Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 488



Grace watched Murray disappear into the city's hustle. Only today did she realize he drove a Porsche, wore a custom Armani suit, and had a Patek Philippe on his wrist... Her eyes then fell on the cake in her hands, deepening with a touch of contemplation.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Elsewhere, Roseanne had skipped school not just for leisure but to accompany Madge on a shopping spree. She had arranged it with her professors, missing only a summary session of last week's group project. Mamie and Scales could cover for her, so her leave was kindly approved.

With the book signing tomorrow, it had been years since Madge attended such a formal event. She rifled through her wardrobe, feeling none of her outfits were quite right. It wasn't that they weren't suitable, but they lacked a certain flair.

Norris, ever the sincere husband, reassured her, "Honey, you look stunning in anything. Really!" This time, however, Madge wasn't swayed into laughter by his compliment.

Roseanne caught on instantly: "Mom, let's buy something new! With all the malls in Lumina City, we're bound to find something you love!" Madge's eyes sparkled with excitement: "Oh, yes, let's go!"

Norris, scratching his head in bewilderment, wondered why his usual flattery suddenly fell short.

At the SKP Mall, the family of three ascended in the panoramic elevator, watching the luxury brands on the ground floor shrink into the distance until the mall's grand layout unfolded before them, leaving Madge in awe of its vastness.

Fashion resided on the second and third floors, but they were inadvertently taken to the fourth. Nearby, a bookstore caught Madge's attention, and the family decided to explore.

The sign above read "SKP RENDEZ-VOUS," indicating a blend of a bookstore, café, and bistro. Upon entering, they were greeted by the rich aroma of coffee. The store was a fusion of culinary delights, books, reading nooks, and a creative merchandise area.

What drew Madge in was a

promotional poster for "Seven Days"

at the entrance, accompanied by

exaggerated buzzwords like

l

"explosive," "hit," and "trending.". Though Stoner had mentioned the book's success over the phone, seeing it dominate the prime spot among the shelves and the readers engrossed in its pages was a real shock to Madge.

et

Blinking in disbelief, she turned to her daughter, Is... is that my book?" "Of course!" Roseanne, amused, swiftly purchased a copy in-store and handed it to her, "Here, flip through it. It'll feel real in no time."

swne

Madge quickly flipped through a few pages, then looked up smiling. "It truly is my book!"

Today's main agenda was shopping for clothes, not just for Madge but for Norris too. "Me?" He was surprised, then quickly shook his head, "I have clothes. I'm fine. You two go ahead."

"Dad, you're accompanying Mom to

the signing tomorrow. What if

someone asks who you are? As the mysterious man behind the suspense queen and the inspiration for the ultimate boss in the book, don't you think you should dress up a Bit?"

"Well, when you put it like that..."

"So, we're buying?"

Norris nodded immediately, replying, "Yes!" He could handle a bit of embarrassment, but he wouldn't let his wife down.

Descending to the men's section on the third floor, Norris, with his tall frame and Cole family gics, tried on several suits, each fitting him as if tailor-made.