Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

The night was thick with silence, only pierced by the sound of lab equipment humming and keyboards clacking.

Owen glanced aside to see the girl meticulously noting down data, the soft light casting a delicate shadow across her face.

Before, he was used to pulling all-nighters alone, the quiet company of his experiments his only solace. But tonight, having someone there beside him felt strangely comforting, an unfamiliar yet intriguing change.

By the time they left the lab, it was already the early hours of the morning.

Back at their apartment building, they exchanged a brief "Goodnight," with Roseanne heading into her apartment first.

Owen couldn't help but watch her slender figure disappearing through the door, reminding him of the afternoon's downpour when he saw her standing in the hotel lobby, looking as though she'd stepped out of a painting. Her elegance seemed out of place in their mundane surroundings.

Owen shook his head to shake off his thoughts and quickly ducked back into his apartment, feeling strangely vulnerable.

After a quick shower, Roseanne was out like a light, the exhaustion of the day pulling her into a deep sleep. Across town, under the same night sky, Millie was having a far less peaceful night. It was already 2 AM, and Murray hadn't come home yet.

...

were like thorns in her mind, impossible to shake off. Frustrated and unable to sleep, she threw off her covers, slipping out of bed in her nightgown to pace the

was eerily quiet, the darkness almost oppressive. "Where is everyone?!" she yelled,

throw on their robes before rushing to Millie's side. "Ms. Millie, what's wrong?

with a dark expression and snapped, "You two sleep like the dead!

The housekeepers, completely taken

middle of the night besides sleep. Yet, they knew better than to voice these thoughts out loue, especially knowing Millie's

do you need?" one of them managed to ask, trying to

want some chicken soup," Millie demanded, her tone leaving

The housekeeper's voice

sneer was cold. "Is there a

I'll start on

feeling a dull ache in her back from the