Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Cruising down Orchid Street, Corley and Roseanne saw a breathtaking sight. Thousands of drones were hanging mid-air, shifting and morphing into various shapes with impeccable coordination. It was a drone show, a spectacle that commanded a starting price in the millions despite lasting barely fifteen minutes.

The area around the venue was bustling, and luckily, the spot Corley and Roseanne stumbled upon offered a prime view. Corley pulled over, and they watched in fascination as the drones danced through the windshield, forming intricate three-dimensional models.

Following Corley's gaze, Roseanne was instantly mesmerized by the luminous display.

Corley teased, "Guess how many drones are up there?"

"Is that even guessable?" Roseanne chuckled.

"Sure is."

"I've got no clue."

"I'd say..." He paused dramatically, "143?"

"Why 143?"

"Well, isn't the whole idea of proposing to love someone?"

The next moment, the drones rearranged themselves in the night sky to spell "Marry me."

did you know it was a proposal?" Roseanne was

the viewing deck where a man dressed sharply in a suit held a bouquet of roses

Roseanne couldn't

had pegged Corley as just another privileged, carefree heir before. Today, she saw

her field of study, and Corley had casually mentioned the stock fluctuations of NexTech Innovations.

again, thinking

friends, including Corley, none were slackers when it came to making money. The world of these golden boys was far more complex than she had imagined. Thus, gracefully stepping back

place now. Thanks for the ride," Roseanne said as Corley's car could only stop at the lane

their

the point where

her

didn't stick around. He watched her walk away before he drove

long after, Cliff called. "Where'd you guys vanish to? I

had finished paying

he ran into his

a year

Qu

him into dinner plans and flirtatious teases, taking him

had something come up and needed to leave urgently. I dropped her off,"