“Roseanne is the granddaughter of the Rodriguez patriarch and matriarch?” Cliff marveled again, finding it more unbelievable the more he thought about it.
Wait a minute…
“Doesn’t that make her and Corley… family?”
The discovery blew Cliff’s mind. Was this the legendary trope of would-be lovers turning out to be cousins?
Oh, dear lord.
His first thought was that Corley must be losing his mind. His second thought was to look at Murray.
He turned and glanced discreetly at his friend. Murray was staring at the stage, his expression shifting rapidly from stunned confusion to dawning realization, and finally, to unadulterated, ecstatic joy.
Cliff had never seen so many emotions cross a person’s face in such quick succession, each one distinct from the last.
“...Murray? Murray?!”
Murray snapped back to reality. “What did you say?”
“Roseanne and Corley, they’re…”
“Yes, they’re family. No wonder they were always together… no wonder he was meeting her parents.” A grin spread across his face, impossible to suppress.
“Dude, rein it in a little,” Cliff warned.
“Not a chance.”
Ugh.
“You’re enjoying this way too much. It’s pure schadenfreude.”
“Compared to all the times Corley deliberately tried to get under my skin, I’d say I’m being quite merciful,” Murray retorted coldly.
You were the one overthinking things. Cliff thought silently.
In another corner of the hall, Kathleen Rodriguez watched the stage with a blank expression.
From her father formally introducing Madge and Norris, to her mother joining them to announce Roseanne’s identity and calling her their ‘beloved princess,’ and finally to her own son, Corley, escorting Roseanne on stage as if to personally endorse her—Kathleen’s emotions had spiraled from cold amusement and scorn to shock, jealousy, and finally, a bitter sense of defeat.
Her composure had completely shattered.
What a birthday banquet.
What a grand family reunion.


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The readers' comments on the novel: Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed
Why no updates? It’s been sooooo long! Is this a dead story? Then just erase all trace of it....
Any updates?...
Update please......
Update pls~...