Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne had completely blanked out on that part of the night.

All she remembered was her dad, Norris, nudging her to see Owen off. And then...

Nothing.

When she woke up the next morning, snug in her bed and stretching lazily, she didn't feel a thing was amiss.

Madge, her stepmom, popped her head in with a warm cup of tea, "You up?"

Sitting up, Roseanne took the cup, sipped, and then heard Norris chime in-

"Let's see if you dare to sneak that much booze again! You were a wild one, listening to no one, acting all crazy."

Wild? Crazy? Roseanne's sipping paused abruptly.

Fragments of memories flickered through her mind, elusive as smoke.

She swallowed hard, her voice tentative, "Dad, what did I do last night?"

"Oh, what did you do? You don't remember?"

Roseanne shook her head frantically. She truly had no idea.

"Sent you to walk Owen out, and you ended up messing his hair up so bad. Guy didn't even make a fuss, just carried you back..."

"Alright, alright," Madge intervened, "no need to embarrass her further. Some of us are blushing like beetroot here! Off you go, let her digest this alone." With that, she ushered Norris out and thoughtfully closed the door behind her.

One second.

Two seconds.

On the third-

A mortified wail erupted from the bedroom: "Aaah!"

There went her dignity!

Norris and Madge exchanged a look, barely holding back their laughter.

Madge commented, "Girl's just like you, can't hold her liquor."

Norris retorted, "And like you, loves it despite being terrible at it."

Madge gave him a look, "Asking for it, aren't you?"

Norris quickly raised his hands in surrender, "No, no."

...

Despite the occasional hiccup, the family enjoyed their peaceful, happy life. Meanwhile, Beverley was having a tougher time.

Since the last debacle at the hotel with Maisie and her son making a scene, realizing no one was reining them in, they seemed to have tasted blood. They camped outside the Sherwood Mansion day afterday, becoming a clear nuisance.

Beverley was frustrated at the sight of this duo; she couldn't shake off the disgust..Hearing from security that they were camping at the gates come rain or shine, even bringing stoots and snacks for a long haul, made her dread even stepping outside.

"How is it? Are those two still there?"

In the living room, Beverley clenched her teeth as she asked the maid who had just returned from grocery shopping.

The maid looked uneasy as she replied, "Yes, they're still there. When Sadie and I went out, that man and woman glared at us, looking like they were about to pounce, scared us half to death."

Maisie wasn't foolish; she knew a residential area wasn't like the hotel where she could just barge in. Causing trouble here could get her slapped with a breaking and entering charge. So, she and Farley just waited.

They showed up like clockwork, did nothing but sit and stare with unnerving intensity at anyone passing by, spreading unease throughout the household.

To avoid them, Beverley had been

cooped up at home for a week,

restless and on edge, enduring the

whispers of the staff. She kept

hoping the duo would leave

eventually, but a week had nearly

passed with no sign of them backing down.

Beverley was at her wit's end!All rights © NôvelDrama.Org.

Watching her friends' flashy posts on social media while she was stuck at home like a prisoner? No way, totally unacceptable.