Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed



"Heh... I know, you all blame me - Mom, Dad, and you! You all think that because Aberdeen and I went out, and she disappeared while I came back, I should carry the blame, right?"

"You'd rather I hadn't come back at all, wished I'd died with her!"

"Shut up—" Teague's expression turned icy in an instant, his gaze sharply intimidating, "Say 'dead' one more time, I dare you!"

"Ha... Twenty-eight years, and you really think she's still alive? Grandpa and Grandma refusing to give up doesn't surprise me; Aberdeen was their darling. At their age, how could they live without hope?"

"But what I didn't see coming, Teague is that you're still hung up on her!"

"We've been married for over two decades, our son is nearly ready to start his own family, and yet, you're still fixated on her? Haha— Isn't that laughable? Disgusting?!"

Smack-

Teague's hand moved swiftly, leaving no chance for Kathleen to dodge.

His veins bulged, his entire being radiated a chilling aura, and his eyes were merciless.

"This is the last time I'm warning you, if you can't speak kindly, then keep your mouth shut."

Having said that, he didn't even bother changing his clothes before storming out.

Kathleen yelled after his retreating figure, "Teague, you heartless-"

Why?

Why, after more than twenty years, does Aberdeen's disappearance still haunt people?

Mom and Dad feel that way, so does Teague.

Is it simply because she was their biological child, and I was adopted?!

...

Meanwhile, Corley followed the elders through the yard and out a small gate.

They ended up directly on the street.

Corley was surprised, "I've been here so many times, and I never knew about this gate!"

Neely chuckled, "Your aunt used to sneak out from here, thinking we didn't know. But we knew all along; we just never exposed her!"

The gate, hidden deep within a thicket of bamboo and obscured by thick banana leaves, was well concealed.

Hearing this, Geneva's lips curled into a slow smile, reminiscing about the past.

The old man looked down the long alley, noting little difference from his memories. It was still as narrow and long, with the sky visible only as a strip bordered by walls, where blue and white intertwined.

"Everything else might have changed a bit, but this place hasn't changed at all."

Corley said, "I bought the three

streets near the garden with my dad,

with no plans for further

development. It's nice to keep things

as they are."

If a familiar face were to return, they wouldn't find it difficult to recognize the place.

Geneva was touched, "Your father has been thoughtful over the years."

Corley suggested, "Although this area hasn't changed, the street ahead has transformed a lot. Since we're here, why don't I take you for a walk?" The elders naturally agreed.

Arriving at a snack street, they saw a long queue outside a pastry shop.

Geneva squinted, trying to get a better look, "Is this... Sweet Whisk?"

"Right! An old establishment, it's been here all these years without moving, even becoming a social media hotspot."

"Aberdeen loved their lemon poppy seed cakes!"

Corley said, "You two take a seat here; I'll queue up..."

They found seats in a nearby tea house, which offered water and chairs for resting visitors.

After walking around for so long, both the old man and the old lady were a bit tired and accepted the offer without hesitation.

Corley, standing at the end of the queue, estimated it would take about ten minutes to reach the front.

"Corley?"

The next moment, he heard a familiar voice.

Looking up, he saw Roseanne

waving at him from the front of the

queue, It is you! I thought I was mistaken. What's this, the CEO

himself queuing up for pastry?"

Corley smiled, "What brings you here?"

UMS

"Just taking my parents out for a stroll around Rodriguez Mansion." "Where are your parents?" Corley looked around but didn't see Madge and Norris. "They got tired and went to the tea house next door to rest. I'm queuing up for them." Because Madge had a craving for lemon poppy seed cakes.