The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven) novel Chapter 326

"Back then, for six years, Annalise gave me everything, her heart and soul," Steven muttered, his voice thick with frustration.

"And now, in such a short time, she's holding someone else's hand? Kissing another man?"

The more he spoke, the more it seemed to unravel him. Steven's mind echoed with one overwhelming thought—this shouldn't be happening.

Though deep down he knew the fault was his, Steven instinctively shifted the blame onto Annalise, thinking it would ease his pain. But it only made the suffocating guilt worse.

His friends, watching him sob uncontrollably, all had the same thought.

Annalise didn't give up on him out of nowhere. For six years, he had treated her so poorly that she had likely lost hope long ago. She had only stayed because she couldn't bring herself to let go of their marriage, still holding on to the idea that things could be salvaged.

But Steven's affair with Jessica had been the final straw, shattering any remaining illusions Annalise had and pushing her to finally walk away.

The group exchanged glances, none daring to voice these truths aloud, afraid Steven might spiral even further.

Gavin, always tactful, tried to console him. "Yeah, she's in the wrong for moving on so fast."

Steven immediately snapped, his anger boiling over. "How dare you say that about her?"

The room went silent. His friends stared at one another, unsure how to respond.

He hadn't defended Annalise when he cheated on her, but now he wanted to protect her? What was the point?

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