Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

She looked around, the room devoid of light, submerged in a silence as profound as death.

Thank God it was just a dream. Yet, she was gasping for air as if she'd just been dragged up from the deep ocean, desperate for fresh air.

Ding! A night breeze swept through, causing the wind chimes in the entryway to tinkle softly. Roseanne glanced outside, the murmur of ocean waves distinctly audible. The lingering unease from her nightmare refused to dissipate. Unable to fall back asleep, she threw on a jacket and went for a walk.

The gentle breeze felt sharp against the cold temperature in the middle of the night. Roseanne wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders, her feet sinking slightly into the sand with every step. The stars hid themselves, leaving the night in darkness, with only a few sparse lights illuminating the shore.

Thinking back to the day's harrowing event, Roseanne couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Her intuition told her they had overlooked some details.

Each incident seemed accidental, yet occurring together felt too coincidental. Although the lifeguard insisted his delay was due to a bathroom break, his over-justification seemed forced.

Roseanne looked up, stopping in her tracks.

Corley stood by the shore with his back to Roseanne and was on a phone call.

"Jared, what's the best move for a situation involving my friend?"

"Handle it privately? That's out of the question. International litigation is a hassle, but I'm not one to shy away from a challenge. Let's do it by the book." He was fully aware of why the hotel's response was so arrogant.

for having the prime spot on Maldor Beach. Even royalty would choose it for their vacations. They certainly had the clout to back up their attitude. Unfortunately, they picked the wrong person to underestimate. Ending the call,

his lips curved into a

couldn't

against their faces, bringing a chill. Roseanne asked, "Were you talking about

Corley nodded. "Given it happened abroad, pursuing accountability is a bit different. I've never dealt with something like this, so I

gestured toward a beach hut not far behind them, a 24-hour convenience store. "Want something to drink? My

had expected

him like

།

his eyes, swiftly replaced

the

he

ice-cold beer while Roseanne opted for coconut water. They

Roseanne smiled. "Thank you."

caressed the beer bottle. "I decided on your behalf without

start international litigation.