The Unveiled Rose
Chapter 53

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 single complaint.

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 classmate

Steven stared straight at Jessica

"If you don't believe me, you can come 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 glanced 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. She laid her head on the desk and said to me, "Draw Daddy, Mommy, and me!" She couldn't hold back her laughter as she added, "And write "A happy family" underneath!"

"Sure." I started drawing according 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, sometimes laughing 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 exclaimed, "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 glance 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 my compliment 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!"