The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Cody explained, "At that time, Mommy had some savings, and she used it all up for our family's living expenses. Dad thought we couldn't keep living like that, so he resigned from their company. Because of that, they criticized Mommy, saying she egged him on to resign.

"Mommy was upset, and she secretly cried at home. When Dad came home, she was all smiles again. After all, Mommy had to endure so much injustice because she married Dad. When I saw that Mommy didn't tell him about it, I told Dad about it myself.

"Dad patted me on the head and said he would handle it. Then, he called

Grandpa and Grandma, telling them to stop interfering with his life. He said he was no longer working under them and that he wasn't taking money from them. He was living independently, so they had no right to criticize his wife.

"That day, Grandpa and Grandma threw a huge tantrum. Dad listened to them, but he eventually hung up."

When Cody recalled that time in his life, his tone was full of longing, and he said, "At that time, Mom and Dad were stressed, but it was the happiest time in our lives."

Suddenly, Steven understood why Casper was still fixated on Jessica even after their divorce. Even if Jessica went with another man, bringing their child with her, Casper never minded it.

Cody continued, "But later, we got the news that Grandpa and Grandma's

company went bankrupt. Dad wanted to help them, but Mommy said they were lying to him. In the end, Mommy told Dad that she didn't want to endure Grandpa and Grandma's accusations anymore.

"She threatened to divorce him if he insisted on going back.

"Dad couldn't leave Grandpa and Grandma be, and that was how my parents ended up with a divorce."

Just then, a realization came to Steven. He mused, "Does that make you wonder -to your father, is your mother less important?"

"Isn't that a fact, though? At that time, all he thought of was Grandpa and Grandma. He never considered how difficult things would be for Mommy to raise me alone," Cody said nonchalantly.

Steven continued, "Is it possible that he wished for both of you to follow him?"

"Doesn't that exactly show how his love for us is limited?" Cody retorted in response.noveldrama

Staring at Steven, Cody added, "He has no idea how his parents cursed Mommy, and he doesn't know the kind of life Mommy had to live. After their divorce, everyone called her a gold digger, claiming that she only married Dad for his riches, and she abandoned him after he lost his money.

"But I knew that was not the case. Even when Dad had no money, she lived with him for quite some time. However, she cannot let him@ross her boundaries every time.

Upon hearing that, Steven felt heavy-hearted.

He asked, "Were you willing to forgive your father only because he never truly hurt you?"

Cody nodded and replied, "Of course."

Steven was dying to ask, but he was afraid to receive an answer he didn't want. "If

you were Zachary, would you forgive me?"

At that moment, Cody finally understood why Steven suddenly visited.

"I... guess?"

Cody wasn't sure either.

Steven said, "Zachary's mother had it worse than what you and your mother went through with your grandparents."

Cody was speechless. After a while,

he replied, "I need to think about this before giving you an answer. Why

You come by tonight? I tell

you then."