"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 nonchnce 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 - aplete 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.


    Beverley took a deep breath, "Today, her mother showed up at my book club, making a scene. It''s probably all over town by now. If your father finds out..."


    The thought of Naylor''s expressionless face sent shivers down Beverley''s spine.


    After more than thirty years of marriage, fear overshadowed love when it came to her husband.


    "Just clean up the mess you''ve made. I''m done seeing anyone rted to Millie."


    The disgust lingered even after three showers. Beverley felt tainted.


    ...


    While the Sherwood family was in turmoil, Roseanne''s life was the epitome of tranquility.


    Her days were simple: most of her time was spent in theb, immersed


    à and research. She wasel


    fulfilled.


    asionally, she''d cook up a feast and invite Leda over.


    After dinner, they''d take a walk, grab some craft beer, and head home to binge-watch series and chat.


    When tired, they''d either scroll through their phones in bed or whisper secrets in the dark.


    "Anne," Leda said mysteriously, "I found someone."


    "Found what?" Roseanne adjusted the pillow behind her, finding a morefortable position.


    "A partner."


    It took a moment for Roseanne to catch on.


    Her eyes widened, "You mean-a boyfriend?" "Fake! Fake!"


    "Who is it? Do I know him?"


    Hm...


    Leda''s eyes flickered, "You might-"


    Her phone rang.


    After a brief and evidently annoying conversation, Leda started putting on herjacket, "Sorry, Anne,


    something came up. Can''t keep your bed warm tonight."


    "Drive safe, take care."


    "Yeah, yeah."


    Leda had barely stepped out when she spotted that shy Maserati parked by the curb.


    York flicked his cigarette away and. approached her with a brisk stride,


    "What took you so long? I''ve beetThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?.


    waiting for ages!"