Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Where are you? Why haven't you been answering my calls for days?! Have you decided to ditch your own mother now?"

Three questions shot out, each one more intense than the one before.

Murray replied with a nonchalance that belied the weight of her words, "I'm on a business trip and super busy. No time to pick you up."

"You get yourself back here! Right now! If you don't, don't bother calling me mom anymore!"

Sensing the urgency in her tone, Murray didn't ask further. He ended the call and made a beeline for the family home.

As he reached the door, a vase shattered on the ground.

Murray paused, then entered, "Mom, I'm back."

Beverley burst out at the sound, unleashing a torrent of words at him, "Who are these people you're mingling with?! Millie's nothing but trouble, and her family? They're like the mob, especially her mother - a complete nightmare. Vulgar, despicable, disgusting!" "I knew Millie was bad news from the start. You insisted on her, even got her pregnant! And now, after the miscarriage, they're pinning everything on us..."

"Wait," Murray cut in, "Millie... miscarried?"

"Yeah, didn't you know?!"

Even Beverley, who had her fair share of grievances with her son, was taken aback by his ignorance.

Murray froze for a moment. But soon, a cold smirk appeared on his face. "That child was never meant to be. Better off gone," he thought.

mother showed up at my book club, making a scene. It's

thought of Naylor's expressionless face sent shivers

thirty years of marriage, fear overshadowed love when it came to

you've made. I'm done seeing

after

...

family was in turmoil, Roseanne's

were simple: most of her time

in

and research.

fulfilled.

a feast

craft beer, and head

scroll through their phones in bed or whisper

Leda said mysteriously, "I found

Roseanne adjusted the pillow behind her, finding

"A partner."

a moment for Roseanne to catch

"You mean-a boyfriend?" "Fake!

is it? Do I