Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne shook the mop vigorously, continuing her assault.

Louisa darted around, clutching her head, and even as she reached the door, she didn't forget to throw back a threat, "I—I'm not done with you guys!"

"Your goddamn wisteria creeping into my yard, I'll burn it all down tomorrow! It's so annoying!"

With that, she took off running, because Roseanne was already chasing after her with the mop raised.

"Get lost! Come back, and I'll hit you again!"

Roseanne dropped the mop, letting out a deep sigh, but then she noticed Norris with a serious look on his face, making her heart skip a beat.

After a moment, she hesitantly spoke, "...I'm sorry, Dad, I..."

"When did you learn to do that?"

"...Huh?"

"You know... that thing with the mop..." Norris mimicked her mop-swinging action.

Roseanne was speechless.

"Cough! It's better for a young lady to remain graceful and elegant, not resort to brawling."

"Dad," Roseanne stepped forward, linking arms with him, "You've got to admit that felt good, right?"

Uh!

Norris agreed, "...It did."

"Was it her who messed with the wisteria on our side of the yard?"

In truth, there was a small patch of land between their homes, which Louisa had taken upon herself to fill with soil and plant vegetables, dousing it daily with waste. The Cole family's wisteria had merely climbed over the wall, not yet reaching that patch of land, but she had destroyed it all the same.

Norris was generous, and Madge disliked conflict, so they had never brought up the issue of the land, inadvertently letting Louisa believe it was hers.

"She said the branches were blocking the sunlight for her vegetables, so she pulled them all out." Norris sighed, "Your mother was heartbroken."

Roseanne bit her lip, not realizing her parents had been put through so much while she was away.

"Dad, what they said..."

"Don't mind it! Just consider it hot air! They don't know anything, just gossiping. I know my daughter better than anyone; you're not like that."

Roseanne's eyes grew moist.

BUMS

"Alright, let's not tell your mom about this; she tends to overthink." "Okay."

The second day of the Christmas, it was time to visit relatives.

Roseanne was dug out of bed early by Madge, "No more sleeping, get ready, dress nicely, we're going to your uncle's house."

Norris' parents had four children, with Norris being the third, having two older brothers and a younger sister.

Uncle Maddox Cole, who had

dropped out of school in his teens to work on construction sites and in his twenties started his own business, had amassed his first fortune and then ventured into the building materials industry.

Now owning a building materials company, living in a mansion, and driving a luxury car, he was considered a big shot in their small town.

Since the grandparents lived with

him, year on the second day of

the

Womas, the Cole siblings

I gather at the eldest's house.

This year, besides Norris and Madge, there was also Roseanne.

"Merry Christmas, Aunt Raven."

Raven opened the door, staring at the elegant young woman in front of her for a few seconds: "...Is that Anne?"

Madge smiled gently. "Merry Christmas, Raven."

As she spoke, she handed over a basket of fruits and some health supplements prepared for the elders.

Raven greeted them. "Why bother bringing things? Just come in... We were just waiting for your family, please, come in."

"Wow, is that Roseanne? A rare visitor, huh? Haven't seen you back here in years, what made you decide to come this year?"