Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 828
In the blink of an eye, New Year's Eve arrived.
The old year faded away in a burst of firecrackers, while a gentle spring breeze seemed to drift through the house, filling it with
warmth and anticipation.
"Morning, Anne. Why are you up so early? You could've slept in," Neely called from the living room.
"Morning, Grandpa!" Roseanne replied, bounding down the stairs.
She found Neely making tea at the coffee table, a pair of polished walnut worry stones resting at his side.
"What do you want for breakfast?" he asked.
"What's in the kitchen?" Roseanne shrugged. "I'm not picky-anything's fine."
By the time they finished breakfast, it was only eight-thirty.
Assuming Norris and Madge were still asleep, Roseanne was about to head upstairs to wake them when she spotted Madge
already tucked away in the study, laptop open and intent.
As for Norris, he'd gone out with Grandma for groceries.
They'd left before dawn, piling into the car with the driver and heading straight for the early morning market.

By nine-thirty, they returned, chatting like old friends.
"Norris, you really do know your stuff! You even know how to haggle!" Grandma praised, beaming.
"Oh, it's nothing! I just, you know, shop for groceries more often than most. Picked up a few tricks here and there," Norris
stammered, cheeks flushing crimson at the compliment.
With the house staff already dismissed for the holiday-only two cooks and the driver remained-Grandma threw herself into the
kitchen the moment she got home, carefully checking every ingredient. Clearly, tonight's holiday feast meant the world to her.
Norris, eager to make the most of his mother-in-law's praise, jumped right in to help.

Lunch was a family affair: everyone gathered around the table for a meal that was simple by their standards, though it still
boasted six or seven dishes. The real star, of course, would be the dinner that evening.
After a short nap, Roseanne joined Grandpa for a couple of rounds of chess in the living room, then pitched in to help with the
gifts.
Boxes upon boxes piled up on the coffee table, alongside colorful wrapping paper stamped with cheerful holiday wishes. The
task was bigger than she'd expected.
As she wrapped, Roseanne couldn't help but ask, "Do we really have that many relatives to visit?"
Grandpa chuckled. "We didn't before. That changes starting this year."
It took Roseanne only a moment to realize why.

In the past, her grandparents had spent most holidays abroad. Even if they celebrated, it was always a muted affair in some
foreign city, far from friends and family-let alone making the rounds to visit relatives.
But now, with Madge found and the family reunited, her grandparents finally had a reason to reconnect.
Grandpa sighed. "We've been
Ket
overseas for so many years. We lost touch with a lot of old friends and relatives some we call now and then, some we haven't
spoken to in ages. But from now on, we'll be here. Your grandmother feels it's important to reestablish those ties."
"For one, it brings some life to the house-keeps things from getting too quiet. And for another, it helps widen the circle, so you
and the younger generation have a strong network, too."
"In the end, people are social creatures. We stick together-that's just how we survive. If anything ever happens to us, or if you
run into trouble, there'll always be someone to help."
That, he said, was what family was all about.
venet

In the past, her grandparents had been too consumed with searching for their daughter to worry about nurturing relationships.
Now, with their daughter found-and a son-in-law and granddaughter in tow-Grandma was back to her old self, busily paving the
way for the next generation.
Roseanne understood. She didn't argue or protest; she simply wrapped faster, her hands moving with newfound purpose.
At four o'clock, Corley arrived home.
Perhaps to fit the occasion, he wore a bright red sweater under his coat. As soon
as he slipped off his jacket in the entryway, the vivid red made his fair skin appear even paler and more striking.