Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed novel Chapter 742

"Corley!" Roseanne interrupted, locking eyes with him. "Think carefully about what you want to say, what you should say, before you speak."

"You know, don't you?" The man trapped her between the wall and his chest, his arms resting on either side of her.

"Know what? And what if I don't? Our relationship shouldn't be..."

"What relationship?" He smirked, "Tell me, what are we to each other?"

"...Cousins."

"You might not know this, but my mom isn't actually my grandparents' biological daughter. Which means—we're not blood-related!"

Roseanne froze for a moment. "Whether we're blood-related or not, there's no possibility for us."

"Why not?"

"I don't like you."

That phrase again!

Always that phrase!

Corley gripped her shoulders tightly, his frustration evident. "Why can't you like me? You even loved someone like Murray, who was a total jerk. Why not me? Anne..."

His eyes glistened with unshed tears. "Don't be so heartless, okay?"

All his calm and rationality were gone. Corley wanted nothing more than to finish what he'd started last night, to leave Roseanne with no room to escape.

But—

"Enough." Roseanne turned her head away, her eyes calm and unwavering.

Suddenly, Corley felt a bitterness well up inside him.

He struggled to speak. "Why won't you listen? Why...won't you give me any chance? Are you scared? Scared that there might be something more between us?"

"No." Roseanne shook her head gently, ever so composed. "It's not about fear. There's no need to hear you out because, from now on, regardless of what you think, we're just siblings, and we can only be siblings!"

With that, she sidestepped him and left the bathroom.

Corley stood there, motionless, for what felt like an eternity before a wry smile crept onto his lips. "Ha..."

Siblings?

Once, he longed for her to call him "Corley."

Now, she called him "brother," and it pierced his heart like a dagger.

"The folks asleep?"

"Yeah," Madge nodded softly.

"Are they comfortable? Are the blankets warm enough?"

Madge placed a hand on his, calming his fretting. "Don't worry, honey. If they need anything, they'll let us know."

Norris scratched his head, chuckling sheepishly. "You're right, it is their daughter's house, after all."

Madge sat on the edge of the bed.

Norris noticed the redness in her eyes and felt a pang of sympathy. Without saying a word, he wrapped her in his arms, gently stroking her hair, and sighed—

"Tired from all the tears? It's okay now. You've found your real parents, and my Madge is finally someone who's loved."

In that moment, Madge's emotions, held in check all day, finally broke free, and she cried, tears flowing like a river.

...

Elsewhere, Corley declined Madge's offer to stay the night. Instead, he chose to check into a hotel.