The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven) novel Chapter 453

"But you are different. You're my sister. So, I'll be stricter with you," Zane said.

Tinsley knew Zane simply wanted her to approach the projects with a serious attitude. Ideally, he hoped she could learn as much as possible through these projects. That way, even if they stopped collaborating in the future, she would have the skills to pave her path.

"No problem," Tinsley replied without hesitation.

Zane handed Tinsley a stack of documents and said, "Take these back and draft the proposals for these projects. Submit them to me, and I'll review them for you."

Tinsley eagerly accepted the materials. "Got it."

With Zane's help, she felt it wouldn't be long before she became one of the top professionals in the industry.

Tinsley said with excitement, "Don't worry. I'll do these projects with 200% effort! It's late now. I shall take my leave."

"All right."

Zane watched her leave, then glanced at the time—it was already 9.30 pm.

…

After gently coaxing Willow to sleep and carefully stepping out of the bedroom, I saw Zane standing by the study.

I stood still, watching him.

Zane glanced toward the balcony. "Shall we talk?"

"Sure."

…

Before Steven and I got divorced, it was always like this. When I asked about the identity of a man or a woman who appeared around him, he would always scold me.

"No matter who I talk to, you always have to figure out who they are! Do you know how suffocating this is for me? I feel like I don't have any privacy. I feel like you're constantly monitoring me," Steven would say.

Towards the end, Steven even threatened me. "If you don't change your habit, we'll get a divorce."

After that, I learned to be quiet and avoid asking anything. I even thought that this was the right way.

I lowered my gaze. Today, when I saw Zane interacting with someone I didn't know, I thought he would have the same attitude as Steven—he wouldn't like others interfering with his matters.

Hence, Zane's question completely caught me off guard.

It seemed that I had been trapped in an unhealthy relationship for far too long.