Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

now...'

Millie popped a piece of orange into her mouth, shaking her head even before Beverley had finished her sentence. "Beverley, I've been under the weather lately, you know, in and out of the hospital every other day. There's just no way I can commit to any classes right The memory of the last tea party, with its undertones of criticism and humiliation, was still fresh in her mind. The mere mention of attending another gathering, especially one that involved floral arrangements and tea tasting, triggered an immediate, visceral repulsion in Millie.

Beverley's frustration boiled over. She had laid her cards on the table, and Millie wasn't even pretending to cooperate anymore.

"There's no room for negotiation. You're going, and that's final!"

Before Beverley could say another word, she was met with a "beep" signaling that Millie had hung up.

Staring at her phone in disbelief, Beverley fumed. The nerve of that girl!

She hadn't even given birth yet and was already acting so boldly. If she had a boy, who knew how much more arrogant she'd become!

Resolved, Beverley called her butler, instructing him to personally deliver the class schedule to Millie. She made it clear: if Millie refused to attend, she could pack her bags and leave her son's mansion, unborn child and all. The Sherwoods would disown them both. At nine in the evening, the butler returned.

Beverley asked eagerly, "What did she say?"

"Ms. Millie has agreed to attend the classes on time," the butler reported.

"Hmph! At least she knows what's good for her."

The next morning, just as dawn broke, Millie was rudely awakened by her phone's alarm. Squinting and groggy, she answered, "Who is this?"

...

"Good morning, is this Ms. Millie? I'm your instructor from the Baby Bloom Prenatal Classes. Our assistant should've sent you the schedule last night. Your first class is on dessert baking, starting at eight. It's currently seven twenty-five. Can you make it inthirty-five minutes?"

The voice on the other end seemed to sense Mille's disorientation and quickly added, "Mrs. Sherwood made it clear that if you miss any classes, we are to inform here immediately, and she'll personally ensure you attend."

As she ate breakfast, she checked her phone and noticed several unread messages from her assistant, one of which included the class schedule. Glancing over the document, she almost choked on her milk.

Recalling the butler's words from the night before, Millie reluctantly got out of bed.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

The schedule was packed from eight in the morning to seven at night, covering everything from fashion styling to social etiquette, dessert baking, and even jewelry appreciation, with scarcely any time to rest.

Every fiber of her being screamed

resistance. She wanted nothing to do with it. Yet, the thought of Beverley's warning and the desire to maintain her current lifestyle e hardened her resolve. She decided to face it head-on.

Thus began Millie's grueling routine of prenatal classes, early mornings, and late nights. She returned home each day exhausted, yet still had to find time for her regular college courses.

After accumulating a series of absences, her academic advisor showed up at her door, questioning her commitment to her studies. Millie had no choice but to return to her classes.

She managed to keep up appearances, occasionally hiring someone to attend lectures in her place and relying on her roommates for cover. She made sporadic appearances at school to maintain her student status. However, juggling her time between prenatal classes and school soon proved too much. Without much deliberation, Millie decided to drop out of college.