Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Chapter 842
A flurry of relatives and friends started asking questions, and Beverley had no choice but to cover for him, pretending Murray
was away on a business trip.
But no one was naïve-who goes on a business trip on New Year's Eve?
Still, nobody had the nerve to tear away her flimsy excuse.
Beverley couldn't help but think back to better times—
Back when Murray's startup soared to success, when the whole family basked in
his glow and she was the proud mother everyone envied.
Relatives and friends would line up to praise her for raising such an accomplished
son.
Her daughter was beautiful, thoughtful, and devoted-always at her side, charming guests with effortless grace.
Even Roseanne, though never officially recognized as family and not allowed at the Sherwoods' New Year's dinner, never
missed sending a gift. Each one was carefully chosen, elegant and heartfelt.
But those days were gone, lost to time.
The more Beverley thought about it, the more hollow everything felt.
If only she hadn't stood in the way of Roseanne marrying into the Sherwood family, maybe Murray wouldn't have ended up like
this.
Maybe they'd still be a happy, united family.
Laughter around the table. A mother's love, a son's devotion.
She closed her eyes, exhausted.

Real regret, the kind that leaves nothing behind but a dull ache.
But it was far, far too late to fix any of it.
"Murray, are you sure you don't want me to walk you in?"
"No need." Murray straightened, waving him off. "You go on."
"Alright, just take care of yourself. I'm really leaving, okay?"
"Go ahead."
Murray pushed open the front door of the house.
Cliff watched him go, unable to stifle a sigh.
It was New Year's Eve-he should have been home with his family, eating dinner,
playing cards, watching TV. But instead, one call from the bar manager had upended everything.
Murray was drunk-again.
Since both of them were regulars at that bar, the manager called Cliff first.
Cliff had to fake a sudden stomach bug to slip away from the family poker game.
He sped across town, picked Murray up, and got him home.
But with the older relatives still at his place, Cliff really couldn't be gone for too long.
And yet, leaving Murray alone like this didn't feel right, either.
The house was empty-the staff were all off for the holidays.
After weighing his options, Cliff decided to call Grace.
That's what girlfriends were for, right? Helping out when your boyfriend was in a bad way.
Luckily, Grace hadn't gone home for the holidays, she was still in Lumina City. When Cliff called, she asked a few concerned
questions, and as soon as she heard Murray needed someone, she said she'd head over right away.

Only then did Cliff feel comfortable driving back home.
"New Year's Eve, and look at us..." he muttered to himself as he drove.
Earlier, Corley had posted a family photo online-a perfect, smiling group-and
Cliff couldn't help but feel a pang.
When he'd reached the bar, Murray
was already wasted, clinging to
Cliff's arm, mumbling "Anne"
over
and over, nearly planting a sloppy kiss on him.
Thank God Cliff had dodged in time.
Not long after, Murray started muttering in fragments—
"What's Corley got that I don't? Why'd you pick him... So he's good enough, but I'm not? Anne..."
Two years had passed, and Murray was still hung up on Roseanne.
No one had expected Roseanne leave so decisively. Everyone thought it was just another breakup, that the two of them would
end up back together, as always.
But life doesn't care about plans.
Even the best stumble sometimes.
Cliff sometimes thought Roseanne was ruthless (and, in a way, admirable).
Other times, he felt a flicker of sympathy for Murray-a little lost, a little pitiful.
But mostly, he figured it was better this way. They each deserved a chance at happiness, apart.

Six years of tangled drama-if they couldn't make it work, maybe letting go was the only mercy.
Everyone's life has regrets. You can't force things.
But still-
Cliff frowned.
Had Roseanne really ended up with Corley?
It didn't add up. If anyone knew Roseanne, it was him.
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