Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed novel Chapter 74

Roseanne caught Hertha's underlying skepticism with a small, knowing smile but didn't bother to argue.

Hertha leaned in with curiosity. "Weren't you an undergrad at Kingswell University? Planning to stick with them for grad school?"

"Yep, Kingswell again."

"Research or professional track?"

"Research."

"And the field?"

"Biomedical Sciences."

Hertha raised an eyebrow, surprised. "That's my field, too. Got your eye on any mentors?"

Roseanne nodded. "Yeah. Ms. Payne."

"Madeleine Payne?"

"Right."

Recalling how she'd seen Roseanne cleaning at Madeleine's house, Hertha's expression twisted with doubt. "You don’t think doing a bit of housework will make her more inclined to take you on, do you?"

Oops! Roseanne hesitated. "That was a misunderstanding."

"Look, Madeleine is a titan in her field, known for her rigor. Plus, she's been focusing more on her Ph.D. students lately, hardly taking on any Masters students. It's going to be tough..."

Hertha paused, choosing her words carefully. "I’m also applying to be her grad student. It might sound like I have an ulterior motive, but you should consider looking for another mentor. There’s still time before the results are out. You can reach out to other professors."