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,

found himself back at the familiar

he got scolded for his

Think you're something

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

"Yeah, a Porsche!"

"Exactly, what's the deal?"

...

sharp, Roseanne came downstairs to take out

his windshield, Murray

her hair had grown longer, gently cascading down her back, and she wore flip-flops, looking effortlessly chic and relaxed. Murray got out of the car, ready to follow her, but suddenly, someone

fancy seeing you here

"Move!"

Murray grew impatient. Owen stood his ground,

of the Reynolds,

Mr. Sherwood have

what if I do?! None of your damn

is every

civic duty?

unchanged,

do you think you are? How long have

of time means

El.ne

lifetime together and can't make it work, while others just

meant