Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Murray, let me fix your tie for you."

"Heh... I'm wearing a black shirt today."

Millie paused, a look of confusion crossing her face. "I know."

Forget it.

Murray gave up, thinking to himself that sometimes it's best to leave things unsaid when you're not on the same page.

A black shirt with a mixed-color tie, huh....

Only her kind of aesthetic could come up with such a combination.

Murray brushed off her hands, "If you can't do it right, don't bother doing it at all."

Without waiting for Millie's reaction, he strode away.

...

As night fell, Murray wrapped up his work and left the office.

Settling into his car, he lit a cigarette and lingered without starting the engine.

Once the cigarette had burned down, he stamped out the butt and drove off.

He didn't feel like going back to his mansion, so he ended up driving along the river, making a couple of loops.

called during the drive, but he didn't pick

he found himself back

usual, he got scolded for his sloppy

you're something

fancy cars lately, huh? Wasn't there a Porsche

"Yeah, a Porsche!"

"Exactly, what's the deal?"

...

came downstairs to take out the

behind his windshield,

was wearing a blue floral dress today, her hair had grown longer, gently cascading down her back, and she wore flip-flops, looking effortlessly chic and relaxed.

fancy seeing

"Move!"

grew impatient. Owen stood his ground, watching Roseanne

you're one of the Reynolds,

voice was calm, unbothered: "Does Mr. Sherwood have a

do?! None of your damn

activities is

Murray chuckled, looking straight at Owen. "You're doing all this just out of civic duty? You don't have any other motives?" "Whether

unchanged,

are? How long have you known her compared to

length of time means

El.ne

together and can't make it work, while others

they're meant