The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Casper did not use Zane's number to reply to Jessica's text upon reading it. Instead, he picked up his other phone and sent her a text from his own number. "How are you lately, Jessica?" Jessica did not respond at all.

His heart felt as if it had been stabbed, and he thought it might bleed out. He had hoped that Jessica would turn around.

The last time he didn't hear back from her, he convinced himself that she was tired from her pregnancy and had fallen asleep before she could reply to his text. And the only reason why she replied to "Zane" was because she had woken up in time. But now, Casper knew that was not the case. Jessica simply did not want to waste time on him.

A bitter smile appeared on his lips. He couldn't understand why Jessica shunned him after all he had done for her.

Meanwhile, Jessica snorted when she read Casper's text. She was willing to bet that he hadn't made anything of himself since their divorce. He probably wasn't even half as successful as her. She had no plans to waste her precious time on someone worthless. Zane, however, was different. He was highly capable, and even though Jessica had tasted the benefits of independence, she could still use a strong backer like him. She might even consider being a full-time sugar baby for him.

She smiled as she texted Zane again: "I like to think of myself as an independent career woman. Wouldn't you agree?noveldrama

"I handled everything perfectly despite being pregnant, unlike Annalise, who leaves it to everyone else to take care of her problems. Tsk, tsk."

She was proudly putting down Annalise to make herself look better.

As Casper read her texts, his chest tightened Jessica had been a lady of leisure when they were together, and now, she had to take care of everything on her own. Worse still, she was pregnant.

He could tell that Jessica was going through a hard time, even though her texts came off as casual and flippant.

After all, he had been there for her

while she was pregnant with Cody. He remembered how swollen her ankles had been and how stretch marks had mapped her skin. She was also constantly down with

prenatal sickness.

It had been an exhausting process.

Casper couldn't help wanting to shoulder Jessica's burdens for her. However, he willed himself to be harsh after considering his current state. "Is that so?"

Jessica hadn't expected "Zane" to respond. Her face lit up as she replied, "Yes! I'm a woman, too, so I know we're made of tougher stuff. You shouldn't have to baby Annalise so much."

It took a while for Casper to respond. "But I'm the breadwinner. It's my job to take care of my woman and keep her comfortable." With that, he locked the phone and set it aside.

He fell for Jessica at first sight and pursued her romantically after that. Although she agreed to go out with him, she had always been indifferent toward him. He had never experienced the enthusiasm she

showed Zane.

Casper couldn't describe the emotions welling up in him. He felt like all the love he had poured out for Jessica over the years was nothing more than a mistake. For a moment, breathing became difficult for him.