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.

up at my book club, making a scene. It's probably all over town by now. If your father

expressionless face sent shivers

marriage, fear overshadowed love

mess you've made. I'm done seeing anyone related to

lingered even after three showers. Beverley felt

...

was in turmoil, Roseanne's life was

were simple: most of her

in

and research. She

fulfilled.

cook up a feast

some craft beer, and head home to binge-watch

their phones in bed or whisper secrets in the

mysteriously,

what?" Roseanne adjusted the pillow behind

"A partner."

for Roseanne to catch

widened, "You

it? Do