Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 458

Chapter 458

Owen had been in the game of wooing for over a year, a fact that seemed to amuse his friends to no end. "Dude, you've been at this for ages. How have you not sealed the deal yet? With those looks and that height, it should've been a cakewalk!" they ribbed him, but Owen just shrugged off their teasing.

One of his buddies, sensing Owen's defeat, leaned in with a conspiratorial grin. "Listen, man, I've got a tip that's practically foolproof. Works on 99% of women..." Despite his initial disinterest, Owen found himself all ears.

...

Walking home later, Roseanne couldn't stop talking about the basketball game they'd just watched. "That three-pointer you made was epic! And that victory pose afterwards..." She was all animated, reenacting the moment with a sparkle in her eyes. Owen, trailing a bit behind, couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. They passed a convenience store, and he suddenly stopped. "Wait here a sec," he said before disappearing inside.

When he emerged, he was holding a bottle of arnica-infused oil, a well-known remedy for bruises. "Saw that red mark on your forehead. This should help it fade faster," he explained, noticing her surprise. Roseanne tried to protest, insisting it was a minor injury, but Owen cut her off.

girl wants a bruise ruining her look.

eyebrow, a

you and... Leda, you know," Owen

said, reaching for the bottle. However, Owen didn't hand it over. Instead, he

to apply

sanitized his hands in the store before touching the bruise on her forehead. Roseanne watched, a

really good. Not at

popular with women," Owen mentioned, a hint of pride in his

done," he said after a moment, stepping back and discarding the

Roseanne couldn't help but feel a touch more fond

up to

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