Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"I love you, just like you love Roseanne. You yearn for her, unattainable as it might seem, and I yearn for you that way, too. If you ask me what I want, I only want a chance to be with you," Millie said softly, her eyes brimming with sincerity and an unmistakable humility.

Murray felt a tug at his heartstrings. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of you from now on. I won't let you get hurt again."

Millie smiled with a sweetness in her voice, "I know. I've always believed that."

Murray's embrace tightened around her, yet unease lingered in his heart, unexplained.

...

The event had barely concluded when a mishap occurred, prompting the hotel staff to spring into action swiftly. Since the accident involved personal safety, the manager didn't hesitate to call the police.

The officers arrived and conducted their inquiries among all involved that night. As expected, they didn't unearth much, eventually attributing the incident to an accident. After all, snakes were a common sight, with the hotel backed by a tropical forest.

"But venomous snakes? That's rare, isn't it?" Leda interjected coldly.

"Well..."

"And on a beach crowded with people? Even rarer, right?"Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

The police exchanged looks of uncertainty while the hotel manager was at a loss for words.

Leda scoffed, "This is the second time my friend has faced a threat to her life on this island. Just wait. It isn't over! Come on, Anne, let's go!"

With that, she stormed off with Roseanne.

"Relax. It's not worth it," Roseanne said once they were away from the crowd.

Leda hit the ceiling. "You were nearly hurt, and you're still so calm? It's like I'm worrying for nothing, huh?"

Roseanne smiled. "Victory doesn't come from a single battle."

"What does that mean? Do you have a plan?" Leda was curious.

Roseanne shook her head, "No."

Leda was speechless.

"This series of incidents, Anne, I'm worried. What if something else happens..."

"I have a plan for that," Roseanne said.

"What plan?" Leda blinked.

"Guess."

...

After the scare and hardly eating anything, Roseanne and Leda felt their hunger kick in. They headed to the restaurant for a hearty meal. After

eating, Leda left joyously for a date after receiving a call.

Instead of returning to the room, Roseanne walked along the coast to the north.

She saw the twinkling lights along the path a few minutes later, andza spicy seent wafted through the air, reminiscent of seasoning. Was it barbecue seasoning? Did Maldor Beach have their barbecue food?

Following the scent, Roseanne arrived at a shop named Aroma's Antique Corner. Was it run by someone from home?

Expecting a restaurant, Roseanne was surprised to find an antique shop. The owner was seasoning chicken wings, explaining the delicious aroma.

The shop was small and easily surveyed at a glance. Aside from the old stuff near the door, the shelves were packed with cool little knick-knacks.

Suddenly, a small, somewhat stern

yet endearing figurine caught Roseanne's eye. It was no bigger than a hand, but the craftsmanship was exquisite. It was lifelike, from the creases in its shirt to the gote-rimmed glasses perched on its nose.