Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

'Why bother if it hurts so bad? Now he is stuck between a rock and a hard place, huh!'

...Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

After Murray visited the day before, the house became a disaster zone. Once he left, Roseanne tidied up the mess from top to bottom. Noticing it was getting late, she skipped the library visit and tackled practice questions at home, wrapping up her study session for the day.

She made two pancakes for dinner but couldn't finish them, leaving quite a bit behind. When she sat down after cleaning the kitchen, it was already 8 p.m.

She planned to review another set of practice questions before calling it a night. Just as she set her alarm, her phone buzzed with a notification. She picked it up and noticed it was a friend request with the note reading Corley.

Roseanne blinked in confusion, wondering why Corley would want to add her.

Corley was Murray's close buddy, but they weren't that close themselves. They'd shared countless meals together, but their conversations were few and far between.

After a moment's hesitation, worried he might have something critical to say, she accepted the request. But half an hour passed with no word from him. It seemed like he might've sent that request by mistake. Roseanne found it odd but didn't dwell on it, setting her phone aside to focus on her questions.

...

Corley pocketed his phone at the bar, looking at Cliff, who had just returned from dropping Murray off. His gaze slightly hardened, "Got her home safe?"

Cliff nodded, taking a swig of his beer. "Lucky I got out fast, or I'd have run into Beverly. That would've been a hassle."

Beverly had dropped by the villa more frequently these past few days. If out of luck, getting caught by her meant a barrage of questions.

"Speaking of, you've been hard to reach lately. How come you're free tonight?" Cliff asked.

Corley stared into his glass of bourbon, a faint smile on his lips, "Wrapped up some stuff."

"Ah, just remembered something!" Cliff suddenly set down his glass.

"What's up?"

Cliff asked, "Did Roseanne finish her exams?"

Corley answered, "The day before yesterday." "Really?"

"Yeah, the day before yesterday."

Cliff chuckled, "You really keep up with things, huh?"

Corley smirked, "Have I ever not?"

"True, true. A finance guy, detail-oriented as always."

Corley curled up his lips. "Appreciate the compliment."

"Not modest at all, huh? But man, it's been almost half a year, and Murray and Roseanne still haven't

things up. Unbelievable!" Cliff and

it hard to believe.

Corley just said, "Oh."

Cliff was curious. "Aren't you surprised?"

"Surprised about what?" Corley's tone suddenly turned cold, "It was bound to happen."

"Right, those two were bound to get back together eventually." Cliff interpreted his words in his way.

Corley remained silent. "So, you and Roseanne are close?"

Cliff instinctively puffed up his chest, "Of course! I've had her signature stomach-soothing oatmeal more than once. We're not just close. We're great friends!"

A shadow passed over Corley's eyes. "Then you should celebrate her finishing exams."

"Celebrate? How?"

Corley suggested, "Why not take her out for a meal? It might help patch things up between those two."

Thinking of Murray's recent

brooding, Cliff lit up, "Right! Sounds

great. Roseanne might not want to do Murray, any favors, but she wouldn't turn me down. I'll arrange something, a little celebration for her exams being over. Then I can try to set them up and give them a chance."

"You've got good ideas." Corley nodded, his lips curling into a smile hidden by his glass.