The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Steven felt his mind go blank. He didn't think having grandchildren would mean that much to Chloe. He was already feeling sick, to begin with, and Chloe's threat only made him feel worse. His headache intensified, and he rubbed his temples, hoping to ease the pain, but it was useless.

He gave up trying to make himself feel better. He let his hand fall to the couch as he said, "Mom, I've got enough to deal with at work as it is. I'd appreciate it if you didn't jump on Jessica's bandwagon and cause more trouble for me. It's only going to affect my work performance.

Chloe snorted. She had given Steven life and raised him. As far as she was concerned, he had to obey her. "This is a serious negotiation, Steven. If you refuse to listen to me and do as I say, then don't blame me for taking extreme measures!"

Steven knew she tended to use such tactics to get him to cave into her demands. He had compromised in the past, but every time he gave Chloe an inch, she wanted a yard. He would get no empathy from her, and this time, he decided to put his foot down.

"Fine, then. I'd like to see what extreme measures you plan to take," he challenged.

Incensed by his defiance, Chloe stormed up to the rooftop of her apartment building and hung up on him. Once she was on the rooftop, she video-called him.

Steven put the call through, only to see Chloe standing on the rooftop ledge. A slight tip forward would have her falling through thin air and hitting the ground.

He froze, and the thoughts in his head went very, very quiet. A grim look passed over his face as he felt his blood run cold. "Mom, what the hell do you think you're doing?"

The dark look on Steven's face filled Chloe with satisfaction. She knew he still cared about her. Triumph glimmered in her eyes as she threatened him, "Get the vasectomy, or I'll jump off the roof right now!" Steven closed his eyes. All this time, he had believed his mother was just like any other mother. However, he hadn't realized until now that the opposite was true.

Other mothers would stand by their sons and protect them, but not Chloe; she would find ways to aggravate him and leave him drowning. It was almost as if she couldn't stand the thought of him living a happy and peaceful life.noveldrama

He stared at the woman on the screen, whatever filial love he had for her vanishing by the second.

Meanwhile, a crowd had gathered below Chloe's apartment building after they spotted her sitting on the rooftop ledge.

She noticed the crowd staring at her and thought they were on their side. As such, she quickly antagonized him before them.

"Would you believe what an ingrate my son is? I'm his mother, and all asked of him was a small favor, but he refused me! He wouldn't agree to it unless I jump off the roof!" she cried out, playing the victim.

The crowd had no idea of the context, but judging by her words, they could only assume her son was good for nothing.

"Why can't he talk things out with you instead of forcing you to do this? This is not how a family should behave!"

"Gosh, would you believe it? What person would force their aging mother to jump off a building?"

"What an ingrate!"

"If my son turned out like this, I'd wish I'd have strangled him the moment he was born!"

The crowd's voices rose as they denigrated Steven. Chloe smirked as she leveled a smug look at Steven. "Did you hear that? Everyone thinks you're in the wrong."

She hadn't noticed that Steven was

no longer regarding her with warmth. "So, what will it take for you to get down from the rooftop? Would my getting a vasectomy do the trick?' en

Pleased by the outcome, Chloe nodded. "Yes. I'm serious this time, Steven."

Steven had turned on the screen recording function from the moment he picked up Chloe's call. He never thought there would be a day when he would lose all respect for his mother.