Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Corley smiled. "I'm chasing what I want. Don't worry about it. How will I know the outcome if I don't try?"

Roseanne said with concern, "Even if it ends in disappointment?"

His gaze deepened. "Then I'll accept it."

She hadn't expected him to be so stubborn and fell silent.

Noticing her mood, Corley didn't push the conversation further but quietly listened to the waves with her. It wasn't until well past midnight that he finally left.

Roseanne thought about his silent defiance and determination. In truth, Corley was a man who knew his limits and boundaries. His pursuit was neither aggressive nor reckless, always mindful not to trouble her, unlike Murray, who used to chase her relentlessly and would fly off the handle at the drop of a hat.

Roseanne sighed, knowing there was little she could do to stop others' actions.

"Just focus on doing you," she told herself.

As she headed back inside, she caught sight of a shadow standing silently in the dark, almost like a ghost.

shadow entered the light, and Roseanne

the hell are you doing?" she

in the middle of the night

lost its sparkle for Murray. He followed her

him like glue, complaining of hunger and wanting to eat. Murray's patience ran thin, utterly frustrated. He eventually flagged down a waiter to take

to the hotel's

Murray had

number. Eager, he found her and Corley standing

hair cascading down her shoulders, a solitary

ove

looked like a

It wasn't until Corley

mask from the party, his eyes carrying a faint,

asked coldly, "Why are you here? I've said all there

her wrist got seized with a

can he and not I?"