Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 842

A flurry of relatives and friends started asking questions, and Beverley had no choice but to cover for him, pretending Murray was away on a business trip.

But no one was naïve-who goes on a business trip on New Year's Eve?

Still, nobody had the nerve to tear away her flimsy excuse.

Beverley couldn't help but think back to better times—

Back when Murray's startup soared to success, when the whole family basked in

his glow and she was the proud mother everyone envied.

Relatives and friends would line up to praise her for raising such an accomplished

son.

Her daughter was beautiful, thoughtful, and devoted-always at her side, charming guests with effortless grace.

Even Roseanne, though never officially recognized as family and not allowed at the Sherwoods' New Year's dinner, never missed sending a gift. Each one was carefully chosen, elegant and heartfelt.

But those days were gone, lost to time.

The more Beverley thought about it, the more hollow everything felt.

If only she hadn't stood in the way of Roseanne marrying into the Sherwood family, maybe Murray wouldn't have ended up like this.

Maybe they'd still be a happy, united family.

Laughter around the table. A mother's love, a son's devotion.

She closed her eyes, exhausted.

Regret washed over her.

kind that leaves

too late to fix any of

sure you don't want me to

need." Murray straightened, waving

care of yourself.

"Go ahead."

pushed open the front door

unable to

should have been home with his family, eating

But instead, one call from the bar

Murray was drunk-again.

them were regulars at that bar, the manager

a sudden stomach bug to slip away from the family poker

town, picked Murray up, and got him

with the older relatives still at his place, Cliff really couldn't be gone for too

yet, leaving Murray alone like this didn't feel right,

was empty-the staff were all

options, Cliff decided to call

right? Helping out when your boyfriend was in a bad

City. When Cliff called, she asked a few concerned questions, and as soon as she heard Murray needed someone, she said she'd head

Cliff feel comfortable driving

us..." he muttered to himself

Corley had posted a family photo online-a

but feel a

reached the

already wasted,

Cliff's arm, mumbling "Anne"

over