The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

I didn't doubt that Steven's disappointment would be a hundredfold once the truth of Jessica's baby's parentage was revealed, especially considering he'd gotten the vasectomy because of her and Chloe.

There were times I wondered if Chloe and Jessica were secretly on my side. Chloe was baffled by my nonchalance. "How is that great for you?"

"How is it not?" I countered coolly.

She eyed me with disbelief. "Because Steven won't want you anymore after he settles down with Jessica!"

"I don't care." I truly couldn't be bothered by what Steven did with his life. When Chloe did not respond, I stared at her evenly and said, "I might have forgotten to tell you that I'm married now and that Zane and I have an actual marriage license. We just haven't gone public yet.

"Being with Zane has given me more than my marriage with Steven ever did, including a sense of security. I want to spend the rest of my life with Zane, and it'd be nice not to have you, Jessica, or Steven constantly harass me."

Having said all that, I decided to wrap up this inane discussion. "Is there anything else you'd like to say? If not, I'm going up and getting back to work."

Perhaps my indifference throughout the conversation had left Chloe at a loss. She asked skeptically, "So, you don't care about Steven anymore?"

"What is there for me to care about?" She had seen the way he treated me in the past. What made her think I'd miss him after the hell he put me through?

Chloe didn't even bat an eye as she said, "He has money—"

"And yet, he never gave me a single penny," I cut her off brusquely. "So it's not as if it makes a difference to me."

Chloe made to retort but stopped herself when she realized I had a point. She attempted a different argument instead. "He's kind and patient."noveldrama

"Only to Jessica," I pointed out. "He was never considerate or loving while we were married, but when it comes to Jessica, he's the perfect partner. It's because Jessica is his first love.

"While there were moments he'd

been kind to me, they were so fleeting that they weren't worth pining over him. Whatever love we shared was too insignificant to last a lifetime. To be honest, I'm surprised I even put up with him for that long before the divorce."

I couldn't help feeling sentimental. Where marriage was concerned, a couple could be in love and still be unsuitable for one another. Some things just could not be fixed of figured out. Besides, a relationship without proper communication would only take a mental toll on a person.

At that point, it was better off for one to leave the relationship behind than be shackled to it. After all, it was pointless to drag things out and make room for resentment.

I was relieved that I'd thought these through.

Chloe leveled a long, hard look at me as I drawled nonchalantly, "I know you came here to spew all this nonsense at me because you wanted me to leave Steven alone, right?"

She could tell I no longer had any residual feelings for Steven, but perhaps it gave her a sense of purpose to stick to her plan. She snapped, "That's right!"

I smiled. "Don't worry, I won't. To say nothing of my wealth now, I wouldn't

consider going back to Steven even if I were penniless."

"You'd better keep your word," Chloe sneered. She was disappointed that

I I wasn't as crestfallen about Steven

BUT

and Jessica as she had hoped.. "Don't come crawling back and crying when you see how in love they are!"

"Why would I do such a thing?" I gave her an odd look. "Zane and I are more in love than they are."

Upon hearing this, Chloe snapped at me. However, she realized that I made a fair argument and left begrudgingly.