The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Jessica could think of nothing better than to see the person she hated the most dragged off her pedestal. Just fantasizing about it gave her a high.

Casper stared at Jessica's message, her words proving him right-she was rotten to the core. She hadn't even thought about the consequences of putting that video up on the internet, and not once did she consider how it would affect him. He closed his eyes. He did not want to reply to her anymore. He never thought Jessica could be capable of such cruelty after their separation.

When Jessica did not get a response from Casper, she called him directly. "Hello?"

"I'm not in the mood to speak to you right now," Casper said gravely, his heart tightening painfully.

Jessica bit out impatiently, "I'll back off once you send me the video."

Casper knew he shouldn't rile her up while she was pregnant, but he couldn't help his temper as he argued, "Did you ever think that I would become the talk of the public once you post that video on the Internet? What will they say about me?"

He could understand Jessica's hatred for Annalise. As a woman, she couldn't be expected not to keep her guard up around other women. She was not a saint, after all.

However, Casper would not go along with her plan to ruin another woman's reputation, especially through such unsavory and wicked methods.

Jessica didn't even bat an eye as she pointed out, "With your body and stamina, they'll only envy you."

Casper took a deep breath. "I don't want their envy."

There was silence on the other line, but before he could hang up, she suddenly added, "I'll blur out your face before putting up the video."

A bitter, humorless laugh escaped him when he heard this. The more she pressed him on this, the clearer he saw her true colors. She was evil through and through. The woman he had loved was probably nothing more than a facade she put on for his sake.

Breathing became difficult for him,

but he endured the sharp pain stabbing through his heart as he

said, "I hate to break it to you, Jessica, but I never slept with

vel

Annalise. We did record a video, but I

doubt it's the content you want.

"I could send it to you if you like, but if you were to put it up, anyone who saw it might end up praising Annalise for her quick wit."

As Casper said this, he turned on his laptop and sent the video to Jessica. He clenched his fists and did not release them until a long moment later. "I'd like to ask you something, Jessica..." When she received the video, Jessica did not click on it. She asked nonchalantly, "What is it?"

"Did you ever love me?" Casper's voice broke slightly.

Jessica leaned into her chair and considered his question. After a pause, she answered, "I suppose I must have. Why else would I have married you when I had so many rich men after me then?" She probably married him because he was richer than all the other men.

Casper knew she was lying, but he chose not to confront her. He let his tears fall as he said, "I see. Thanks."

Jessica hung up after that.noveldrama

He stared at his phone screen until his tears dried, and only then did he tear his gaze away. Jessica loved money, so he vowed to work hard and accumulate his wealth, all sor could make her regret her

indifference toward him when they met again in the future.

After finishing and updating my comic panel, I lay on the couch, intending to rest. Just then, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen to see Eric's name flashing, so I put the call through. "Hello?"

Eric had always found it a hassle to reach me through Zane, so he asked for my number. That was how we ended up having each other's contact.

Eric informed me over the phone,

"The publisher wants you to autograph the new releases. They thought moving so many comics in and out of the printing house might be inconvenient, so they were е hoping you would drop by to autograph them instead. They'll dispatch the comics once you're done."