The Unveiled Rose

We found ourselves in a café and sat at a table. Zachary's tutor and driver each ordered a slice of cake and some coffee.

The driver used a fork to cut a small chunk of his cake and put it in his mouth. After taking his time swallowing his food, he mustered the courage to tell me, "Don't you think you're too cruel to Zachary?"

He continued, "He's just five years old. He's a naive child. Do you know that he secretly cries when he sees you at the kindergarten gates, waiting to pick Willow up? He loves you so much. How could you not care about him at all just because you got a divorce?" The driver couldn't figure out why I did that to Zachary and must have been under the impression that all mothers had to love their children unconditionally.

My calmness was a stark difference to his frustration. I told him plainly, "Did you bother finding out what he's done to me before you asked me those questions?"

The driver shook his head. "I don't know what he's done, but surely, a young child like him couldn't do anything outrageous."

I once had the same thought, too. It was why I put up with Zachary over and over again.

With my teaspoon, I gently stirred my cup of coffee. I suppressed my emotions and put up with him until he worked together with Jessica to hurt me.

Who knew that a child could do that?

But it was precisely because of his naivety that he was manipulated by others to become a weapon to hurt me.

Initially, I thought I'd get emotional after hearing what Zachary's driver and tutor said. I thought I'd retort and try to defend myself. However, I didn't do any of that, nor did I explain myself. After a moment of silence, I simply told them, "Oh, really?"

The driver was about to say something in response, but I grabbed my bag and stood up. I was about to walk away from the table when the driver stood up to stop me.

He then turned to Zane and asked, "She's so cruel to her own son, but you're still willing to hire her?"

Zane's voice had no warmth in it as he replied, "That's because I witnessed how Annalise's husband, their son, and his mistress colluded to hurt her. I never thought she took things too far." He added, "If something similar were to happen to me, my way of taking revenge would be much more ruthless."

The frost in his voice made him sound like he was devoid of emotion. He said, "Annalise is just too merciful."

That said, he extended a hand to me. He had my back when others criticized me, which made me feel warm inside.

I reached for his hand and held it. With my hand in his, he led me out of the café.

After we got into the car, he asked, "How do you feel right now?"

It was as if he was afraid I'd be affected by the incident just now.

After giving it some thought, I answered, "I thought I'd get upset and try to defend myself if someone brought it up and confronted me about it. But when it actually happened, I felt calm inside."

I continued, "I suddenly feel like I don't care what they think. How they see me is none of my business."

I chuckled and said, "It's probably because I've lost all feelings after giving up on those who hurt me. There isn't even hatred now. I'm indifferent now."

"It seems to me that you're much more mature than I expected," Zane noted.

"Thanks," I said, taking it as a compliment.

...

When we reached the door of the office, I saw Sasha leaning against the wall.

When she saw us, she approached me and pouted, "Didn't you guys always come to the office early? Why are you late today?"

It seemed like she was displeased because Zane and I arrived later than she had expected.

"Sorry. Something came up on our way here," I explained.