Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 828

In the blink of an eye, New Year's Eve arrived.

The old year faded away in a burst of firecrackers, while a gentle spring breeze seemed to drift through the house, filling it with warmth and anticipation.

"Morning, Anne. Why are you up so early? You could've slept in," Neely called from the living room.

"Morning, Grandpa!" Roseanne replied, bounding down the stairs.

She found Neely making tea at the coffee table, a pair of polished walnut worry stones resting at his side.

"What do you want for breakfast?" he asked.

"What's in the kitchen?" Roseanne shrugged. "I'm not picky-anything's fine."

By the time they finished breakfast, it was only eight-thirty.

Assuming Norris and Madge were still asleep, Roseanne was about to head upstairs to wake them when she spotted Madge already tucked away in the study, laptop open and intent.

As for Norris, he'd gone out with Grandma for groceries.

car with the driver and heading straight for the early

nine-thirty, they returned, chatting

your stuff! You even know how

shop for groceries more often than most. Picked up a few tricks here and

remained-Grandma threw herself into the kitchen the moment she got home, carefully checking every ingredient. Clearly, tonight's holiday feast

eager to make the most of his mother-in-law's

for a meal that was simple by their standards, though it still boasted six or seven dishes. The real

a couple of rounds of chess in the living room, then pitched

alongside colorful wrapping paper stamped with cheerful holiday wishes.

she wrapped, Roseanne couldn't help but ask, "Do we really have that many relatives to

"We didn't before. That changes starting

Roseanne only a

abroad. Even if they celebrated, it was always a muted affair in

family reunited, her

Grandpa sighed. "We've been

Ket

friends and relatives some we call now and then, some we haven't spoken to in ages. But from now on, we'll be here. Your grandmother feels it's important