Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Leaving the bar, Murray made his way back to the mansion.

Millie was lounging on the living room couch. Hearing the door, she quickly got up to greet him.

Murray acted as if she wasn't there, brushing past her and striding upstairs.

Millie was seething, biting her lip in frustration.

In the master bedroom-

Murray lay on the bed.

This was where he and Roseanne had shared tangled, intimate moments, which now replayed in his mind.

With each breath, a hint of desire unwittingly clouded his eyes.

He cursed under his breath and immediately headed for a cold shower.

He had only had a couple of drinks tonight, so his mind was clear, but Corley's words echoed in his ears.

If you love her, why break up?

You just lost her over six years...

You say you love her, but everything you do just tramples on her...

Even if you love her... leaving is just a matter of time...

Each word was like a nail, piercing straight into Murray's heart.

...

In the morning, Murray woke up early, donned his suit, and prepared to head to the office.

Descending the stairs, he noticed breakfast already laid out on the table.

He assumed Sadie had prepared it, but then Millie emerged from the kitchen with a bright smile, carrying a plate of pancakes.

"Murray, you're up? I made oatmeal and steamed some pancakes. Why don't you have some?" she offered.

"No, thanks," Murray replied, expressionless.

Millie hurriedly set down the plate and approached him, "Then... how about some soy milk? I know you don't like it too sweet, so I didn't add any sugar..."

Her tone was natural, her demeanor submissive, as if the argument from the day before had never happened.

Murray glanced over the breakfast on the table, his gaze then falling back to her face, suddenly breaking into a mocking smile.

The smile was self-deprecating and scornful.

He realized that people truly differed, and comparisons were futile.

When he had argued with Roseanne, even though she often conceded, her face never bore this kind of sycophantic smile.

She would simply ask him something mundane, like—

Hungry?

Feeling better?

Are we out of ketchup?

As long as Murray responded, it was considered a truce, ending the cold war.

Sometimes, on matters of principle, even if Roseanne initiated the conversation, it wouldn't be an apology, nor would she coax him Instead, she'd reason with him logically, analyzing the core issue until she convinced him.

Looking at the woman before him, with her ingratiating smile and those eyes that seemed clear but were filled with schemes, all he could think of was one word— Despicable.

Millie, however, failed to notice the

disdain hidden in his eyes and continued, "Murray, I thought about it all night. Beverley is our elder, and I shouldn't have defied her."

"I'm sorry, it was all my fault."

"She was just looking out for me and the baby by signing me up for those classes. was ungrateful. I promise, from now on, I'll follow Beverley's plans respect her, be dutiful, and never make her angry again. Can you forgive me?"

Murray almost applauded her Oscar-worthy performance.

"Apologizing to me is pointless. Whoever you've offended, go make amends with them."NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

With that, he turned and left.

He didn't touch the breakfast.

Millie watched his merciless departure, her smile collapsing instantly.

Just the thought of facing Beverley's sharp, critical demeanor at the hospital and having to apologize made her incredibly annoyed.

But Murray had given her an ultimatum. If she didn't go, she could imagine what awaited her.

With that thought, Millie took a deep breath and headed back into the kitchen.

Fortunately, she had asked Sadie to prepare chicken soup the night before. Bringing a bowl to Beverley would suffice as making amends.