The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

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 flaunt 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 your label 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 one coming 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."noveldrama

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 into coming 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 only come running to me because Jessica's running her mouth about me to you.

"Maybe that's some 'game' you two like to play. 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.