Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 203

Chapter 203

The first thing you notice is a pair of long legs in boots, topped with a camel coat over a white knit sweater, her hand clutching a large, elephant-grey Hermes tote. From head to toe, everything about her screamed sophistication and attention to detail.

The moment Liz laid eyes on Owen, her pupils dilated with excitement, "Mr. Reynolds, good morning!"

"Morning." Owen nodded slightly.

"Liz, let me introduce you to the newest member of our team, Roseanne. She's even younger than you by two years," Sammy was quick to share the news with her.

It was then Liz noticed an unfamiliar presence in the lab, pausing her smile for a moment.

Before Roseanne, Liz was the youngest in the research group, often doted on and held in high regard by everyone.

And she had every reason to be treated so.

A Masters from Columbia followed by a Ph.D. underway at Kingswell University, her academic credentials were indeed impressive.

Moreover, being part of Owen's research team itself was a testament to her research capabilities and academic excellence.

Roseanne stuck to protocol and greeted everyone, but Liz responded with a lukewarm handshake before quickly pulling away. Her disdain was subtle but palpable to Roseanne.

Jen's eyes darted between the two girls, though she chose to remain silent.

Owen clarified, "Just to set the record straight, strictly speaking, Roseanne isn't exactly joining our team."

"What?"

"She's here to conduct her own research project and is merely using our space."

Borrowing space?

surprise. Owen never lent out the

Others shared this confusion.

Stoddard exchanged

Liz frowned deeply.

...

feel free to ask me directly or jot it down on the blackboard. We have staff coming in daily to restock supplies." Roseanne nodded, noticing a blackboard to her left with a grid for tracking and notes. A

touch of

just started my first year of Ph.D. this September," Roseanne answered

started graduate school?" Liz was

to land a research

to make an exception for

What's her story?

Surname Cole...

ran through the prominent families of Lumina

among nobility or academic elites, the surname Cole was nowhere to be found...What

probe further, a hand gently grasped her arm, shaking

unused, and it was within Owen's rights to allocate it as he saw

personal domain; they had no

social cues, glanced forward. Even in a lab coat, Owen's stender physique was apparent, the soft light casting gentle shadows on

a stillness, a serene

that gentleness was

research ever really occupied

it was

and the workstation was lent

...

Unaware of these undercurrents,

into her