Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

He kicked aside the overturned bowl with a swift motion, and the sound of porcelain shattering against the floor echoed sharply, making Millie shudder in fear.

"I told you, stop faking it around me. Give you three seconds to get back to your room and stay out of my sight!"

He pointed upstairs, his eyes swirling with a fierce anger.

Millie didn't dare linger any longer, trembling as she made her way upstairs.

...

After that dinner, Roseanne felt her relationship with everyone had warmed up a bit more.

The main reason, undoubtedly, was her cooking skills.

So much so that she now made it a habit to cook a little extra for lunch every day, allowing others to "crash her meal," so to speak.

In return, Jen and the others would occasionally help her out with some tricky lab techniques.

The most noticeable change was in Stoddard.

Ever since Roseanne mastered the quick calculation techniques he shared, Stoddard's attitude towards her shifted.

He often engaged her in discussions about math puzzles, and Roseanne, always eager to learn, absorbed the information quickly. Before long, she was able to apply Stoddard's teachings in her own way.

This made Stoddard even more pumped up. He began treating Roseanne like an apprentice, always ready to sit down and discuss problems, with scratch paper and pens always within reach.

"Stoddard, looks like you've taken on a protégé. Haven't seen you this passionate about anything in ages."

"Mr. Stoddard, you can't play favorites. I'm your student too. I demand the same treatment as Roseanne!" Sammy joked, raising his hand.

Stoddard replied, "Off you go, focus on your lab reports and stop talking."

Laughter filled the room, even Roseanne couldn't help but smile.

She was so engrossed that she didn't even hear Owen calling her name. "Roseanne? Roseanne?!"

"...Huh? Mr. Reynolds, did you call me?"

"Yes, come here for a moment."

"Oh, okay."

...

The next day, Stoddard wasn't smiling anymore.

Jen asked, "Stoddard, why the long face? Did the boss give you a hard time?"

"The boss" was their nickname for Owen, the head of their lab.

Stoddard grimaced, gesturing

towards the Stack of documents on his desk, "Yeah, he said I've been too idle. Just handed me a new project to prepare for. Looks like I'll be busier from now on... won't have much time to discuss math puzzles with Roseanne anymore

Roseanne, with her quick mind and clear thinking, was a favorite student of any teacher.

But now, with a new project on his hands, Stoddard had to prioritize his work.

Jen patted his shoulder sympathetically, "I've heard about that project. No one but you could handle it. Hang in there!" He sighed, resigned to his fate.

...

It was Saturday again, finally a day off.

Roseanne had just gotten home and was settling in when she received a call from Leda.

"Anne, my cousin's getting married, and my mom asked me to help pick out a gift. But I've just landed a new project and can't spare a moment. You have a great eye; could yo

accompany my mon?"

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

Roseanne replied, "I don't mind, but what about your mom? Is she okay with this?"

Leda laughed, "She'd love to! She says my taste is worlds apart from hers, but you and she see eye to eye. She'd drag you home to be her daughter if she could. What do you say, she's up for it?"

"Sure," Roseanne agreed with a smile.NôvelDrama.Org holds © this.

...

Owen had been swamped all night, only heading home as dawn broke.

With the seasons changing, he suspected he had caught a cold, feeling foggy and exhausted, he decided to rest at home.

As he fished out his keys to unlock the door, he noticed the door opposite his opening at the same time.