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.

left before dawn, piling into the car with the driver and heading straight

nine-thirty, they returned,

do know your stuff! You

you know, shop for groceries more often than most. Picked up a few tricks here and there," Norris stammered, cheeks flushing crimson

driver remained-Grandma threw herself into the kitchen the moment she got

eager to make the most of his mother-in-law's praise, jumped right in to

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

short nap, Roseanne joined Grandpa for a couple of rounds of chess in the living room, then pitched in to help

table, alongside colorful wrapping paper

Roseanne couldn't help but ask, "Do we really have that

"We didn't before. That changes starting

a moment to realize

had spent most holidays abroad. Even if they celebrated, it was always a muted affair in some foreign city, far from friends and family-let alone making the rounds to visit

the family reunited, her grandparents

Grandpa sighed. "We've been

Ket

so many years. We lost touch with a lot of old friends and relatives some we call now and then, some we haven't spoken to in ages. But