Anthea couldn’t hold a candle to her daughters.


    Before Anthea could respond, ine looked up and saying, “Anthea, right? Don’t worry about your


    grades not being ster. Your cousins, Sallie and Ste, might not have been top students, but they


    should be able to help you out. Feel free to ask them if you have any questions.”


    Susan was quick to butter up ine, “Oh,e on! If Sallie and Ste were average, where does


    that leave my Phoebe?”


    The ones Susan envied the most were ine and Carole.


    Carole was prettier than her, and ine hadnded a better husband and birthed two daughters


    who were the pride of the family.


    But despite her envy, Susan never let it show. After all, ine came from a much more prestigious


    background. Hancock was a renowned doctor in Cloudcrest, rubbing elbows with the elite.


    So Susan’s favorite pastime was tovish praise on ine, keeping her envy to herself.


    Susan’s words hit the mark, “You know, Sallie and Ste have never given me any trouble growing


    up.”


    Just then, there was amotion at the door.


    A young woman, dressed sharply in a business suit, and sporting long cascading curls, strutted in.


    While her features weren’t show–stopping, they were well–defined, and she exuded an aura


    of confidence.


    This was ine’s pride and joy, her eldest daughter, Sallie.


    Sallie, at 25, was a promising attorney.


    “Oh my! Tired from work, sweetheart? You must be exhausted and look thinner,” Felton and


    Gemma eximed as they went to greet her, beaming with affection.


    Especially Gemma, she clung to Sallie’s hand with endearments.


    The warmth she showed was a stark contrast to her dismissive attitude towards Anthea just


    moments before.


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    Sallie, however, was devoid of any smile, even showing signs of impatience. She didn’t have much


    fondness for her mother’s family, grandparents included.


    To her, these pretentious poor rtions were only after their wealth.


    Would they have fawned over Sallie this way if she were just poor?


    Sallie greeted her grandparents with a curt nod.


    *Sallie,e over here. This is your Aunt Carole’s daughter, Anthea,” ine said. “Anthea, this is


    your cousin Sallie, She’s working at aw firm. If you ever need help with your studies, she’s the


    one to ask.”


    “Hey, Sallie, Anthea said in a t tone.


    Sallie nced at Anthea, her previously impatient eyes suddenly lit with astonishment.


    Anthea was stunning. Her beauty immediately conjured images of ssical beauty.


    But what good was beauty?


    Carole was gorgeous, and yet she ended up as a mistress and had an illegitimate child!


    Sallie didn’t see anything promising in Anthea. At best, she’d follow in Carole’s footsteps, using her


    beauty to be a mistress and perhaps also end up with an illegitimate child of her own.


    Sallie, who prided herself on her integrity, didn’t want to mix with this crowd. If it weren’t for ine’s


    birthday, she wouldn’t havee back at all!


    She gave Anthea a cursory nod and then turned to ine, “Mom. I’m a bit tired. I’m going to head


    up to my room to rest.”