Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne smiled at the hairdresser, "Please, cut it short and straighten it."

'Even the prettiest doll is just a toy.' Roseanne decided, 'Let whoever wants to play with it, I'm done playing.'-

Stepping out of the hair salon, Roseanne felt a sense of liberation wash over her. Conveniently, there was a sales promotion at the Uniqlo store next door. She popped in and picked out a white tee and a pair of jeans, changing into them right there. They matched her sneakers perfectly.

As she wandered, she arrived outside the gates of Kingswell University, watching students cycle in and out under the setting sun. She paused, lost in thought.

"Carlisle! Over here!" A young man brushed past Roseanne. "What's everyone doing here?"

"We're planning to visit Ms. Payne, so..."

Carlisle frowned. "With this many people, the hospital won't allow it. Let's do this. Only two representatives from the bioinformatics department will come with me." Bioinformatics? Ms. Payne? Roseanne's gaze sharpened, and she quickly stepped forward. "Who did you say was sick?"

Carlisle stuttered, caught off guard by the neat and pretty girl before him. "Um, Ms. Payne."

Roseanne asked again, "Madeleine Payne?"

Carlisle nodded. "Yeah."

"Which hospital?"

"Serenity Health Hospital."

"Thanks."

Carlisle called out to Roseanne's back. "Uh... which department are you from? Are you also one of Ms. Payne's students?"

Roseanne left his question hanging as she strode away.

Back at her apartment, Roseanne couldn't shake off the unease. Was Madeleine, the one who'd tap someone on the head when annoyed, actually sick? How serious was it?

Roseanne opened her contacts, hesitating over Madeleine's before deciding against calling.

Back then, for the sake of so-called love, she had abandoned the opportunity for a direct Ph.D. program to be with Murray. She hadn't worked a single day after undergrad, making herself a housewife revolving around her man.

Madeleine must have been really let down.

"Huh? Anne, you didn't go back?" Changing her shoes, Leda was surprised.

Roseanne's mouth twitched. "What, you want to kick me out?"

"Wow, you're sticking it out this time. I remember the last time you and Murray broke up, it took him less than half an hour to call you back, and you went straight back to him."

Roseanne changed the subject. "There's soup in the pot. Help yourself."

Leda's eyes lit up, and she hurried into the kitchen for the soup, sipping it appreciatively. "Murray's such a lucky dog, getting to have this every day..."

Roseanne cut in. "Remember to wash the dishes and clean up. I'm going to bed."

Leda pressed again, "Hey, you're not going back?"

The answer was a closed bedroom door.

Leda clicked her tongue. "She's finally standing her ground..."

Elsewhere under the same night sky, at Seaview Estate.

"Mr. Sherwood, the bank has confirmed that Ms. Cole personally cashed the fifty million at 12:05 PM today..."

Murray hung up, staring coldly at the night view outside the window. "Roseanne, what new game are you playing?"

If she thought it would win Murray back, she was sorely mistaken. There was no turning back on his decisions. "Cliff, fancy a drink?"

Half an hour later, Murray pushed open the lounge door, and Cliff greeted him with a smile. "Murray, everyone's here, just waiting on you. What are we drinking tonight?" Murray walked in, paying him no mind.

Cliff paused, looking behind him. "What's up? Isn't Roseanne coming? Is she parking?"

Murray's expression darkened.