Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Roseanne blushed slightly, "It's really nothing special..."

She had been with Murray for six years. The first two years, she was still in college, and for the latter four, she was confined to their sprawling mansion, her days revolving solely around Murray.

The cage of love he built for her was sturdy, but those years in confinement weren't entirely wasted. Beyond taking care of Murray's needs, Roseanne read voraciously, honed her skills, and consciously developed various hobbies.

As their relationship cooled and Murray's visits home became less frequent, Roseanne finally found time for herself. She enrolled in numerous classes and earned several certifications, filling her free time to the brim.

She always kept her father's advice in mind: "Learning never stops. You should always keep gaining knowledge and skills, because every new skill opens up another path in life."

Maybe deep down, she never really saw Murray as her rock.

...

After her class, Roseanne couldn't leave just yet; she had to guide the ladies through the practical part. As she had been teaching, many had followed along and prepared their own cups.

you taste mine and give me your

mine too, I'd love

well!

generously. When it came to Mrs. Jackson's turn, the aroma of the tea had already wafted over before she even lifted the lid.

warm and inviting smile,

leaves were perfectly shaped, and the tea itself was bright and

the ladies attended her tea workshops more as a social pretense or to pass time, but

second sip, Roseanne couldn't help

and the

small tea business. We own a few plantations, and we always keep a batch for ourselves

not wanting to admit that despite being a tea sommelier, she rarely drank tea, preferring plain

insisted, and ultimately, Roseanne graciously

hand, found the whole tea etiquette a bit pretentious and brewed her tea