, Annalise seemed to be the only one with outstanding capabilities. Sasha


    genuinely hoped Annalise would join herpany because of her exceptional skills.


    I shook my head. "My current job is already incredibly demanding. I don''t think I''ll have the time to take on anything else."


    Sasha pouted in disappointment.


    Zane noticed her expression. Annalise wouldn''t be around him every day if she ended up working for Sasha''spany. He needed to find a way to steer Sasha away from the idea.


    "Actually, there''s something I''ve been meaning to ask," he said. "If starting your own business means you could clearly make a lot more money, why are you still so determined to keep working at Huxham Corporation?"  Sasha didn''t hesitate. "Because Huxham Corporation is amazing. First off, the atmosphere is great-everyone has their own responsibilities, and when we''re at work it''s all about getting the job done. None of that backstabbing or office politics I always hear about.


    "Second, the schedule is steady. We clock in and out on time every day, and I''ve finally got my sleep under control. My friends couldn''t believe how much healthier I suddenly looked. And on top of that, the pay''s decent. Quitting just because I started my own business would


    honestly be a dumb move."


    She lifted her chin with a confident air, her expression practically saying, "I''m no fool, so don''t bother trying to convince me otherwise."


    Zane stayed calm. "Even so, I think you should put more energy into your startup. If it seeds, you''ll earn way more than you ever could here at Huxham Corporation."


    Sasha stared at Zane for a moment before saying, "If I work hard here, handle the projects, and see them through to sess, I''ll still get a good cut of the profits."


    Then, her eyes narrowed as if a realization had just struck her. She looked him up and down. "Oh... I see what''s going on now."

 Chapter 620

    Zane quirked an eyebrow. "Oh?"


    "You''re afraid that if I stick around, I''llpete with you for Anna!" Sasha had already pieced together his intentions. "That''s why you keep praising the idea of starting a business. You''re hoping I''ll quit on a whim so I''m not here to talk to Anna all the time!"


    If Sasha were to quit, Annalise would be spending every day in the office with Zane!


    Resolute in avoiding that, Sasha decided she''d stick around with Annalise at work until retirement. She snickered inwardly. There was no way she''d let Zane win.


    Shane gave Sasha''s arm a light pat. "Mr. Huxham is incredibly busy. He doesn''t have the time for what you''re using him of."


    Sasha shot back irritably, "You haven''t spent enough time around him. Of course, you wouldn''t know what he''s really like."


    Zane didn''t even try to mask his disappointment. "Guess that n didn''t work."


    "Your punishment is to help us understand what to look out for when setting up thepany," Sasha dered.


    She handed Zane their nning materials.


    After a quick skim, he remarked, "Anna''s earlier suggestions were all correct, but there are still some


    gaps. She''s never started a business or run apany, so it''s natural she''d miss a few things."


    Handing Sasha a pen, Zane swiftly identified thepany policies that needed revision, marking them as


    he went. Shane, impressed by the sharpness of Zane''s advice, paid close attention.


    When Zane finished, he asked if they both had followed the issues he''d mentioned.


    They nodded confidently, but Zane wasn''t buying it. He threw a few follow-up questions their way. Shane froze, clearly at a loss.


    With a shake of his head, Zane sighed. "You didn''t get it, did you?"


    "I think I do!" Sasha jumped in and rattled off her understanding of his points.


    Zane raised a brow and fired more questions at her. To his surprise, she nailed every single one. His expression shifted slightly as he studied her.


    Satisfied, he finally said, "Alright, then-if somethinges up in the future, have hime to you." Sasha grinned smugly. "See? I knew it-I''m a genius."


    After staying little longer at the Huxham residence, Sasha and Shane had to leave to sort out the paperwork. They said their


    goodbyes, hopped into the c


    and


    headed off to handle thepany registration.


    During the ride, Shane kept ncing at Sasha.


    Puzzled, she fixed her gaze on him, asking, "What is it?"


    "Did you actually understand everything Zane exined?" Shane asked.


    "Of course," Sasha replied confidently. "Why wouldn''t I?"


    Shane blinked in disbelief. "Why does none of it make any sense to me?"


    "That just proves you''ve never really listened when your parents talk about their work," Sasha said with a casual shrug. "Many of my friends talk about starting businesses, too, sharing tips and insights. I wasn''t nning to start one back then, but I found their ideas impressive, so I paid attention."


    Shane stared out the window. "Guess I should start talking to my dad more."


    ???


    Sasha hummed, pulling out her phone. "He won''t lead you astray Some of it might be a little outdated, but just keep what''s useful and leave the rest behind."


    Shane nodded. "Got it."


    When he fell silent, Sasha sent a message in the group chat. "Zane shared some great tips earlier. Anyone want me to pass them along?"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 621

    When Shane heard the notification, he checked his phone only to see a text from Sasha. After reading the text, he could almost instantly guess what Sasha nned to do.


    Shane couldn''t believe what he saw. He asked, "Do you n to make money off what Zane taught you?" Sasha replied nonchntly, "Yeah. It''s a good opportunity to make money, so why not?"


    Shane was baffled. Meanwhile, everyone else in the group chat questioned Sasha.


    "We all know that you tried to hit on Zane, but he rejected you."


    "Even if he decided to be generous and mentor other people, he would never mentor you."


    But Sasha wasn''t angered by their remarks. She replied, "When Zane mentored me, Shane was there,


    too. Even if you don''t believe in me, shouldn''t you believe in him?"


    Everyone knew that Sasha and Shane had a huge fight, and they thought Shane would never cover up for Sasha. They all began to ask Shane to testify if Sasha was lying.


    With that, Shane''s expression fell. He took a deep breath before replying, "What she said was true." "You should all be aware of how sessful Zane Huxham''s business is," Sasha wrote.


    Since Sasha had set her mind on starting her business, she needed to tell everyone how sessful Zane was, highlighting the value of the secrets to his sess. That way, she could put a high price tag on the knowledge she learned from Zane.


    Sasha added, "You don''t have to master everything he teaches, but even the smallest tip from him will benefit you for life. You should really consider it-do you want to learn it from me or not? It''s all up to you; I won''t force you."


    Then, Sasha continued, "Even if you don''t, I''m sure plenty out there are interested. I''m only telling you this because we used to be friends."


    With Shane''s testimony, everyone became interested. After all, they witnessed Zane''s sess. But they all knew Sasha had never been a generous person.


    Somebody asked, "Are you going to teach us for free?"


    "Of course not''ll charge a fee. If you''re willing to learn, send me the money, and we can pick a ce to meet tomorrow. Those who paid can join the ss, and I will tell you everything I know," Sasha replied.


    After that, silence fell in the group chat.


    Immediately, Shane mocked, "See? Nobody''s willing to pay to learn from you."


    Sasha turned to look at Shane. Then, she slowly raised her phone and pointed it toward Shane. Shane was surprised to see that several people began to inquire about the fee.


    en


    Shane asked in disbelief, "Do they all have that money?"


    "I guess so. Instead of getting their money cheated by someone else, they might as well give it to me. At the very least, it could buy them some valuable experiences, Sasha said.


    Then, Sasha replied to the group with the fee structures. After that, Sasha received multiple notifications about the payments she received.


    After epting the payments, Sasha booked arge room at the hotel. She sent the booking details to the group chat and reminded those who signed up to meet her there.


    Then, Sasha asked, "It''s not too nice if I take all the money and not give Zane a cut, right?"

 Chapter 622

    Shane seriously pondered on Sasha''s question, and then he nodded. He said, "You''re right." "In that case, I''ll give him a cut of it."


    Although Sasha received a lot of money from her friends, she no longer cared about small sums like this ever since she earned her cut from the project. She kept only a small portion for herself and sent everything else to Zane.


    Sasha remarked, "I told my friend group that I learned some valuable experiences from you, and I offered to teach them. They were all willing to pay for the sses. This is what they paid me."


    Then, Sasha sent Zane a screenshot. She continued and wrote, "I only kept a small cut for myself. We agreed to have the ss at the hotel tomorrow."


    When Zane received the text, he quickly nced at it and then handed his phone to the woman across from him. He asked, "What do you think she means by this?"


    I took the phone and looked at the text. Then, I said, "Maybe she just thinks that if it weren''t for your mentoring, she wouldn''t be able to earn this money. Would that be why she sent money to you?"


    Zane said, "If I ept this, I would have to go her ss tomorrow."


    I chuckled and replied, "You''re free tomorrow. Why don''t you check it out?"


    Upon hearing that, Zane didn''t reject the idea, saying, "Sure."


    Then, Zane texted Sasha. "Where''s the location for tomorrow? I''ll be there."


    But Sasha hadn''t expected such a surprise. She hurriedly sent the address to Zane, who replied, "I''ll be there on time."


    Sasha stared at her phone screen in disbelief. Then, she spun around to look at Shane, who had no idea what exchanges Sasha had with Zane. When he sensed Sasha''s gaze, he felt confused. "What?"


    In a daze, Sasha mumbled, "Zane''sing tomorrow."


    Shane was shocked to hear that. He eximed, "What?"


    Sasha continued to say regretfully, "If I had known earlier, I would''ve charged them a higher fee. Otherwise, it won''t do justice to Zane''s appearance!"


    Shane said in agreement, "You''re right."


    "Zane never talks to people about his work. They got really lucky this time!" said Sasha, gazing at Shane excitedly with her glistening eyes.


    Suddenly, Shane got a bad feeling.


    Sasha asked carefully, "Are youing tomorrow?"


    "Yes! I''ll bring my dad along, too!" Shane said.


    In response, Sasha stretched her arm out and said, "Sure. Pay up!"


    After a long, speechless pause, Shane obediently transferred the fee for himself and his father to Sasha.


    As Sasha received the money, it suddenly urred to her that it was such a good opportunity that even Shane was bringing his father along. She wondered if she could also bring her father along, too.


    After all, Dous had been busy expanding the business, but he didn''t know where to start. Sasha wondered if attending a talk by Zane would bring new inspiration. With that thought, Sasha hurriedly called Dous.


    "Dad."


    Dous hadn''t expected Sasha to call him at such a time. Heughed and asked, "What?"


    "Zane Huxham is having a sharing event to teach everyone how to start a business and how he runs a business. Would you like to join?" Sasha asked cheerfully.


    Dous couldn''t believe what he was hearing. He asked, "Really? Hadn''t Zane always been reluctant to do speeches?"


    Hearing that, Sasha chuckled shyly


    and said, "Zane taught them to me initially I nned to pass that knowledge on to my friends, and I wanted to charge a fee."

 Chapter 623

    Sasha said, "Later, I thought it wasn''t nice not to give Zane a cut since I got that knowledge from him. And so, I sent him a big cut of the money I got. Maybe he''s worried that I''d tarnish his image, but he still agreed to join us. This is a good opportunity, and you shouldn''t miss it!"


    Hearing that, Dous happily said, "Great! Just tell me the date, time, and location, and I''ll be there." Dous continued to exim, "My daughter''s all grown up now! You remember me when there are good opportunities. As a reward, I''ll send you some money."


    "Thanks, Dad!" Sasha said, epting the money.


    Then, Sasha announced the news in the group chat. She wrote, "Tomorrow, I will be bringing in a VIP!" Sasha''s friends had been curious about the lessons Zane had taught Sasha. But when they saw Sasha''s text, they all thought it was funny.


    "Honestly, we won''t be surprised no matter who you invite to the event."


    "Yeah."


    Their fathers were all reputable people within their social circle. If they wanted to, they could meet any celebrity that they liked! Because of that, none of them were interested in celebrities.


    After Shane finished texting his father about Zane''s talk and reminding him to attend, he read the group messages.


    Shane wrote, "Don''t underestimate Sasha''s current connections."


    "If Shane is saying that, would that mean this VIP is somebody reputable?"


    "Yeah. Could it be a key employee of the Huxham Corporation?"


    Everyone in the group chat began to discuss excitedly. When Sasha saw that the timing was right, she replied, "It''s Zane Huxham."


    Everyone was shocked to see this. In disbelief, they asked, "Are you sure you''re not lying?"


    "Is it really going to be Zane Huxham?"


    "Hey, Sasha, respond to our text now!"


    Seeing everyone''s eagerness, Sasha responded, "That''s right. This will be a very valuable learning experience for all of you. If you''re interested, you may bring your fathers along, but that means you must pay for an extra person. Don''t forget to send me the money."


    With Zane as a selling point, more people paid Sasha, many of whom paid for additional attendees.


    Sasha was surprised by how quickly everyone rushed to pay her. She said to Shane, "Zane really is an amazing selling point. All I said was that.


    wasing to the event, and, everyone became eager to pay up."


    Hearing that, Shane said, "Of course. After all, Zane is a business prodigy! He has never failed since he started his own business when he was in university. It''s only natural that everyone wants to learn from him.


    "In the past, they never got the chance to learn from Zane. Now that there is an opportunity, everyone is eager to seize it."


    At that moment, Shane felt envious of Sasha.


    As a woman, Sasha tried to pursue Zane, much to his distaste. However, after getting acquainted with Annalise, she managed to smooth things over with Zane and eventually became his friend.

 Chapter 624

    Sasha nodded as she tallied the money she received. She added them to a new group chat. With a serious expression, she fell into deep thought.


    Shane asked, "What''s wrong?"


    "I was expecting a small crowd, so I only booked a room," Sasha said before immediately calling the hotel.


    When the hotel confirmed that a hall was avable, Sasha booked it immediately. She outlined her


    requirements to the hotel and requested that they set up for the event tomorrow. Once she confirmed the booking fees, Sasha immediately transferred the money to them.


    Sasha stared wistfully at the remaining sum before sending it all to Zane.


    In response, Zane sent her a question mark.


    Reluctantly parting ways with the money, Sasha replied, "After hearing that you''re going to be there, everyone''s bringing more people to the ss."


    When Zane read that, he felt baffled.


    Sasha continued and wrote, "I sent you the remaining sum from the hotel fees. I didn''t pocket any portion of it."


    Shortly after Sasha''s text, Zane sent her money.


    Sasha asked, "What is this for?"


    "Consider it amission. But remember, this will be thest time," Zane wrote.


    Zane was wealthy enough to not care about that money. After all, he had never been fond of events like these. If Annalise hadn''t encouraged him, he wouldn''t have agreed to join-it was too much of a hassle. Sasha replied, "Got it."


    The sunlight streaming through the window bathed the living room in warmth. I had been thinking of Sasha, who had just left.


    ! peered out the window with a smile and said, "Lately, we''ve been focusing on Willow, and she''s been improving just as we hoped.


    "Her autism has greatly improved.


    She never wanted to speak, but now, she can perform on stage. She could even travel by herself with her grandparents. She''s like any@ther normal child now," I said.


    Then, I noted, "Perhaps it''s because I''ve been so focused on Willow, but I btedly realized that the people around us have been growing, too."


    "Hmm?"


    Zane had been so immersed in his work that he never noticed those things either.


    I chuckled and said, "In the past, Sasha was an arrogant, extravagant, and dreamy. young woman who only thought about romantic novels and love. When a man caught her attention, she''d relentlessly cling to him, hoping he would eventually fall inlove with her."


    But the truth was that Zane had many people in his life. If Zane were the kind to fall for someone over


    time, he would have already fallen for many other people.


    "Ever since she joined your


    with her spending and rarely uses up her monthly sry! Most


    §á§Ö§é


    importantly, she''s starting her own business now. Who knows? It may not take long for her to be a sessful female entrepreneur."


    As I said that, I sounded more hopeful.


    Zane lightly patted my hand and said, "You''re only talking about her and not about yourself."


    I said, "Me? When I first divorced, I had nothing. Now, I have a loving daughter, a doting boyfriend, and a


    healthy savings ount. These are all positive changes.


    "But most importantly, I found a career I love and am passionate about."

 Chapter 625

    I solemnly told Zane, "I will cherish the life I have now."


    After asking around, Chloe managed to find Zane''s address. She arrived at his door and rang the


    doorbell. When I saw Chloe on the security cameras, I chose to ignore her. After all, Chloe always brought up the past whenever we met.


    "I''m here to meet Zane Huxham. May I know if he''s in?" Chloe asked politely.


    Hearing that, I was surprised. My gaze fell on Zane.


    Zane said nonchntly, "Look at the difference in our statuses. Do you think I''m someone she can meet whenever she wants?"


    When I heard that, I finally recalled that Zane had met Chloe several times. However, Chloe had been very difficult during those encounters, and Zane never had a good impression of her. It was understandable that Zane didn''t want to meet Chloe.


    I raised my brows and said, "You''re right."


    Zane called security and instructed, "Tell her I''m not home."


    The security said to Chloe, "I''m sorry, but Mr. Huxham went out with his daughter this morning."


    But Chloe didn''t believe what the security guard said. She replied, "Tell him that I just want to talk to him about Annalise."


    In response, the security said, "But Mr. Huxham really isn''t home."


    ...


    Chloe''s words caught my attention. I asked, "Do you want to check out the situation? I''m curious to see how she''s going to nder me."


    Zane and I hadn''t been together for very long, but it was long enough to understand the kind of person I am. In response, Zane got up and said, "Sure. I''ll meet her, then."


    Meanwhile, I stayed in the room and watched the security footage.


    ...


    Zane stepped out to the entrance and said to the security guard, "I''m so sorry. I just got home."


    The security replied calmly, "Well, I guess she got lucky."


    Zane looked at Chloe and said, "You may speak now."


    Chloe knew that Steven had be depressedtely because of Annalise. With that in mind, she intended to persuade Zane to break up with Annalise.


    To Chloe, Annalise was just a housewife with no real capabilities. Chloe Believed that if Zane broke up with Annalise, her life would take a


    turn for the worse.


    That way, if Steven realized that Annalise was nothing without a man, he would move on from Annalise and focus on Jessica instead.


    Chloe sighed and said, "You''re


    dating Annalise because you don''t truly know the kind of person she is. When you get to know her character, I''m sure you''ll break up with her."


    en


    Chloe was tantly suggesting that Annalise had poor character.


    Zane remained unfazed as he replied, "I don''t agree with that."


    "Don''t be so quick to refute me! How long have you known her? And ¨¨ guess how long have I lived with her? I must know Annalise better than you, don''t you think?" Chloe said in an all-knowing tone


    Zane quietly watched as Chloe bad-mouthed Annalise in an attempt to break up their rtionship.


    In response, Zane nodded and said, "You''re right."


    Chloe continued, "You know Annalise is from a single-parent household, right?"


    "Yes."


    Zane hadn''t expected Chloe to say so much only to end on that note. He felt slightly disappointed. "And?"


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 Chapter 626

    Chloe said disdainfully, "Annalise''s father didn''t pass away. Instead, he saw through Annalise and her mother''s true colors. He realized how terrible their characters were, and every day spent with them was torture for him. That''s why he abandoned them."


    When I heard Chloe''s words, I immediately put my phone down and stormed toward the entrance. I couldn''t believe how Chloe began to spread such groundless rumors about me.


    Meanwhile, Zane neither acknowledged nor dismissed Chloe''s statements. He said calmly, "Go on." Chloe continued, "Her mother is like a parasite. When Annalise first married my son, she didn''t have a job and was just a housewife. She always asked my son for money to give to her mother."


    Then, Chloe sneered and added, "Honestly, how do women like that even exist? Doesn''t she know how hard it is to make a living?"


    Chloe felt bad for Steven. When I got outside, I caught the tail end of Chloe''s statement. Then, I spat, "Are you saying that I was living off your son''s money?"


    "Of course! If not that, then what?" Chloe replied confidently.


    I couldn''t help butugh at how certain Chloe sounded. I said, "Why don''t you call your son over? We can


    go over every expense together to see how much of his money I spent!"


    "You brought this on yourself!" Chloe dered smugly.


    Chloe believed that since Steven''s annual ie was high, Annalise must have been living a life of luxury even if Steven had only given her a small allowance.


    Initially, Chloe had been worried that Zane might not believe her ims. But now that Annalise had shown up and demanded proof, she felt bold. She thought that if Steven came and exposed Annalise with her expenses, Zane would finally know how reckless Annalise was with money!


    Chloe tried to continue her glee as she gazed mockingly at Annalise. She was certain no man would like a woman who only cared about spending and Zane would be no exception. After today, he would gradually distance himself from Annalise and eventually break up with her.


    The thought of attaining her goals made Chloe smirk.


    Chloe wasn''t in a hurry to call Steven. Instead, she said proudly, "When my son gets here, he''ll expose your true colors, you gold-digger!"


    "I''m waiting," I said calmly.


    Chloe continued, "My son is very generous. He gifted Jessica jewelry, and even the cheapest set cost over a few million dors. You''re his wife, so..."


    I frowned and interrupted Chloe. I said, "We''re divorced. You can call me his ex-wife."


    Chloe didn''t understand why


    Annalise was making a fuss about the title. She silently grumbled about how fussy Annalise was, but she didn''t say anything about it.


    She replied, "You used to be Steven''s wife. Even if he didn''t splurge on you, he must have treated you fairly."


    "If you''re going to summon him, why waste time with all this talk? Just call him," I said, not wanting to waste more time listening to Chloe bber on.


    Chloe froze. Ever since she forced Steven to get a vasectomy, he had blocked her number. Even if Chloe


    wanted to summon Steven, she must first find a way to contact him.


    Chloe tried to think of a solution for a while. After a pause, she shamelessly asked Zane, "Can I borrow your phone?"

 Chapter 627

    Zane didn''t respond to Chloe immediately. Instead, he looked at me. After I nodded at him, he handed his phone to her. Chloe immediately called Steven.


    Steven answered, "Hello? Do you need something from me, Mr. Huxham?"


    "It''s your mother. I''m outside Zane Huxham''s house. Come over," Chloe said. "Oh, and Annalise has something to talk to you about."


    Steven thought Chloe had crossed the line when she forced him to get a vasectomy. He had no desire to entertain Chloe, but her words made him hesitate.


    "Okay. Wait for me."


    Chloe hung up, returned the phone to Zane, and shot me a disdainful look.


    She dered proudly, "My son ising over now! If you don''t want him to expose you, you should


    confess now. Who knows? But Zane might give you a second chance for being honest."


    Zane raised an eyebrow at Chloe''s words. In Zane and Annalise''s rtionship, Annalise always held the


    upper hand. Zane figured Chloe didn''t fully understand the situation.


    I chuckled and said, "If Steven isn''t here, you''ll dismiss everything I say as a lie. wait until Steven arrives."


    Chloe said, "Sure."


    Then, she immediately turned to Zane and continued, "Zane, you have no idea how awful Annalise was after marrying my son. She was like a parasite!"


    Zane concealed his disgust for Chloe and stayed silent. She continued excitedly, "Not only did she stay home and refuse to work, but she expected my son to support her entirely. After all, my son was more than capable of supporting a woman!"


    I thought to myself, "Your son was also more than capable of hiding his mistress."


    Chloe went on and said, "But what''s worse was, she expected my son to support her mother, too!" Zane couldn''t bear to listen anymore. He asked, "If my memory serves me right, your son probably didn''t have much money when they first got married, did he?"


    Hearing that, Chloe paused. She had forgotten about that. After a long pause, she retorted, "That just proves how terrible Annalise was! She made my son work tirelessly so that she and her mother could enjoy a luxurious lifestyle."


    Chloe pitied Steven. She continued, "You have no idea how rough it was for my son."


    Zane couldn''t hide his disdain. He knew that a man like Steven-who divorced his wife without giving her a share of his assets and showed no concern for how she would fare after the divorce-couldn''t possibly be generous.


    He did not believe a word Chloe had said. Then, he asked, "May I ask something?"


    Chloe didn''t mind that Zane interrupted her. She said, "Go on."


    Zane slowed down and asked, emphasizing each word in his question, "How much money did your son give Annalise every month?"


    After going on about her son for so long, Chloe finally realized she hadn''t rified that with Zane until he asked. But Chloe wasn''t certain either. Thus, she came up with a random figure.


    "In the beginning, he would give Annalise and her mother five thousand dors each; that adds up to about ten thousand dors.''


    I casually pointed out the loophole in


    Chloe''s statement. I said, "Your son was just starting out his business. He had to put money into the business, so he''s not really making any profits. In that case, how did he give my mother and me ten thousand dors in a situation like that?"


    O''

 Chapter 628

    Chloe said awkwardly, "He may not have given you much in the beginning, but surely he would have given you more¡ªespecially after his business took off and he earned some money. Right?"


    I replied, "He did, but it wasn''t 5,000 dors. He also didn''t give my mother any money. All he gave was 3,000 dors every month."


    "No way!" Chloe refuted immediately.


    She continued, "Forget the jewelry-a single piece of clothing he bought for Jessica cost hundreds of thousands of dors. Are you saying your living expenses over the years were less than the price of Jessica''s dress?"


    That was the truth, but I knew Chloe hated me. No matter what I said, she would never believe in me. I raised my chin and signaled Chloe to turn around. I said, "Your son''s here. If you don''t believe me, ask him."


    Chloe turned around and hurriedly approached Steven. She eximed, "Steven, you''re finally here! Quick, tell Zane how poorly Annalise treated you when you were married. She forced you to work tirelessly just to earn enough money to support her and her mother!"


    Chloe didn''t want Zane to think she was lying, so she had to get Steven on her side. As Chloe spoke, she shot me a dirty look, but she didn''t notice how pale Steven had turned.


    I calmly said to Steven, "Since we''re all here, let''spare our transaction histories and show them to


    your mother. That way, she would stop thinking that I spent a lot of your money."


    Hearing that, Chloe grumbled, "Yeah, do that! I need to let Zane know how neglectful you were toward your family and how recklessly you spent his money!"


    Meanwhile, Zane hadn''t said a word.


    Even though he hadn''t dated Annalise for long, he could tell she


    was frugal and was nothing like how Chloe described her.


    When Chloe finished speaking, she noticed Steven was stunned. She urged, "What are you doing, standing there? Hurry up and pull up your transaction history!"


    Eager to shame Annalise, Chloe was dissatisfied with how uncooperative Steven was.


    Unable to hold it in any longer, Steven shouted, "Shut up!"


    Chloe couldn''t believe what she heard. Hurt, she stared at Steven and asked, "Did you just yell at me because of this woman telling me to shut up?"


    If Steven had known Chloe called


    him over to talk about the living expenses, he wouldn''t havee. He asked sternly, "Don''t you know how much I gave her? After all, you were the one who told me to give her three thousand dors every month. Do you think three thousand dors is a lot?" Content Belongs to


    However, Chloe didn''t believe Steven. She asked, "Didn''t you secretly give her more money after you got rich?"


    Hearing that, Steven felt baffled. He had never done that, yet Chloe was convinced that was the truth. "Who told you that?"


    Without much thought, Chloe replied, "Jessica. Why? Isn''t that true?"


    Suddenly, Steven realized Jessica


    was the one who influenced him and


    Chloe to dislike Annalise. Jessica


    often bad-mouthed Annalise, and


    vel


    they believed her, gradually distancing themselves from Annalise over time. Meanwhile, Annalise had done nothing wrong, yet she had to endure their growing distance and skepticism.

 Chapter 629

    Steven felt a sharp pang in his chest. Then, he said honestly, "Jessica lied. I never increased Annalise''s allowance."


    Upon hearing that, Chloe was stunned. She hurriedly asked, "You must''ve given her mother money, right?"


    "I did not," Steven said, feeling his heart ache even more. "When we first got married, you told me numerous times not to pamper them. I never forgot about that."


    Chloe was at a loss for words. She always called Annalise a gold digger, yet Steven only gave her so little every month. Suddenly, she felt extremely embarrassed.


    Amidst their silence, I chimed in and said, "First of all, what you need to know is that in the first year we were married, he couldn''t even give me 3,000 dors. Between the second and the fourth year, he gave me 3,000 dors every month.


    "But in thest two years, he never gave me a single cent. That means in the six years we were together, he only gave me 108,000 dors in total."


    After calmly narrating my calctions, I added, "On average, he''s only given me 1,500 dors every month. With that money, I had to pay for groceries, cook all the meals, and do all the house chores. I also gave birth to a son and had to care for him.


    "Even with that, you called my mother and I parasites who were leeching money off you. What a joke."


    I stared at Chloe, who shifted awkwardly and asked, "Why? Is 1,500 dors too little for you? You''re so ungrateful.


    "It''s good that he even bothered to give you an allowance. Why are you being so fussy?"


    Then, Chloe immediately turned to Zane and said, "Look! She''s so ungrateful."


    However, I was unfazed by her words. I chuckled and asked, "Why don''t you ask Steven if that much money was sufficient for his meals in a month?"


    Chloe knew Steven was avish spender. She knew very well that 1,500 dors wouldn''t even cover one of Steven''s meals-but Chloe couldn''t say that to Annalise.


    Chloe said, "Having enough is one matter, but his willingness to give is a separate matter. If it weren''t for


    the money he gave you, where would you have gotten the money for your expenses over the years? What did you survive on?"


    Chloe nced at me and said, "It was with the money that Steven gave you!"


    "Oh, please. Don''t pretend the measly amount was a great blessing. Over the years, I managed to maintain my standard of living because I found myself a part-time job that paid enough to cover my expenses," I exined calmly.


    T


    Upon hearing that, Chloe sneered and asked, "How much can you make from a part-time job?"


    "Enough to cover the expenses for


    your son''svish meals. Do you think 50 dors a day was enough for me to prepare three meals a day, with every meal having at least three different dishes that came with


    poultry or red meat?" I asked bluntly.


    I continued, "But since you''re putting so much importance on the money he gave me, I don''t want to exin so much. Let''spare our transaction histories."


    I pulled up my transaction history that detailed every single expense that I ever made for Steven over the years.


    "Here: these are the things that Steven spent his money on. You should tally the amount and have him pay me back," I said as I handed Chloe my phone.

 Chapter 630

    I never intended to ask for the money, but I couldn''t deal with Chloe''s frequent disturbances and ims that I spent a lot of Steven''s money.


    A wicked thought crossed my mind. I wondered what Chloe would do if she found out that Steven had been using my money instead.


    Chloe said proudly, "Sure. Let''s see how much Steven spent on you! Now that you''ve found another rich man, if you had even the slightest bit of dignity, you should return all the money Steven''s ever spent on you."


    "Sure. But if I had been spending on Steven, you should tell him to pay me back, too," I replied.


    In response, Chloe nodded and said, "Sure."


    But as Chloe examined the transaction histories, she began to frown. She noticed that every cent was spent on Steven; I hadn''t even spent on Zachary. Above all, I had been generous to Steven. I bought him expensive things, and none of them were cheap.


    When Chloe looked up at me, I said, "You''ve abandoned Zachary, so I won''t ask you for the money I spent on him."


    Chloe was still in disbelief after going through the transaction records. She asked, "Did you really spend over two million dors on Steven across six years?"


    Without answering her question directly, I said, "If you question any single one of these transactions, you may point them out. I can exin every expense to you, and I can tell you exactly when I spent this on him."


    However, Chloe didn''t need any exnation because they were detailed in the records. Frowning, she shifted her gaze between Annalise and the transaction histories. She couldn''t ept the fact that Steven had been so stingy with Annalise while she had been generous with him.


    On second thought, Chloe realized that Annalise must have made a lot of money as a housewife. Steven had earned even more money; even if he hadn''t spent them on Annalise, he would''ve bought her many expensive items.


    With that thought, Chloe felt more relieved. She hurriedly patted Steven on the shoulder and asked, "Where are the transaction records of the things you bought for Annalise? Let me see!"


    However, Steven was silent. All he did was stare at me, but I fearlessly stared back at him.


    Steven said helplessly, "That''s enough. Must you embarrass my mother like that?"


    Upon hearing that, I chuckled. I said, "It was your mother who came to my boyfriend and ndered me.


    She imed that my mother and I spent your money.


    "Even after exined that I didn''t


    spend much, she insisted on


    ndering me. All I''m trying to do is to prove my innocence. Does it


    seem like I am intentionally trying to shame your mother?"


    Perhaps it was because I had already broken up with Steven. Even if he wronged me now, I never felt upset.


    On top of that, I felt relieved over the fact that we were divorced. Otherwise, I would have even more grievances in my life.


    Steven immediately said, "Yes. You knew the kind of person she was. In the past, you endured her behavior, but..."


    "I endured her behavior because I


    loved you. I didn''t start a fight with your mother for your sake," I said calmly, as if I was narrating


    love


    something unrted to me.


    I continued, "But now, you''re a stranger to me. The same goes for your mother. In that case, why should I


    sacrifice myself for your happiness now?"


    Steven stared at me intently.


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 Chapter 631

    At that moment, Zane stood up for me. In his usual cool demeanor, he said, "A man should marry a woman out of love and the intention to build a life together. It should not be because she was gentle and understanding and did not cause you any problems.


    "I hope you understand that by now."


    The more Steven listened to what Zane said, the more frustrated he became. It was because he knew that the better Zane treated Annalise, the lower the chances were for him to reconcile with Annalise. Steven sneered and said, "You have all the big words. Can you really promise that you never dated Annalise because of her good temper?"


    However, Zane knew what he wanted. He smiled and said, "I don''t deny the fact that she has a nice personality. But above all, I hope that she''sfortable when she''s with me. I don''t want the people in my life to bully her, making her unhappy all the time."


    Zane continued, "Ever since you got divorced, she was no longer rted to you. But even so, people around you continued to disturb her.


    "Imagine how things were for her before the divorce! Would things have been worse than they are now? "Steven Pelham, none of your actions show any signs of love that you may have for Annalise. Even though you im to love her, I don''t think you ever truly did. All you think of is how nobody would criticize you when she was with you, and you enjoyed a life like that.


    "After all, Annalise took it upon herself to handle all the criticism. Yet, you never acknowledged her sacrifice. I feel sorry for her."


    As Zane said that, he reached out for my hand. I paused for a moment before putting my hand in his. Chloe couldn''t understand why Steven suddenly changed the subject. She lightly tugged on his sleeve and asked, "Do you not want Annalise to pay you back? Or do you not want ?ane to know that aside from the living expenses, you had also spent a lot of money on Annalise every month?


    Steven hadn''t expected Chloe to sabotage him. He snapped, "Mom! Must you really look at the records? Fine."


    Steven pulled out his phone and pulled up his transaction records with Annalise. He showed it to Chloe and said, "Here!"


    Chloe''s eyes lit up. She asked, "Doesn''t it say here that you bought her a set of jewelry that costs a few hundred thousand dors?"


    Feeling frustrated, Steven said, "That was for Jessica."


    "And here, there''s a set of clothing worth over 10,000 dors!" Chloe eximed.


    Chloe believed that Steven wasn''t a stingy man. But upon hearing that, Steven''s face fell. He said, "That was also for Jessica."


    At that moment, Chloe didn''t know what to say. As she scrolled down, everything that cost more than 500 dors was for Jessica.


    As she scrolled further, Chloe stopped asking for details. She showed the record to Steven and asked, "Is this for Jessica, too?"


    Steven nodded. After reviewing the


    records across all tforms, excluding living expenses, Steven had only ever spent 10,000 dors on Annalise.


    Chloe fell silent. As she stared at Steven, she felt a deep


    frustration-she couldn''t speak


    she couldn''t swallow everything either!


    When they were done with the calctions, said, "Deduct


    whatever amount Steven spent on me from the amount that I spent on him. You don''t have to pay me back; just donate it to charity on my behalf."

 Chapter 632

    I didn''t want to be entangled with Steven and Chloe any longer. For me, the best choice was to clear all debts and end our rtionship.


    Chloe turned to Steven, and he immediately responded, "Okay."


    After resolving the issue, I said to Chloe, "You imed that my mother and I were parasites. But now, it seems I spent more on your family. Doesn''t that mean your family were the parasites instead?


    "Not only did you leech off my money, but you even turned around and used me." I shook my head lightly and said, "You''re like a thief crying ''thief."


    Chloe felt guilty, but she refused to admit her mistakes. She said stubbornly, "Since you married into our family, you were part of us! Whatever you earned belonged to us!"


    I sneered at how relentless Chloe was. I remarked, "When you imed I used your money, you never considered me family. Now that it was proven that you were the ones spending my money, you''re starting to im that we''re family!


    "I never knew that ''family'' could be so loosely defined. Ultimately, you''re trying to say that you''re not at fault, right?"


    In response, Chloe scoffed and asked, "What fault do we have? Aren''t you just trying to say that we''re stingy? How much money has Zane spent on you ever since you got together?"


    Zane wasn''t expecting Chloe to put the focus on him. He calmly replied, "Our housekeeper''s minimum wage starts at 20,000 dors. Our chefs are paid 20,000 dors as well. If we go by the pay scale in my household, you both owe Annalise a lot of money."


    After hearing that, Chloe looked even more disdainful. She said, "I thought you abandoned my son to live a luxurious life with Zane. I didn''t know you were there to be a servant."


    I calmly replied, "I don''t have to do any of the chores that Zane is talking about. But when I was with Steven, not only did I have to do all of that, but I also had to do it for free.


    "Meanwhile, in Zane''s house, even the babysitter gets paid 80,000 dors a month. Can you believe that? Her two-month sry is more than what Steven has ever given me in the past six years."


    Silenced, Chloe stared at me nkly.


    Zane said, "ording to the pay scale in my house and judging from Annalise''s responsibilities along with other services, Steven should pay §Ö Annalise at least 200,000 dors a month. That trantes to about two and a half million dors in a year and over ten million dors in six years."


    Zane looked at Chloe and asked, "Is your son willing to give out that much money?" Chloe retorted, "You''re just talking. Would you really give Annalise that much money?"


    "As you can see, he''s very generous," I said slowly. He found me a part-time job I can do when Willow is at school It brings in about a million dors every month. Even if I stayed with Steven, he would never give me that much money in my entire life."


    Chloe couldn''t believe somebody could be so generous to me. She asked, "Didn''t he only pay you for a month? Is he going to give you even more in the future?"


    Zane said casually, "It''s only going to increase."


    At that moment, Chloe didn''t know how to respond. I immediately jumped in and said, "You''re trying to taint Zane''s impression of me, right?"

 Chapter 633

    I said to Chloe and Steven, "Unfortunately, I''ve cleared up all grievances over money. You shoulde up with a new excuse and let Zane know. We''ll see if he will abandon me over that.''


    Chloe knew that Zane was rich and that he wouldn''t ce much importance on money. There was no need for her to dwell on the same issue. With that in mind, Chloe felt more confident.


    Chloe said proudly, "Regarding money, even if Annalise was in the right, she is still to be med for disrespecting her elders!


    "As the daughter-inw of the Pelham family, she should respect her mother-inw. But what did she do? She doesn''t tter me or serve me, and she doesn''t visit my house!"


    Steven didn''t want to see Chloe anymore. Chloe did not realize every word revealed her own character.


    He had also finally realized how childish Chloe had been to pick on Annalise in the past. It was easy to see through her tricks.


    I asked Chloe, "But didn''t you ask me to do that? Why are you shifting the me to me?"


    "Did I ask you to do that? When did I ever say that? Don''t you dare falsely use me!"


    Chloe couldn''t recall if she ever said anything like that.


    In response, I said, "In the first few visits I made to your home with Steven, you said you hated seeing me, and you told me to stop going over.


    "Later, you turned your home into a dating spot for Steven and Jessica. Then, you allowed Steven and Zachary to meet Jessica at your ce. Don''t you remember that?"


    When Chloe heard that, she finally remembered what happened. She didn''t know what to say.


    I smiled and continued, "Of course, if you think I''m wrong, feel free to post


    will be on."


    this online and let others in. whose side they


    Let''s


    Chloe thought that if it was posted online, she could conceal some parts of the truth. Without much thought, she said, "Sure, let''s post it now!"


    Chloe was determined to twist the narrative and turn public opinion against Annalise.


    "Mom! Haven''t you done enough already?" Steven asked angrily.


    If Chloe had actually posted the incidents online, it would


    undoubtedly draw criticism. That way, thepany stocks could take a hit. Chloe only cared about her happiness, but she never considered the impact it would have on thepany.


    Steven asked, "Do you want everyone to know that you, as thew, encouraged your son to cheat and that you also bullied your daughter-inw?"


    Chloe retorted, "Must you include those as well? Are you stupid, Steven?"


    Speechless, Steven asked, "If you post it, won''t people eventually find out what you did?"


    Chloe was silenced. At that moment, Steven began to wonder if Chloe was trying to sabotage him. He asked, "Do you want mypany to go bankrupt?"


    In response, Chloe said softly, "Of course not."


    "In that case, shut up ande home with me," Steven said emotionlessly. Then, he turned to me and said, "I''m sorry for troubling you."


    "It''s good that you''re aware," I said impolitely. "Please control the people around you. Tell them to stop bothering me. It''s annoying."

 Chapter 634

    Steven knew that their behavior disturbed me greatly, but he hadn''t expected me to voice my grievances. After a long pause, he said, "Okay."


    After Steven left with Chloe, Zane gazed at me with pity. I asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?" Zane said earnestly, "I think you spent a rough six years. Steven''s love was too pretentious. He imed to love you, but he didn''t provide money or emotional support.


    "What''s worse was you had to support his expenses. Meanwhile, hevished all of his riches on his mistress. He bought luxurious gifts for Jessica."


    I chuckled and said, "Of course. After all, Jessica was the woman that Steven loved. His love for me was always disyed in words, not actions. But he was willing to express his love for Jessica in action."


    In response, Zane said sternly, "That is why I think he has no right to im that he loves you." Agreeing with Zane, I said, "You''re right. Even now, I don''t understand how I endured all of that in their household. There wasn''t a single person who treated me well.


    "His mother picked on me. He mistreated me, and even our son was biased toward Jessica."


    The more I spoke about it, the more confused I felt. In the end, I concluded, "Maybe it was out of love." At that time, I loved Steven and was willing to do everything for him. I was willing to take a step back for the sake of our family and the sake of a better future, but not all sacrifices made out of love earned the same amount in return.


    Zane gently held my hand and said, "Steven didn''t know better than to appreciate you. It''s not your fault." Hisforting words worked on me. I nodded and said, "You''re right."


    ...


    In the car, Chloe carefully examined Steven''s facial expression only to find that he had a darkened expression. She whispered, "Steven..."


    "Stop talking, Mom!" Steven snapped. He was on the verge of a mental breakdown.


    After talking to Annalise and Zane, he finally realized how terrible he had been. He spentvishly on Jessica, yet he was stingy with Annalise while she tirelessly cared for him and his child. He only gave her over a thousand dors every month.


    To Steven''s horror, Zane treated Annalise really well. Not only did he provide afortable living space, but he also gave Annalise a hefty sry.


    On top of that, he didn''t expect Annalise to do any house chores. All she had to do was to spend time with the child.


    Zane even considered the fact that Annalise may feel insecure without substantial finances. He secured her a part-time job that earned her a lot of money. Despite all that, he hadn''t married married Annalise yet. Even though he was just her boyfriend, he had already done so much to ensure her happiness.


    Meanwhile, Steven fussed over measly amounts. At that thought, he felt horrible.


    Steven struggled to understand why he had treated Annalise that way. He wondered if he believed that because Annalise loved him, she deserved that kind of treatment.


    Suddenly, Steven realized that may have been the cost of forsaking someone''s sincerity. He asked Chloe, "Will you only be satisfied when I die?"

 Chapter 635

    Chloe hadn''t expected Steven to be so stern. She immediately said, "No, I just wanted them to break up!" Chloe felt sorry to see Steven struggling to get over his heartbreak, but she never had any ill intentions. She couldn''t believe Steven thought that of her! Chloe felt as though her sincerity had been betrayed. Steven cried andughed, saying, "They won''t break up, Mom. Doing that will only strengthen their rtionship and add to my guilt.


    "Mom, did you know? Lately, when I''m home, I can''t help but think about the years I spent with her. When she delivered the baby, I asked you if I should give her money.


    "You said no-you said she should feel honored to be married to me and that she deserved the suffering. At that time, I agreed with you. But now, I suddenly realized how cruel that was.''


    Steven continued calmly, "When she was with me, she became a housewife and took care of me. She


    had no means of making money, and you disallowed me from giving her money.


    "Where did she find the money to pay for her medical bills when she delivered the baby? She saved all of that money when she worked away during her pregnancy. What if she didn''t work because she had to prioritize her health?"


    Steven turned to stare at Chloe and asked, "Did you ever consider how she was supposed to deliver the child?"


    Chloe muttered, "I didn''t know you didn''t give her any money."


    Steven sneered and continued, "Later, I stopped giving her any money. You suggested that, too, right?" Chloe didn''t know how to exin herself.


    Steven carried on, saying, "My wife poured out everything she had into me, yet I didn''t even give her a single cent. Not only did she handle all the house chores, but she also had to make a living to support me and the baby.


    "Mom, you''re a woman too. How can you be so mean to another woman? But the same goes for me. As her husband, why did I listen to everything you said?"


    With teary eyes, Steven asked, "Did you know? I felt like I was an animal. In the past six years, I earned several billion dors, but all I gave her was a measly 10,000 dors. But what about her? She willingly spent so much on me without anyints."


    §Ú§Ý§Ñ


    After listening to Steven, Chloe thought she understood what Steven meant. She thought he was hung up


    on the fact that Annalise spent a lot on him, but he was stingy with her.


    Chloe hurriedly said, "That''s not your fault. That only proves that Annalise was-"


    Chloe was about to say derogatory terms like "cheap" and "desperate", but she swallowed her words when she saw Steven''s facial expression. She didn''t dare to say more in case Stevenshed out at her.


    She said reluctantly, "That proves that she''s never dated enough. She didn''t know to love herself before loving others."


    However, Chloe silently thought, "What''s there to love about a woman like her?"


    Steven wiped away his tears and said, "If she had learned to love herself, she wouldn''t have chosen me." In retrospect, Steven knew he had many ws. He thought that if he were Annalise, he wouldn''t have chosen himself.

 Chapter 636

    Chloe sighed. She couldn''t understand why Steven had be so deeply attached to Annalise after their divorce. But now wasn''t the time to dwell on such questions.


    Chloe remembered how she had forced Steven to have a vasectomy, and he was still upset with her about that. After Steven dropped her off at home this time, who knew when she''d see him again? So, she had to make the most of this opportunity to get Steven to forgive her.


    Chloe set aside her dislike for Annalise and quickly said, "I know you like Annalise. I promise I won''t say anything bad about her anymore, okay?"


    Fearing Steven wouldn''t believe her, she hastily added, "At least not in front of you."


    Steven nced at Chloe. "Whether you say it or not is your choice. I can''t control it."


    Chloe didn''t understand. She had already tried to humble herself, so why wouldn''t Steven forgive her?


    Her expression darkened, but she still voiced her intention. "Can you forgive me, please?"


    Steven said calmly, "You should know that my anger toward you has nothing to do with Annalise. So I


    can''t just forget what you did to me because you''re being a bit nicer about Annalise."


    Chloe hadn''t expected a grown man to be so evasive. She grew impatient. "Can you tell me what exactly you''re angry about?"


    Steven said firmly, "As my mother, you should unconditionally be on my side. Yet you conspired with Jessica to harm me. You should have known the consequences when you forced me to do this."


    Chloe felt increasingly frustrated. Since Steven didn''t n on having children anyway, did a vasectomy really matter? Why was he so hung up on this? Was it really worth all this fuss?


    en


    Chloe said calmly, "I knew you would hate me for this. However, you need to unblock me and give me a chance to make amends. It''s the only way I can make it up to you."


    Steven refused tly. "No need. We''re here. Get out."


    Seeing Steven''s impassive expression, Chloe grew desperate. "Steven, I''m your birth mother. Do you really have to be so cold-hearted?"


    Steven met Chloe''s gaze. "And I''m your biological son, yet you didn''t hesitate to hurt me, did you?"


    With that, he leaned over and opened Chloe''s door. Chloe had intended to stay, but Steven''s impatience was palpable. Feeling too embarrassed to remain, she reluctantly got out.


    As Steven''s car drove away, Chloe called Jessica. "What should we do? Steven seems truly angry this time. He won''t even let me reach him."


    Jessica had noticed Steven''s


    unusual behavior. She hadn''t


    expected the vasectomy to infuriate him so much. Biting her lip, she finally said, "If that''s the case,


    have to take drasticame


    AQUMS


    Sensing Jessica had a n, Chloe asked urgently, "What do you intend to do?"


    Jessica replied decisively, "I''ll schedule an abortion. You go to Steven''spany and tell him I''ve decided not to keep the baby. If he had any love for this child, he should havee to stop me. Then, we can both apologize and reconcile with him."


    She sounded optimistic, but Chloe wasn''t convinced. "This all depends on whether he still wants the child."

 Chapter 637

    "What if he wants you to abort the baby?" Chloe asked, her voiceced with concern.


    She had already fallen out with Steven. Jessica''s unborn child was herst lifeline. No matter what, Jessica had to carry this baby to term-she couldn''t allow anything to happen to it.


    Jessica understood Chloe''s attachment to the baby. Feigning distress, she choked, "Then, I''ll have to abort the baby. Consider it my punishment for rashly forcing Steven to get a vasectomy.


    "If I hadn''t been so desperate to secure the child''s future, you wouldn''t have pressured Steven. It''s all my fault. I should face the consequences of my actions!"


    "Absolutely not. I won''t allow it," Chloe demanded.


    Jessica asked pitifully, "But Steven''s already angry. What else can I do to make him forgive me?"


    Chloe took a deep breath. "You''re pregnant. Focus on taking care of yourself and the baby. Don''t overthink things. I''ll handle the rest. Trust me, I''ll do everything I can to reconcile your rtionship with him."


    Jessica had sessfully shifted the responsibility. She was relieved but still tried to sound upset. "Okay." Chloe instructed, "Go to the hospital first. I''ll go to Steven''s house."


    "All right," Jessica replied meekly.


    Chloe added, "If Steven doesn''t show up, just go home. Don''t do anything rash." "I''ll do exactly as you say, Mom," Jessica responded obediently.


    ¨¨t


    Jessica left her house while Chloe had her driver take her to Steven''s home. As they arrived at Steven''s doorstep, a message from Jessica came through.


    Chloe nced at it. "Mom, I''ve arrived. I''m going to register now."


    Chloe calcted the timing. If she knocked on the door now and told Steven about Jessica''s situation, Steven would have just enough time to go to the hospital and stop Jessica.


    She knocked and said, "Steven, open the door quickly. I have something very important to tell you." Steven had just gotten home and was nning to rest when he heard the knocking. He responded irritably, "Can you stop bothering me?"


    He opened the door as he spoke.


    Chloe''s expression froze. She stammered, Ever since you told Jessica she could abort the baby and that you didn''t care, she''s been very upset. She hasn''t contacted you all this time while waiting for you to apologize to her.


    "However, you still haven''t reached out to her. She''s heartbroken and has decided to do as you wish."


    Chloe grew increasingly anxious as she spoke. Then, she grabbed Steven''s hand and pleaded, "Steven, please go stop her, will you?"


    Steven looked down at Chloe and said, "Mom, that''s enough."


    Chloe asked incredulously, "What do you mean?"

 Chapter 638

    Steven coldly asked, "Aren''t you tired of these games yet?"


    Chloe stared at Steven in bewilderment. "What do you mean?"


    "If Jessica really didn''t want this child, you''d have rushed to the hospital to stop her by now. Would you have time toe find me?" Steven said with a bitterugh.


    Chloe was suddenly at a loss for words. How could she have forgotten this detail?


    Steven continued, "If you wanted to contact me, couldn''t you have just called?"


    Chloe smiled wryly. "I wanted to, but I''m on your cklist. How was I supposed to reach you?"


    "It doesn''t matter," Steven said, no longer willing to be the fool manipted by the two of them. "If she really doesn''t want this child, then let her have her way. I don''t want to be involved in your affairs anymore, nor do I care to be."


    Chloe stared at Steven in disbelief. "How have you be so cruel? Don''t you care about your child anymore?"


    "Aren''t you responsible for what I''ve be? If you want to me anyone, you can only me yourselves," Steven replied.


    Chloe''s lips parted and closed, then opened again. In the end, she couldn''t utter a single word.


    Steven was about to turn back to his room when his phone suddenly rang. He answered, "Hello?" Gavin hesitated before asking, "Did you break up with Jessica?"


    Steven didn''t answer directly, instead asking, "What happened?"


    "I''m apanying my wife for a prenatal checkup. She noticed that Jessica had scheduled an abortion. I just wanted to know what''s going on. Do you really not want this child anymore?"


    en


    Gavin remembered that although Steven had realized he loved Annalise, he still seemed to want the child. So, why would Jessica want to abort the baby?


    Despite not knowing the specific reason, Gavin decided to inform Steven anyway. Steven asked in


    disbelief, "Is Jessica really at the hospital?"


    Gavin replied without hesitation, "Yes. Why wouldn''t she be?"


    Steven panicked and replied, "Please help me to stop her. I''ll be there right away."


    "No problem, but you need to hurry."


    "All right."


    Steven turned to Chloe and demanded, "Why didn''t you tell me earlier that Jessica went to the hospital?" Chloe replied, dazed, "I told you when I first came, but you didn''t believe me."


    Now worried about the potential consequences, Steven rushed to the underground parking space.


    Chloe watched Steven''s anxious


    figure disappear. She heaved a sigh of relief and sent a message to Jessica. "Steven has left home. Be prepared on your end, and don''t slip


    up


    en


    Jessica nced at the screen, seeing events unfold as she had predicted. Her lips curved into a smile. "Don''t worry. I''m fully prepared."


    Jessica lowered her gaze and


    scoffed. She knew that since Steven


    had a vasectomy, he couldn''t have children other than Zachary, even if he wanted to in the future.

 Chapter 639

    Even if Steven was annoyed at Jessica, he would stille looking for her to ensure he had more than one child. Moreover, Steven didn''t loathe her baby.


    Jessica smirked and lifted her hand to caress her belly. "I never thought you''d end up helping me like this."


    She then messaged Chloe, "Now, we just wait for Steven to arrive."


    Chloe read the message and finally breathed a sigh of relief. She put her phone in her bag, nning to head to the hospital as well. After all, she had consistently shown great concern for the child in Jessica''s womb.


    If Chloe knew Jessica was going for surgery to remove the child and didn''t seem worried, Steven would surely notice she was acting.


    As Chloe rushed into the yard, Steven had just driven up. She quickly opened the car door, got in, and urged anxiously, "Let''s go quickly! Otherwise, we''ll be toote to stop Jessica!"


    She couldn''t help but admire her acting skills. "You don''t think Jessica would really want to give up this child out of guilt and a desire to apologize to you, do you?"


    Steven''s mind was in chaos, his thoughts nk. He couldn''t distinguish which of Chloe''s words were true and which were lies. "She shouldn''t," he said, unsure if he was reassuring Chloe or himself.


    Chloe said in between sobs, "I still can''t understand how you and Jessica went from being fine to this. I know you like Annalise, but no matter how much you like her, you have a child now. You should take responsibility for that child!"


    Chloe''s frustration grew as she continued, "Even if you dislike Jessica, that''s between you two adults. It has nothing to do with the child.


    "How can you let the child bear the consequences? Don''t you think it''s unfair?"


    Steven said in irritation, "Please stop talking, okay? I''m in a turmoil right now. I need a moment to think clearly."


    Upon seeing Steven''s distressed state, Chloe obediently fell silent. He stared ahead, lost in thought. Chloe was implying that Jessica''s decision to abort was Annalise''s fault. However, what did this have to do with Annalise?


    She had shown no interest in this family or anyone in it. She hadn''t even contacted them since. How could this possibly be Annalise''s fault?


    Steven took a deep breath. He suddenly realized that since being with him, Annalise seemed to have endured a lot of unfair treatment.


    I sat in the living room after finishing my work. Iy on the sofa, took out my phone, and opened the group chat.


    It was filled almost entirely with photos posted by Milton and Dorothy. Most were pictures of Willow and Penelope together.


    Willow seemed to be having a


    wonderful time outside. In every photo, she shed a big, bright smile, her eyes curved like crescent moons, looking absolutely adorable.


    Penelope, on the other hand, appeared much more mature. She stood obediently next to Willow-clearly happy, too-though not grinning as widely. Still, her eyes and brows radiated a rxed joy.


    Apart from the posed shots of the two together, most were candid captures of them ying. Though not as polished, these snapshots seemed more lively and vibrant.


    Just looking at them, I couldn''t help but be infected by the joy of the people in the photos.


    My mood improved unconsciously. I turned to Zane beside me and asked, "How many days have Willow and the others been out?"

 Chapter 640

    After hearing my question, Zane thought carefully for a moment before saying, "I think they left yesterday?"


    I was surprised. "Yesterday? Why does it feel like they''ve been gone for so long?"


    I was about to message Willow to ask when she''d be back, but after typing a few words, I quickly deleted them. Then, I stared at the screen.


    Milton and Dorothy were Willow''s grandparents, after all. In recent years, with Willow''s autism and the loss of their daughter, they''d been struggling emotionally and unable tomunicate well with her. Now, they must be cherishing every moment with Willow.


    If I rushed them toe back, Milton and Dorothy would surely be upset. Hence, I put my phone back in my pocket.


    "Missing Willow?" Zane gently nudged my shoulder.


    I didn''t deny it. "Yeah."


    Zane continued, "She''ll be back tomorrow."


    I leaned on Zane''s shoulder. "I know."


    Zane chuckled softly and continued, "But once she''s home, we''ll have much less time alone together."


    I turned to look at Zane, surprised. "Sincest night, you''ve been constantly mentioning being alone. What are you thinking of?"


    Zane replied casually, "It''s nothing special. I just want us to be together quietly, enjoying our uninterrupted time as a couple."


    I turned to study his face. He reached out, gently caressing my cheek.


    I smiled and said, "All right."


    Settling back into the sofa, I returned


    to browsing on my phone. Zane watched me for a moment, then cheerfully produced a hefty stack of documents. He ced them on the table, selected one file, and began scanning it quickly.


    From the corner of my eye, I noticed the thick pile of papers. I looked over and realized there were even more documents than I''d initially thought.


    "Do you always have this much work?" I asked, astonished.


    Zane chose his words carefully


    before answering, "Not really. These are just copies that I''m keeping here temporarily. I could delegate this to my staff. However, since I have some free time now, I thought I''d


    handle it myself."


    I stared at Zane in amazement. To him, working in the same space as me counted as quality time together. He truly loved his work.


    Upon seeing his dedication, I couldn''t help but wonder if I should also put more effort into my career. Perhaps only then could I achieve my goals more quickly.


    ...


    During dinner, Harry noticed the silence at the table, with everyone quietly eating their meal.


    He was suddenly reminded of something and said, "When I first started working as Zachary''s driver, it was Steven who hired me. To facilitatemunication, the staff ever added me to their employee group chat. Guess what I saw them talking about in the group?"


    Portia asked casually, "What were they talking about?"


    The driver smirked mischievously. "They were all gossiping about Steven being forced to have a vasectomy."


    Zachary, who had already finished eating, set down his cutleries and asked, "Did Jessica force him to do that?"


    "Exactly," Harry said with a shake of his head. "I mean, why on earth would she make him get a vasectomy?"


    "Probably because she''s afraid Steven might end up abandoning her son like Zachary," Portia suggested. She was no longer fond of Steven or Jessica.


    "Actually, this might not be a bad thing. At least Steven won''t be having any more children."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 641

    Portia''s gaze instinctively shifted to Zachary when he spoke. She noticed his calm expression when hearing that Steven couldn''t have more children.


    Portia couldn''t help but feel concerned and asked, "Do you hate him?"


    Zachary had befortable with them and didn''t hide his true feelings. "Yes, I do. If he hadn''t constantly dragged me along to be with Jessica, I wouldn''t have ended up being abandoned by my mom, would I? I''d probably still be living happily with her right now."


    He took a deep breath and continued, "So, do you think I shouldn''t hate him?"


    Harry responded without hesitation, "Of course you should!"


    Steven was an adult, yet he involved Zachary in his misdeeds and ended up abandoning his child. Harry felt disgusted just thinking about it. If Steven were his father, he would have beaten him up by now.


    Zachary''s expression finally softened.


    Portia held his hand and said, "I understand how you feel. However, please don''t act rashly to get revenge on them. You''ve already gone down the wrong path before. I hope your life will be more peaceful from now on."


    Zachary''s face rxed, and he smiled, saying, "Don''t worry. I''m not that foolish, Grandma. I can''t waste my time on them. I just want to study hard, earn money, and try to achieve my dreams as soon as possible."


    Portia happily asked, "What''s your dream?"


    Zachary didn''t intend to tell anyone. "It''s a secret." He was afraid of being mocked if he revealed it.


    ??


    I was scrolling through the news when a headline caught my eye, causing me to bolt upright. Zame noticed my sudden movement and looked up. "What''s wrong?


    I immediately opened the article and held out my phone. "Look at this."


    Zane''s brow furrowed as he read. "Steven had a vasectomy?"


    Zane was familiar with male sterilization. Before meeting Annalise, he''d considered it himself.


    Since he wasn''t going to marry and only nned to raise Willow, should he get the procedure? It would ensure he couldn''t have more children, guaranteeing everything would go to Willow alone. Those thoughts faded after meeting Annalise.


    "Yeah." I nodded, my mood inexplicably brightening up.


    Zane smiled. "This is good news for you. He can''t have more children and has severed ties with Zachary. His only hope now is the child in Jessica''s womb."


    I nodded, smiling. "Exactly. He''ll likely be more invested in that child. He might even pin all his hopes on him or her. After Jessica gives birth, we''ll tell him the child isn''t his."


    I could picture Steven''s expression in my mind. Frustration and regret.

 Chapter 642

    Steven had believed Jessica and did the vasectomy. However, Jessica deceived him.


    The child in her womb belonged to someone else. He would never be able to have another child in his life. My mood gradually improved.


    Zachary was Steven''s only child, but Zachary would never forgive him. I looked at Zane and said with a malicious tone, "I can hardly wait."


    Zane chuckled and replied, "You need to be patient. After all, Steven needs some time to bond with the child in Jessica''s womb."


    I nodded and replied, "I trust Jessica won''t disappoint us."


    The car screeched to a halt outside the hospital.


    Chloe watched as Steven bolted from the vehicle, her heart racing. She had no idea what was happening inside-whether Jessica had entered the operating room or not. However, Chloe knew she had to move quickly, or her precious grandchild would be lost forever.


    With that, she hurried after Steven, struggling to keep pace.


    Steven burst into the obstetrics department. He spotted Gavin and asked, "Where''s Jessica?"


    Gavin pointed to a nearby room. "In there. The doctor wouldn''t let me in. I wasn''t authorized. Steven, you''re the baby''s father. Hurry, go in!"


    Steven flung open the door. "Jessica!"


    Jessicay on the operating table, awaiting the procedure. Seeing Steven, a faint smile crossed her pale face. "Doctor, let''s begin."


    Steven rushed forward, grasping Jessica''s hand. He turned to the doctor, his voice firm. "I''m the child''s father, and I forbid this surgery!"


    Jessica lowered her head. "But you recently said you didn''t want this child anymore..."


    Her voice trembled as she continued, "Aren''t I fulfilling your wish? Why are you stopping me?"


    Steven embraced Jessica, gently


    patting her back tofort her. was just in a bad mood then. I didn''t mean those words, and they weren''t


    cted at you."


    Jessica looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. "Really?"


    "Yeah," Steven said, hugging her tightly. "Can you please not be so impulsive in the future?"


    Jessica replied sincerely, "I''ll definitely treat our child well if you promise to be good to him. I want our child to be loved by his father."


    "I will. You don''t need to worry about that," Steven replied.


    Reassured by Steven''s promise, Jessica began to cry anxiously.


    "I''m sorry. I didn''t mean to do this. It''s just that I''m pregnant, and my hormones are unstable. When I heard what you said, all I could think about was no one would take care of the child after he was born. I''d be a single mother with two children. You know how high my expenses are. I couldn''t possibly afford to raise two kids. So, I thought rather than bringing a child into the world to suffer with me..."


    Steven gently soothed her, "It''s okay. With me as the father, this child will have a happier and morefortable life than most."


    Chloe, watching from the side, saw that Jessica had sessfully calmed Steven. She breathed a sigh of relief.


    Hoping that Steven would forgive


    her soon, Chloe added, "As a


    no


    woman, I get it. When Jessica told me how she felt, Ipletely understood. That''s why I tried convince you on her behalf. I never imagined you''d agree to a


    Vasectomy and then end up


    resenting me."

 Chapter 643

    "You said you didn''t want to acknowledge me as your mother and that you wouldn''t support me."


    Chloe felt genuinely hurt. In her view, everything she''d done was for her son. Why had ite to this?


    "I''m deeply saddened. But..."


    Chloe took a deep breath before continuing, "If you want to me anyone, me me, not Jessica."


    Steven looked at both of them. They were protecting each other, each trying to shoulder the responsibility.


    Steven''s emotions were in turmoil. "It''s not your fault. It''s mine. If only I''d been more emotionally stable."


    He was the one who ended up hurt the most and lost his ability to have children in the future. Yet somehow, he''d be the one at fault. He felt helpless but had no choice but topromise. "Shall we go home now?"


    Jessica nced discreetly at Chloe, who nodded. She then said, "I didn''t think you wouldn''t raise the child."


    Steven looked at Jessica in surprise. "Who made you think this way?"


    Jessica murmured, "I can''t say."


    "Then, you''re protecting them!" Steven grew angrier. If it weren''t for the person nting these ideas in Jessica''s mind, his child would still be safe.


    Jessica hesitated, then said, "It was Zachary. He told me you''d abandon him, so you''d surely abandon the child I''m carrying. That''s why I thought if you had a vasectomy and couldn''t have more children, maybe things would be better."


    Jessica had initially considered ming Annalise but realized she was an adult who could defend herself. Moreover, Annalise had Zane, who could help prove her innocence.  en


    Steven would surely discover that the so-called instigation was just a lie. So, she had to give up that idea.


    After considering her options, she decided on Zachary. As Steven''s son, he had the right to say such things. Most importantly, Zachary was a kid, unable to fight back.


    en


    Jessica''s voice sounded pitiful.


    Hearing this, Steven snapped, "Zachary? He targeted an unborn child to get back


    at me. He''s so vicious. I''m going to find him right now!"


    As he was about to leave, Chloe quickly stopped him. "I''m still on your cklist. Can you remove me?"


    Steven paused, swiftly unblocking Chloe.


    Chloe whispered, "And the living expenses?"


    Steven contacted his secretary, instructing them to resume Chloe''s regr allowance. With that, he left.


    Zachary was alone in his room doing homework when something urred to him. He nced at the room''s surveince camera.


    The small robot beside him gently spoke in Annalise''s distinctive voice. "My dear son, why did you stop doing your homework? Is something wrong?"

 Chapter 644

    Zachary nced at the robot beside him. "Mom, it''s nothing. Don''t worry about me."


    Ever since he''d customized a smart robot with Annalise''s voice, it had been evolving rapidly. Now it could ask questions Annalise would ask, based on his behavior.


    Sometimes, Zachary felt as if his mother was still by his side. That''s why he hadn''t been sneaking peeks at Annalise outside Zane''s housetely.


    He foundfort in the robot''spany. It was only when the robot felt too cold and mechanical that he sought out Annalise.


    Zachary pulled out hisptop, his fingers tapping away at the keyboard. A question mark appeared on the robot''s screen. "You seem upset. Did someone


    bother you?"


    Zachary had always been honest with the robot. He smiled and said, "Some annoying people will being to see me soon. But don''t worry, Mom. I can handle it."


    "But you''re only five years old. It breaks my heart to see you have to face it alone."


    Zachary''s expression softened. "How do you want to help me then?"


    The robot asked, "Should I call the police for you?"


    "There''s no need for that. Just wait for me in the room, okay?"


    "All right. You''re so amazing," the robot said in encouragement.


    Zachary smiled shyly. "I''ll try to be even more amazing." He enjoyed hearing praises from Annalise.


    "That''s great!"


    Just then, a knock echoed through the room.


    Zachary stood up. He''d been expecting this visit since overhearing Harry mention Steven''s vasectomy at dinner. He knew Steven would likelye to confront him.


    For a moment, Zachary considered bringing hisptop to show Steven the truth. But he reconsidered and left it on the desk. Revealing everything at once would spoil the fun.


    Zachary had a better idea. He smiled at the robot, "Mom, they''re here. I''m going out now."


    "Okay," it replied.


    As Zachary opened his bedroom door, he reflected on the recent


    months. Since he started learning to


    read, he''d absorbed knowledge from countless books. But most of his time went into perfecting the robot.


    He''d meticulously recorded every word and tone of Annalise''s speech-happy, sad, and everything in between. These recordings became the foundation for a robot that mimicked his mother.


    Zachary then hired someone to make a robot based on the


    recordings. With a generous budget, the robotwas quickly produced. Itforted and cared for him like Annalise would, even offering wisdom when he faced challenges.


    The robot''s presence made Zachary feel as if Annalise had never left. This realization only made him pity the man waiting outside his door even more. As Zachary stepped out, he heard Steven''s angry voice.

 Chapter 645

    "I''m looking for Zachary. Tell him toe out," Steven demanded.


    Portia, rmed by his aggressive stance, stepped forward protectively. "Tell me what you want with him. I''m his guardian. I''ll only let him see you if I''m certain you won''t harm him."


    With no parents to shield him, she was Zachary''s sole protector.


    Steven''s anger simmered, but he was cultured and would not attack an elderly, much less a woman. "I have no intention of hurting you. If you don''t want to suffer my wrath, bring him out now."


    Just then, Zachary appeared beside Portia. "Grandma, please go inside. He wants to speak with me. It''ll be a father-son conversation."


    Portia was worried. "Look at him. Does he look like he''s in any state to talk calmly?"


    Zachary smiled reassuringly. "Don''t worry. I can handle this."


    "He looks furious," she warned.


    "I know, but tigers don''t eat their cubs. He won''t hurt me, Grandma; I''ll be upset if you don''t leave now."


    With that, Portia retreated to the bedroom. The moment the door closed, Steven raised his hand and pped Zachary across the face.


    "How could you be so cruel?" he hissed.


    Zachary, who was still just a child, crumpled to the floor from the force of the blow. His ears rang, and his mind went nk.


    Despite his mental preparation, he was unprepared for the reality of the situation. It took him a moment to gather himself and stand up. Then, he looked at Steven and asked, "What have I done?"


    Steven snarled, "You convinced a pregnant woman to abort her child!"


    Zachary didn''t answer directly. "I assume you''re talking about Jessica?"


    He knew Jessica''s nature- always quick to shift the me onto others for her misdeeds.


    "Do you admit your mistake?" Steven demanded.


    Zachary didn''t answer his question. Instead, he said, "If we''re talking about vicious women, Jessica fits the bill."


    He couldn''t believe she''d use a child as a scapegoat. Did she think he was powerless? He''d use this chance to show them all he wasn''t to be underestimated.


    Zachary continued, "Wasn''t she even more cruel to Mom? It wasn''t


    enough to tamper with the stairs; she wanted tomit murder.


    ele


    l


    made me call Mom over, and I


    erne


    became an unwitting aplice in harming Mom''s unborn child."


    He red at Steven and hissed, "Isn''t that why Mom gave up on me?"


    Zachary had been reflecting on past eventstely and realized that Annalise had ignored him after he agreed to help Jessica call her over.


    Steven stared in disbelief. "You heartless child. You did all this, and now you me Jessica?"


    Seeing his father''s shock, Zachary smiled inwardly. He was still so blind to the truth. Zachary said calmly, "How could a five-year-old possibly


    devise such a vicious novel


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!