Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

The moment Roseanne laid eyes on Murray at the diner near the campus, she couldn't help but be taken aback.

Back in the day, during the whole chase-and-courting phase, they'd frequent this place together. But once things became official between them, Murray's interest in the diner had waned. But that wasn't what had Roseanne's jaw dropping.

The woman Murray was cozying up to was none other than Grace?!

And by the looks of it, they seemed pretty tight. Like, couple tight.

When did this happen?

It wasn't that Roseanne was hung up on her ex and itching to dig into his love life. It's just...

Come on, who wouldn't be curious about such juicy gossip?

This kind of drama would have piqued Roseanne's interest regardless of who was involved.

After all...

You see a juicy piece of gossip, and it's hard not to jump right in!

Grace caught Murray's gaze drifting over to Roseanne and immediately flashed a bright smile as she approached with her beau in tow. "What a coincidence, Roseanne! Didn't expect to bump into you here." Roseanne was puzzled. Were they that close? Dropping first names already?

But as the saying goes, you can't punch a smiling face. So, Roseanne responded with a polite, albeit shallow, smile. "Yeah."

And that was that.

Grace held onto Murray's arm a tad tighter and introduced him with a bit of a coquettish tone, "This is my boyfriend, Murray. And Murray, this is my classmate, Roseanne."

Roseanne was internally screaming. Did she ask? Why the sudden introduction?

Awkward much?

"Um, Grace, there are a few empty tables inside."

Meaning: feel free to sit elsewhere, no need to hover.

Corley couldn't hold back a laugh.

From the moment he spotted Murray walking in with a lady, his expression was nothing short of amused.

He had been ready to sit back and enjoy the show silently, but Roseanne's blunt remark had him in stitches.

"Cough! Anne, why not invite Mr. Sherwood and his new girlfriend to join us?" he joked.

Roseanne's smile twitched. "You sure about that?"

Their table barely managed to fit three, and now they were adding two more to the mix? Was he for real?

"I'm sorry, we really can't squeeze in any more people here. Maybe try over there; those tables are perfect for two," she said, turning back to Grace with a diplomatic smile. en FindNovel

Grace was visibly taken aback.

Murray, ever so gently, wrapped his arm around her waist, signaling it was time to move. "Let's go sit over there," he suggested, his tone light. Grace agreed, albeit reluctantly.

His touch was warm, almost too warm, sending her heart racing uncontrollably.

Corley grinned. "Let's get back to our meal, shall we? Where were we? Ah, yes, the intricacies of steel reinforcement."

Roseanne listened intently, as if the brief encounter with Murray and Grace had barely registered.

Indeed, it seemed to have caused no ripple in her emotions.

It wasn't until they were settling the bill at the front desk that Roseanne was reminded of their presence.

Murray was the picture of a caring

velge

boyfriend, asking the cashier for band-aid for Grace, who had

suffered a minor injury due to her new high heels.

As he tenderly pushed her hair behind her ear and applied the band-aid to her heel, Grace felt her heart might just burst from the overwhelming tenderness of the moment. en FindNovel

Yet, as Murray turned away, his warmth dissipated as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by an icy detachment.

Grace's momentary daze shattered, her fists clenched in silent frustration.

Deep breaths, she reminded herself, striving for composure.

"Small world, running into you guys again," Grace managed to say with a smile as they all exited the diner.

Roseanne responded with a noncommittal grunt, while Halley took care of the bill.

Murray, too, was busy with his phone, paying his share.

As they left the diner, Grace excused herself to pop into the convenience store next door, leaving Murray waiting outside.

"Do you need me to come with?" Murray offered, his tone doting.

"No, it's fine. Wait here for me," she replied, her tone soft.

"Alright," Murray agreed, his smile warm.

Meanwhile, Corley and Halley had gone to fetch their car, leaving Roseanne waiting by the diner's entrance.

That's when Murray broke the silence. "Didn't expect to see you here."