Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Carlisle deserved to be Madeleine's star pupil, and even though he and Roseanne weren't on the same academic track, they found common ground in their conversations.

Roseanne enjoyed their deep dives into the discussion. She was gearing up for grad school exams. Though she had a firm grasp on most of the material, she was still trying to catch up with the cutting-edge research trends in her field, which meant diving into piles of academic papers, a task that took time. Being a grad student, Carlisle had a leg up on Roseanne in this aspect, who had been out of the academic loop for a few years.

Behind them, Murray watched the pair chatting with envy and frustration, clenching his fists. Roseanne was so cold to him, ignoring all his pleas, yet she was laughing so freely with another man.

Roseanne had prepared a feast, a mix of flavors and dishes that could cater to any palate. It wasn't Carlisle's first time praising her cooking skills, but the spread surprised him.

"All this is just for the two of us? Isn't it a bit much?"

Roseanne chuckled. "You've been such a great help. I wanted to show my gratitude with a proper meal."

Carlisle scratched his head, embarrassed. "I haven't done much. You're reading your review materials more efficiently than I thought possible."

During their study sessions, he was impressed by how quickly Roseanne progressed. Not only could she apply concepts broadly, but her retention was exceptional. He didn't need to explain most things twice.

"Studying is just one piece of the puzzle. I really appreciate your help in finding research papers and giving me access to the original resources available to Kingswell University students," Roseanne added. Carlisle was stunned. "So, you've been tackling papers on top of your review..."

He suddenly understood why Madeleine held her in such high regard.

After the meal, Carlisle stayed a while before noticing how late it was. He got up to leave.

Roseanne walked him out, taking the opportunity to take out the trash.

Carlisle thanked her once again. "Your cooking is amazing. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"So..." Carlisle hesitated, "I'll head back to campus now. See you at the library tomorrow?"

Roseanne agreed, "Sure."

As they spoke, Owen approached, likely just returning from the lab, still marked by a

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his professional rigor.

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"Mr. Reynolds!" Carlisle straightened up immediately, "You live in this building, too?"

Owen glanced over, noting Roseanne standing beside a young man.

He recognized Carlisle. "Kingswell University?"

"Yes, Mr. Reynolds. I'm from the School of Life Sciences. I took your course on the Basic Principles of Physics."

"Hmm."

Roseanne attempted a greeting, but Owen's gaze seemed to pass through her.

Carlisle stepped aside, and Owen went up the stairs without another word. Roseanne shrugged.

"I had no idea Mr. Reynolds lived here, too. What a coincidence!" Carlisle was visibly excited, "I've attended his lectures before. They're fantastic. My roommate tried to enroth this semester, but the glass was full in seconds. I heard more girls managed to snag a spot..."

Owen paused at the stairwell, glancing back at the two. That young man, Carlisle, if he remembered correctly.

Was this the first time he'd seen

someone else at Roseanne's place? A boyfriend, perhaps? Shaking bis head, Owen continued on his way. What did it matter to him?

After Carlisle left, Roseanne took a detour to another alley to dispose of the trash.

Halfway there, a shadowy figure suddenly emerged, grabbing her wrist.

Roseanne's heart skipped a beat, preparing to fight back, when a familiar yet eerily mocking voice stopped her.