The Unveiled Rose

After hearing Jessica's words, I could not help but laugh. "Is love now an excuse to hurt people?"

"It's not an excuse-he truly loves you!" Jessica insisted.

Finally understanding her game to reconnect me with Steven, I replied, "He wouldn't stop harassing me after I've made it clear countless times that I don't want to see him, and you call that love? It sounds more like stalking to me." Jessica's eyes widened as if she had heard something shocking. "Is that how you see someone who loves you? I wonder how heartbroken your admirers would be to see how cold you are."

Her eyes darted toward Zane as she spoke, and I almost laughed at her words. "If Steven knew how desperate you are to get rid of him, would he still fund your lifestyle?"

Jessica froze, but Zane cut in, "You're trying to cause problems between me and Annalise by bringing this up now, aren't you? Frankly, I've seen these tactics countless times before." His voice dripped with contempt as he continued, "They clearly don't work on me, so you better save your energy for Steven. He's simple enough to fall for it."

Jessica trembled. She hadn't expected her schemes to be exposed by Zane. "What are you implying here?"

"That you don't impress me." Zane replied casually, "And I won't fall for your manipulation."

Leading me back to our table, he asked, "Did you eat enough earlier?"

I studied him curiously. He was always so cold with others, yet there was a warmth in his voice whenever he spoke to me. I shook my head, and Zane smiled lovingly. "Let's get some more then." "Okay." I picked up a plate, ready to serve myself.

Sasha rushed over. "I've tried everything, so let me recommend the best dishes!"

She began pointing out her favorites, and I returned to the table with a full plate. Then, Sasha forced a smile. "Dad dragged me off to meet people again. Just like last time, I didn't know any of them and had to keep smiling. "My face is practically frozen now."noveldrama

I replied calmly, "Things are better over here, but people keep approaching me as I stand here. At least I can just glare at them without being polite."

Sasha could not hold back and complained, "Compared to dealing with a cheating ex-husband and his mistress, I'd rather face strangers! At least they haven't hurt me."

Her frustration made me laugh. "True enough."

Steven confronted Jessica. She guessed why he had come but chose her words carefully. She needed to coax him just right.

"Who asked you to act on your own?" he snapped.

"I did nothing wrong, so why apologize to Zane for me?" Jessica's mind raced. "If I didn't, how would I get close enough to Zane in order to help you? How else can I support you?" Steven stared at her.