Her Rose Bloomed Elsewhere のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 11 - チャプター 20

Two days later, netizens' sentiment changed drastically.After news that Martin was arrested started spreading, they were claiming that I banked on Ann and the Listons' influence to turn Martin into a scapegoat even after he saved Ann's life.The mob wasted no time sending hate comments to my official accounts, with two clients calling to cancel our partnership.While the staff was asking worriedly if they should turn off comments, Liston Corp announced a press conference before I could make a decision.In the live broadcast, Ann was dressed in black and looking a lot more haggard than before.She didn't let PR staff take her place as she walked in front of the cameras and said, "Sean Jenkins was not responsible for the incident at the foundation event." Then, she revealed the log records, security footage, and a recording of Martin instructing Sue.The press erupted in an uproar, with one of them asking, "If the evidence was clear, why were you so sure that Mr. Jenkins was res

When the public arts center issued an open invitation to present designs at their lobby, Wilma and I submitted a joint entry.The design was inspired by Mom's greenhouse, with shattered glass flower petals dangling from a multi-layered fixture, allowing lights to filter in through the gaps and cast the colored image of a fully blooming flower on the floor.At the last round of evaluation, one of the judges said, "Mr. Jenkins, there's been considerable controversy with your personal life recently. Are you positive that those issues won't affect your performance in this project?"The room was silent.Wilma, sitting beside me, didn't answer for me. Instead, she told me under her breath, "Take your time."I nodded and stood up, turning the slides back to the blueprints."My marriage is over," I said. "Any incidents revolving around has investigation by the police. I'm perfectly happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the merit of my design or my skill, but if this is goi

Nonetheless, Ann showed up in person at Areston to deliver the divorce papers. "It's all done."I took the envelope and combed through the contents, making sure that everything was in order before sending it to Max.And with that, seven years of marriage ended with a simple stack of papers.However, Ann was still looking at me when she suddenly asked, "If Martin never appeared… Would this have happened?"I was silent, staring at the white camellias around her feet, blooming even more vibrantly than when she first came to Areston. Naturally, she couldn't see them.She was still stubbornly blaming her mistakes on someone else, thinking that if Martin never showed up, things would never have changed between us.So, I said, "Someone else would have come along anyway."As Ann's expressions stiffened, I continued calmly. "I left not because he won. That night, when he joined us at the restaurant, you remembered that he had a poor stomach. However, you also completely forgot that I

Before winter, Wilma and I went to an island down south to look for white camellias.Mom had noted down in her catalog that the white camellia was acquired from a botanist who lived there, but we still had to travel between several towns and villages to finally find the old plant nursery.The owner showed me letters she exchanged with Mom, pointing at the part where Mom asked if white camellias would survive in foreign soil. Towards the end, she said that if I ever came back to New Zulu, she wanted a place for me where flowers bloomed.I held the letter in silence for a long while.Mom never saw me again, but she already prepared a way home for me years ago.And today, the seeds of a fresh start were sowed.Wilma never said anything, merely standing quietly by my side, waiting for me to fix everything by my own.The owner gave me a young sprout, but it could only be transplanted in spring.Nonetheless, on the way back, it snowed and the car broke down. Wilma went out to check w

A rare storm hit Areston just before spring, and the studio alarm was blaring in the middle of the night.By the time I arrived, one side of the glass walls had shattered from the violent gale, and rainwater was pouring inside.Mom's catalog and our design drafts were still in there.Just as I was about to charge inside, Wilma caught me. "Stay out! The glass could collapse any moment!" "The catalog! It's in the basement…""I'll get them!" She called maintenance to cut the power and had the staff move the catalogs and journals near the entrance. Then she tied a safety rope around her waist before heading further inside.As the storm and rain kept pelting the greenhouse, I stood outside the police line, watching as the roof glass cracked further."Come out, Wilma!" I cried.She soon appeared with a large plastic box in hand, when a chunk of glass snapped off and crashed down beside her. She managed to dodge to the side, but the shards caught her arm. Her blood rapidly dyed her