Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 812

Scales's lips twitched. "Hey, what do you mean, 'you men'? Don't lump me in with the rest. I'm nothing like that."

Mamie rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. There's a saying, you know-'men are all the same."

Scales protested, "I'm telling you, I'm not like him."

"I don't buy it."

"If you don't believe me, try me!"

Mamie was caught off guard as Scales spun on his heel and walked away. It took her a second to process, and then she blinked in confusion. Try what, exactly? Meanwhile, Grace and Slater, though spared from expulsion, found themselves in limbo. Their advisor had dropped them, and none of the other professors were willing to take them on. In the end, the school grudgingly arranged something for them, just to get it over with.

Academics? Ambitions? Those were off the table. At this point, just keeping their heads down and scraping by for a diploma was the best they could hope for.

On top of that, the university proactively reached out to the competition organizers to explain what had happened. The grand prize originally awarded to Roseanne's team was returned, and an official statement correcting the winners was posted online.

One scandal had unearthed a whole mess beneath the surface.

As the deep chill of late winter set in, the end of the year crept closer.

After spending several days in the lab, Carlson left for his hometown with Arkle.

Duke called more than once, urging Mamie to come home.

"My darling girl, when are you coming back?"

I have packed up and

family, you know. Can't wait until the last minute to show up! Your great-uncles might not say anything to you, but they'll definitely give me an earful. Have a little pity on your old man, will

know, Dad! I'll

so pleased he did a little spin in the living room. "I'll have Larry pick you up at the airport

tattoo-he looks like a mobster. I'll just grab

Mamie flew back to her home in

she left, Scales stopped coming into the lab too, leaving Roseanne

own.

...

thick and deep

Roseanne double-checked the power, locked up the lab, and grabbed her

of commission-she'd noticed a tire pressure warning light that morning and had sent it to the

had no choice

in a request on the app, but the screen

hour? That was

Roseanne quickly

gathering on the tree branches until they formed thick, fluffy clumps-almost

nearest branch, watching as a little hollow

snowed several times over the winter, Roseanne still

fingers stung from the cold, so she tucked her red hands

drifted down and landed on

one more snowfall before

horn sounded-a sharp beep that