Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed



Roseanne stared at the steak cut into bite-sized pieces in front of her, her expression indifferent. She wasn't here for the food; just sitting across from him was already pushing her limits.

Without giving Murray a chance to interrupt, she cut straight to the chase.

"...I've pretty much got everything sorted now. All that's missing is the consent form. I brought it with me today; could you sign it?"

Murray's smile slowly faded as he watched her expression change from hopeful to resigned and finally to despondent.

"Is it so hard to have a proper meal with me?"

Roseanne frowned.

"Why bring this up now?"

She was genuinely puzzled. "You were the one who suggested we talk over dinner. Now that we're eating, you don't want to talk. Are your words really that cheap?"

Caught off guard, Murray set down his knife and fork. "You want to talk? Fine, let's really talk then.”

Roseanne instinctively sat up straighter.

Murray glanced at the documents and pen she had laid out, chuckling ruefully. "If it wasn't for needing my signature, you wouldn't have bothered contacting me today, would you?"

She was honest. "Yes."

"Ha... So in your eyes, my worth is just to sign this paper, and then we can go our separate ways, is that it?"

Roseanne's tone remained even. "We've been on separate paths for a long time. It's not just now that we're splitting ways."

“What if I decide not to sign today?" His tone was deliberate, his gaze intense.

Roseanne didn't get angry or show any displeasure, only confusion and a sense of estrangement from him.

"The property's already been transferred to me, and you've signed the contract. Why are you clinging to this consent form?" Murray admitted, "I regret it."

He regretted breaking up, regretted letting her go, and even more so, regretted not pulling her back when he had the chance, allowing her to run wild until she was completely out of reach.

Roseanne found him unreasonable. "The property was your gift, signed over willingly and without coercion. Why are you backtracking now?" "Though I took the property during our breakup, I never saw it as a parting gift.'

"When the company went public, as a co-founder, should've received some original shares. But instead, you gave me a check and this property. I took it as my due

compensation or, at least, el nét

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something to make up for notThis content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

getting the shares." Content belongs

"So the property rightfully belongs to me. But given the procedure, we need this document, which is why I came to you."

"But your refusal to sign doesn't mean the property is still yours."

The transfer is complete; the property is legally in Roseanne's name.

It's just that when applying to establish a lab, she hit a snag with the regulations, needing his cooperation, nothing more. Roseanne stated, "You no longer own the property, so your regret is merely a feeling, not something you can act on." Murray's brow furrowed deeply. "So, we're at an impasse today?"

Roseanne replied, "The ball is in your court. If you wish, you can act." "And if I don't?"

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Roseanne always believed, "There's no deal that can't be made if the terms aren't right. If it doesn't work out, it usually means the offer isn't good enough."

His gaze darkened.

Roseanne met his eyes firmly. "So, what are your terms?"