Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Or maybe predatory lending?

Five million... He could work his entire life, forgo food and drink, and still not save up that amount.

Roseanne's voice wavered with guilt, "I haven't been completely idle over the years. I've managed to save a bit of money."

That's when Madge, who had been silent, finally spoke up-

"How did you manage that?"

Her gaze was sharp, piercing.

Roseanne sighed, realizing that Madge had, to some extent, heard the rumors swirling around.

"Mom, all the money's legit, made it all by myself. It's all good, and I've spent it without any guilt."

And that was the truth.

Back in the day, to be with her, Murray Sherwood had risked estrangement from his family.

Naylor, in an attempt to discipline him, cut off all his credit cards and ordered Beverley not to provide any financial assistance.

During their hardest times, the couple squeezed into a tiny basement apartment that leaked when it rained. They were cold in body but warm in heart.

When Murray tried to start his own business and needed seed money, Roseanne took on various odd jobs to save up.

Later, someone recommended her, and she ended up working at a biotech company that makes beauty products.

Initially, she was testing their products, then providing skin data to the research team.

A lucky break came when Roseanne wrote a program to batch process the sample data, turning a complex task into a simple, efficient, and highly accurate process. The company offered half a million for the program, but Roseanne didn't immediately accept. After discussing it with Murray, he negotiated on her behalf.

It turned out Murray had a knack for business, eventually selling the program for two million.

This windfall was Roseanne's contribution to their first big payday.

With this money, Murray founded his own company, which became a market leader within two years.

On the day of the IPO, he told Roseanne, "You own half of this company."

That evening, he presented her with a check for fifty million and a deed for some land.

At that moment, their relationship was at its peak, and Roseanne was puzzled, "Why are you giving me this?"

"With money and land, you're now a little landlady," he joked.

"I don't want your money or to be a landlady."

She simply wanted to be "Mrs. Sherwood," to walk through life hand in hand with him.

But Murray insisted, "Once I give something away, it's not taken back."

Roseanne didn't mind; if he wanted to give it, let him. She never intended to use it.

Over the following years, despite their frequent arguments, Roseanne never thought about touching those assets.

Until she made up her mind to leave him...

Reflecting on it, if Murray truly loved

her and wanted a lifelong commitment, he should have given her shares in the company at the IPO, not a one-time payment in cash and land.

The two million from six years ago plus the years of companionship and care, made Roseanne feel

entirely justified in accepting the fifty

million check.

But the complexity of their story was something she didn't want to burden her parents with, to spare them unnecessary heartache.

Madge understood that her

daughter might be withholding

certain details, but since she

vel.net

claimed everything was "clean" and

"without guilt," it must be true.

"So... does this mean I'll soon be living in a villa?" Madge's only concern was alleviated, leaving only joy.

Roseanne nodded, "It's all ready to move in, except for bedsheets, linens, and personal clothing. Everything else is in place."

"There's a rock garden with a fish pond out front, and a gazebo next to the water in the backyard."

Dad can plant whatever flowers he likes."

Norris' eyes sparkled with anticipation, "Is it really that big?"

"You'll see when we move in. We can start shopping for seeds and sod now..."