Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed
Chapter 155

Louisa's face turned sour in an instant.

Norris chimed in, "Oh, right, I just used this mop in the bathroom and haven't had the chance to wash it yet. But it should be fine, our toilet isn't that dirty, no big deal. Louisa shouldn't mind, right?" Mind? As if!

"Oops! Dad, did you forget..." Roseanne chimed in, "All the leftovers from dinner last night? I dumped them in the toilet. Even though I flushed, it still felt kinda greasy..." "Louisa, do you think you might smell a bit like... sewer water now?"

The father and daughter duo, with their back-and-forth, managed to gross Louisa out completely. Her previously smug expression turned as dark as a burnt pan in no time. "You-you guys-" She sniffed, almost convinced she could actually catch the scent of sewer water that Roseanne mentioned on herself.

"Just you wait!"

With those words, she stormed off.

A shower! She needed one immediately!

In that moment, Roseanne felt like she was "the ancient Greek goddess of mops"!

Madge, witnessing her daughter's antics, felt a mix of satisfaction and disapproval: "Ladies shouldn't be waving mops around, it's not becoming."

"Well, she asked for it..." Roseanne said, her eyes scanning the scattered wisteria flowers on the ground, feeling a pang of sadness.

Norris started cleaning up quietly and said, "When the weather clears, I'll fix the flower trellis and move it to a better spot in the yard."

He figured it was better to avoid making a fuss over trivial matters, especially if it wasn't a question of principle.

He'd rather not see Madge go through this kind of situation again.

After a brief pause, Roseanne said, "Dad, don't you think people will take advantage if we let them?"

Louisa dared to act this way today, she'd dare to do it again.

As she herself said, anything under five grand, and the cops won't bother. No one can touch her.

Norris sighed, "What else can we do? We've been neighbors for decades. I know what kind of person she is better than anyone. But we live here, see each other every day. Constant fighting wouldn't be good for anyone." Madge tried to calm the situation, "Let it go. She's made a scene before, and we've always kept our dignity. Let's not stoop to her level."

"But..." Roseanne pondered, "What if we didn't live here?"

Madge and Norris brushed off her suggestion as child's talk, not taking it seriously.

Not live here? Where then? Move houses?

The thought was almost too daunting to entertain!

With Horizon Future Middle School located in Pinehollow's most bustling area, the real estate prices had skyrocketed. With their savings, they could only afford a modest two-bedroom apartment in the suburbs. The convenience of living in the faculty housing close to Norris' job was unmatched...

---

The fourth day of the Christmas greeted them with a clear morning after a night of snow, the clouds parting to reveal a golden sunshine.

Roseanne got up early.

By the time Norris and Madge were awake, a warm breakfast awaited on the table.

Yam and millet porridge, pan-fried buns, and corn sandwiches.

"Delicious!" Norris gave his thumbs up, "You've got a bit of my talent!"

Madge rolled her eyes, "Our daughter's cooking is leagues better than yours."

Norris retorted, "Isn't it all thanks to my genes? The talent runs in the family!"

Madge replied, "Sure, sure, it always comes back to you."

After breakfast, Roseanne suggested a stroll outside, and Norris, ever restless, agreed immediately.

The winter sun was comforting, and since Madge loved such weather and Roseanne hadn't been home in a while, the trio took a leisurely walk along the river near their home.

Unbeknownst to her parents, Roseanne was leading them towards a different path. By the time they realized, they found themselves standing in front of a real estate development's sales office that had become quite popular online.