Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

The whole gang was over the moon.

Oh my God! Were they finally going to get rid of this curse?

Sob...

Blessed be!

For the first time, everyone felt the lady of the house was the real MVP.

Soon, the grand villa was left with just Millie rattling around in it.

She stared at the empty living room, dumbfounded.

...

Night fell over the Sherwood Mansion.

Hertha had just stepped in when she saw Beverley lounging on the couch, a masseuse working wonders on her neck and shoulders. "Mom? You're back?"

"Mhm."

"Weren't you supposed to be playing nursemaid to Millie-uh, I mean, looking after what's-her-name?"Content rights belong to NôvelDrama.Org.

It had been almost half a month; why the sudden return without a heads up?

Something smelled fishy!

Beverley snorted, "Don't even mention her, she's a headache!"

"What happened?" Hertha settled beside her, "Spill the beans."

Beverley launched into a tirade, listing every slight and insult she endured at the villa, item by item.

Getting more worked up, she stood up, arms crossed, and started railing against Millie.

"...I've never seen a more despicable woman! Had I known, I'd have preferred Murray end up with Roseanne!"

At least Roseanne had some standards, some class, some dignity!

Beverley hadn't realized how much she regretted her choice until now, her insides twisted with remorse.

Seeing her mom this upset, Hertha's eyes welled up with unshed tears, feeling indignant on her behalf.

It seemed the slap she gave last time did little to no good.

She should've gone for a few more!

"And your brother," Beverley got even more emotional mentioning her son, "he actually believed that wench's side of the story, thinking I messed with his files, and he denied it! He'd rather trust that harpy over his own mother!" FindNovel

Hertha fumed, "That's too much! I'm calling him right now—"

Without delay, she whipped out her phone.

Beverley didn't stop her.

Why should she take the fall for something she didn't do?

It took half a minute for the other end to pick up-

"Bro! Mom's back home, did you know?"

Murray was in the middle of discussing a partnership with Cliff.

The short series market was booming. Cliff had invested in a few media companies just in time to ride the wave, making a killing. But who would say no to more money?

He was trying to get Murray on board to expand the operation, aiming to slice a bigger piece of the pie.

Hertha's call couldn't have come at a worse time.

"Back home? Which home?"

"Obviously the family estate! You

and Millie have driven her to the brink of a vertigo relapse, and look at you two, one living it up in the villa, the other chilling in a bar!"

She could hear the background noise on his end, music and drumbeats, clearly he was in some social venue.

Beverley started moaning for effect, clutching her forehead.

Murray frowned, "Is Mom okay? Did you guys go to the hospital?"

Hertha scoffed, "Oh, now you care? Where was this concern earlier? You and Millie are peas in a pod! Mom went out of her way to look after her, and that woman just made life hell, and you? You took her side over our mom's."

"Bro, I'm so disappointed in you!"

With that, Hertha hung up.

Murray stared at his phone, his expression lost.

Disappointed, huh? Maybe she was right...

Cliff, having only caught bits and pieces, could guess it was some family drama. Thinking about Murray's current predicament, he struggled to find the right words of comfort.

A wry smile twisted his lips as he mocked himself.