Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Two days later, just as Beverley was beginning to think she was off the hook, Maisie's call came through, and it wasn't about borrowing money. "...What did you just say?!"

Maisie's voice was as casual as if she were discussing the weather. "Why don't you take me and my boy for that fancy afternoon tea at the hotel you went to with those high-society ladies last time? Is there a problem?" Beverley struggled to resist the temptation to throw her phone across the room. Clenching her teeth, she articulated each word with barely contained fury. "That hotel is members-only!"Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

"And your point is?"

"If you're not a member, you can't get in!"

"So, make me a member, easy peasy."

Beverley felt her teeth grinding against each other.

Make her a member? As if it were that simple!

You had to rack up spending of over two million just to qualify for a lifetime membership. And Maisie thought she was entitled to that?

"I don't care, I want to go there for tea today. You figure it out!"

In the end, Beverley used her own membership to sneak the duo in.

Just their luck, they bumped into a group of Beverley's acquaintances, the very same society ladies.

"Mrs. Sherwood? Is that you?"

"We've been calling you, but you didn't respond. We thought we had mistaken someone else for you."

Beverley forced a smile, wishing the ground would swallow her whole.

"Did you call me? I'm so sorry, I didn't hear..."

"And who might these two be?" someone's gaze landed on Maisie and Farley. "They look familiar. Have we seen them somewhere before?" The moment Beverley dreaded had arrived.

Maisie, all smiles, chimed in, "Last time, I was here too. I got a bit loud with Mrs. Sherwood, you must have been around, right?"

The moment her words fell,

memories clicked into place among

the ladies, casting glances at

Beverley filled with surprise, suspicion, and something indefinably judgmental.

"Have you two... settled your differences? Made up?" one of the ladies inquired.

Before Beverley could say anything, Maisie cut in, "Of course! All sorted out! You know the saying, 'better to bury the hatchet..."

She thought she had answered cleverly, even throwing in a proverb, unaware Beverley wanted nothing more than to sew her mouth shut! What did she mean?

The question itself was a trap! Answering would imply there had been a dispute.

What dispute? One could easily guess it involved Murray. It would confirm rumors of him getting someone pregnant!

The whispers in their circle had been

just speculations, which could have died down if ignored. But Maisie, bless her, had to jump out and confess without being pressed!

"So that's the story-" The lady, already not Beverley's biggest fan, smiled even brighter.

"Well, we won't disturb your little family reunion then. Let's leave them to it, ladies."

Satisfied with the juicy gossip, the group left.

Beverley stood there, fuming, her mood darker than a burnt toast: "Great, just great! Family reunion! She's your family!"

Maisie, oblivious to the fallout,

continued to marvel at her

surroundings. "Isn't that chandelier a bit too much? And those vases by the door, are they antiques? Wonder how much they're worth?"

Beverley could only wish for the power to teleport herself away from this disaster.

After surviving the marathon tea session with Maisie and her son, who devoured everything in sight, Beverley thought she was finally free. But then-

Maisie, eyeing the mall across the street, suggested, "Let's go shopping!"

Beverley tried to beg off, "You go ahead, I've got...things. I'll leave first="

"Leave? And who's going to foot the bill if you do?"

Beverley was flabbergasted.