The news of Bette Davis’s eldest daughter working on a memoir raised suspicion among the star’s longtime personal assistant, Kathryn Sermak, who shared insights in a recent feature by PEOPLE magazine.

Sermak, aged 61, had been a live-in aide to Davis during the ten years leading up to the Hollywood icon’s passing in 1989.

She expressed concerns about the complex history between Davis and her daughter when she first learned about the memoir project.

In an exclusive excerpt from her own memoir, “Miss D and Me: Life with the Invincible Bette Davis,” featured in PEOPLE, Sermak recalled reaching out to Davis’s daughter Barbara, also known as Bede, in 1985 to discourage her from releasing the book.

During their conversation, Sermak pleaded with Bede not to surprise her mother with the publication, fearing the shock could have severe consequences for Davis, whom she affectionately called Miss D.

As the anticipated release date of Bede’s memoir, titled “My Mother’s Keeper,” drew near, Sermak and Davis’s attorney Harold Schiff felt compelled to inform the aging star about the forthcoming expose.

Davis, then in her late 70s, was taken aback by the revelation and felt deeply betrayed by her daughters for keeping her in the dark.

The memoir portrayed Davis in a negative light, depicting her as an oppressive alcoholic and harsh towards her grandchildren, causing significant distress to the legendary actress.

Despite the emotional turmoil caused by the memoir, Davis chose to remain silent on the matter, while Bede’s stepfather, Gary Merrill, publicly denounced the book.

The strained relationship between mother and daughter persisted until 1989, a year marked by tragic news for Davis.

Informed of her terminal bre-st cancer, which had resurfaced after five years in remission, Davis faced the reality of having only a few days left to live.

Accepting her fate with grace, Davis instructed Sermak to inform her son Michael and Harold of her condition but made no request to reach out to Bede.

Sermak stood by Davis’s side until her last moments on October 6, 1989, at the age of 81, witnessing the end of an era in Hollywood history.

The memoir, “Miss D and Me: Life with the Invincible Bette Davis,” will be available on September 12, offering readers a glimpse into the extraordinary life of one of Hollywood’s most enduring legends.