Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Murray gave her a once-over, his gaze as sharp as a blade, before letting out a snort of derision, "Thought you were sick to your stomach? You seem pretty fine to me."

Feeling the sting of his piercing gaze, Millie couldn't shake off the feeling that her feeble attempts at deception were transparent to him.

"It's just... when you're not around, I've got no one to talk to. It gets so lonely..."

Murray, ever the pragmatist, cut her off unceremoniously, "Lonely? Why don't you hit the books or do something productive? Aren't you supposed to be a student? Don't you have classes? Or what about your exams?"

"You seem to have all this free time, whereas Sadie's up to her neck in work. Why don't you give her a hand?"

Millie stuttered, unable to form a coherent response.

Murray's dark eyes turned icy, her little schemes laid bare before him, amateur and pitiful.

He turned to leave, but felt a soft embrace from behind, her arms locking around his waist.

"Murray, please don't go. I've missed you so much. I really want you here with me. Even if you despise me, do it for the sake of our child..."

Murray's jaw tensed, and he quickly shrugged off her hands, disgust nearly spilling from his eyes, "Stay away from me! And don't drag the child into this. I told you to end it, but you went behind my back to my mother. We haven't settled that score yet!" Millie's eyes flickered, "I'm sorry, I..."

"I'm warning you, stay in line or I'll kick you out right this instant!" With that, he stormed upstairs, his departure leaving a chill in the air.

clenched her teeth, took a deep breath, and

Murray was her only way out, and she had invested too much to give up

afford

later, she had

Murray's favorite soup, she recalled the scent of alcohol on him as he walked in, suggesting he had

always craved some warm soup. It was her chance to

In the master bedroom-

but still felt

at 2 p.m., hunger pangs and stomach cramps set in, prompting him to

unwell made him irritable, and he asked, "Sadie,

he called out again, more impatiently, "Sadie

stomach must be upset. I went to the supermarket to get some oats and just finished making some soup.

Murray descending the stairs, eagerly brought the

she could finish, the soup was knocked from

"Ah-"

cry echoed through the

the expensive wool carpet,

wanted your soup?" His voice was

her eyes, yet she dared not

"I'm sorry,