Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"I just never thought you'd go to such lengths for Roseanne."

And even more surprising was how much she meant to him, enough to risk it all and set up such a scheme.

"A scheme?" Corley chuckled lightly. "Not really. Just going with the flow, offering a little nudge where it's needed."

Like Murray said, the plan was full of holes. If he had actually put his hands into designing it, he would have been skinned alive, if not worse.

"If you can't dodge such a simple play, then you'd deserve a stint in the slammer."

A deal with no losses, why not take it?

Success means sending him straight to jail, or getting Murray and Millie completely out of the picture.

And if not, well, he was more than happy to be a thorn in his side.

"Despicable!" Murray clenched his teeth, "You'd screw me over for a woman?"

Corley sighed, "She's not just any woman..."

She was Roseanne!

Murray scoffed, "Spare me the lover's act in front of me."

But he simply said, "You don't understand..."

understand your selfishness or your

you really cared for her, why

as Roseanne

as she became heartbroken, and

How could

had never been so clear-headed, "You intentionally watched her get hurt by me, suffer. Only then would she make up her mind to leave me, giving you your chance." "Watching her struggle in

someone means you can't bear

what did

a cold spectator, letting it all

on her suffering. You didn't stop it; you allowed my hurting her.

this time using Maisie

son to set

up... Corley,

think Roseanne would

Sho

saw your true colors?"

a pause on the

as relieved as he did today, "She's the simplest, purest person, hates scheming, despises cunning, and you're

en

Roseanne will never love you. She only has eyes for someone honest and

he had been