Sarah tapped her phone with a trembling finger, yed the video Anthea had sent her. With wide


    eyes, her parents watched the unfolding drama on the tiny screen.


    As the final scene faded to ck, even Keeley, known for his saintly patience, couldn''t help but m


    his hand on the table, startling them all, "They have gone too far!"


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Latonia wrapped her arms around Sarah, her voice a soothing balm. "Don''t worry, honey. I''ll go with


    you to the hospital tomorrow."


    Sarah, bracing for a torrent of me for her poor judgment, found none. Instead, Keeley and


    Latonia offered nothing but support.


    "You''ve got to be more careful picking a guy next time," Latonia said with a sigh of relief. "We''re


    lucky Anthea came forward. Otherwise, you''d be stuck in a miserable marriage."


    Latonia shuddered at the thought. So many mothers endured unhappy marriages for the sake of


    their children, sacrificing their own happiness.


    Thankfully, fate had brought Anthea into their lives.


    The next day, true to her word, Latonia apanied Sarah to the hospital. Emerging from the


    clinic, Sarah felt reborn. She vowed to rely solely on herself and never to entrust her future to any


    man lightly again.


    Meanwhile, Tanya had been following Anthea''s fitness regime religiously,bining herbal


    concoctions with daily jogs. Within weeks, she shed a noticeable amount of weight. When Lizzie


    heard about it, she joined the pair, turning their duo into a trio.


    In ss 7, whispers rippled through the room.


    "Hey, have you guys noticed Tanya slimming down?"


    "Yeah, I saw it too!"


    A girl with short hair sneered, "You must be kidding. She''s still the same pig, ugly as hell."


    "Shh! Anthea''sing!"


    The chatter ceased as Anthea strode in, her presencemanding silence.


    "Damn, Boss Yeager''s got that swag!"


    "She''s so cool!"


    Anthea tossed her backpack onto her desk and fixed her gaze on the short-haired girl. With a


    casual flick, she snapped a ballpoint pen in half. The girl gulped, her bravado dissolving under


    Anthea''s indifferent stare.


    "Boss Yeager, what... what''s up?"


    Anthea''s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "Who gave you the audacity to badmouth my


    friend?"


    The girl paled. "I''m... I''m sorry, Boss Yeager..."


    Just then, Tanya entered. "Ann, what are you up to?"


    Anthea slung an arm around the pixie-haired girl''s shoulders, her smile disarming. "Just sharing a


    joke with M here. Was it funny, M?"


    "M" nodded frantically. "Y-yeah, it was funny."


    Tanya approached, confused. "Ann, her name''s L."


    ...


    On the other side of town, Sarah had cut all ties with Lacy, leaving Lacy panic-stricken. After a cold


    voicemail and a blocked contact, Lacy rushed to Debra.


    Debraughed off his concerns. "She''s just trying to scare you. Give her space. She''lle


    crawling back soon enough."


    "Really?" Lacy looked at Debra, searching for reassurance.


    "Trust me," Debra said confidently. "I''ve seen it all. But when she does reach out, don''t let her off


    easy. She needs to learn our family''s rules."


    "Okay!" Lacy nodded, somewhat relieved.


    Debra grabbed her purse. "Now, I''ve got business to attend to. Two shops on Arcadia Avenue need


    refurbishing. A job this big could mean a serious payday. I''m not letting this opportunity slip through


    our fingers!"