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?"

Year's. Your mom and I have

the family, you know. Can't wait until the last minute to show up! Your great-uncles might not say

"I know, Dad! I'll be home

he did a little spin in the living room. "I'll

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

next day, Mamie flew back to

into the lab too,

own.

...

had fallen, thick

the power, locked up the

pressure warning light that morning and

tonight, she had no choice but to

request on the app,

this hour? That was

outside, Roseanne quickly

had started to snow. Big, feathery flakes swirled through the air, gathering on the tree branches until they formed thick, fluffy clumps-almost too cute to

couldn't resist poking the nearest branch, watching as

already snowed several times over the winter, Roseanne

the cold, so she tucked her red hands back into her pockets and

snowflake drifted down and landed on her eyelashes.

one more snowfall before

that cut through