Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 679

Memories, long dormant, began to stir awake.

Fragments of the past flashed through Kathleen's mind, particularly the image of those despairing, tear- filled eyes that haunted her nightmares.

Her voice was raspy with emotion, "Why is Aberdeen's kidnapping blamed on me, just because I happened to be with her when she left? Is it fair to pin her disappearance on me just because of that?"

"If I had known it would come to this, I would have rather been the one taken. Then, perhaps my grandparents would be obsessing over my absence instead."

Kathleen seemed to be lost in her memories, tears streaming down her face, consumed by guilt. Corley couldn't bear to see his mother like this.

Remembering how his grandmother had recently become obsessed with a mystery novel titled "Seven Days," he offered Kathleen a suggestion: "Gran's been really into 'Seven Days' lately. Getting her a signed copy, especially one personalized to her, would make her day."

Seeing Kathleen's mood brighten at the suggestion, he quickly added a word of caution, "You know how Gran can be. Let's take it slow. Get the signed copy first and tell me; I'll help you present it to her..." Better to tread carefully than to make things worse.

hard can it be?" Corley, seeing her eager to move

an urgent document needing his attention, and he rushed off to

sure who the author is, but the title is 'Seven Days,' a new

the

'Wishing you health and a long life' or something," Kathleen pondered. That's the kind of

agreed and set out

semester approached, the plant quarantine practical course was

exam.

standard sit-down test; students were tasked

be based on the

and Mamie formed a

teacher announced the meeting spot in the group chat, and on

few students were already there, loitering in front of the school

five buses, four of which