Chapter 567
Milton stood on the balcony and looked at Zane. “How’s your relationship with Annalise going?”
Zane thought carefully for a moment before answering, “Very good.”
Milton smiled and said, “While we take Willow out to play, you should use this opportunity to improve your relationship with Annalise. Both of you would usually focus on the child, and you don’t have time alone. You can’t even have a proper conversation.” Zane shook his head and replied, “No. We’re often alone together at the company too.”
“It’s not the same,” Milton said without explaining how it differed.
When Milton heard Willow’s voice, he quickly responded, “Okay, I’m coming!”
Then he patted Zane’s shoulder and said, “Trust me.”
Zane looked at Milton in confusion, not understanding what he meant. However, he replied, “Okay.”
Milton left the balcony, went to the bedroom to grab his suitcase, and left with Dorothy and Willow.
…
Only Zane and I remained in the huge living room.
Suddenly, Zane felt the atmosphere had indeed subtly shifted-it seemed he could do whatever he pleased now.
He approached me and said, “Finally, we have some time alone.”
“I have a lot of work piled up these past few days,” I replied, aware of Zane’s thoughts.
It would only accumulate if I didn’t catch up on work soon. “I need to work now.”
Disappointment flashed across Zane’s face, but he didn’t stop me. “All right.”
After hearing his response, I turned and headed upstairs.
Zane watched my retreating figure, devoid of any lingering hesitation. He wanted to say, “Hurry up.”
But in the end, he held his tongue.
There was a mountain of work, and everyone wanted to finish quickly. If he pushed too hard, it might affect my mood.
Zane hoped Annalise could do whatever she wanted, free from anyone’s influence.
Of course, it wouldn’t be right if he became the one influencing her, either.
…
Steven sat alone in his house, surrounded by silence broken only by the clinking of empty bottles rolling across the floor.
Home at last, with no work to occupy his mind, Annalise’s face consumed his thoughts. Try as he might to focus on anything else and push her from his mind, his efforts were in vain.
Steven could almost see her there beside him, her arms wrapped gently around him, her hands tenderly caressing his face. She whispered, “Have you been drinking again?” Even knowing she was just a figment of his imagination, Steven couldn’t bear to shatter the illusion. He nodded. “Yes.”
Annalise sighed and rose. “How
many times have I told you drinking is bad for you? If this goes on, your health will suffer. I’ll make you some soup. Please, no more drinking after this.”
Steven reached out, desperate to stop Annalise from leaving.
However, his hands grasped only
empty air. The space before himmet
was suddenly vacant, and the
e’
person he longed for had vanished like mist.
He pleaded to the empty room, “Annalise, please don’t leave me.”