Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 549

She spoke with such a nonchalance, as if everything that had once tied her to this world had been cut loose, no longer of any relevance to her.

Murray felt a suffocating frustration, like the more he tried to grasp onto something, the quicker it slipped through his fingers like sand.

Once upon a time, he had spitefully uprooted the flowers she had tenderly cared for. Now, he was trying to make amends, presenting her with a garden blooming with fragrance and a riot of colors. Yet, she seemed unimpressed...

"It's okay if you don't like it, we can go somewhere else..." he offered tentatively.

"It's not that, I do like it." Roseanne met his gaze squarely, her eyes clear and honest. "These flowers are truly beautiful. It's an innate appreciation of beauty and being moved by it."

"But if this is just a means for you to win me back, and these flowers are merely tools to that end, then such beauty is wasted."

"I don't appreciate that kind of waste."

Murray was taken aback, muttering, "...I just wanted to apologize for what I did in the past."

"You said it yourself, it's in the past. Since it's over, there's no need to dwell on it. You've put so much effort into these flowers, I hope you can truly appreciate and enjoy them for what they are, not by how they relate to my likes and dislikes."

"Just like... your life should be filled with work and pleasure, joy and ease, comfort and relaxation, not consumed by an attempt to salvage a relationship that shouldn't be saved, turning it into a mess."

walked a path together in the past, but now we've parted ways. If we

present with dignity, and facing a future where anything

had passed before Murray

there was no joy in him, only a sourness in his throat

"It's over..."

go of

could he imagine finding someone better

there really no chance for us?" Murray

shook

had lunch together at

as the food was served, Roseanne

it was all her

Ironically—

he never remembered what she liked. Now, a year

Anne, I remember you liked it... and this one... and

serving her, barely touching his

Don't worry

"Sure." He smiled.

satisfied with the