The Reclaimed Rose (Annalise and Steven)

Otis took the evidence from his men and glanced at it with a sneer.

Years ago, he had let his guard down and suffered a significant loss because of Annalise, but not this time.

He had learned his lesson-the same tricks wouldn't work on him anymore.

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the evidence onto the passenger seat, barely sparing it another look.

So after all these years, Annalise still hadn't changed. She fell for Otis' simple misdirection. And to think, he had worried she might have become more formidable and more challenging to deal with.

Otis tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

Back then, Annalise and Portia collaborated to throw him in prison. But now, he

was out and led a thriving life.

Did they really think they could still live comfortably? What a joke.

Otis pulled into the hotel parking garage and dialed a friend.noveldrama

"Are you free to help me out? It's all right if you're not. I can handle Annalise myself."

Zane was Annalise's biggest supporter now. If Otis successfully made Zane doubt Annalise, she would be left to fend for herself.

And once that happened, Annalise would be at Otis' mercy.

His friend hesitated before saying, "You'd better think this through. Annalise's boyfriend is Zane. He's sharp and incredibly capable. If you cross him, forget about expanding your business. Ever."

Otis scoffed and remained unfazed. "I don't understand why all of you are so worried. Sure, Zane is powerful. I won't deny that. However, he can never compete against the local heavyweight. His company might be famous across the country, maybe even the world. So what? In our city, he's still second place."

More importantly, everyone in their circle was a generation older than Zane. Otis couldn't understand why they were so afraid of some young upstart.

His friend sighed. "You make a fair point. However, that only holds true if you never plan to expand beyond this city. Can you guarantee your company will always stay local?"

Otis fell silent. Why had he never considered that? After a long pause, he finally said, "Let me think it over."

His friend didn't push further and ended the call.

Otis sat alone in the hotel, drinking sullenly.

To be honest, when he first learned

that Annalise had married Stevene

had given up on taking revenge against her. He knew that Steven was a capable man.

Steven had risen from a penniless young man to the CEO of a publicly listed company in just a few years, which alone proved that he had the ambition and drive to succeed.

Even though Steven didn't love Annalise and treated her poorly, Otis still didn't

dare act against her.

As a man himself, Otis understood that men had an inexplicable sense of possessiveness toward women.

As long as a woman was linked to a man, he would not allow anyone to hurt her

because harming her would be the same as humiliating him.

Otis had thought he would have to bury his resentment forever. Suddenly, he

heard the news that Steven and Annalise had divorced.

He breathed a sigh of relief-finally, no one was protecting Annalise.

At last, he could punish Annalise.