The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Unease still gnawed at Steven as he remembered how Jessica had tricked him earlier, but the sight of her so vulnerable made him sigh and relent.

"Come in," he muttered.

Jessica lowered her gaze. She knew Steven wasn't the kind of man who could be tempted by wealth-he had plenty of that. What he lacked was someone at home to handle everything for him, the way Annalise once had.

She placed the containers on the dining table, set the dishes before him, and sat across from him. "Go ahead. Eat."

"You're likely to get hungry more often now that you're pregnant. You should eat, too," Steven said awkwardly.

Jessica shook her head. "No, it's fine."

"There's too much food. I can't finish it alone. It'd just be wasted," Steven said.

Jessica finally took a plate and began eating slowly.

Steven found himself remembering their college days as she chewed each bite with quiet elegance.

They had been classmates, caught in that uncertain space between friendship and something more, but never put a name to it.

When they ate together in the cafeteria, others would hurry through their meals, unconcerned with appearances, but Jessica was always poised and composed.

Steven's expression turned distant. "Tell me. How did we end up like this?"

Jessica's hand stilled, her gaze snapping up to meet his.

"I loved you in the beginning..." he added.

Jessica's mind drifted to recent events, too. "Didn't you say Annalise used to cling to you?"

Steven shook his head. "It wasn't like that. Annalise was kind but always kept her distance. She had just graduated and had her career plans when came along. She was too focused on her life to even acknowledge me.

"I thought she was stunning and was fascinated by how cool and out of reach she

appeared. You have no idea how much effort I put in to win her over."

His mood seemed to brighten as he

continued, "Leven got into fights over her and ended up in the hospital, but she never came to visit. I set up all kinds of romantic

surprises, but she'd just say bwas wasting my money."

Jessica was confused. "Why did she even agree to date you if she hated you so much?"

Steven wasn't sure why. Although so many things had faded from his memory, everything that had happened with Annalise seemed deeply imprinted in his mind.

He hadn't tried to keep those memories, but when he recalled them, every detail was as clear as if it had just taken place.

Steven chuckled in response. "Maybe because I was relentless. I swore I'd never betray her. Then, one time, I nearly died, and I guess that finally convinced her I really meant it. So she agreed. But I wasn't a good man. Once I had her, got bored and wanted to leave..."

Tears slid down his cheeks. If he had never dragged Annalise into his life, maybe

she'd have flourished in her career, shining in her own right.

Instead, he had pulled her away from it to keep her with him. And in the end, he hadn't even cherished her.

Jessica had always believed Annalise had been the one clinging to Steven. Now that she knew the truth, she was at a loss for words.