Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

However, before Corley could finish his sentence, Owen Reynolds suddenly cut in-

"Laird, you've had a bit too much to drink. These kids are still in school, academics come first. Let's not dwell on nonsense. Spreading rumors doesn't do anyone any favors."

Laird paused, slowly coming to his senses.

"Look at me, a few drinks in and I start rambling... You're right, students should focus on their studies. As for the rest... let it be."

With that, he went off to mingle with other guests.

Owen Reynolds stood still, his gaze fixed straight ahead: "You shouldn't have said that earlier."

Corley smirked: "What's the matter? Mr. Reynolds, do you object?"

"No parent wants to hear someone bad-mouthing their child. Mr. Sullivan might not care, but please think about the repercussions before you speak next time."

Corley frowned: "Are you saying I didn't consider Roseanne?"

"Isn't that the case?" Owen Reynolds turned, looking him in the eye, "Mr. Sullivan is a smart man, some things don't need to be spelled out by me."

"Don't act all high and mighty, you're not the only one who cares about Roseanne. I care about her more than you do."

"Good, since you care, then please don't put her in jeopardy."

"Jeopardy? It was just a comment. Mr. Reynolds, there's no need to be so paranoid."

"Today it's just a comment, but what about tomorrow? People accustomed to doing whatever they want

tend to be reckless. The Dixons are forgiving, but if it were another family, or someone else, what do you think it would bring her?"

Corley's expression hardened, his gaze intensifying.

Owen Reynolds: "If you truly care for her, then consider all aspects."

With that, he walked away briskly.

...

After eating cake, Roseanne's hands were sticky with cream, even though she had wiped them with a napkin.

She excused herself to Mamie and headed to the restroom.

Coming out, she bumped into Corley.

He handed her a bottle of water: "The cake was pretty sweet, have some water."

Earlier at the table, Corley noticed she had taken a sip of her drink and put it down, not touching it again. Clearly, she wasn't fond of it.

Roseanne, feeling thirsty, took the bottle: "Thanks."

The two headed back to the main house from the restroom, having to cross a connecting corridor and make a couple of turns.

It must be said, the Dixon estate was truly vast, with a complex layout.

The double courtyards, corridors linking to corridors, and the numerous paths, all looking quite similar.

As feared, after walking a bit, realizing they hadn't made it back to the main house, they knew they were lost.

Roseanne instinctively looked at Corley.

He spread his hands: "Don't look at me, I'm no navigator."

"Aren't you related to the Dixons?"

"Only in the 'our family trees are volumes apart' kind of way."

Roseanne: "..."

"But I've got a decent sense of direction. Follow me, let's see if we can find the way."

Corley led Roseanne through twists and turns, not knowing how long they walked or how many paths they crossed, eventually arriving at a small courtyard.

Around the courtyard, bamboo fences were turned into display walls. Upon closer inspection, they were adorned with pictures of Scales as a child.

From birth, to the first month, then the first year, five years, ten years...

Roseanne randomly picked up a

photo, showing Scales as a baby with tears and snot all over his face, freshly born with his skin still wrinkly, looking like a little monkey.

en FindNovel

There were also a couple of pictures of Scales at three years old.

A little boy with a head as big as a turnip, wearing a fluffy onesie, his head adorned with a girl's hairband complete with two Teletubby-like antennas, his nose and eyes red, clearly just after a crying session, tears not yet dried.