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..."

"Don't understand your selfishness or your

as some kind of saint. If you really cared for her, why did you just watch for

as Roseanne

as she became heartbroken, and ultimately

code' nonsense. You, of all people, have no heart. How could

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 pain, despair in her struggles, and finally transform into someone you

you can't bear to see them

what did Corley

like a cold spectator, letting it all happen,

stop it; you allowed my hurting her. How are you any

using Maisie

son to set

up... Corley, what

Roseanne

Sho

saw your true colors?"

a pause

days, Murray had never felt as relieved as he did today, "She's the simplest, purest

en

you. She only has eyes

had been that