The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Steven froze.

Zachary continued, "Daddy, do you really want me to remind you how you treated me after you and Mommy split up?"

At first, thinking back on everything that went down during that time still stung. But eventually, Zachary started to come to terms with it.noveldrama

When Steven was struggling financially, Annalise was there for him unconditionally. But to him, she was just a useless stay-at-home mother. By the time Jessica came back, it was bad enough that Steven had already walked away from Annalise, and then he did the same thing to Zachary.

Steven opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"Jessica treated me badly," Zachary said flatly. "I told you exactly what she did, but all you saw was me 'holding a grudge' against her. And then what? You still came after me..."

He chuckled and added, "So I moved out, finally getting away from Jessica's mistreatment. In the end, Grandma Chloe picked Cody over me, and you did the same. You even told me you weren't giving me a dime." When Zachary first heard that, it felt like his brain just shut down. But eventually, he came to terms with it.

"To me, that was already enough to say we weren't father and son anymore. Grandma Matilda went to see you just to gather evidence. I wouldn't exactly call it trying to mess up whatever was left between us." Steven never realized how much his actions had hurt Zachary. "The money your mom left you might be enough to get by. But that driver you've got? I'm the one paying for that!"

Since Zachary was his flesh and blood-his firstborn son-Steven just couldn't bring himself to cut ties with him. He threatened, "If you really want to cut me out, Zachary, I'm not paying for your driver anymore." He thought that would make Zachary back off. He didn't expect Zachary to respond with a smirk.

"I had him return his last paycheck to you. Didn't you get it?" Zachary asked.

Steven couldn't believe it. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his transaction history. Nearly every charge was six figures, all for Jessica. .

Kon

There was some income coming in too. Hidden between them was a deposit of slightly over ten grand. Steven stopped dead in his tracks.

That had to be Harry's pay. So, Zachary really didn't need him anymore? He stared at Zachary, completely stunned.

Zachary

"Daddy, is there anything else you want to say? If not, I'm heading

back Grandma Matilda's stilbwaiting for me."

bered expressionless.

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Aside from Annalise, Matilda was the only family Zachary had left. He didn't want her to wait too long.

Steven didn't know what else to say. "I'm your dad-"

"You're Cody's dad and Jessica's husband. You're not my dad," Zachary shot back, unbothered.

Steven gaped at Zachary. Zachary turned to Harry. "Let's go."

"Alright," Harry replied, hitting the gas. The car zoomed off, leaving Steven frozen for what felt like forever.