The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven) novel Chapter 862

When Steven got back home, the lights were still on. It stirred up memories of the days before he and Annalise went their separate ways.

Annalise had always been the picture of calm, with a heart full of kindness. No matter what life threw at them, she never flew off the handle or let her emotions drag him down.

The years they'd shared had been the happiest of his life when his only real concern was his career. Everything else seemed to fall into place without a hitch. A dull ache settled in his chest.

Jessica had wrapped up her work and was taking a breather. When she spotted him, she hesitated for a moment before saying, "Just so you're aware, Julia and Gary came by to talk to me."

"Did they give you any trouble?" Steven asked, surprised.

Jessica chose her words carefully. "They told me they finally realized they were wrong about me before. They want me to work things out with Casper."

Steven went still.

Annalise had warned him once, saying he might lose Jessica too if he didn't appreciate her. At the time, he'd dismissed her words as overly dramatic. Now, they struck him as unsettlingly prophetic.

Casper still had feelings for Jessica. Even Julia and Gary, who'd once underestimated her, seemed to regret how they'd acted toward her.

A quiet wave of relief swept over Steven. Thank goodness he'd listened to Annalise. Otherwise, he'd have ended up with nothing.

"And how do you feel about it?" he asked.

Jessica's voice softened. "It's simple. They didn't treat me well. So even if I went back, their kindness might vanish the second they felt certain I'd stay.

"But with you, I feel secure. I want this to last forever, as long as you don't leave."

Steven studied her carefully for a long moment. "You have my word."

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