Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

After the altercation, Beverley just sat there, feeling like she was about to explode. Her husband had just given her a piece of his mind, and now her son was piling on. It felt like too much. "You guys, really? It's all landing on me now? Who do you think I'm doing all this for? You don't get it, any of it!"

"Fine, leave then-everyone just leave never come back-"

"My husband, he yells at me; my son, he's ungrateful; my grandkids, don't even get me started. Did I walk under a ladder in a past life or something? Why me?!" Having vented, Beverley collapsed onto the couch, drained.

But there was still the matter at hand to deal with.

She took a deep breath and asked the butler to find Maisie's contact information.

Soon enough, she had a phone number.

Beverley took another deep breath and dialed...

"Yeah? Who's this?" Maisie was already on edge, having sent out all those messages without a peep of response.

"Mrs. Lee, hello, this is Beverley."

Maisie's mood instantly shifted at the sound of Beverley's voice, her irritation and anxiety melting away.

"Oh-" Maisie's tone was suddenly aloof, "What can I do for you?"

Thinking there was no response to her messages? And yet, here was Beverley, calling her up.

the video worked

to talk," Beverley cut to the

son, "Talk about what? Is

the act? You stirred up all this

now, don't twist my words. I'm just trying to get some justice for my daughter. How did it become about money in your eyes?" "Spare me!" Beverley

clenched her teeth, "I'd watch how you talk to me if I were

nonsense,

want? Let's just get

beggar. My family

make a difference."

Beggar? Charity?

but laugh at the absurdity. Initially, she did plan to name her price, but Beverley's patronizing

suddenly decided

"Who's in

you the

few days

compensation, but she wanted to make Beverley squirm first, to get back at her for

under her

warning, she took a deep breath, wishing Maisie would just

en