The Unveiled Rose

"But to me, teaching you to read is resting," I told Willow gently. "Do you understand?

"So, don't worry. You won't wear me out. Mommy isn't that fragile."

Willow still looked uncertain. "Really?"

I nodded. "Of course."

Finally reassured, Willow smiled, grabbed my hand tightly, and pulled me outside to join her for a run.

Zane followed behind us. His usually cold gaze softened with a hint of warmth.

...

After our exercise, we all freshened up and then took Willow to school. She entered the school gates but didn't head straight for the classrooms. Instead, she stood at the entrance, as if waiting for someone.

A few minutes later, a girl with pigtails got out of a car. Willow immediately ran over to her. The two girls held hands and bounced around happily.

The little girl was chatty, talking nonstop, while Willow listened coolly, responding with occasional nods or shakes of her head.

I felt relieved upon seeing that Willow had made a friend and was getting along well. I got back into the car with Zane, and we returned to the company.

At my desk, I powered on my computer but didn't start drawing immediately. Instead, I found myself reflecting on Willow's behavior these past few days-the way she set goals and knew what she wanted to work on.

That gave me an idea for my next comic. I wanted to draw Willow's determination, hoping it would inspire others who might be feeling lost or uncertain.

Maybe, through this, I could help others find clarity and purpose within themselves for them to see through their own fog and follow their dreams.

For the first time, I felt that my comics could have a purpose beyond simply recording life. I could use them to inspire people to be better versions of themselves.

With this in mind, I dove into my work with a new sense of focus and diligence.

...

Zane noticed how focused Annalise was on her work, and it seemed to put him at ease, too.

When Eric walked in, Zane stepped away from his desk and left the office, heading to the conference room.

Eric realized Zane wanted to avoid disturbing Annalise and couldn't help but smile to himself. Having worked with Zane for years, it was surprising to see the usually stoic boss being so considerate.

Eric then handed Zane a file. "The custom plush toy you asked for is ready. The factory says it will be shipped tomorrow."

Zane nodded lightly. "Good."

As Eric briefed him on the significant partnerships and ongoing projects within the Huxman Group, Zane listened with his usual demeanor.

Knowing Zane would be particularly interested in the next update, Eric subtly observes Zane's reaction.

"The proposal has been finalized. Only minor adjustments are needed."

Zane tapped his fingers on the table and said, "Do you have a copy? Let me take a look."

Anticipating this request, Eric pulled the proposal from his folder and handed it to Zane.

Zane skimmed through it and then looked up.

"Anything you'd like to change?" Eric asked respectfully.

"No," Zane replied calmly.

"It's clear you put a lot of effort into this. You've also set high expectations for the team."

Zane added, "For newcomers to perform at this level is impressive. Make sure they all get a bonus next month. That includes you, too."

Eric nodded and responded, "Thank you, Mr. Huxham."

Eric knew that paying close attention to Annalise's projects would lead to good outcomes.

Just then, his phone chimed with a message notification.

"Emergency assistance needed. She's here again. Do you want us to intercept?" the message read.

Eric opened the attached photo and let out a quiet sigh, already feeling a headache coming on.