Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

In Beverley's eyes, her son was the gold standard.

No matter what, his future wife had to be nothing less than a Master's degree holder, preferably with a stint at an Ivy League school overseas.

Millie, in every aspect, fell short of these expectations. It was only because of the baby she was carrying that Beverley reluctantly agreed to meet her. As for her actually joining the family...Dream on!

Hertha, after hearing the plan, just shrugged, seemingly unsurprised by Beverley's intentions.

She tossed her scarf into the trash and wiped her hands with a sanitizing wipe, as if afraid she might catch Millie's lack of sophistication.

"That's how it should be. Millie is nothing, dreaming of becoming my sister-in-law... She's not even in the same league as Roseanne."

All Millie had was the title of being the prettiest girl at school, but beyond her looks, she had nothing to offer. Hertha couldn't fathom what her brother saw in her. Totally blinded by love!

"I'm so over this, don't bother me with my brother's mess, I'm heading out!"

grabbed some gifts and imported

time. If Ms. Payne agreed to expand her intake,

her daughter hurry out, "It's icy out there, drive

the memory of her previous rejection came flooding back, making Hertha bite her lip, a wave of nervousness washing

with the chance

shez gathered her gifts and headed for the

extravagance.

practiced her pitch countless times, how to charm, which angle made her smile more

Ms. Payne's house, Hertha didn't expect to see the professor but was instead greeted by a familiar figure tending to

had a

a section of her front yard to a small garden. Recently, busy schedules

would succumb to

frost.

treasure to Madeleine, who even entrusted her with the house keys. For the past