The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven) novel Chapter 168

Willow looked serious, almost like an adult.

Zane pinched her cheek, trying not to laugh. "But you're not a toddler anymore."

Willow was still quite young. She tilted her head thoughtfully, struggling to find a way to argue her point. Thus, she turned to me for assistance.

I gently lifted her onto my lap and said, "But sweetheart, you're still in kindergarten."

Willow nodded in agreement, saying, "Mommy, you're right."

...

When Steven arrived to pick up Zachary, he noticed Jessica standing quietly nearby with her hair half tied up. For a moment, he felt transported back to the time before he divorced Annalise.

During that period, he would take Zachary to school before work. He would also pick him up after his shift, while Jessica managed her responsibilities in much the same way.

Naturally, this routine brought them into contact. As time passed, they gradually set aside their past animosity and began to reconnect.

Steven approached Jessica and asked, "Didn't Cody skip school today?"

"I worry that you're preoccupied with work." Jessica smiled.

Jessica had considered her approach carefully. She realized that since Steven wasn't comfortable with close interactions just yet, she decided to start by connecting with Zachary to help him develop a better impression of her.

Despite having treated Zachary poorly in the past, which made him fearful and resistant, he was still a naive child. She believed that if she softened her attitude and was kind to him, he would eventually come to love her again and help her get closer to Steven.