Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Your mom's been seriously held back these years." The words hit Roseanne like a punch in the gut.

Stoner wanted to arrange a meeting with Madge.

But Roseanne mentioned that her mother was in Pinehollow, and with the contract with Nadine not yet expired, she didn't want to upset her mom's peace of mind or interfere with her creative process. Hearing about the contract, Stoner immediately asked Roseanne for a digital copy.

"No rush, I'll look over your mom's contract first. Let's keep in touch about any updates. Your mom, I've got her covered!"

Roseanne wasn't sure she heard that right.

It sounded like what he said, but Stoner was known for signing works, not people, right?

Confused, she didn't dwell on it.

Seeing his daughter so serious all of a sudden, Norris stopped what he was doing, "What's up, Anne? Anything going on with your mom and that publisher?"

"A little something, but it's manageable. Let's not worry Mom with it just yet; she's easily influenced by these things."

"Alright, I'll keep an eye out."

After the call ended and dinner was done, Roseanne cleaned up the kitchen and went downstairs to take out the trash.

It was still early, so she took a walk to digest her meal, enjoying the early summer breeze on her face.

As dusk approached, remembering an unsettling incident of being followed, Roseanne didn't linger outside and headed back home promptly.

After a shower, she settled down to read papers and take notes, a nightly ritual.

Suddenly, her phone pinged with a new message.

Corley Sullivan: "Still up?"

Roseanne: "What's up?"

Corley: "Can't I reach out for no reason?"

Hesitating for a moment on how to reply, she was caught off guard by his next message

"Can we talk over the phone?"

Roseanne straightened up, replying, "Sure."Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.

The call was all business, skipping small talk-

"The creep who followed you has been caught, solid evidence, he's looking at years behind bars."

Roseanne was surprised. "How did you catch him?"

Corley chuckled low. "When I want to."

Arrogant, but not surprising given his capabilities.

"Even with the threat gone, let's take this as a lesson. Try to stay in after dark. As the saying goes, it's not the theft but the thought of thes scary, right?"

Roseanne hummed in agreement: "Got it."

After a pause, she added: "Thank you."

Corley sounded exasperated: "Those two words again?"

Roseanne whispered: "I don't know what else to say..."

"You do, you just don't want to."

"Then why ask?"

Corley was speechless.

Roseanne yawned: "Anything else?"

Feeling sleepy.

"Yes."

"?"

"It's about Mr. Olson, too complex for a phone call. Let's meet tomorrow."

Meet?

Roseanne frowned: "I've got lab work tomorrow..."

"I know, can't you take a 15-minute break?"

"Only 15 minutes?" Could they cover everything?

Corley shrugged: "Of course, if you can spare an hour or even half a day, I wouldn't mind."

Roseanne: "...Let's stick to 15 minutes."

"See you tomorrow."

After ending the call, Roseanne put away her phone, closed her papers, turned off the light, and went.

She slept without dreams.

bed.

swnovelet

The next morning, she got up early, prepared breakfast, and

packed

then headed to the I