Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

In Beverley's eyes, her son was the gold standard.

No matter what, his future wife had to be nothing less than a Master's degree holder, preferably with a stint at an Ivy League school overseas.

Millie, in every aspect, fell short of these expectations. It was only because of the baby she was carrying that Beverley reluctantly agreed to meet her. As for her actually joining the family...Dream on!

Hertha, after hearing the plan, just shrugged, seemingly unsurprised by Beverley's intentions.

She tossed her scarf into the trash and wiped her hands with a sanitizing wipe, as if afraid she might catch Millie's lack of sophistication.

"That's how it should be. Millie is nothing, dreaming of becoming my sister-in-law... She's not even in the same league as Roseanne."

All Millie had was the title of being the prettiest girl at school, but beyond her looks, she had nothing to offer. Hertha couldn't fathom what her brother saw in her. Totally blinded by love!

"I'm so over this, don't bother me with my brother's mess, I'm heading out!"

Hertha grabbed some gifts and imported fruits, ready to leave.

She wanted to visit Ms. Payne, to plead her case one more time. If Ms. Payne agreed to expand her intake, then Hertha still had a chance!

Beverley watched her daughter hurry out, "It's icy out there, drive safe..."

Arriving at Ms. Payne's, the memory of her previous rejection came flooding back, making Hertha bite her lip, a wave of nervousness washing over her.

But, with the chance of securing her

Master's position on the line, shez gathered her gifts and headed for the door, opting for a gesture that spoke volumes rather than

extravagance.

She had practiced her pitch countless times, how to charm, which angle made her smile more appealing.

Following the quaint path to Ms. Payne's house, Hertha didn't expect to see the professor but was instead greeted by a familiar figure tending to the garden. "...Roseanne?!"

Madeleine had a passion for

gardening, living alone made her feel that a Rouse needed greenery to feel lived in, so she dedicated a section of her front yard to a small garden. Recently, busy schedules and cooler weather made Madeleine worry about her plants. She enlisted. Roseanne's help, fearing her hard

work would succumb to neglect and

frost.

It was a task tailor-made for Roseanne - meticulous and a green thumb herself, she was a treasure to Madeleine, who even entrusted her with the house keys. For the past month, Roseanne made frequent visits.

Hertha noticed Roseanne's gloves, stained with fresh mud from the recent rain, a clear sign of diligent work.

This time, Hertha wouldn't foolishly assume Roseanne was there for menial labor.

Clearly, her relationship with Ms. Payne was no longer just professional.

Hertha's tone soured, "I underestimated you. Using this tactic to curry favor with the professor. Is that why you aced your interview? Because of this?"

She had heard of students who would do anything to please their mentors, acting more like personal assistants than scholars.

Lower than a dog!