The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

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 asProperty © of NôvelDrama.Org.

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 help laughing 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, her laughter, 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.

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 with complicated 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

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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 the latter that no one had come 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!"