Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed



Memories, long dormant, began to stir awake.

Fragments of the past flashed through Kathleen's mind, particularly the image of those despairing, tear-filled eyes that haunted her nightmares.

Her voice was raspy with emotion, "Why is Aberdeen's kidnapping blamed on me, just because I happened to be with her when she left? Is it fair to pin her disappearance on me just because of that?"

"If I had known it would come to this, I would have rather been the one taken. Then, perhaps my grandparents would be obsessing over my absence instead."

Kathleen seemed to be lost in her memories, tears streaming down her face, consumed by guilt.

Corley couldn't bear to see his mother like this.

Remembering how his grandmother had recently become obsessed with a mystery novel titled "Seven Days," he offered Kathleen a suggestion: "Gran's been really into 'Seven Days' lately. Getting her a signed copy, especially one personalized to her, would make her day."

Seeing Kathleen's mood brighten at the suggestion, he quickly added a word of caution, "You know how Gran can be. Let's take it slow. Get the signed copy first and tell me; I'll help you present it to her..."

Better to tread carefully than to make things worse.

"Alright, alright, I get it," Kathleen dismissed the concern lightly. "A signed book, how hard can it be?"

Corley, seeing her eager to move on the matter, held back further advice. He had said his piece; the rest was up to fate.

An assistant called Corley about an urgent document needing his attention, and he rushed off to the office.

Kathleen called the butler, detailing her request: "...I'm not sure who the author is, but the title is 'Seven Days,' a new mystery novel. No matter the cost or method, I want that book."

"What should the inscription say?" the butler inquired, having overheard the plan.

"Just some generic well-wishes will

do. 'Wishing you health and a long life' or something," Kathleen pondered. That's the kind of thing the elderly love to hear, isn't?

The butler agreed and set out to fulfill the task.

UMS

...

As the end of the semester approached, the plant quarantine practical course was gearing up for its final exam.

But this wasn't your standard sit-down test; students were tasked with collecting specimens.

Their final grades would be based on the accuracy and diversity of their collections.

Naturally, Roseanne, Scales, and Mamie formed a group.

The teacher announced the meeting spot in the group chat, and on the day of, Roseanne arrived fifteen minutes early.

A few students were already there, loitering in front of the school gates.

The college had arranged for five buses, four of which had already departed.

The last bus was reserved for first-year students.

Soon, more students began to arrive.

Scales was on his way, and Mamie, who liked to arrive just in time, would surely show up soon.

Roseanne checked her watch,noveldrama

scanning the crowd for her friends.

That's when she locked eyes with Grace, who had a cool, peach-blossom gaze filled with curiosity.

For a moment, Roseanne was taken aback. Through the crowd, she saw Grace offer à polite smile,

et

surrounded by Sybil and Hertha. It seemed they were asking Sybil something, but she was responding with disinterest.