Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 786

Stoddard leaned back in his chair, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "You can't fool me, Owen! You say you're not interested in Roseanne, but you're acting like a lovesick puppy. Caught you red-handed!"

Owen Reynolds just stared at his computer screen, saying nothing.

"Listen, buddy," Stoddard continued, "if you have doubts, the best thing to do is to just ask her straight up. Man up a little! You've mentioned yourself that Roseanne hates all that beating around the bush."

Owen seemed to be lost in thought.

"Don't hesitate any longer! Before you know it, she'll be someone else's girl. I bet you can't focus on work until you sort this out."

"Who says I can't focus on work?" Owen shot back.

"Ha! Then why's there a mistake in these simple calculations?" Stoddard pointed

to a glaring error on the screen. "Denial isn't just a river in Egypt, my friend."

Owen glanced over, a flicker of embarrassment crossing his face. Stoddard gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You got this, bro!"

With that, he turned back to his own workspace.

"When did you figure it out?" Owen suddenly asked.

Stoddard paused, turning with a smirk. "The way you look at Roseanne, the special treatment you give her, even your tone is softer around her. If I didn't notice, I'd have to be blind."

twisted into a sheepish grin. "Is it really that

are you guys talking about?" Liz

straightened up, shooting Stoddard a warning

back, giving Owen an "OK" sign. "Got it, got

so secretive, Mr. Stoddard? Some

Stoddard, her eyes subtly drifted to

that way, it's all classified, Liz. Can't

himself. It wasn't just Owen's feelings

Mr. Stoddard!" Sammy greeted him cheerfully as he walked by, carrying breakfast

You've outdone

confused. "But we aren't rushing any experiments right now, and nobody's been pulling late nights. What

fell, and Owen Reynolds returned home

at Roseanne's window. It was dark; she wasn't

to eat but quickly lost his appetite In the end, he settled for a cup of hot tea and retreated to

at his desk, Owen opened his laptop and

an hour, he checked the time again. Another half hour passed, and still no sign

document, rubbing his tired eyes. As he stood to refill his teacup in the

she be at this

then, the sound of a car engine cut through the

spotting Corley's car pulling into