The Unveiled Rose

Gavin asked, "And then?"

"I asked her if she thought I loved her." Steven was truly confused. He believed he loved Annalise, yet everyone around him, including Annalise, seemed to think he loved Jessica. Gavin, clearly annoyed, responded, "She probably said you loved her."

He hated Annalise and instinctively assumed she would do something he found detestable.

"No." Steven's eyes were distant. "She said I loved Jessica."

Gavin couldn't believe his own ears.

Steven asked, "Am I really that bad of a husband? Six years together, and I never made her feel my love."

The room fell silent. Everyone exchanged looks, unsure of how to respond. Objectively, it was clear that Steven had been at fault. But as his friends, they instinctively sided with him.

As everyone struggled to find the right words, Gavin seemed to have made up his mind on how to comfort Steven. "Honestly, I'd say it's Annalise's fault. She knew you loved Jessica, yet she still married you."

Unsure whether it was the alcohol or guilt, Steven's voice trembled as he said, "Actually, before we got married, she didn't know I was still in love with someone else. She always thought I loved her.

"When I wanted a divorce afterward, I made up excuses and created problems on purpose to push her away. But she solved all of them just to stay with me."

As he spoke, he felt like more and more of a failure. He had hurt Annalise's sincere love.

Gavin had always believed that Annalise had interfered in Steven and Jessica's relationship, which was why he had always disliked her. But hearing Steven's words now, he felt his resentment fade. He began to understand how hard Annalise's situation must have been. The young lady, freshly graduated and full of dreams about love, resolutely left behind everything familiar to be with the love of her life. She gave selflessly to him without regret, only to end up hurt and divorced.

For the first time, Gavin felt that Annalise deserved better.

Uncertain how to console Steven, he finally muttered, "No matter the result, she made her choice. She's responsible for it."

Steven didn't respond. He poured himself another drink and downed it all in one go. He continued to drink until he was heavily intoxicated.

Seeing Steven sprawl on the couch like a broken man, Gavin called Jessica. "Hello?"

"What's wrong?" Jessica asked politely.

"Steven's drunk," Gavin replied honestly. "Can you come pick him up?"

Jessica calmly declined, "I'm pregnant. I don't think I should go. You'll have to manage him yourselves."

As Gavin listened to the beeping sound on the phone, he looked at Steven helplessly.

He remembered the first year Steven and Annalise were together, Annalise was pregnant with Zachary. Steven was in the early stages of his business back then, so he was often out drinking. Whenever he got drunk, Annalise would be the one-despite her growing belly -coming to pick him up.

At that time, Annalise didn't show any contempt. There was only concern and love for Steven in her eyes.

Now, Steven had finally achieved his dream of being with his first love, but she didn't seem to care for him at all.

Gavin finally understood why Steven was regretting things.

Back in the office, Zane casually asked, "What did Steven say to you?"

"I thought he wanted to discuss unresolved issues from our divorce," I said, sitting down on the couch. "That's why I went out to meet him. But he actually asked me if I thought he loved me."