The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

"If he makes a mistake, I'll point it out. It's not your place to interfere. Do you understand?" Steven was clearly in the wrong this time. "I'm afraid you're spoiling him too much."

Portia scoffed, "His father drove his mother away for the sake of a mistress. And in the end, even his father didn't want him. After everything he's been through, don't you think he deserves some kindness from me? Her heart ached for Zachary, who had endured so much at such a young age. "And besides, being worried about me spoiling him doesn't give you the right to lay a hand on him.

"What exactly did he do wrong? If you can justify it, and he truly made a mistake, I'll stand by your side without hesitation."noveldrama

Steven fell silent. Portia caught the look on his face and immediately understood, her anger flaring again.

Steven explained, "He told me he hasn't been in contact with his mother."

Portia almost laughed in disbelief. "And that's your excuse for punishing him?"

Steven retorted, "He's only five years old, and he's already so cold and heartless. Is that something to be proud of?"

"And whose fault is that? Isn't it because of you?"

"What does this have to do with me?"

The mention of the past only reignited Portia's fury. "Think about it: you're the one who cheated. You're the one who deliberately led him to distance himself from his mother.

"After you and Annalise divorced and ignored him, he realized his mistake and tried to make amends with her. Unfortunately, she had already given up on him."

Portia couldn't understand how her wonderful daughter and grandson ended up entangled with a scoundrel like Steven.

"Zachary feels that his mother doesn't like him and doesn't want to see him. So, he takes the initiative to keep his distance from her.

"Isn't that the right thing to do? Do you think he should shamelessly cling to her instead?"

Portia gave Steven a disdainful once-over and continued, "You schemed to divorce my daughter back then. Fine, you got what you wanted. And now you want to bother her again?"

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Steven was rendered speechless under her scathing remarks.

Suddenly, Portia remembered something and said, in surprise, "Are you trying to use Zachary to pester my daughter?"

Steven lowered his head. "Men make mistakes. Can't she just forgive me? After all, we have a child together."

"When you were doing all those

things back then, did it never cross your mind that you'd end up like this? Or did you really think that no matter how many times you cheated, she'd just forgive you?"

swney

Steven had truly believed so because Annalise seemed so deeply in love with him at the time, as though she couldn't live without him. Hence, he thought Annalise would always forgive him as long as they didn't divorce. He made up for his mistakes and treated her well.

However, Steven never expected Annalise to be so resolute to leave him and be with someone else. She never spared him a second glance.

Portia sneered, "You're ridiculous. I know my daughter. She may seem gentle, but she's as stubborn as a mule. Once she makes up her mind, no one can change it.

"Even if you make use of Zachary and beg her to come back, she won't even care about you. You might as well give up on that idea."

Her disdain for Zachary only grew

stronger. I'm warning you. If you

ever use his mother as an excuse to lay a hand on him again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"