Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed



Recalling the recent commotion at Murray Sherwood Inc. caused by Millie's mom and her troublemaker brother, it was a blessing in disguise that... Mrs. Beverley would have fainted in the restroom, right?

York let out a disdainful tsk.

Soon, his ride-share arrived.

"Sir! Sir! Just a moment-"

York was about to climb into the back seat when the restaurant manager caught up to him.

"What is it?"

"Well, our server found a scarf and a brooch left behind in one of the private dining rooms. Seems like a lady must have forgotten them..."

The Roseanne family had left early, and the manager, seeing York who had also dined there, immediately stopped him.

"I'll take it to them."

"Thank you so much."

York grabbed the scarf, tossing it into the back seat, planning to send it over to Roseanne with a courier service the next day.

"Let's go, driver."

"Sure thing."

Halfway there, Cliff called-

"Dude! Why aren't you here yet? What time is it? We're all waiting on just you! Didn't party too hard these past few days, did you?"

The background noise was a mix of loud music and chatter, clearly a bar or nightclub.

"Buzz off! Like you're one to talk! Hold on, I'm on my way!"

York asked for the address and directed the ride-share to that location.

Slide Bar-

Cliff greeted him with a slap on the back and an arm around his shoulder as they walked in: "Rushed over so fast, you weren't sneaking out of some lady's bed, were you?"

"As if, I was at a proper dinner, cut the crap."

Cliff smirked, "As if I'd believe that."

"I have a girlfriend, stop spreading rumors."

"It's a fake relationship, right?" Cliff said, grinning.

York's smile froze, a chill flashing in his eyes: "Who told you that?"

"Leda."

"When?"

Cliff thought for a moment: "...Must've been last weekend? I was at the tennis club and saw her getting cozy with some guy on the next court..."

The man was showing her how to serve, their bodies practically touching.

Cliff couldn't just stand by.

A bro's cuckolding is a personal affront; it was time to act.

He rolled up his sleeves and charged, ready to confront.

Turns out...

"After all that, you two were faking it, playing the field on the side, and

almost beat up an innocent gue line?

sw non

l

Cliff nudged him as they walked: "Only Mr. Gibson here knows how to play the game, finding Leda as a perfect partner to keep up appearances for the family. Why can't find someone like that?"

UMS

Entering the VIP booth, York was still fuming.

Cliff was baffled.

Wasn't he fine just a moment ago?

What made him flip so suddenly?

York wouldn't say, just drowned his sorrows in drink after drink.

What was up with him?

Murray asked, "What's gotten into him?"

Cliff shrugged, "No clue, he just flipped all of a sudden."

"Boring," Murray stood up, grabbing his coat, "I'm out."

"Come on, Murray... we just got the group together, why leave now?"

Murray glanced at York, "Not interested in watching a pity party."

As he stood, York also put down his drink and got up, "You're right, this is lame. Let's go."

"Wait..." Cliff looked from one to the other, "What is this, a competition? One after the other."

Just when they had finally gathered everyone, they were leaving?

As Murray and York headed out, Cliff was left looking at the empty booth, "Wait... you guys, hang on..."