The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven) novel Chapter 604

Zane couldn't help smiling even as he asked modestly, "Really?"

"Yes!" I reassured him. That was when I realized that my cooking had nothing to do with Steven and Zachary's refusal to eat the food I made. Their refusal stemmed from their hatred for me, and rejecting my efforts was simply an extension of it.

My feelings for Zane were the reason why I found his cooking delicious. My appreciation for his effort was an extension of my fondness for him.

Zane stared at the woman before him and noted the elegant way she ate. He shook his head and chided himself. He was already madly in love with her as it was; he would be a lost cause if he didn't show some restraint.

…

Steven woke up to a painful throbbing in his head, as expected of a terrible hangover. He did not open his eyes and instead growled impatiently, "Annalise, why didn't you make me hangover soup last night? Also, my head feels like it's splitting down the middle. I could use a temple massage."

However, his demands were met with silence.

He frowned, but he had taken not two steps before he realized that the woman who always nursed him from his hangovers had already walked out of his life. She had a new life now, not to mention a new boyfriend.

Unlike Steven, Annalise's new boyfriend was kind and patient. He wouldn't lash out at her for no reason.

The more he thought about the what-ifs and what-could-have-beens, the worse his mood became. He couldn't understand why his appreciation for Annalise's love and tenderness came only after they had divorced.

Had he realized this sooner and turned over a new leaf, things might have been different between them.

Steven knew better than anyone that Annalise had given him plenty of chances. But he took those chances for granted and believed she would never leave him, so he continued to hurt her.

At the time, Steven never even considered that there might be a day when Annalise's love for him would run out.