Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

She looked around, the room devoid of light, submerged in a silence as profound as death.

Thank God it was just a dream. Yet, she was gasping for air as if she'd just been dragged up from the deep ocean, desperate for fresh air.

Ding! A night breeze swept through, causing the wind chimes in the entryway to tinkle softly. Roseanne glanced outside, the murmur of ocean waves distinctly audible. The lingering unease from her nightmare refused to dissipate. Unable to fall back asleep, she threw on a jacket and went for a walk.

The gentle breeze felt sharp against the cold temperature in the middle of the night. Roseanne wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders, her feet sinking slightly into the sand with every step. The stars hid themselves, leaving the night in darkness, with only a few sparse lights illuminating the shore.

Thinking back to the day's harrowing event, Roseanne couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Her intuition told her they had overlooked some details.

Each incident seemed accidental, yet occurring together felt too coincidental. Although the lifeguard insisted his delay was due to a bathroom break, his over-justification seemed forced.

Roseanne looked up, stopping in her tracks.

Corley stood by the shore with his back to Roseanne and was on a phone call.

"Jared, what's the best move for a situation involving my friend?"

"Handle it privately? That's out of the question. International litigation is a hassle, but I'm not one to shy away from a challenge. Let's do it by the book." He was fully aware of why the hotel's response was so arrogant.

It was an international luxury resort, known for having the prime spot on Maldor Beach. Even royalty would choose it for their vacations. They certainly had the clout to back up their attitude. Unfortunately, they picked the wrong person to underestimate. Ending the call, he turned and stared into Roseanne's dark eyes.

Corley paused, then his lips curved into a smile. "Can't sleep?"

Roseanne answered softly, "Yeah, I couldn't sleep. Thought I'd take a walk."

The moist sea breeze brushed against their faces, bringing a chill. Roseanne asked, "Were you talking about what happened to me?"

After a moment, Corley nodded. "Given it happened abroad, pursuing accountability is a bit different. I've never dealt with something like this, so I thought it best to consult a lawyer."

Roseanne bit her lip, then gestured toward a beach hut not far behind them, a 24-hour convenience store. "Want something to drink? My treat."

Corley had expected her to avoid

him like

།

this turn of events. So, surprise flickered in his eyes, swiftly replaced by a gracious smile. "Sure.

Varlier in the afternoon, not

How could he refuse her invitation?

Corley picked a bottle of ice-cold beer while Roseanne opted for coconut water. They sat on nearby beach chairs.

Roseanne smiled. "Thank you."

Corley caressed the beer bottle. "I decided on your behalf without asking. I'm glad you're not upset."

He had chosen to let the corporate legal team start international litigation. As someone involved, Roseanne deserved to be informed.

"Do you think so little of me?" Roseanne laughed lightly. "And what happened today must not have been a first-time incident."

Corley raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue.

"Their reaction was odd, not shocked at all. Their first

wasn't to soothe the guests

find excuses for themselves, and

they did so with ease."

all. Their first he

Corley listened quietly, then took out a business card. "Someone might contact you about this. If you have any questions, call this number." Roseanne looked at the card. Jared was a senior partner at Morningstar Law Firm and the gold-standard attorney serving the Sullivan family.